The present invention provides, an isolated maize endoglucanase polynucleotide and compositions and methods for modulating (i.e., increasing or decreasing) the total levels of an endoglucanase protein and/or altering their ratios in plants.

Growth in plants is controlled by the mechanical properties of the cell wall, a structure that otherwise constrains cells and restricts protoplast expansion (Masuda 1990, Sakurai 1991, for review). Changes in the cell wall mechanical properties that impart xe2x80x9clooseningxe2x80x9d might be achieved through the breakdown and reconstitution of cross-linked polymers in the cell walls. In fact, substantial changes in cell wall components related to cell wall loosening have been reported in many plants (Taiz 1984, Sakurai 1991, Hoson 1993, for reviews). As a parallel to documented changes in cell wall components, specific enzymes capable of degrading cell wall polysaccharides have been identified from the apoplastic compartments of mono- and dicotyledonous plants (Greve and Ordin 1971, Huber and Nevins 1980, 1981a, Labrador and Nevins 1990, Dopico et al. 1990, Nishitani and Tominaga 1992, Hayashi and Ohsumi 1994).
Cereal coleoptile segments, which have served as a model for numerous growth and hormone investigations, undergo molecular changes in non-cellulosic xcex2-glucans coinciding with the initiation of growth. Physical displacement of molecular structures within the wall matrix in response to structural change in the wall is visualized as a means to accommodate pressure driven elongation governed by auxin (Masuda, 1990).
In cereals, most of the effort designed to describe the molecular events in growth has focused on disclosing the role of non-cellulosic xcex2-glucans in auxin-induced growth of coleoptile segments. Auxin causes a specific decrease in the quantity of glucans in the cell walls in vivo, a process coupled with cell elongation of coleoptile segments in oat, barley, rice and maize (Loescher and Nevins 1972, Sakurai and Masuda 1978a, Zarra and Masuda 1979b, Inouhe and Nevins 1991 a). The decrease in the wall glucan content appears to reflect an obligatory chemical basis for cell wall loosening necessary for cell elongation (Sakurai and Masuda 1978b, Sakurai et al. 1979).
Cell wall autohydrolysis, an approach used to disclose the consequences of metabolism mediated by constitutive components, has been employed to identify pertinent enzymes and their substrates. It has been reported that cell walls isolated from maize coleoptiles possess a high autohydrolytic activity (autolysis) specifically directed toward degradation of non-cellulosic xcex2-glucans eventually producing glucose (Huber and Nevins 1979). This process is mediated by wall associated exoglucanase (EC 220.127.116.11, Huber and Nevins 1982) and endoglucanase (Huber and Nevins 1981a, Hat field and Nevins 1986, 1987). The two enzymic activities account for 90% of all the recovered glucanase from maize coleoptile cell walls (Inouhe and Nevins 1991b). The endoglucanase converts the non-cellulosic xcex2-glucans to polymers of an average molecular size of 1-1.5xc3x97104(degree of polymerization of 60-70) and indicates that the endo-glucanase cleaves widely-spaced sites. Auxin is capable of enhancing glucan autolysis in maize coleoptile cell walls (Inouhe and Nevins 1991 a). In addition, polyclonal antibodies specific for cell wall glucanases inhibit the glucan autolysis and auxin-induced growth of maize coleoptile segments (Inouhe and Nevins 1991b). These observations provide evidence to support the idea that the cell wall glucanases have an important role in auxin-induced cell elongation in coleoptile segments.
Notable changes in cell wall glucan content have also been reported in coleoptile tissues developing in intact seedlings of maize (Luttenegger and Nevins 1985), barley (Sakurai and Masuda 1978b), and rice (Zarra and Masuda 1979a). In maize coleoptiles, the non-cellulosic glucans are rapidly synthesized and incorporated into cell walls during early developmental stage but subsequently are degrated to substantially diminished levels after completion of elongation (Luttenegger and Nevins 1985, Inouhe and Nevins 1997a). These data imply that the glucan metabolism mediated by cell wall glucanases is an important phase in coleoptile growth in the intact plant system. However, little is known about changes in cell wall glucanases during coleoptile development, although the timing and spatial distribution of glucanases have been investigated in detail in germinating seeds or leaves of barley seedlings (Mundy and Fincher 1986, Stuart et al. 1986, Slakeski and Fincher 1992a, b).
Diverse glucanases have been isolated from plant sources (Simmons, 1994) and some genes have been identified (Hoj and Fincher, 1995). Information on the precise characteristics of those gene responsible for glucanases in coleoptiles with putative roles in cell extension is, however, not available. Specifically, exo- and endoglucanases from maize have not been isolated or purified until the present invention.
The composition of plant stem material has a strong influence on the feeding quality of major forage crops. Forages contain significant portions of plant cell wall material. From the standpoint of a forage user, the amount and type of plant cell wall is extremely important because it greatly influences how a particular forage will be utilized by animals to produce meat or milk. In silages such as whole plant corn, alfalfa, and the like, the digestibility of the silage is important to ensure availability of the fiber, and/or providing more nutrients per amount of silage at a faster rate. Therefore cell wall constituents are very important in the feeding of animals to produce meat or milk.
