A dispenser that delivers a small but consistent and sustained amount of liquid over an extended period of time, particularly useful but not limited to dispensing pesticides when worn by cattle. The dispenser has a shell having an opening. A reservoir is disposed in the shell and holds a pesticide or other liquid. A wick is in fluid communication with the reservoir. An end of the wick is positioned adjacent the opening and has a greater capillary attraction or wicking ability than the reservoir, whereby during use of the dispenser the wick draws fluid from the reservoir and deposits it on the animal upon contact.

There are various methods used to control pests on large domestic animals such as livestock. Commonly employed methods include sprays and dusts, back rubbers and dust bags, and ear tags or tapes.
Sprays, dusts, and pour-on applications of pesticide involve manually applying pesticide to the animal's back. Although this method can be effective, it requires additional herding and handling and is generally not practical for large ranches or for free-range cattle.
Back rubbers and dust bags are devices that are impregnated or filled with pesticide and suspended in a pasture in proximity to a salt lick, water supply or place the animals frequent. The animals make contact with these devices in the normal course of their routine. The dust bag or back rubber may also be located in a gateway which leads to a salt lick or water supply and which forces the animal to contact the device. Again, this method of insecticide application can be effective, but may not be practical for certain situations such as large ranches or free-range cattle.
Ear tags are widely used and are generally made of a molded polymer matrix impregnated (i.e., saturated or immersed) with a substance such as a pesticide or parasiticide. These ear tags or tapes are attached to animals by piercing the ear with a sharp post and corresponding locking receptacle or with adhesive. The pesticide slowly leaches from the carrier material and is deposited onto the animal. The animal then spreads the material by moving its head from side to side and by rubbing alongside other animals.
The delivery of substance from these known ear tags is problematic. Among other delivery problems, the tags release the substance after packaging such that it crystallizes on the surface of the tag itself, thereby exposing the user to a high concentration of the pesticide. Another significant problem is that the output of the tags is not constant. Initially, they supply excessive doses of the substance, but over time, their output falls below an effective or lethal level, where it remains. The tags then supply doses that are less than lethal for weeks or perhaps months before their nominal expiration date. Unfortunately, exposing parasites to a sub-lethal dose causes future generations of these pests to develop a resistance or immunity to the substance. In turn, for a given area in which the tags are used, the type of tags used must be frequently changed so that the pests are exposed to a new substance to which they have not developed a resistance. This can create excess inventory of tags that are no longer effective, and can undesirably result in tags that have only been worn by the animals a short time before having to be replaced. The labor and costs associated with "re-tagging" animals mid-season can be quite large.
Moreover, the types of substances which can be used to saturate known ear tags is generally limited due to solubility and/or compatibility between the saturating substance and the polymer matrix. For example, compounds like ivermectin and spinosad have relatively high molecular weights and poor solubility in polymers such as polyethylene. These compounds are essentially incompatible with conventional ear tags.
Another problem with known ear tags is the inherent limit in the amount of liquid pesticide that can be saturated into a given size polymer matrix. It is not practical to produce a device large enough to contain sufficient insecticide to kill pests for an entire season. The size of the device would be such that it interferes with the animal's normal routine and would likely cause discomfort or injury to the animal, such as eye irritation, drooping ears, tears in the ear at the location of attachment, etc.
It would be desirable to have an application method and dispenser that is capable of dosing a repeatable, prolonged, and lethal application of pesticide to an animal with no gradual decline, but rather, a sudden and complete cessation of exposure, and does not require further herding, handling or contact with the animal.


A method for producing (meth)acrylic acid or (meth)acrolein, comprising a catalytic gas phase oxidation process for producing (meth)acrylic acid or (meth)acrolein by supplying propylene, propane, or isobutylene and a gas containing molecular oxygen to a reactor which contains a catalyst filled therein, wherein a gas containing molecular oxygen is supplied to the reactor having the catalyst filled therein during shutdown of the catalytic gas phase oxidation process does not lower the reaction activity of the catalyst and the selectivity of target products when re-starting the running after shutdown of the catalytic gas phase oxidation process.

As a method for producing (meth)acrylic acid or (meth)acrolein, there is a method for subjecting propylene, propane, isobutylene to catalytic gas phase oxidation with an oxygen-containing gas in the presence of a catalyst to obtain (meth)acrolein, and further subjecting (meth)acrolein to catalytic gas phase oxidation to obtain a reaction gas including (meth)acrylic acid.
Here, (meth)acrolein means "acrolein or methacrolein", and (meth)acrylic acid means "acrylic acid or methacrylic acid".
In the above-described method, a catalyst for industrially producing (meth)acrylic acid or (meth)acrolein is a composite metal oxide, and a catalytic gas phase oxidation is continuously carried out while supplying a raw material and an oxygen-containing gas such as air in the presence of the catalyst at all times of normal running.
Where propylene, propane, isobutylene and (meth)acrolein, which are raw materials or intermediate products of (meth)acrylic acid or (meth)acrolein are blended with oxygen at a predetermined ratio, an explosive composition is formed which may result in an explosion by a firing source such as a high temperature substance or electric spark. Therefore, in order to protect production facilities from such an explosion and to automatically stop the production facilities safely, an automatic emergency stop apparatus (an interlock system) is installed, which discharges flammable gases in the apparatus out of the system by stopping supply of a flammable raw material and blowing inert gases such as a nitrogen gas, steam, etc., into the production facilities, when the explosive composition is formed.
When the running is re-started after such an emergent shutdown, or after a shutdown for a periodic inspection, there are cases where the reaction activity of a catalyst and selectivity of a target product are lowered.
In JP-A-2002-53519, a safe start-up method is disclosed in a catalytic gas phase oxidation reactor. However, no description is given of solving a problem due to which the reaction activity of a catalyst and selectivity of a target product after re-start of the running are lowered.

Process for producing (meth)acrylic acid or (meth)acrolein


Systems and method relating generally to solid state memory, and more particularly to systems and methods for reducing errors in a solid state memory.

Data in a solid state storage device decays over time requiring more error correction capability over time. To correct additional errors, enhanced error correction circuitry may be employed. However, such enhanced error correction circuitry may not be able to correct all mis-programming errors occurring in a solid state memory device.
Hence, for at least the aforementioned reasons, there exists a need in the art for advanced systems and methods for reducing errors in a solid state storage device.

Systems and methods for hard error reduction in a solid state memory device


The instant invention consists of a piece of heavy string eighteen or so inches long that is looped about itself, tied at one end of the loop and then subjected to a threading of both sides of the loop through a plurality of compressible, movable small cord locks before the tying of another intermediate knot serving thereby to create a sub-loop between two knots between which is a plurality of compressible, movable small cord locks. It moreover consists of another compressible, movable small cord lock through which both sides of the portion of the looped heavy string beyond the intermediate knot are threaded prior to the tying of the final knot at the other end of the initial heavy string loop to create a second sub-loop and complete assembly of the invention.

1. Field of Invention
The instant invention relates to the art of small game holding loops. Classes 24 (clasps); Subs: 129A, 129C, 129D, 129R, 300 and 405; 224 (article carriers); Sub 103; and D3 (travel goods) Sub 100 comprise the perimeters of the field of the instant invention.
2. Possible Prior Art
The following patents reflect features that possibly remotely resemble the instant invention.
______________________________________ Inventor Invention Pat. No. Date ______________________________________ M.L. Clevett, Jr., et al Bag Closure 2,832,116 4/28/58 Fastener H.E. Lien Fish Stringer 2,760,700 8/28/56 Kunio Hara Fastener for 4,506,417 3/26/85 String A. Genaille Bracelet 1,419,370 6/13/22 V.L. Graves Multiple Section 2,698,117 12/28/54 Fish Stringer R.E. Gibney Small Game 2,788,164 4/9/57 Carryall O.C. Guilford Fish Stringer or 878,626 2/11/08 Holder J.D. Baldridge Game Stringer 2,794,582 6/4/57 T. Hanson Fish Stringer 2,424,658 7/29/47 ______________________________________


Systems and methods are disclosed for updating players that run, display, or otherwise use electronically-stored content. Information is included in the content that not only indicates the player version needed to play the content, but also the existence of a newer player version. Content providing such an indication is termed “version-aware content” and allows a player to recognize that a newer player version exists. Version-aware content may be interpreted to provide a user with a message indicating that there is a newer version available. In another example, a player may automatically update based on the version-aware content's indication that a newer player exists. Content created to be compatible with older player versions can be created as version-aware content. Similarly, existing content can be modified to be version-aware content. In both cases, distribution of such content can encourage player updates and thus more rapid proliferation of a newer player version.