In the present invention, both exo- and endoglucanases were purified and extracted from maize coleoptile cell walls. New maize endoglucanase polynucleotides and related polypeptides were identified. Now by altering expression or modulation of the newly identified maize endoglucanases, one is able to alter the composition of cell walls thereby facilitating cell elongation or expansion and thus altering the growth of a plant or improving kernel growth rates. In addition, alterations in cell wall composition can enhancing silage or forage crop digestibility.
Generally, it is the object of the present invention to provide nucleic acids and proteins relating to endoglucanases. It is an object of the present invention to provide transgenic plants comprising the nucleic acids of the present invention. It is another object of the present invention to provide methods for modulating, in a transgenic plant, the expression of the nucleic acids of the present invention.
Therefore, in one aspect, the present invention relates to an isolated nucleic acid comprising a member selected from the group consisting of (a) a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide of the present invention; (b) a polynucleotide amplified from a Zea mays nucleic acid library using primers designed from the polynucleotides of the present invention; (c) a polynucleotide comprising at least 20 contiguous bases of the polynucleotides of the present invention; (d) a polynucleotide having at least 80% sequence identity to the polynucleotides of the present invention, where sequence identity is determined by Blast 2.0 under default parameters; (e) a polynucleotide comprising at least 25 nucleotide in length which hybridizes under low stringency conditions to the polynucleotides of the present invention; (f) a polynucleotide comprising the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1; and (g) a polynucleotide complementary to a polynucleotide of (a) through (f). The isolated nucleic acid can be DNA. The isolated nucleic acid can also be RNA.
In another aspect, the present invention relates to vectors comprising the polynucleotides of the present invention. Also the present invention relates to recombinant expression cassettes, comprising a nucleic acid of the present invention operably linked to a promoter.
In another aspect, the present invention is directed to a host cell into which has been introduced the recombinant expression cassette.
In yet another aspect, the present invention relates to a transgenic plant or plant cell comprising a recombinant expression cassette with a promoter operably linked to any of the isolated nucleic acids of the present invention. Preferred plants containing the recombinant expression cassette of the present invention include but are not limited to maize, soybean, sunflower, sorghum, canola, wheat, alfalfa, cotton, rice, barley, and millet. The present invention also provides transgenic seed from the transgenic plant.
In another aspect, the present invention relates to an isolated protein selected from the group consisting of (a) a polypeptide comprising at least 25 contiguous amino acids of SEQ ID NO: 2; (b) a polypeptide comprising at least 80% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 2 where the % sequence identity is determined by BLAST 2.0 using default parameters; (c) a polypeptide encoded by a nucleic acid of the present invention; and (d) a polypeptide characterized by SEQ ID NO: 2.
In further aspect, the present invention relates to a method of modulating the level of protein in a plant by introducing into a plant cell a recombinant expression cassette comprising a polynucleotide of the present invention operably linked to a promoter; culturing the plant cell under plant growing conditions to produce a regenerated plant; and inducing expression of the polynucleotide for a time sufficient to modulate the protein of the present invention in the plant. Preferred plants of the present invention include but are not limited to maize, soybean, sunflower, sorghum, canola, wheat, alfalfa, cotton, rice, barley, and millet. The level of protein in the plant can either be increased or decreased.
Units, prefixes, and symbols may be denoted in their SI accepted form. Unless otherwise indicated, nucleic acids are written left to right in 5xe2x80x2 to 3xe2x80x2 orientation; amino acid sequences are written left to right in amino to carboxy orientation, respectively. Numeric ranges are inclusive of the numbers defining the range. Amino acids may be referred to herein by either their commonly known three letter symbols or by the one-letter symbols recommended by the IUPAC-IUB Biochemical Nomenclature Commission. Nucleotides, likewise, may be referred to by their commonly accepted single-letter codes. The terms defined below are more fully defined by reference to the specification as a whole.
By xe2x80x9camplifiedxe2x80x9d is meant the construction of multiple copies of a nucleic acid sequence or multiple copies complementary to the nucleic acid sequence using at least one of the nucleic acid sequences as a template. Amplification systems include the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) system, ligase chain reaction (LCR) system, nucleic acid sequence based amplification (NASBA, Cangene, Mississauga, Ontario), Q-Beta Replicase systems, transcription-based amplification system (TAS), and strand displacement amplification (SDA). See, e.g., Diagnostic Molecular Microbiology: Principles and Applications, D. H. Persing et al., Ed., American Society for Microbiology, Washington, D.C. (1993). The product of amplification is termed an amplicon.
The term xe2x80x9cantibodyxe2x80x9d includes reference to antigen binding forms of antibodies (e.g., Fab, F(ab)2). The term xe2x80x9cantibodyxe2x80x9d frequently refers to a polypeptide substantially encoded by an immunoglobulin gene or immunoglobulin genes, or fragments thereof which specifically bind and recognize an analyte (antigen). However, while various antibody fragments can be defined in terms of the digestion of an intact antibody, one of skill will appreciate that such fragments may be synthesized de novo either chemically or by utilizing recombinant DNA methodology. Thus, the term antibody, as used herein, also includes antibody fragments such as single chain Fv, chimeric antibodies (i.e., comprising constant and variable regions from different species), humanized antibodies (i.e., comprising a complementarity determining region (CDR) from a non-human source) and heteroconjugate antibodies (e.g., bispecific antibodies).