Various types of software are used to run, display, and otherwise use electronically-stored content and applications. These players and readers include, as examples, Adobe® Reader®, Adobe® Flash Player®, Adobe Flash Lite™, Microsoft® Internet Explorer®, Microsoft® Windows Media® Player, Microsoft® Silverlight™, iTunes®, iMovie®, and RealPlayer®. For simplicity, both "players" and "readers" are referred to herein simply as "players" and both "content" and "applications" are referred to simply as "content."
Players are updated from time to time with newer versions. In many circumstances, a newer version is able to play content that a prior version could not. For example, a new version of Adobe® Reader® may display content created on a corresponding new version of a content creation application, which, in this example, could be a new version of Adobe® Acrobat®. Users do not always immediately update their player software to the latest version. Aware of this issue, content authors may wait to adopt or fully utilize new versions of the corresponding authoring applications. For example, an author using Adobe® Acrobat® to create a .pdf may save a new .pdf in an earlier format to ensure its compatibility with more of the players used by its target audience. Authors may be particularly encouraged to create old version content for mobile devices for which downloading an updated player may be a greater inconvenience. Traditionally, a player notifies its user when it encounters content that requires a newer version. The user can then download, install, and use the newer version. Thus, the proliferation of newer versions of players is encouraged by the distribution of content requiring the newer versions. However, this proliferation is slowed by the tendency, described above, for authors to save content in older formats in order to maximize compatibility.
Various techniques have been employed to encourage adoption of a new version of a player. A player may itself be configured to periodically prompt the user to check for updates, as examples, every week or on every device restart. This prompting can become annoying, especially since there will often not be a new version available. An alternative to repetitive prompting is to enable automatic update checking. A user may grant permission to a player to check for updates. However, this forces the user to sacrifice control and security. Moreover, the update checks may occur at inconvenient times, interrupt the user's other tasks, and incur network or data charges. Alternatively, a separate application could be used to monitor availability of newer versions of multiple player applications. This is also not ideal since the extra application needs to itself be installed, run, updated, and may also unnecessarily prompt a user to update and/or use network connectivity.

Method for initiating software update through version-aware content


Liquid compositions for intravenous administration that comprise an aqueous solution of immunoglobulin and methods of preparing such compositions are disclosed. The solution has a pH in the range of 5.0 to 5.8 and an ionic strength is the range 0.02 to 0.25. The liquid compositions are formulated so as to be stable upon storage such that the immunoglobulin does not substantially aggregate nor degrade and maintains acceptable levels of anti-complementary activity, PKA activity and kallikrein activity during storage for an extended period at a temperature in the range of 4xc2x0 C. to 25xc2x0 C.

The present invention relates to a liquid composition for intravenous administration which comprises an aqueous solution of immunoglobulin. The immunoglobulin is generally immunoglobulin G (IgG) derived from human blood plasma.
Immunoglobulin for intravenous infusion has been in clinical use for several years. The product is available as a lyophilised dry formulation or in some cases, as an intravenously injectable liquid formulation. The dry formulation, presented as a vial containing for example 5 g of immunoglobulin, requires to be reconstituted into an injectable solution before use and doses of up to 1 g per Kg body weight per day are recommended for several clinical indications. Such large doses require a number of vials to be reconstituted into an injectable formulation, which is inconvenient and time consuming. There are therefore considerable advantages in providing a ready to use injectable formulation. However, such liquid formulations require to be stable on long term storage.
Conventionally, IgG is isolated from blood plasma using ethanol fractionation processes. These include the original Cohn-Oncley methods which are still in use principally in the USA and various other established modifications of that method which are used mainly in Europe (for a review of ethanol fractionation processes see Ethanol Precipitation by Kistler P. and Friedli H. in Methods of Plasma Protein Fractionation, J. M. Curling, ed., Academic Press, Inc., New York, 1980). A disadvantage of ethanol, namely its potential for denaturing proteins, is offset by using low processing temperatures and hence these methods are generally referred to as xe2x80x9ccold ethanol fractionationxe2x80x9d. Cold ethanol fractionation processes all depend on the manipulation of five variables, ie. ethanol concentration, pH, ionic strength, temperature and protein concentration to achieve the selective separation of proteins into different precipitates which, by convention, are known as Fractions. Fraction II is the principal immunoglobulin bearing precipitate in the cold ethanol fractionation of human blood plasma.
For some time preparations for the intramuscular administration of immunoglobulin have been formulated from Fraction II. However, the intravenous infusion of these preparations has been found to cause severe adverse reactions, resembling anaphylaxis (ie. cardiovascular collapse and bronchospasm), in recipients (see Immunoglobulins: Characteristics and uses of intravenous preparations, Alving B. M. and Finlayson J. S., eds, US Dept. of Health and Human Sciences Publication No. (FDA)-80-9005, 1979). These severe adverse reactions are now known to be caused principally by the presence of aggregates of IgG molecules and the contamination of Fraction II with trace quantities of vasoactive blood plasma enzymes such as pre-kallikrein activator (PKA) and kallikrein. Aggregated immunoglobulin can bind and activate the complement group of blood plasma proteins (so called xe2x80x9canti-complementary activityxe2x80x9d) and the activation of the complement system results in the generation of the complement peptides C5a and C3a which are anaphylatoxins. It is also known that the administration of PKA and kallikrein in physiological significant quantities can cause severe hypertension and cardiovascular collapse.
Thus in the preparation of a formulation of immunoglobulin for intravenous infusion attention needs to be paid to the above issues. A number of approaches have been taken to solving this problem. These include, altering the processing of Fraction II in order to prevent aggregate formation; further purification of the immunoglobulin from Fraction II so as to remove aggregates and other contaminating plasma proteins and the treatment of immunoglobulin from Fraction II with very low levels of a proteolytic enzyme such as pepsin to dissociate any aggregates and residual PKA and kallikrein. (For a review of the production of Immunoglobulin for intravenous infusion see Methods for the Production of IVIG Preparations and Analysis of IVIG Preparations Available, by Lundblad J. L. and Schroeder D. D. in Clinical applications of intravenous immunoglobulin therapy, P. L. Yap, ed., Churchill Livingstone Inc., New York, 1992). The use of pepsin in this way has been found to be optimum at a relatively low pH, eg. 4.0. Additionally it is well understood in the art that such a low pH treatment is an effective virus inactivation procedure (see Reid, K. G. et al. Vox Sang. 55 p75-80 , 1988. Potential contribution of mild pepsin treatment at pH4 to the viral safety of human immunoglobulin products).
In fact, preparations of human immunoglobulin for intravenous infusion are required to meet certain standards, such as those recommended by the European Pharmacopoeia Commission which sets out guidelines for inter alia distribution of molecular size, anti-complementary activity, PKA and that the method of preparation includes a step or steps that have been shown to inactivate known agents or infection (see European Pharmacopoeia Third Edition published June 1996 to replace the second edition on Jan. 1, 1997, Monograph number 1997: 0918, Human Normal Immunoglobulin for Intravenous Administration).
The majority of human immunoglobulin products for intravenous infusion on the market currently are in the form of freeze dried preparations to provide stability on shipment and storage. These preparations must be reconstituted before use which can be inconvenient and time consuming as described earlier. In addition, liquid compositions of immunoglobulin for intravenous infusion are also available.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,499,073 (Cutter Laboratories Inc.) describes the production of an intravenous injectable solution of human immunoglobulin which is required to have a pH in the range 3.5 to 5.0. Furthermore, the ionic strength is required to be reduced to low levels, particularly below 0.001. The maintenance of the pH within this range and low ionic strength are said to be essential to the ability to store the liquid.
Formulation for extended periods, whilst satisfying criteria such as distribution of molecular size and anti-complementary activity.
Another proposal for the production of a stable liquid formulation of human immunoglobulin is contained in W095/22990 (The Green Cross Corporation) which requires a pH in the region 5.5 in conjunction with a low electrical conductivity of less than 1 mmho.
The proposals set out in U.S. Pat. No. 4,499,073 relate to the treatment of Fraction II or Fraction III filtrate (Supernatant III) produced using the methods described originally by E. J. Cohn et al (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 68 :459-475, 1946) and, L. J. Oncley et al (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 71: 541-550, 1949). However, these conditions do not appear to be suitable for the production of a stable IgG solution derived from other cold-ethanol fractionation schemes. The pH conditions and low ionic strength specified in this reference do not result in the formation of a stable product when applied to immunoglobulin prepared according to the cold ethanol fractionation scheme used by the present applicants. Since different modified cold ethanol fractionation methods are used widely, especially in Europe, there is therefore a need for a stable IgG solution derived from starting materials other than those taught as suitable in the prior art.
It has now been surprisingly discovered that stable intravenously injectable immunoglobulin solutions may be obtained by employing quite different conditions of pH and ionic strength to those taught in the prior art, with the additional inclusion of treating the immunoglobulin preparation with an enzyme such as pepsin.
Thus, the present invention provides a liquid composition for intravenous administration which comprises a solution of an immunoglobulin in a pharmaceutically acceptable aqueous carrier, the solution having a pH in the range 5.0 to 5.8 and an ionic strength On the range 0.02 to 0.25, the immunoglobulin having been subjected to treatment with pepsin.
The ionic strength may be in the range 0.04-0.25. Ionic strength (I) is defined as half the sum of the terms obtained multiplying the concentration of ion (C) in a solution by the square of its valency (Z) ie. I={fraction (1/2 )}xcexa3C. Zxe2x88x92. For example, the ionic strength of 60mM NaCl would be calculated as follows: xc2xd[0.06xc3x971xe2x88x92)+(0.06xc3x971xe2x88x92)]=0.06
Solutions of immunoglobulin prepared according to the present invention have been measured as having conductivity values of approximately 4 mmho to over 20 mmho.
The aqueous carrier must be pharmaceutically acceptable in the sense of being compatible with other ingredients of the composition and not injurious to the patient.
The liquid composition of the present invention has the advantage of not being freeze dried. Thus, the liquid composition does not have to be reconstituted prior to use. Chemical modification of the immunoglobulin is not required nor is extensive additional purification of the Fraction II.
It has advantageously beer. found that formulation of the liquid composition according to the present invention results in a composition which is stable upon storage. Stable upon storage is taken to mean that the immunoglobulin does not substantially aggregate nor degrade and maintains acceptable levels of anti-complementary activity, PKA activity and kallikrein activity during storage for an extended period at a temperature in the range 4xc2x0 C. to 25xc2x0 C.
An extended period is taken to mean 12 weeks, preferably 26 weeks and most preferably 52 weeks at 25xc2x0 C.; also 6 months, preferably 12 months and most preferably 24 months at 4xc2x0 C.
That the composition does not substantially aggregate is taken to mean that there is an increase of no more than 2.5% to 3% in the immunoglobulin content of the preparation which has a molecular size greater than the IgG dimers present in the preparation. That the composition does not substantially degrade is taken to mean that no more than 5% to 7% of the preparation has a molecular size less than the IgG monomers present in the preparation. In addition the composition is considered to have shown acceptable levels of degradation if more than 50% of the initial antibody function (eg. anti-rubella virus activity) remains. An acceptable level of anti-complementary activity is one where the consumption of complement is not greater than 50% (1 CH50 per milligram of immunoglobulin: for definition see protocol B attached hereto). Acceptable levels of PKA and kallikrein are not more than 35 iu per mL and less than 0.05 iu per mL respectively in a solution containing 30 g/L of immunoglobulin. Tests for distribution of molecular size, anti-complementary activity, PKA/kallikrein activity and anti rubella activity are described in the protocols A to D below.
A liquid composition which showed the stability characteristics described above would have the potential to meet certain standards (such as those referred to previously in the European Pharmacopoeia) for formulations of immunoglobulin suitable or intravenous infusion.
In accordance with the above requirements regarding acceptable levels of aggregation, anti-complementary activity, PKA/kallikrein content and antibody function, preferably the pH of the liquid composition is in the range pH 5.25-5.75 and the ionic strength is ;n the range 0.04 -0.18, more preferably 0.03-0.18.
It has now been found that pepsin treatment together with formulation of the composition as defined herein obviates any requirement to employ further purification or modification to the Fraction II material. The liquid formulation may contain residual pepsin but this can be removed if necessary.
Additionally, treatment with pepsin at low pH, eg. pH4 is particularly effective as a virus inactivation step.
The immunoglobulin of the composition is preferably IgG which may contain residual amounts of other immunoglobulins eq. IgA and/or IgM up to a level of 5% by weight of the total immunoglobulin content. However, compositions suitable for a given particular use may comprise IgA and/or IgM as required.
The immunoglobulin of the liquid composition may be obtained by way of any suitable method. For example, the immunoglobulin may be prepared according to the Cohn-Oncley cold ethanol fractionation process mentioned previously or a modified method of cold ethanol fractionation such as that described in FIG. 1. The immunoglobulin may be obtained as a Fraction II precipitate or as a supernatant (for example Supernatant III or I and III) from the fractionation process.
The Fraction II precipitate may be frozen and stored prior to resolution, removal of residual ethanol impurity, treatment with pepsin and formulation into the liquid composition suitable for intravenous administration. The ethanol impurity in the redissolved Fraction II (or supernatant I and III) may be removed, for example, by diafiltration of a solution thereof against a suitable buffer at a low pH. A suitable buffer contains for example 0.45% NaCl, 1% sucrose, and 200-400 ml 1M HCl/kg protein. Alternatively, for example, the ethanol impurity may be removed by freeze drying and the dried solids redissolved and adjusted to a low pH using a suitable titrant such as hydrochloric acid. Generally speaking the pH of the immunoglobulin solution from which the ethanol impurity has been removed is in the range 3.9 to 4.5 and preferably 3.9 to 4.1 and the residual ethanol impurity less than 10 mg/g of protein.
The solution comprising immunoglobulin may then be concentrated (eg. by ultrafiltration) to 8-12% w/w total protein and a suitable stabiliser such as a carbohydrate (eg. glucose, maltose or sucrose) added at a concentration of between one part stabiliser per one part protein (w/w) to two parts stabiliser per part protein (w/w). For example 1:1 (w/w) glucose to protein, 1.5:1 or 2:1 maltose to protein and 1.5:1 or 2:1 sucrose to protein. Other stabilisers such as amino acids (eg. glycine) may also be added at this stage at a concentration of up to 100 mg/g protein.
Incubation with a small amount of pepsin is then carried out to reduce the formation of aggregates of immunoglobulin monomer; reduce anticomplementary activity and decrease levels of PKA and kallikrein activity. Preferably pepsin is added in the range 10-150 xcexcg/g total protein and more preferably in the range 25-100 xcexcg/g total protein. The immunoglobulin solution is then incubated at a suitable temperature in the range 20xc2x0 C. to 37xc2x0 C. and preferably 35xc2x0 C. and for a suitable time in the range 1 hour to 72 hours and preferably 20-24 hours.
After incubation the pH. of the immunoglobulin solution is adjusted to between pH 5.0 to 5.8 using a suitable titrant, for example, sodium hydroxide. Preferably the pH is adjusted to between pH 5.25-5.75. The protein concentration of the solution may then be adjusted to 2-10% (w/w) and preferably to 4-6% (w/w) by dilution using a salt solution of appropriate concentration so as to bring the ionic strength of the solution to between 0.02 and 0.25. Preferably the ionic strength is adjusted to between 0.03 and 0.18. If other stabilisers such as amino acids (eg. glycine) have not been added to the composition earlier (see above) they can be included in the formulation at this stage at a concentration of up to 100 mg/g protein.
The formulated immunoglobulin solution is then filtered to remove any potential bacterial contamination and aseptically dispensed into pharmaceutically acceptable containers.
There is provided therefore a liquid composition for intravenous administration which is stable on storage and which comprises a solution in a pharmaceutically acceptable aqueous carrier of an immunoglobulin prepared from cold ethanol fractionation of plasma and which immunoglobulin does not require to be freezed dried in the final container