The term xe2x80x9cantigenxe2x80x9d includes reference to a substance to which an antibody can be generated and/or to which the antibody is specifically immunoreactive. The specific immunoreactive sites within the antigen are known as epitopes or antigenic determinants. These epitopes can be a linear array of monomers in a polymeric compositionxe2x80x94such as amino acids in a proteinxe2x80x94or consist of or comprise a more complex secondary or tertiary structure. Those of skill will recognize that all immunogens (i.e., substance capable of eliciting an immune response) are antigens; however some antigens, such as haptens, are not immunogens but may be made immunogenic by coupling to a carrier molecule. An antibody immunologically reactive with a particular antigen can be generated in vivo or by recombinant methods such as selection of libraries of recombinant antibodies in phage or similar vectors. See, e.g., Huse et al., Science 246: 1275-1281 (1989); and Ward, et al., Nature 341: 544-546 (1989); and Vaughan et al., Nature Biotech. 14: 309-314 (1996).
As used herein, xe2x80x9cantisense orientationxe2x80x9d includes reference to a duplex polynucleotide sequence which is operably linked to a promoter in an orientation where the antisense strand is transcribed. The antisense strand is sufficiently complementary to an endogenous transcription product such that translation of the endogenous transcription product is often inhibited.
As used herein, xe2x80x9cchromosomal regionxe2x80x9d includes reference to a length of chromosome which may be measured by reference to the linear segment of DNA which it comprises. The chromosomal region can be defined by reference to two unique DNA sequences, i.e., markers.
The term xe2x80x9cconservatively modified variantsxe2x80x9d applies to both amino acid and nucleic acid sequences. With respect to particular nucleic acid sequences, conservatively modified variants refers to those nucleic acids which encode identical or conservatively modified variants of the amino acid sequences. Because of the degeneracy of the genetic code, a large number of functionally identical nucleic acids encode any given protein. For instance, the codons GCA, GCC, GCG and GCU all encode the amino acid alanine. Thus, at every position where an alanine is specified by a codon, the codon can be altered to any of the corresponding codons described without altering the encoded polypeptide. Such nucleic acid variations are xe2x80x9csilent variationsxe2x80x9d and represent one species of conservatively modified variation. Every nucleic acid sequence herein which encodes a polyp eptide also describes every possible silent variation of the nucleic acid. One of ordinary skill will recognize that each codon in a nucleic acid (except AUG, which is ordinarily the only codon for methionine) can be modified to yield a functionally identical molecule. Accordingly, each silent variation of a nucleic acid which encodes a polypeptide of the present invention is implicit in each described polypeptide sequence and incorporated herein by reference.
As to amino acid sequences, one of skill will recognize that individual substitutions, deletions or additions to a nucleic acid, peptide, polypeptide, or protein sequence which alters, adds or deletes a single amino acid or a small percentage of amino acids in the encoded sequence is a xe2x80x9cconservatively modified variantxe2x80x9d where the alteration results in the substitution of an amino acid with a chemically similar amino acid. Thus, any number of amino acid residues selected from the group of integers consisting of from 1 to 15 can be so altered. Thus, for example, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, or 10 alterations can be made. Conservatively modified variants typically provide similar biological activity as the umnmodified polypeptide sequence from which they are derived. For example, substrate specificity, enzyme activity, or ligand/receptor binding is generally at least 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, or 90% of the native protein for it""s native substrate. Conservative substitution tables providing functionally similar amino acids are well known in the art.
The following six groups each contain amino acids that are conservative substitutions for one another:
1) Alanine (A), Serine (S), Threonine (T);
2) Aspartic acid (D), Glutamic acid (E);
3) Asparagine (N), Glutamine (Q);
4) Arginine (R), Lysine (K);
5) Isoleucine (I), Leucine (L), Methionine (M), Valine (V); and
6) Phenylalanine (F), Tyrosine (Y), Tryptophan (W).
See also, Creighton (1984) Proteins W. H. Freeman and Company.
As used herein, xe2x80x9cconsisting essentially ofxe2x80x9d means the inclusion of additional sequences to an object polynucleotide where the additional sequences do not selectively hybridize, under stringent hybridization conditions, to the same cDNA as the polynucleotide and where the hybridization conditions include a wash step in 0.1xc3x97SSC at 60xc2x0 C.
By xe2x80x9cencodingxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9cencodedxe2x80x9d, with respect to a specified nucleic acid, is meant comprising the information for translation into the specified protein. A nucleic acid encoding a protein may comprise non-translated sequences (e.g., introns) within translated regions of the nucleic acid, or may lack such intervening non-translated sequences (e.g., as in cDNA). The information by which a protein is encoded is specified by the use of codons. Typically, the amino acid sequence is encoded by the nucleic acid using the xe2x80x9cuniversalxe2x80x9d genetic code. However, variants of the universal code, such as is present in some plant, animal, and fungal mitochondria, the bacterium Mycoplasma capricolum (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. (USA), 82: 2306-2309 (1985)), or the ciliate Macronucleus, may be used when the nucleic acid is expressed using these organisms.