A heavy vehicle of a mass greater than 500 metric tons, such as a transport vehicle or a “civil engineering” vehicle, fitted with tires of radial structure of a diameter greater than three meters fifty having an axial width greater than 37 inches, and comprising a front axle provided with at least two tires and a rear axle comprising at least four tires and by which is transmitted at least part of the motive power. At least two tires on the front axle transmit part of the motive power at least when the vehicle is following a trajectory which is not rectilinear and, at least when the vehicle is following a trajectory which is not rectilinear, the tires of an axle transmitting at least part of the motive power have different speeds of rotation.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a heavy vehicle such as a transport vehicle or a "civil engineering" vehicle, of a mass greater than 500 metric tons and fitted with tires of a diameter greater than three meters fifty having an axial width greater than 37 inches.
2. Description of the Related Art
Such vehicles, generally designed for carrying heavy loads, comprise a front steering axle comprising two steering wheels and a rear axle, which is most frequently rigid, comprising four driving wheels distributed in pairs on each side.
An axle is defined as an assembly of the elements enabling the fixed structure of the vehicle to be connected to the ground.
The axial or transverse direction of the tire is parallel to the axis of rotation of the tire.
The circumferential direction of the tire, or longitudinal direction, is the direction corresponding to the periphery of the tire and defined by the rolling direction of the tire.
The axis of rotation of the tire is the axis around which it turns in normal use.
In the case of vehicles, in particular intended for use in mines or quarries for transporting loads, the problems of access and demands of production lead the manufacturers of these vehicles to increase their loading capacity. It follows that the vehicles become ever larger and thus ever heavier in themselves and are capable of transporting an ever greater load. The current masses of these vehicles may reach several hundred metric tons, the same being true of the load to be transported; the total mass may reach 600 metric tons.
At present, as stated above, vehicles of this type, such as dumpers used in mines, comprise a rear driving axle on which are mounted four wheels, arranged in pairs, to respond to these demands.
Furthermore, the dimensions of said wheels and consequently those of the tires and in particular the rigidity of the lower zones require said wheels to be made in several parts to allow mounting of the tire on a rim. The operations involved in mounting and demounting said tires in the event of replacement or maintenance are long and tedious. The number of clamping parts which have to be handled during these operations may be greater than 200, and very high levels of clamping torque are associated therewith. The time taken for these operations is consequently long and therefore detrimental to the productivity sought during exploitation of said mines.
Since current demands tend towards a constant increase in the loading capacity of these vehicles, the various parameters listed above have resulted in widening of the tires so as to increase the volume of air therein. At around 4 meters, tire diameter is now such that it is virtually impossible to increase it further, in particular for reasons of transportation of said tires. In fact, the dimensions of said tires will be limited by transportation thereof, in particular by road widths and bridge headroom. It is likewise virtually impossible to decrease the rim diameter, which in particular allows positioning of the driving torque transmission system and of the braking systems.
During their studies, the inventors have succeeded in demonstrating that these "widened" tires do effectively allow an increase in transported load but exhibit various drawbacks. Tests have in fact shown that the wear resistance of these tires is reduced, in particular with respect to the axially outer tires mounted on the rear axle, due in particular to torque phenomena induced between the tires in particular on bends. More frequent tire changes reduce the efficiency of said vehicles. Current vehicles are equipped with differential gears between the wheels of one and the same axle disposed either side of an axis of symmetry of said axle, to limit said phenomena.
Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that, under certain travel conditions with a certain load, handling of the vehicle, in particular over curved trajectories, is greatly reduced. In fact, when the tires of the front axle are turned, in particular when the vehicle is loaded and for passing round bends with relatively small radii of curvature, it is possible that the vehicle may follow a substantially rectilinear trajectory. It would appear, in fact, that under certain loading and travel conditions, handling of such a vehicle over a curved trajectory, when fitted with four tires such as described above on the rear axle, is very difficult or indeed impossible, since the vehicle does not respond to the turning imposed by the tires of the front axle. These conditions may furthermore result in splitting and destruction of the tires of the front axle and thus once again in more frequent tire changes.
Furthermore, patent application WO 00/71365 describes a method making it possible to simplify tire mounting, the latter being mounted directly on the hub, which serves as the rim. Independent rings then act as rim seats and are held in place by locking rings, which are connected firmly to the hub as a result in particular of being complementary in profile.


The analysis and evaluation techniques of a gamut mapping technique, which can reflect the determination result of the quality of gamut mapping in the gamut mapping technique, are demanded. Hence, a color distribution information file and image file are loaded, initial 3D object data is generated based on color distribution data, and initial image object data is generated based on image data. The image object data and 3D object data are displayed on a monitor. When the user inputs a message, a process corresponding to the input message is executed, and the updated image object data and 3D object data are displayed on the monitor.

Along with the popularization of personal computers and workstations, desktop publishing (DTP) systems and computer-aided design (CAD) system have prevailed. Under such circumstance, a color reproduction technique that reproduces colors expressed on a computer monitor on a recording sheet using color agents has acquired much importance. For example, in DTP using a computer system having a color monitor and color printer, after a color image is created, edited and processed on the monitor, it is output using the color printer.
The user of such system strongly desires perceptual matching between the image on the monitor and the output from the printer. However, attaining perceptual matching between the image on the monitor and that of the printer comes with difficulty for the following reasons.
The monitor expresses a color image by emitting light components of specific wavelengths using a phosphor and the like. On the other hand, the printer expresses a color image by reflected light components that remain after light components of specific wavelengths are absorbed using inks and the like. Since the monitor and printer have such different image visualization forms, they have large different color reproduction ranges. Furthermore, even within the monitor, a liquid crystal system, a CRT system using electron guns, and a plasma system have different color reproduction ranges. Also, the color reproduction range of a single printer varies depending on paper qualities and inks or toners, and amounts of inks or toners used.
In order to attain perceptual matching between images on media having different color reproduction ranges, various gamut mapping processes that define correspondence between two different color reproduction ranges in a uniform colorimetric system are available. The qualities of such gamut mapping processes are ultimately determined by subjective evaluation for various images. However, subjective evaluation requires huge cost, and it is difficult to reflect the evaluation results upon gamut mapping processes.
Hence, analysis and evaluation techniques for a gamut mapping process, which can determine quality and can reflect the determination result upon the gamut mapping process, are needed.
Some analysis techniques for determining the quality of a gamut mapping process use quantitative evaluation scales (e.g., calculations of the total sum of color differences in all colors, evaluation of color differences of individual colors, and the like). However, an image is a combination of color information and space information, and the quality of a gamut mapping process must be determined in consideration of whether or not space information is reasonably preserved. The aforementioned quantitative evaluation scales do not contain any determination factors for space information and, hence, only one aspect of the gamut mapping process can be evaluated. Furthermore, since color information is distributed in a three-dimensional space, quantitative evaluation information can be quite large, and desired local information can be hard to find.

Color information processing apparatus and method


A system for cooling a portion of a rocket engine with an inert compound and transferring the thermal energy from the inert compound to the propellants. The energy absorbed by the coolant is used also to power the turbines which powers the pumps that pump the fuel, the oxidizer, and the coolant. Additionally, the coolant, which is an inert compound, is used to separate the oxidizer and the fuel before the oxidizer and the fuel enter the combustion chamber eliminating the need for a complex inert turbo pump seal package. The systems which pump or comprise the coolant physically separate the propellants before the propellants enter the rocket engine. The coolant remains substantially unconsumed in this cycle.

As is generally known in the art, a rocket engine provides propulsion to a craft by combusting propellants, such as fuel and an oxidizer, at high pressure. The combustion of the fuel and the oxidizers provide a hot gas which is then expelled through a nozzle at high velocity providing the thrust. Generally, these systems include high pressure and high temperature components which, due to the high pressure and high temperature environments, are highly complex, heavy, and expensive.
Generally, turbines provide power to pumps which pump fuel and the oxidizer to the main combustion chamber of a rocket engine. High pressure gases are required to power the turbines, which in turn power the pumps to feed the propellants. In order to produce such high pressure gases, combustion devices such as pre-burners are provided to initially heat or combust a portion of the propellants. Certain propellants may be used to cool the main combustion chamber and thereby transfer the high pressure and high temperature gases to power the turbo pumps. This, however, requires an additional supply of propellants to power the turbines and cool the combustion chamber.
Regardless, it is generally known to power the turbines with high pressure and high temperature gases. As such, the turbines themselves must be able to withstand such high pressures and temperatures to perform properly in these environments. Additionally, several seals must be used to ensure that the oxidizers and fuels do not mix before entering the main combustion chamber. Such a pre-mixture may produce a failure of the system. Generally, the seals are purged with an inert or tertiary gas which is consumed in the seal as it flows through to ensure that the oxidizer and fuel do not mix.

Method and apparatus for a rocket engine power cycle


Polarization based interferometric methods suffer from errors caused by the internal instrument birefringence. Disclosed herein are methods for using dual interferometric measurements allow separating the influence of instrument errors (e.g., due to geometry and birefringence errors) and the measured part. The interferometric system error in an interferometry system having two light sources orthogonally polarized with respect to each other wherein each light source reflects from a reference surface and a test surface, creating four reflected beams (Wr, Vr, Wt, Vt), may be determined by performing a first interference measurement (M1) from Wr-Vt. A second interference measurement (M2) from Wt-Vr is performed and a third measurement (M3), indicative of the interferometric system error, is calculated by averaging the first and second measurements ([M1+M2]/2).

Simultaneous phase-shifting interferometers solve many problems associated with full-field interferometric measurements such as surface profiles of optical components. They are capable of acquiring all required information at the same instant—and diminishing influence of environmental vibrations, air thermals, and moving test surfaces.
In particular, some of these instruments utilize polarization as a means for obtaining required phase shifted images. Typically this involves illuminating the object with a linearly polarized light beam while the reference surface such as reference flat or sphere is illuminated with orthogonally polarized light. After recombining these beams, additional polarization components allow simultaneous observation of phase-shifted fringe patterns used to recover the test object's shape. Examples of these interferometers are shown in our earlier U.S. Pat. No. 8,004,687.
However, these types of interferometers are non-common path either geometrically and/or polarization wise. This means the test and reference wavefronts are affected in different ways as they travel through the optics of the interferometer system. These effects can result in measurement errors.
The information contained in these two beams is carried as a difference in phase of the optical waves which is influenced by polarization dependent properties of optical components in the interferometer. Test and reference beams can be subject to different influences as they propagate through the system and they contribute to the measurement error. Examples of such influences are birefringent materials, coating properties, optical stress, angle of incidence of the polarized light with respect to the object surface or object ti surface properties.
Typically, these errors are removed by measurement and subtraction of a known calibrated reference optic. Unfortunately, they can be pricey and their error characteristic must be superior to that of the actual test object. Removing these errors typically requires the use of expensive precision optics and additional test procedures.
Thus, a heretofore unaddressed need exists in the industry to address the aforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies.

Methods for determining error in an interferometry system


A compensation circuit for a digital/analogue converter, which is clocked by a clock signal comprising a jitter and converts a digital input data signal into an analogue output data signal comprising a jitter error due to said jitter, comprises a measurement circuit for measuring the jitter and a modelling circuit for generating a digital modelled jitter error signal which simulates the jitter error dependent on the measured jitter and the digital input data signal, wherein the digital modelled jitter error signal is subtracted from the digital input data signal.