When the nucleic acid is prepared or altered synthetically, advantage can be taken of known codon preferences of the intended host where the nucleic acid is to be expressed. For example, although nucleic acid sequences of the present invention may be expressed in both monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous plant species, sequences can be modified to account for the specific codon preferences and GC content preferences of monocotyledons or dicotyledons as these preferences have been shown to differ (Murray et al. Nucl. Acids Res. 17: 477-498 (1989)). Thus, the maize preferred codon for a particular amino acid may be derived from known gene sequences from maize. Maize codon usage for 28 genes from maize plants are listed in Table 4 of Murray et al., supra.
As used herein xe2x80x9cfull-length sequencexe2x80x9d in reference to a specified polynucleotide or its encoded protein means having the entire amino acid sequence of, a native (non-synthetic), endogenous, catalytically active form of the specified protein. A full-length sequence can be determined by size comparison relative to a control which is a native (non-synthetic) endogenous cellular form of the specified nucleic acid or protein. Methods to determine whether a sequence is full-length are well known in the art including such exemplary techniques as northern or western blots, primer extension, S1 protection, and ribonuclease protection. See, e.g., Plant Molecular Biology: A Laboratory Manual, Clark, Ed., Springer-Verlag, Berlin (1997). Comparison to known full-length homologous (orthologous and/or paralogous) sequences can also be used to identify full-length sequences of the present invention. Additionally, consensus sequences typically present at the 5xe2x80x2 and 3xe2x80x2 untranslated regions of MRNA aid in the identification of a polynucleotide as full-length. For example, the consensus sequence ANNNNAUGG, where the underlined codon represents the N-terminal methionine, aids in determining whether the polynucleotide has a complete 5xe2x80x2 end. Consensus sequences at the 3xe2x80x2 end, such as polyadenylation sequences, aid in determining whether the polynucleotide has a complete 3xe2x80x2 end.
As used herein, xe2x80x9cheterologousxe2x80x9d in reference to a nucleic acid is a nucleic acid that originates from a foreign species, or, if from the same species, is substantially modified from its native form in composition and/or genomic locus by deliberate human intervention. For example, a promoter operably linked to a heterologous structural gene is from a species different from that from which the structural gene was derived, or, if from the same species, one or both are substantially modified from their original form. A heterologous protein may originate from a foreign species or, if from the same species, is substantially modified from its original form by deliberate human intervention.
By xe2x80x9chost cellxe2x80x9d is meant a cell which contains a vector and supports the replication and/or expression of the expression vector. Host cells may be prokaryotic cells such as E. coli, or eukaryotic cells such as yeast, insect, amphibian, or mammalian cells. Preferably, host cells are monocotyledonous or dicotyledenous plant cells. A particularly preferred monocotolydenous host cell is a maize host cell.
The term xe2x80x9chybridization complexxe2x80x9d includes reference to a duplex nucleic acid structure formed by two single-stranded nucleic acid sequences selectively hybridized with each other.
The term xe2x80x9cintroducedxe2x80x9d in the context of inserting a nucleic acid into a cell, means xe2x80x9ctransfectionxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9ctransformationxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9ctransductionxe2x80x9d and includes reference to the incorporation of a nucleic acid into a eukaryotic or prokaryotic cell where the nucleic acid may be incorporated into the genome of the cell (e.g., chromosome, plasmid, plastid or mitochondrial DNA), converted into an autonomous replicon, or transiently expressed (e.g., transfected MRNA).
The terms xe2x80x9cisolatedxe2x80x9d refers to material, such as a nucleic acid or a protein, which is: (1) substantially or essentially free from components which normally accompany or interact with it as found in its naturally occurring environment. The isolated material optionally comprises material not found with the material in its natural environment; or (2) if the material is in its natural environment, the material has been synthetically (non-naturally) altered by deliberate human intervention to a composition and/or placed at a locus in the cell (e.g., genome or subcellular organelle) not native to a material found in that environment. The alteration to yield the synthetic material can be performed on the material within or removed from its natural state. For example, a naturally occurring nucleic acid becomes an isolated nucleic acid if it is altered, or if it is transcribed from DNA which has been altered, by non-natural, synthetic (i.e., xe2x80x9cman-madexe2x80x9d) methods performed within the cell from which it originates. See, e.g., Compounds and Methods for Site Directed Mutagenesis in Eukaryotic Cells, Kmiec, U.S. Pat. No. 5,565,350; In Vivo Homologous Sequence Targeting in Eukaryotic Cells; Zarling et al., PCTJUS93/03868. Likewise, a naturally occurring nucleic acid (e.g., a promoter) becomes isolated if it is introduced by non-naturally occurring means to a locus of the genome not native to that nucleic acid. Nucleic acids which are xe2x80x9cisolatedxe2x80x9d as defined herein, are also referred to as xe2x80x9cheterologousxe2x80x9d nucleic acids.