The invention relates to a compensation circuit for a digital/analogue converter.
FIG. 1 shows a conventional digital/analogue converter which is clocked by a clock signal CLK. The digital/analogue converter converts a digital data signal originating from a data source into an analogue output signal. The clock signal CLK is generated by a PLL circuit (phase-locked loop). The clock signal has a jitter in the time interval, i.e. the time interval of the clock pulse edges varies slightly from clock pulse period to clock pulse period. The clock jitter causes undesirable high-frequency signal distortions during the digital to analogue conversion. In the conventional circuit arrangement shown in FIG. 1, these distortions are suppressed by generating a clock signal having a very low jitter. For this purpose it is necessary to use clock signal sources such as the LC-PLL circuit shown in FIG. 1, which generates a low-jitter clock signal. The greater the resolution of the digital/analogue converter, the higher the requirements for its spectral purity, i.e. it is necessary to generate an especially spectrally pure clock signal. It requires significant technical outlay to distribute the low-jitter clock signal, which is usually generated centrally, within the entire system by means of multi-channel solutions without compromising the spectral purity of the clean clock signal generated at such expense.
Conventional systems which require a particularly high resolution during the digital to analogue conversion, such as ADSL transceivers or systems for example, or which require a wide signal bandwidth to be processed, such as VDSL systems for example, require highly accurate clock signals with very low jitter in the order of 5 ps to 15 ps RMS, which are generated by LC-PLL circuits for example. The required accuracy of the clock signal depends on the resolution of the digital/analogue converter and on other signal properties such as the crest factor and the maximum signal frequency to be processed for example. The maximum permitted jitter is calculated by means of a predetermined signal-to-noise ratio SNR in accordance with the following rule of thumb:
      TJitter    RMS    =            10                        -          SNR                ·        20                    2                                      π                                              f                  analog                                                              max
A disadvantage of the conventional arrangement shown in FIG. 1 is that technically it is very costly to implement high-quality LC-PLL circuits that supply a low-jitter clock signal and they take up a lot of space when integrated on a chip. Moreover, high-quality LC-PLL circuits use a relatively large amount of power during operation, which creates undesired heat.

Compensation circuit for clock jitter compensation


A method and system for generating user driven adaptive object visualizations using Generative Adversarial Network (GAN) models is disclosed. The method includes the steps of generating a first set of object vectors for an object based on at least one input received from a user. The first set of vectors corresponds to a first set of visualizations for the object The method further includes capturing at least one tacit reaction type of the user in response to user interaction with each of the first set of visualizations, computing a score for each portion of each of the first set of visualizations, identifying a plurality of portions from at least one of the first set of object visualizations, generating a second set of object vectors, and processing the second set of object vectors sequentially through a plurality of GAN models to generate a final object visualization of the object.

Sometimes, users need to design products of their visualizations. A product of user's visualization may be a blend of different objects. A user may visualize the product randomly or based on his creative skills. Further, there may be a requirement of a platform that may help the user to design and generate an image(s) of the product analogous to user's visualizations by merging his visualization features and randomly seen features or patterns.
Today, various conventional systems and methods are available that generate synthetic images. However, the conventional systems and methods are not capable of generating accurate results exactly matching user's visualization. The conventional systems and methods may generate results similar to existing images in a database by automatically adding keywords in a search query provided by a user. As a result, the results and user's creativity are limited to already existing objects, features, combination of these only. Consequently, the conventional system and methods lacks in displaying accurate image that may exactly match the user's visualization.

Method and system for generating user driven adaptive object visualizations using generative adversarial network models


A method for protecting a non-volatile memory device, the method including forming a non-volatile memory device including a polycide structure formed over a non-conducting charge trapping layer, and forming a protective layer over at least a portion of the polycide structure, the protective layer being adapted to absorb electromagnetic wave energy having a wavelength shorter than visible light. A device constructed in accordance with the method is also disclosed.

During the manufacture of semiconductor products, layers of material are laid down or grown. Some layers are then etched, to produce the desired shapes of transistors, metal lines, and other microelectronics devices. When the processing has finished, a functioning chip is produced. If the chip contains a memory array, it typically has a plurality of memory transistors that may be programmed or erased. For example, the memory transistors may be floating gate transistors, nitride read only memory (NROM) transistors, silicon oxide-nitride oxide-silicon (SONOS) transistors, and any other non-volatile memory metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) devices capable of storing charge. Unfortunately, the manufacturing process may have some undesirable side effects. For example, in MOS technology, the charging of active elements during the manufacturing process may alter the device's characteristics or even damage them.
Reference is now made to FIG. 1, which illustrates a typical cross-section of an MOS or complementary MOS (CMOS) transistor wafer. It is typically formed of a gate oxide 10 over which is a polysilicon element 12. On either side of the gate oxide 10 are field oxides 14 which are much thicker than the gate oxide 10. Typically, the polysilicon element 12 also spreads over the field oxides 14. A more advanced process may have trench isolation instead of field oxides, but the effects discussed hereinbelow are the same in such a case.
During manufacture, the field oxides 14 are first produced on a substrate 8, after which the gate oxides 10 are grown. A layer of polysilicon is laid over the oxides 10 and 14, and then etched to the desired shapes, such as by employing a shaped photoresist layer 15. The etching process typically involves placing a plasma 16, as is now explained.
The etching process may be carried out by many methods, however, plasma based processes such as plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and reactive ion etching (RIE) are very common. Typically, energy for etching is generated by coupling radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic energy to a plasma 16. The RF energy may be supplied by an RF generator coupled to a power supply. In FIG. 1, the etching process involves placing plasma 16 between the transistor and a electrified plate 18 connected to a high voltage source, and electrically connecting a second electrified plate 20 to the substrate 8.
Plasma may generate ultraviolet (UV) photons. UV photons may also be generated during deposition of metal layers, such as in sputtering techniques. High energy electrons associated with the UV photons may charge the transistor. More specifically, since polysilicon is a conductive material, the polysilicon element 12 may become charged by the high energy photons. This is known as the "charging effect". The charging effect is not generally a problem in conventional floating gate transistors because the excess charge may be erased. However, it may degrade the gate oxide as is now explained.
The more charge the polysilicon element 12 attracts, the greater the voltage drop between the polysilicon element 12 and the substrate 8. If the voltage drop is high enough, it induces Fowler-Nordheim (F-N) tunneling of charge from the substrate 8 to the polysilicon element 12, via the gate oxide 10, as indicated by arrows 24. Since the field oxides 14 are quite thick, no F-N tunneling generally occurs through them. Unfortunately, F-N tunneling may cause breakdown of the gate oxide 10, especially if the gate oxide 10 is quite thin. It is appreciated that, once the gate oxide 10 has broken down, the transistor will not function.
Solutions are known for handling the gate oxide degradation problem of CMOS and floating gate transistors. The event of the F-N tunneling is a function of the size of the polysilicon element 12, the area of the gate oxide 10 and its thickness. As long as the area of polysilicon over the field oxides 14 is no larger than K times the area over the thin gate oxides 10 (where K, called the "antenna ratio", varies according to the specific manufacturing process), the F-N tunneling will not occur. Alternatively, the total charge passing through the oxide will be small enough not to cause breakdown of the oxide. Accordingly, the amount of F-N tunneling may be reduced by reducing the area of the field oxide relative to the area of the gate.
In NROM devices, similar to the CMOS and floating gate memory devices, the abovementioned charging effect may be reduced by various techniques, such as the reduction of the antenna ratio K and adding discharge devices along the poly lines. Such techniques are discussed in applicant/assignee's U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/336,666, filed Jun. 18, 1999 and entitled "Method and Circuit for Minimizing the Charging Effect During Manufacture of Semiconductor Devices".
However, in NROM devices, yet another problem may occur, wherein excess charge may accumulate along the edges of word lines. The excess charge is not uniform, and increases the threshold voltage Vt of the cell. The increase in threshold voltage being non-uniform across the device width, may degrade the reliability and endurance of the cell. In NROM cells, programmed bits in the charge-trapping nitride layer are generally erased by hot hole injection. However, hot hole injection may only erase charge next to the source/drain junctions. The charge along the word line edge, far from the source/drain junctions, may not generally be erased. It would therefore be desirable to prevent UV photon-induced charge effect in the word-line edges of NROM devices.

Protective layer in memory device and method therefor


In an optical inspection tool, an image of an object under inspection, such as a semiconductor wafer, may be obtained using imaging optics defining a focal plane. Light comprising the image can be detected using multiple detectors which each register a portion of the image. The image of the object at the focal plane can be split into two, three, or more parts by mirrors or other suitable reflecting elements positioned tangent to the focal plane and/or with at least some portion at the focal plane with additional portions past the focal plane so that the focal plane lies between the imaging optics and the splitting apparatus. In some embodiments, reflective planes may be arranged to direct different portions to different detectors. Some reflective planes may be separated by a gap so that some portions of the light are directed while some portions pass through the gap. Other splitting elements may comprise a group of transmissive and reflective areas interspersed in an element positioned at or in the focal plane, with some portions of the light are reflected to detectors while other portions pass through the element(s) to other detectors. Splitting apparatuses and elements may be cascaded.