Unless otherwise stated, the term xe2x80x9cexo- or endoglucanase nucleic acidxe2x80x9d means a nucleic acid comprising a polynucleotide (xe2x80x9cexo- or endoglucanase polynucleotidexe2x80x9d) encoding a exo- or endoglucanase polypeptide. A xe2x80x9cexo- or endoglucanase genexe2x80x9d refers to a non-heterologous genomic form of a full-length exo- or endoglucanase polynucleotide.
As used herein, xe2x80x9clocalized within the chromosomal region defined by and includingxe2x80x9d with respect to particular markers includes reference to a contiguous length of a chromosome delimited by and including the stated markers.
As used herein, xe2x80x9cmarkerxe2x80x9d includes reference to a locus on a chromosome that serves to identify a unique position on the chromosome. A xe2x80x9cpolymorphic markerxe2x80x9d includes reference to a marker which appears in multiple forms (alleles) such that different forms of the marker, when they are present in a homologous pair, allow transmission of each of the chromosomes in that pair to be followed. A genotype may be defined by use of one or a plurality of markers.
As used herein, xe2x80x9cnucleic acidxe2x80x9d includes reference to a deoxyribonucleotide or ribonucleotide polymer in either single- or double-stranded form, and unless otherwise limited, encompasses known analogues having the essential nature of natural nucleotides in that they hybridize to single-stranded nucleic acids in a manner similar to naturally occurring nucleotides (e.g., peptide nucleic acids).
By xe2x80x9cnucleic acid libraryxe2x80x9d is meant a collection of isolated DNA or RNA molecules which comprise and substantially represent the entire transcribed fraction of a genome of a specified organism. Construction of exemplary nucleic acid libraries, such as genomic and cDNA libraries, is taught in standard molecular biology references such as Berger and Kimmel, Guide to Molecular Cloning Techniques, Methods in Enzymology, Vol. 152, Academic Press, Inc., San Diego, Calif. (Berger); Sambrook et al., Molecular Cloningxe2x80x94A Laboratory Manual, 2nd ed., Vol. 1-3 (1989); and Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, F. M. Ausubel et al., Eds., Current Protocols, a joint venture between Greene Publishing Associates, Inc. and John Wiley and Sons, Inc. (1994 Supplement).
As used herein xe2x80x9coperably linkedxe2x80x9d includes reference to a functional linkage between a promoter and a second sequence, wherein the promoter sequence initiates and mediates transcription of the DNA sequence corresponding to the second sequence. Generally, operably linked means that the nucleic acid sequences being linked are contiguous and, where necessary to join two protein coding regions, contiguous and in the same reading frame.
As used herein, the term xe2x80x9cplantxe2x80x9d includes reference to whole plants, plant organs (e.g., leaves, stems, roots, etc.), seeds and plant cells and progeny of same. Plant cell, as used herein includes, without limitation, seeds, suspension cultures, embryos, meristematic regions, callus tissue, leaves, roots, shoots, gametophytes, sporophytes, pollen, and microspores. The class of plants, which can be used in the methods of the invention, is generally as broad as the class of higher plants amenable to transformation techniques, including both monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous plants. Preferred plants include, but are not limited to maize, soybean, sunflower, sorghum, canola, wheat, alfalfa, cotton, rice, barley, and millet. A particularly preferred plant is maize (Zea mays).
As used herein, xe2x80x9cpolynucleotidexe2x80x9d includes reference to a deoxyribopolynucleotide, ribopolynucleotide, or analogs thereof that have the essential nature of a natural ribonucleotide in that they hybridize, under stringent hybridization conditions, to substantially the same nucleotide sequence as naturally occurring nucleotides and/or allow translation into the same amino acid(s) as the naturally occurring nucleotide(s). A polynucleotide can be full-length or a subsequence of a native or heterologous structural or regulatory gene. Unless otherwise indicated, the term includes reference to the specified sequence as well as the complementary sequence thereof. Thus, DNAs or RNAs with backbones modified for stability or for other reasons are xe2x80x9cpolynucleotidesxe2x80x9d as that term is intended herein. Moreover, DNAs or RNAs comprising unusual bases, such as inosine, or modified bases, such as tritylated bases, to name just two examples, are polynucleotides as the term is used herein. It will be appreciated that a great variety of modifications have been made to DNA and RNA that serve many useful purposes known to those of skill in the art. The term polynucleotide as it is employed herein embraces such chemically, enzymatically or metabolically modified forms of polynucleotides, as well as the chemical forms of DNA and RNA characteristic of viruses and cells, including among other things, simple and complex cells.