In wafer inspection systems which utilize two dimensional imaging, the inspection speed is determined, among other things, from parameters including field of view size, and time between imaging sequential images. Generally speaking, a larger field of view, or a shorter time between sequential images will increase the inspection speed.
Decreasing the time between imaging may be complicated and expensive. For instance, decreasing the time between images can require very fast detectors (much faster above normal 30 Hz detectors), fast illumination (for example, repetitive laser with hundreds of pulses per second), and a fast stage or other suitable components for generating relative motion between the wafer and imaging components to change which portion(s) of the wafer are in view for imaging.
A more preferable approach in some circumstances is to enlarge the field of view. However, when fine resolution is required (pixel size in the wafer plane is below 0.5 microns), the detector must contain a numerous pixels. For example, using 0.2 micron pixel, and a conventional commercial detector with 2K×2 K pixels, the field of view is only 0.4 mm×0.4 mm. An enlarged field of view may also require a faster stage or other suitable components for providing relative motion between the imaging components and the wafer.
The image view can be increased by using multiple two dimensional detectors to obtain an image, with the image divided amongst the detectors. Some currently-existing systems split an image before the focal plane of the other optics used to obtain the image using, for instance, beam splitters and/or mirrors. See, for instance, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/345,097, filed Jan. 15, 2003, and published as U.S. Patent Application Publication No., 20040146295 which are each incorporated by reference in their entireties herein. However, splitting an image by a mirror or other element(s) before the focal plane may be problematic in some instances. The problems may include, for example, reductions in intensity and/or non-uniform intensity.
FIG. 17 illustrates an example wherein the intensity in some parts of a split image is reduced when some rays are reflected back from the mirror and do not actually reach the focal plane, since the actual splitting of the image occurs prior to the focal plane. As shown in FIG. 17, three rays (R1, R2 and R3) from the imaging optics 18 of an inspection system reach point A in the focal plane FP18 of the imaging optics if no splitting mirror is used (i.e., if the mirror shown in FIG. 17 is disregarded, all three rays reach point A). However, when the splitting mirror comprising reflective planes 902 and 904 is used, only two rays (R2 and R3) reach the detectors 908-1 and 908-2 in the split focal plane. The top ray (R1) is reflected back from the mirror.
FIG. 17 also illustrates an example of non uniform intensity that may result from splitting. The intensity reduction is position dependent—a given portion of the image that is closer to the splitting point will have a reduced intensity relative to a portion of the image far from the splitting point. In FIG. 17, point B′ gets only about half of the rays (i.e. rays generally emanating from the bottom half part of the imaging optics), while point A′, for example, gets more (about two thirds: from ray R2 to R3).
An example hypothetical intensity distribution in detector 908-1 and 908-2 imaging a uniform input image (1 and 11) is shown in FIG. 18. The image is darker at points closer to the splitting point, with denser cross-hatching representing progressively darker portions of the image (becoming darker from left to right in 908-2 and right to left in 908-1).
The angular distribution of the image is not preserved when an image is split in this manner. For a wafer inspection system, the angular distribution of the scattered or reflected light from the wafer contains information regarding the wafer characteristics. Using splitting mirrors before the focal plane changes the angular distribution since it blocks a range of ray angles and thus may result in reduced inspection accuracy.
When splitting by beam splitters, some of the rays (usually 50%) are reflected from the beam splitter while the rest of the rays are transmitted. This way does not break the uniformity or the angular distribution, but the intensity is reduced by 50%. When using more than one splitter to split an image into more than two portions, the intensity can be reduced even more.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Image splitting in optical inspection systems

Applied Materials South East Asia Pte. Ltd.


An image pick-up device comprises an insulating substrate, and a plurality of pixels each including a photo-electric conversion circuit, a thin-film transistor connected to the photoelectric conversion circuit and including a lamination of an insulating film and a semiconductor film, the pixels being mounted in an array on the insulating substrate. A plurality of signal lines read the voltage store in the photoelectric conversion circuit through the thin-film transistors formed on the insulating substrate. A plurality of wirings are formed on the insulating substrate. An insulating film having the same lamination as the thin-film transistor is formed between the wiring and the signal line at each crossing thereof.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image pick-up device for converting an optical signal into an electrical signal and a radiation imaging apparatus using such a device.
2. Discussion of the Background
An image pick-up device using a photoelectric conversion element is widely used for such applications as a video camera and a digital camera. Also, in an X-ray imaging apparatus constituting an example of a medical radiation diagnostic apparatus, the image pick-up device has recently replaced the silver salt film. In recent years, the trend in the medial field is toward more and more medical data on patients stored in a data base for the purpose of performing medical treatment rapidly and accurately. This is in view of the fact that a patient often consults a plurality of medical institutions and an accurate medical treatment would be impossible without referring to the data stored in other medical institutions. An example is the problem of drugs prescribed by different medical institutions and the side reactions between them. It is necessary for a given medical institution to perform proper treatment taking the drugs prescribed by other medical institutions into consideration.
A demand is also high for introducing a data base of radiographic image data, and digitization of radiographic images is desired. Conventional medical radiation diagnostic apparatuses have taken a radiographic image using a silver salt film. If this film is to be digitized, after being exposed and developed, it is required to be scanned by a scanner or the like. This consumes a considerable labor and time. Recent years have seen the realization of direct digitization of an image using a CCD camera of about one inch. In such an application as taking a picture of the lung of the human being, however, the need of covering an area of about 20 cm.times.30 cm requires an optical system for focusing light sufficient for this size, thereby leading to the problem that a larger apparatus is required.
A method for solving the problems of these two types of systems has been suggested using a thin-film transistor such as an a-Si TFT (amorphous silicon thin-film transistor) for the radiation imaging apparatus. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a general configuration of an image pick-up device using the a-Si TFT. In the image pick-up device shown in FIG. 1, a pixel e1,1 at an address (1,1) is configured of an a-Si TFT 144, a photo-electric conversion film 140 and a pixel capacitor 142. Pixels e of this configuration are formed in an array (hereinafter referred to as the TFT array) of 2000 by 2000. The pixel at address (2000,2000), for example, is represented by e2000,2000. Each photoelectric conversion film 140 is impressed with a bias voltage from a power supply 148. The a-Si TFT 144 is connected to a signal line 118 and a scanning line 113 and the on-off operation thereof is controlled by a scanning line drive circuit 152. Each signal line 118 has an end thereof connected to a signal detection amplifier 154 through a change-over switch 146.
With the entrance of light into the pixel, a current flows in the photoelectric conversion film (photodiode) 140, and charge is accumulated in a photoelectric conversion circuit including the photoelectric conversion film and the pixel capacitor 142. The scanning line drive circuit 152 drives a scanning line 113. When all the TFTs connected to one scanning line 113 are turned on, the charge stored in the associated photoelectric conversion circuits is transferred to the amplifier 154 through the corresponding signal line 118. The change-over switch 146 is used to apply the charge for each pixel to the amplifier 154 thereby to convert it into a dot sequence signal that can be displayed on a display unit such as a liquid crystal display. The charge amount is dependent on the amount of the light entering the pixel, so that the output amplitude of the amplifier 154 undergoes variations.
In the system using the image pick-up device shown in FIG. 1, the output signal of the amplifier 154 is A/D converted thereby to produce a digital image directly.
If the image pick-up device using the TFT as mentioned above is to be applied for medical treatment, however, several problems are required to be solved. First, a higher image quality is required. Especially, the problem is how to reduce noises. Unless a clear image free of noises is obtained, an image pick-up device is useless for medical applications. The charge stored in the pixels is transferred to the amplifier 154, which generally has a high input resistance. The output of the amplifier 154, therefore, is affected even by a small disturbance, causing the deterioration of the image quality.
A cause of the disturbance is the noises derived from the scanning lines 113. Each signal line 118 forms a capacitance by crossing the scanning line 113 through an insulating layer. With the variations in source potential of the scanning line drive circuit 152, the capacitance at the crossing of the scanning line 113 and the signal line 118 is charged, and the resulting charge is also transferred to the amplifier 154. Although the description above refers to the case where a crossing capacitance is formed by crossing between the signal line 118 and the scanning line, the signal line 118 may cross wirings other than the scanning line to form a crossing capacitance.
FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing the crossing between the scanning line 113 and the signal line 118. FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the crossing between the scanning line 113 and the signal line 118 shown in FIG. 2. The scanning line 113 configured of a metal like MoTa or MoW, for example, is formed on a glass substrate 111, on which a gate insulating film 115 made of SiO.sub.X or SiO.sub.X is formed. The signal line 118 and the scanning line 113 are formed by being insulated from each other by the gate insulating film 115.
Assume that both the scanning line 113 and the signal line 118 have a width of 10 .mu.m (with the crossing area S of 100 .mu.m.sup.2), the gate insulating film has a thickness d of 0.3 .mu.m and has a dielectric constant .mu. of 5. The capacitance C at the crossing is given as EQU C=.epsilon.s/d=(5.times.8.854.times.10.sup.-12).times.(10.times.10.sup.-16) .sup.2 /(0.3.times.10.sup.-6)=14.8 fF (1)
In the case where there are 1000 scanning lines, each signal line 118 has a crossing capacitance of 14.8 pF. As a result, a 1-mV fluctuation of the source potential of the scanning line drive circuit would generate a charge of 14.8 fC in the amplifier 154. The charge stored in the pixel is substantially in the same order of magnitude (several tens of 10 fC to several pC). Therefore, the charge from each crossing between the scanning line 113 and the signal line 118 is a great cause of image quality deterioration.
Especially, a medical image pick-up device which requires a high dynamic range encounters the problem that the dynamic range must be sacrificed to accommodate the effect of the noises. Also, the conventional radiation image pick-up device poses the problem that an increased radiation dosage is required to produce a clear image. This gives rise to a serious problem of an increased exposure of patients to radioactivity.
An image pick-up device using the TFT array, on the other hand, has the problem of a read error and the leak current in addition to a deterioration of image quality described above. Specifically, in the image pick-up device using the TFT array described above, an image signal is produced by sequentially reading out the charge stored in each pixel, and the read characteristics vary minutely from one pixel position to another in the read operation. More specifically, in the case where the charge stored in the pixels is read out, the required read time (drive time) is determined by the on-resistance of the TFT used for switching and the time constant of the pixel capacitor. If the read time is short for the time constant, the charge stored in the pixel cannot be sufficiently read out, thereby causing an error (noise) of the stored charge and the read signal. This read error is one of the noises unique to the TFT array.
The leak current which is another noise unique to the TFT array is a phenomenon in which a minute current flows when the TFT is off. This noise stems from the insufficient off-resistance of the TFT. In such a case, the charge held in the pixel flows out so that the stored charge cannot be rightly read out, leading to an error (noise).
As described above, the two noises unique to the TFT array include the read error and the leak current. The large problem in eliminating these noises is the trade-off between the two types of errors. Specifically, the longer the read time, the smaller the read error. With the increase in the length of the read time (i.e., with the increase in the off-time), however, the error due to the leak current increases.
These errors are also affected by the ratio between the channel width and the channel length (W/L) of the TFT. In other words, a larger W/L ratio decreases the on/off resistance. The read error, therefore, decreases at the expense of a larger leak current.
Consequently, designing a TFT is crucial in a manner to minimize the two errors including the read error and the leak current.
The radiation diagnostic apparatus is used in two modes including radiography (still image) for taking a radiographic picture and fluorography (animation) for checking the condition of the affected part. The radiograhy taking one picture requires about one second of drive time, while the fluorography requires repetitive drives of about one-thirtieth of a second each. Therefore, the optimum TFT varies between the two modes. If the TFT is optimized only for one of the modes, therefore, the error is increased for the other mode to such an extent as to deteriorate the characteristics resulting in the loss of the practical value of the diagnostic apparatus.
For the reasons described above, an image pick-up device configured of the same TFT array has been difficult to use for both the radiography and the fluorography having different drive times.
In another conventional method, two types of arrays, one for radiography and the other for fluorography, are provided to switch between them according to the prevailing mode. This method, however, increases the system cost and contradicts the demand for a smaller size and a lighter weight.

Image pick-up device and radiation imaging apparatus using the device


Systems and methods for managing user ratings in a web services environment. A method includes storing a comment associated with a web service and storing an influence rating associated with an author of the comment. The method also includes transmitting information associated with the web service, the comment, and the influence rating to a user. Additionally, the method includes receiving feedback from the user, and determining an updated influence rating based upon the feedback and the influence rating.

Service oriented architecture (SOA) is a computing architecture in which services (e.g., web services) are made available for use by applications. Typically, services comprise programming functions (i.e., software components) and applications comprise programs that call the services and receive data results from the called services. In this manner, an author of an application need not write new code to perform functionality if that functionality is already available as a service. Instead, the author may arrange for the application to call the service and receive the results from the service. For example, an application associated with a retail store point of sale terminal may require that a purchaser's credit card information be verified at the time of presentment of the credit card. Instead of including code to perform such a function in the application, the application may call an already existing service that performs the verification and returns the results to the application. The entity that provides the service may charge a fee for performing the service.
A standard protocol (e.g., XML) is typically used for communication amongst applications and services. In this way, services can be offered to applications independent of an individual application platform or programming language. Owing to this generic availability, service repositories currently exist on networks (intranet and Internet) and are available for use by multiple and diverse applications.
A particular implementation of SOA is a web services environment, in which users of services (i.e., service users) and providers of services (i.e., service publishers) are linked by a communication network (e.g., the Internet). One of the biggest challenges in web services environments is for service users to find a service that they need, and, conversely, for service publishers to inform service users of their available services. For example, a service user desiring a particular functionality for an application may have to consider thousands of published services to find an acceptable service for the task at hand. To facilitate the matching of service users and service publishers, industry initiatives, such as the Universal Description, Discovery, and Integration (UDDI) specification, have been developed for publishing and finding metadata about published services.
The UDDI specification is an XML-based registry that allows businesses (i.e., service publishers) to list themselves and their published services on the Internet, and consumers (i.e., service users) to find and execute published services. UDDI currently includes three components (a white pages, yellow pages, and green pages) that contain information about the registered businesses and the web services they offer. For example, the white pages includes identity information, such as a service publisher's name, contact information, etc. Additionally, the yellow pages includes information that organizes published services by industry category. Lastly, the green pages contains technical information (such as URL location, execution instruction, etc.) about published services.
The information contained in a UDDI registry is stored and maintained (for example, in a database) by a UDDI provider. The registry is searchable in known manners by applying search criteria to various combinations of data fields of the white, yellow, and green pages. Depending on the degree of specificity of a search query, a search may return a list of published services for a service user to review. In this manner, a service user may locate and execute services. Moreover, a service publisher may receive payment for the use of published services.
However, all of the information available in the UDDI registry is provided by the service publishers and/or by the UDDI provider. There is no information provided by service users that could help other service users decide which services to use.
Accordingly, there exists a need in the art to overcome the deficiencies and limitations described hereinabove.

Managing user ratings in a web services environment

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


The present invention provides a conductive composition and a conductive paste from which a conductive film having a high conductivity and a low thermal expansion coefficient can be formed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a conductive composition and a conductive paste, which are used for example for a conductive adhesive layer and/or a wiring layer for a circuit substrate, etc., for a vacuum fluorescent display (hereinafter, called as "VFD").
2. Description of Related Art
For example, a conductive layer having a high conductivity is provided over an insulating substrate in order to achieve various objects. For example, in a circuit substrate, a conductive layer is provided in order to form conductive wiring. Furthermore, in a VFD, etc., a conductive adhesive layer provided over a conductive wiring pattern of a substrate is used to fix a grid described below, whereby this grid is connected to conductive wiring.
The VFD is an electronic display device that causes a fluorescent material to emit light. For example, a triode structure composed of a positive electrode (anode), a control electrode (grid) and a filament-like negative electrode (cathode) is provided within a vacuum case formed by airtightly connecting a front plate and a rear plate, each made of glass, to each other via a frame-like spacer, and a fluorescent material is applied onto this anode.
In the VFD, electrons emitted from the cathode are accelerated and controlled due to a potential difference between a grid provided at a height between the cathode and an anode, and the electrons are selectively injected to a fluorescent material layer, thereby causing it to emit light. Such the VFD can realizes a clear display at a low operating voltage and enables color display by preparing fluorescent material layers for emitting different colors of light, and is therefore frequently used, e.g., in audio equipment and a display component for an automobile display panel.
The above-described grid being formed of a metal mesh, etc., and having a planar shape such as a rectangle, is divided for different electrodes, that is, for display patterns controlled at mutually independent timings, to be fixed to a display surface of a substrate. The grid is provided with, at its both ends, leg portions extending toward a rear plate side and being bent, and the grid is fixed onto a grid wiring conductor at these leg portions at rear plate inner face via a conductive adhesive layer.
This conductive adhesive layer is composed of a conductive component such as silver, and a fixing component such as low-melting glass, etc. In fixing the grid, a conductive island fixing type paste is sprayed, i.e., applied to a predetermined position over the grid wiring conductor, a lower end of the leg portion of the grid is pushed onto this paste, and then a calcining process is performed. Thus, a conductive adhesive layer is formed utilizing this paste.
Furthermore, in the above-described circuit substrate, circuit components i.e., parts such as an integrated circuit, a capacitor, a coil and a resistor are also fixed onto the substrate while being connected to a wiring pattern formed on the substrate. Also in fixing these circuit components, each circuit component is placed onto a conductive paste applied to a predetermined position of the wiring pattern, etc., and a heat treatment is performed, whereby a conductive adhesive layer is formed of this paste.
Conventionally, a conductive composition containing lead glass has been used for a conductive adhesive layer a conductive layer for wiring, etc., such as one described above (see, for example, Patent Document 1: Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. H3-152837, and Patent Document 2: Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. H9-137066). A conductive composition containing lead glass has a low melting point and a thermal expansion coefficient approximately equal to that of a soda-lime glass substrate, and therefore has an advantage that a crack is unlikely to occur in the substrate even upon significant temperature change during the manufacturing process and/or during use.
In recent years, from the perspective of environmental contamination prevention and work hygiene, a conductive composition free from lead which is a hazardous substance, has been desired. In view of this, a conductive composition using non-lead low-melting glass which does not contain lead such as borosilicate alkali oxide base lead or Bi2O3—B2O3 base lead, has been variously proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 3: Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. 2001-312920, and Patent Document 4: Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. 2004-355880).
Actually, non-lead low-melting glass generally has a thermal expansion coefficient larger than that of lead glass. For example, lead glass has a thermal expansion coefficient of approximately 70 to 80×10−7(° C.), whereas non-lead low-melting glass has a thermal expansion coefficient of approximately 100 to 140×10−7(° C.). On the other hand, soda-lime glass has a thermal expansion coefficient of approximately 85 to 90×10−7(° C.), for example.
Therefore, if lead glass contained in a conventional conductive composition is replaced with a conductive composition containing non-lead low-melting glass as it is, the thermal expansion coefficient of a conductive film (a film that is calcined after formed of a conductive paste) formed of the conductive composition is considerably large compared with that of the substrate composed of soda-lime glass, etc. As a result, in a conductive adhesive layer formed by a conductive composition containing such non-lead low-melting glass, a crack might occur in the substrate upon significant temperature change during the manufacturing process and/or during use.
On the other hand, the conductive composition disclosed in Patent Document 4 described above contains Ag of 10 to 60 (vol %), Bi2O3—B2O3 base low-melting glass of 10 to 80 (vol %), ceramic particle of from 0 to 70 (vol %), and metal oxide base pigment of 5 to 10 (vol %). Thus, the conductive composition has a thermal expansion coefficient compatible with the soda-lime glass substrate. The above-described ceramic particle is added to this conductive composition, as a low-expansion filler with a low thermal expansion coefficient, whereby the thermal expansion coefficient of the resulting conductive film is adjusted. Exemplary ceramic particles include zircon having a thermal expansion coefficient of approximately 40×10−7(/° C.), and zirconium phosphate (hereinafter, called as "ZP") having a thermal expansion coefficient of approximately 20×10−7(/° C.).
However, the zircon or ZP which is an insulative material is added by large amount in order to sufficiently reduce the thermal expansion coefficient, and there arises the problem that the conductive film formed of the conductive composition has a significantly large resistance value.