The terms xe2x80x9cpolypeptidexe2x80x9d, xe2x80x9cpeptidexe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9cproteinxe2x80x9d are used interchangeably herein to refer to a polymer of amino acid residues. The terms apply to amino acid polymers in which one or more amino acid residue is an artificial chemical analogue of a corresponding naturally occurring amino acid, as well as to naturally occurring amino acid polymers. The essential nature of such analogues of naturally occurring amino acids is that, when incorporated into a protein, that protein is specifically reactive to antibodies elicited to the same protein but consisting entirely of naturally occurring amino acids. The terms xe2x80x9cpolypeptidexe2x80x9d, xe2x80x9cpeptidexe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9cproteinxe2x80x9d are also inclusive of modifications including, but not limited to, glycosylation, lipid attachment, sulfation, gamma-carboxylation of glutamic acid residues, hydroxylation and ADP-ribosylation. Exemplary modifications are described in most basic texts, such as, Proteinsxe2x80x94Structure and Molecular Properties, 2nd ed., T. E. Creighton, W. H. Freeman and Company, New York (1993). Many detailed reviews are available on this subject, such as, for example, those provided by Wold, F., Posttranslational Protein Modifications: Perspectives and Prospects, pp. 1-12 in Posttranslational Covalent Modification of proteins, B. C. Johnson, Ed., Academic Press, New York (1983); Seifter et al., Meth. Enzymol. 182: 626-646 (1990) and Rattan et al., Protein Synthesis: Posttranslational Modifications and Aging, Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 663: 48-62 (1992). It will be appreciated, as is well known and as noted above, that polypeptides are not always entirely linear. For instance, polypeptides may be branched as a result of ubiquitination, and they may be circular, with or without branching, generally as a result of posttranslation events, including natural processing event and events brought about by human manipulation which do not occur naturally. Circular, branched and branched circular polypeptides may be synthesized by non-translation natural process and by entirely synthetic methods, as well. Modifications can occur anywhere in a polypeptide, including the peptide backbone, the amino acid side-chains and the amino or carboxyl termini. In fact, blockage of the amino or carboxyl group in a polypeptide, or both, by a covalent modification, is common in naturally occurring and synthetic polypeptides and such modifications may be present in polypeptides of the present invention, as well. For instance, the amino terminal residue of polypeptides made in E. coli or other cells, prior to proteolytic processing, almost invariably will be N-formylmethionine. During post-translational modification of the peptide, a methionine residue at the NH2-terminus may be deleted. Accordingly, this invention contemplates the use of both the methionine-containing and the methionineless amino terminal variants of the protein of the invention. In general, as used herein, the term polypeptide encompasses all such modifications, particularly those that are present in polypeptides synthesized by expressing a polynucleotide in a host cell.
As used herein xe2x80x9cpromoterxe2x80x9d includes reference to a region of DNA upstream from the start of transcription and involved in recognition and binding of RNA polymerase and other proteins to initiate transcription. A xe2x80x9cplant promoterxe2x80x9d is a promoter capable of initiating transcription in plant cells whether nor not its origin is a plant cell. Exemplary plant promoters include, but are not limited to, those that are obtained from plants, plant viruses, and bacteria which comprise genes expressed in plant cells such Agrobacterium or Rhizobium. Examples of promoters under developmental control include promoters that preferentially initiate transcription in certain tissues, such as leaves, roots, or seeds. Such promoters are referred to as xe2x80x9ctissue preferredxe2x80x9d. Promoters which initiate transcription only in certain tissue are referred to as xe2x80x9ctissue specificxe2x80x9d. A xe2x80x9ccell typexe2x80x9d specific promoter primarily drives expression in certain cell types in one or more organs, for example, vascular cells in roots or leaves. An xe2x80x9cinduciblexe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9crepressiblexe2x80x9d promoter is a promoter, which is under environmental control. Examples of environmental conditions that may effect transcription by inducible promoters include anaerobic conditions or the presence of light. Tissue specific, tissue preferred, cell type specific, and inducible promoters constitute the class of xe2x80x9cnon-constitutivexe2x80x9d promoters. A xe2x80x9cconstitutivexe2x80x9d promoter is a promoter, which is active under most environmental conditions.
The term xe2x80x9cexo- or endoglucanase polypeptidexe2x80x9d refers to one or more amino acid sequences, in glycosylated or non-glycosylated form, involved in the exo- or endoglucanase pathway. The term is also inclusive of fragments, variants, homologs, alleles or precursors (e.g., preproproteins or proproteins) thereof. A xe2x80x9cexo- or endoglucanase proteinxe2x80x9d comprises a exo- or endoglucanase polypeptide.
As used herein xe2x80x9crecombinantxe2x80x9d includes reference to a cell or vector, that has been modified by the introduction of a heterologous nucleic acid or that the cell is derived from a cell so modified. Thus, for example, recombinant cells express genes that are not found in identical form within the native (non-recombinant) form of the cell or express native genes that are otherwise abnormally expressed, under expressed or not expressed at all as a result of deliberate human intervention. The term xe2x80x9crecombinantxe2x80x9d as used herein does not encompass the alteration of the cell or vector by naturally occurring events (e.g., spontaneous mutation, natural transformation/transduction/transposition) such as those occurring without deliberate human intervention.
As used herein, a xe2x80x9crecombinant expression cassettexe2x80x9d is a nucleic acid construct, generated recombinantly or synthetically, with a series of specified nucleic acid elements which permit transcription of a particular nucleic acid in a target cell. The recombinant expression cassette can be incorporated into a plasmid, chromosome, mitochondrial DNA, plastid DNA, virus, or nucleic acid fragment. Typically, the recombinant expression cassette portion of an expression vector includes, among other sequences, a nucleic acid to be transcribed, and a promoter.