Conductive composition and conductive paste

Abstract: The thermal expansion coefficient of an island fixing type conductive layer 10 is compatible with that of a substrate 12. A cracking of the island fixing type conductive layer 10 or a crack in the substrate 12 due to a difference between these thermal expansion coefficients is suitably inhibited. The thermal expansion coefficient of the island fixing type conductive layer 10 is adjusted by ZWP contained in the range from 10 to 55 (wt %) as a low-expansion filler. Thus, compared with the case where other low-expansion filler is added, the conductivity degradation is inhibited. Accordingly, the island fixing type conductive layer 10 having a high conductivity and a high bonding strength is obtained.


The invention relates to a syringe having a longitudinal axis and comprising a barrel assembly including a barrel extending longitudinally between a proximal end and a distal end, and a collar provided at the proximal end of the barrel and defining a reading window. The syringe also comprises a plunger including a longitudinally extending graduation portion that is at least partially longitudinally slidably received in the barrel, and that provides for at least two mutually different visually readable graduations, wherein respective graduations extend along the longitudinal axis and are alternatively selectable by rotation of the graduation portion around the longitudinal axis, such that a selected graduation is visible through the reading window when the plunger is slid into and out of the barrel during use.

Botulinum toxin type A, popularly known by one of its tradenames, Botox, is a protein and neurotoxin that is used in various cosmetic and medical procedures. In cosmetic applications, a botulinum toxin injection may be used to prevent the development of wrinkles by paralyzing facial muscles. In non-cosmetic applications, botulinum toxin may be used to treat conditions of excessive and inappropriate muscle contraction, spasticity (persistent states of muscle contraction), sphincter contraction, eye-movement disorders, tics and tremors.
Before the botulinum toxin can be administered to a patient by means of an injection, a clinician must reconstitute the botulinum toxin supplied by the manufacturer with a diluent, typically a saline solution. The botulinum toxin is normally supplied by the manufacturer in a vial containing a certain number of 'units', e.g. 50 units or 100 units, which vial comes with an instruction to dilute it with a certain volume of diluent, e.g. 1.25, 2.0, 2.5 or 5.0 ml. For instance, in case a 50-unit vial is to be diluted with 1.25 ml of saline solution, the resulting mixture comprises 4 units per 0.1 ml. When the same 50-unit vial is diluted with 2.0 ml or 2.5 ml of saline solution, the resulting mixture comprises 2.5 units per 0.1 ml and 2 units per 0.1 ml, respectively. The prescribed mixture ratio may vary with each manufacturer, and the treatment to be carried out with the final solution.
Importantly, a treatment with botulinum toxin may typically be defined in terms of a number of units, e.g. 1-5 units, to be injected across various sites of a body region to be treated. A chronic migraine treatment may, for example, prescribe that 5-unit injections are to be administered across seven different head/neck muscles.

Syringe with alternatively selectable graduations


A static random access memory having a structure that allow two memory cells to use a common complementary bit line. With two memory cells using a common complementary bit line, the number of necessary bit lines will be reduce by one quarter. In other words, one quarter fewer metal lines are required. This has the effect of lowering the packing density of metal lines, or increasing the product yield and the number of memory cells that can be packed within the same wafer area.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a static random access memory (SRAM) structure. More particularly, the present invention relates to an SRAM having a common bit line structure.
2. Description of Related Art
As the functions of a microprocessor become more powerful, the size of software programs capable of being executed by a computer increases. In line with this trend, the need for high capacity memories increases. Therefore, how to produce high-density memories at a moderate cost is still a major issue in the semiconductor industry.
According to the difference in read/write function, a memory can be classified into two types, namely, read only memory (ROM) and random access memory (RAM). ROM is a kind of memory that allows reading from the memory only while RAM can perform both read and write functions. According to the method of data storage, ROM can be further divided into a mask ROM, a programmable ROM (PROM), an erasable programmable ROM (EPROM) and electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM). According to the method of data processing within the memory, random access memory can be further classified into a static RAM (SRAM) and dynamic RAM (DRAM).
In digital data storage, a bit is generally regarded as a basic unit, and a memory cell is the device for storing a bit within the memory. FIG. 1 is an equivalent circuit diagram showing two memory cells and its associated circuit structure of a conventional SRAM. Since the structure of memory cell 10 and its associated circuits are very similar to that of memory cell 20, memory cell 10 and its associated circuits can be used as an example to explain the workings of an SRAM.
The memory cell 10 comprises four N-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor (NMOS) transistors and two resistors, wherein transistors T11 and transistor T12 are pull-down transistors, transistor T13 and transistor T14 are pass transistors, and resistors R11 and R12 are load resistors. The drain of the pass transistor T13 is connected to one end of the pull down transistor T11, and the drain of the pass transistor T14 is connected to one end of the pull down transistor T12. The gate of the pass transistor T13 and the gate of the pass transistor T14 are connected to a word line (WL) which can be used to access data within the memory cell 10. In general, each memory cell is connected to two bit lines.
For example, the source of the pass transistor T13 is coupled to a bit line BL1 while the source of the pass transistor T14 is coupled to a complementary bit line BLB1.
An Y-pass transistor T31 of the bit line BL1 and an Y-pass transistor T34 of the complementary bit line BLB1 are controlled by an Y-select signal YS1. Similarly, a Y-pass transistor T32 of the bit line BL1 and a Y-pass transistor T33 of the complementary bit line BLB1 are controlled by another Y-select signal YSB 1.
From the above description and equivalent circuit diagram shown in FIG. 1, it is obvious that each SRAM comprises a bit line and a complementary bit line. As the level of integration for SRAM increases, not only is the method of arrangement and the size of each memory cell becomes important, the number of metal lines running into the array of cells is critical too. Hence, if metal lines running into the memory cell array can be reduced, product yield and memory capacity of the memory can be improved as well.
In light of the foregoing, there is a drive for reducing the number of metal lines demanded by a memory cell array.


An object of the present invention is to provide a seal structure being capable of preventing rain water and the like from entering the inside of a vehicle through a clearance between an engagement portion and an engagement hole portion. The seal structure S is for fixing a window regulator WR to an inner panel 1. The inner panel 1 is provided with an engagement hole portion 1H, and the window regulator WR comprises an engagement portion 7 being slidable with respect to the inner panel 1 and engaging with the engagement hole portion 1H, a sealing member 8 provided around the engagement portion 7, and a seal supporting portion 9 holding the sealing member 7 between the seal supporting member 9 and the portion of the inner panel 1 surrounding the engagement hole portion 1H.

Conventionally, in order to lift and lower a window glass of a vehicle, a lifting and lowering device for a window glass having a drive member provided at a lower end of a guide rail has been used as described in JP 2007-177421 A. In the lifting and lowering device for a window glass described in JP 2007-177421 A, an upper end portion of the guide rail is fixed to a position above a center opening formed at the center of an inner panel of a vehicle door by bolting or the like, and a lower end portion is fixed to a position below the center opening by bolting or the like through a drive member having an electric motor.
As shown in JP 2007-177421 A, a window regulator is fixed to an inner panel of a vehicle by a fastening member such as bolts and nuts. In this case, it is necessary to carry out fastening with a fastening member after positioning of a through hole for inserting the fastening member provided on the inner panel and a through hole for inserting the fastening member provided on the window regulator, but it is difficult to insert the fastening member into the through holes for inserting the fastening member while carrying out the positioning. Accordingly, there is a window regulator, in which an engagement hole portion is provided in an inner panel separately from a through hole for inserting a fastening member, and an engagement portion is provided on the window regulator for positioning of the window regulator by engaging the engagement portion with the engagement hole portion, thereby making easy the inserting process of the fastening member into the through holes for inserting a fastening member.
However, such engagement of the engagement hole portion with the engagement portion differs from engagement using a fastening member such as bolts and nuts, in which a fixed state is provided without a clearance. In the engagement of the engagement hole portion with the engagement portion, in order to make the engagement of the engagement hole portion with the engagement portion easy, the dimensions thereof are set so as to give a predetermined clearance when engaged, and therefore, there is a possibility of rain water entering the inside of a vehicle through the clearance.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a seal structure of a vehicle door being capable of preventing rain water and the like from entering the inside of a vehicle through a clearance between an engagement portion of a window regulator and an engagement hole portion of an inner panel.

Seal structure for fixing window regulator to inner panel of vehicle