The term xe2x80x9cresiduexe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9camino acid residuexe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9camino acidxe2x80x9d are used interchangeably herein to refer to an amino acid that is incorporated into a protein, polypeptide, or peptide (collectively xe2x80x9cproteinxe2x80x9d). The amino acid may be a naturally occurring amino acid and, unless otherwise limited, may encompass known analogs of natural amino acids that can function in a similar manner as naturally occurring amino acids.
The term xe2x80x9cselectively hybridizesxe2x80x9d includes reference to hybridization, under stringent hybridization conditions, of a nucleic acid sequence to a specified nucleic acid target sequence to a detectably greater degree (e.g., at least 2-fold over background) than its hybridization to non-target nucleic acid sequences and to the substantial exclusion of non-target nucleic acids. Selectively hybridizing sequences typically have about at least 80% sequence identity, preferably 90% sequence identity, and most preferably 100% sequence identity (i.e., complementary) with each other.
The terms xe2x80x9cstringent conditionsxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9cstringent hybridization conditionsxe2x80x9d includes reference to conditions under which a probe will hybridize to its target sequence, to a detectably greater degree than other sequences (e.g., at least 2-fold over background). Stringent conditions are sequence-dependent and will be different in different circumstances. By controlling the stringency of the hybridization and/or washing conditions, target sequences can be identified which are up to 100% complementary to the probe (homologous probing). Alternatively, stringency conditions can be adjusted to allow some mismatching in sequences so that lower degrees of similarity are detected (heterologous probing). Optimally, the probe is approximately 500 nucleotides in length, but can vary greatly in length from less than 500 nucleotides to equal to the entire length of the target sequence.
Typically, stringent conditions will be those in which the salt concentration is less than about 1.5 M Na ion, typically about 0.01 to 1.0 M Na ion concentration (or other salts) at pH 7.0 to 8.3 and the temperature is at least about 30xc2x0 C. for short probes (e.g., 10 to 50 nucleotides) and at least about 60xc2x0 C. for long probes (e.g., greater than 50 nucleotides). Stringent conditions may also be achieved with the addition of destabilizing agents such as formamide. Exemplary low stringency conditions include hybridization with a buffer solution of 30 to 35% formamide, 1 M NaCl, 1% SDS (sodium dodecyl sulphate) at 37xc2x0 C., and a wash in 1xc3x97 to 2xc3x97SSC (20xc3x97SSC=3.0 M NaCl/0.3 M trisodium citrate) at 50 to 55xc2x0 C. Exemplary moderate stringency conditions include hybridization in 40 to 45% formamide, 1 M NaCl, 1% SDS at 37xc2x0 C., and a wash in 0.5xc3x97 to 1xc3x97SSC at 55 to 60xc2x0 C. Exemplary high stringency conditions include hybridization in 50% formamide, 1 M NaCl, 1% SDS at 37xc2x0 C., and a wash in 0.1xc3x97 SSC at 60 to 65xc2x0 C. Unless otherwise stated, in the present application high stringency is defined as hybridization in 4xc3x97SSC, 5xc3x97Denhardt""s (5 g Ficoll, 5 g polyvinypyrrolidone, 5 g bovine serum albumin in 500 ml of water), 0.1 mg/ml boiled salmon sperm DNA, and 25 mM Na phosphate at 65xc2x0 C., and a wash in 0.1xc3x97SSC, 0.1% SDS at 65xc2x0 C.
Specificity is typically the function of post-hybridization washes, the critical factors being the ionic strength and temperature of the final wash solution. For DNA-DNA hybrids, the Tm can be approximated from the equation of Meinkoth and Wahl, Anal. Biochem., 138:267-284 (1984): Tm=81.5xc2x0 C.+16.6 (log M)+0.41 (%GC)xe2x88x920.61 (% form)xe2x88x92500/L; where M is the molarity of monovalent cations, %GC is the percentage of guanosine and cytosine nucleotides in the DNA, % form is the percentage of formamide in the hybridization solution, and L is the length of the hybrid in base pairs. The Tm is the temperature (under defined ionic strength and pH) at which 50% of a complementary target sequence hybridizes to a perfectly matched probe. Tm is reduced by about 1xc2x0 C. for each 1% of mismatching; thus, Tm, hybridization and/or wash conditions can be adjusted to hybridize to sequences of the desired identity. For example, if sequences with xe2x89xa790% identity are sought, the Tm can be decreased 10xc2x0 C. Generally, stringent conditions are selected to be about 5xc2x0 C. lower than the thermal melting point (Tm) for the specific sequence and its complement at a defined ionic strength and pH. However, severely stringent conditions can utilize a hybridization and/or wash at 1, 2, 3, or 4xc2x0 C. lower than the thermal melting point (Tm); moderately stringent conditions can can utilize a hybridization and/or wash at 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10xc2x0 C. lower than the thermal melting point (Tm); low stringency conditions can utilize a hybridization and/or wash at 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, or 20xc2x0 C. lower than the thermal melting point (Tm). Using the equation, hybridization and wash compositions, and desired Tm, those of ordinary skill will understand that variations in the stringency of hybridization and/or wash solutions are inherently described. If the desired degree of mismatchng results in a Tm of less than 45xc2x0 C. (aqueous solution) or 32xc2x0 C. (formamide solution) it is preferred to increase the SSC concentration so that a higher temperature can be used. An extensive guide to the hybridization of nucleic acids is found in Tijssen, Laboratory Techniques in Biochemistry and Molecular Biologyxe2x80x94Hybridization with Nucleic Acid Probes, Part I, Chapter 2 xe2x80x9cOverview of principles of hybridization and the strategy of nucleic acid probe assaysxe2x80x9d, Elsevier, N.Y. (1993); and Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Chapter 2, Ausubel, et al., Eds., Greene Publishing and Wiley-Interscience, New York (1995).
As used herein, xe2x80x9ctransgenic plantxe2x80x9d includes reference to a plant which comprises within its genome a heterologous polynucleotide. Generally, the heterologous polynucleotide is stably integrated within the genome such that the polynucleotide is passed on to successive generations. The heterologous polynucleotide may be integrated into the genome alone or as part of a recombinant expression cassette. xe2x80x9cTransgenicxe2x80x9d is used herein to include any cell, cell line, callus, tissue, plant part or plant, the genotype of which has been altered by the presence of heterologous nucleic acid including those transgenics initially so altered as well as those created by sexual crosses or asexual propagation from the initial transgenic. The term xe2x80x9ctransgenicxe2x80x9d as used herein does not encompass the alteration of the genome (chromosomal or extra-chromosomal) by conventional plant breeding methods or by naturally occurring events such as random cross-fertilization, non-recombinant viral infection, non-recombinant bacterial transformation, non-recombinant transposition, or spontaneous mutation.
As used herein, xe2x80x9cvectorxe2x80x9d includes reference to a nucleic acid used in transfection or transformation of a host cell and into which can be inserted a polynucleotide. Vectors are often replicons. Expression vectors permit transcription and translation of a nucleic acid inserted therein.
The following terms are used to describe the sequence relationships between two or more nucleic acids or polynucleotides: (a) xe2x80x9creference sequencexe2x80x9d, (b) xe2x80x9ccomparison windowxe2x80x9d, (c) xe2x80x9csequence identityxe2x80x9d, (d) xe2x80x9cpercentage of sequence identityxe2x80x9d, and (e) xe2x80x9csubstantial identityxe2x80x9d.
(a) As used herein, xe2x80x9creference sequencexe2x80x9d is a defined sequence used as a basis for sequence comparison. A reference sequence may be a subset or the entirety of a specified sequence; for example, as a segment of a full-length cDNA or gene sequence, or the complete cDNA or gene sequence.
(b) As used herein, xe2x80x9ccomparison windowxe2x80x9d means includes reference to a contiguous and specified segment of a polynucleotide sequence, wherein the polynucleotide sequence may be compared to a reference sequence and wherein the portion of the polynucleotide sequence in the comparison window may comprise additions or deletions (i.e., gaps) compared to the reference sequence (which does not comprise additions or deletions) for optimal alignment of the two sequences. Generally, the comparison window is at least 20 contiguous nucleotides in length, and optionally can be 30, 40, 50, 100, or longer. Those of skill in the art understand that to avoid a high similarity to a reference sequence due to inclusion of gaps in the polynucleotide sequence a gap penalty is typically introduced and is subtracted from the number of matches.
Methods of alignment of nucleotide and amino acid sequences for comparison are well-known in the art. Optimal alignment of sequences for comparison may be conducted by the local homology algorithm (Best Fit) of Smith and Waterman, Adv. Appl. Math. 2: 482 (1981); by the homology alignment algorithm (GAP) of Needleman and Wunsch, J. Mol. Biol. 48: 443 (1970); by the search for similarity method (Tfasta and Fasta) of Pearson and Lipman, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 85: 2444 (1988); by computerized implementations of these algorithms, including, but not limited to: CLUSTAL in the PC/Gene program by Intelligenetics, Mountain View, Calif., GAP, BESTFIT, BLAST, FASTA, and TFASTA in the Wisconsin Genetics Software Package, Genetics Computer Group (GCG), 575 Science Dr., Madison, Wis., USA; the CLUSTAL program is well described by Higgins and Sharp, Gene 73: 237-244 (1988); Higgins and Sharp, CABIOS 5: 151-153 (1989); Corpet, et al., Nucleic Acids Research 16: 10881-90 (1988); Huang, et al., Computer Applications in the Biosciences 8: 155-65 (1992), and Pearson, et al., Methods in Molecular Biology 24: 307-331 (1994). The preferred program to use for optimal global alignment of multiple sequences is PileUp (Feng and Doolittle, Journal of Molecular Evolution, 25:351-360 (1987) which is similar to the method described by Higgins and Sharp, CABIOS, 5:151-153 (1989) and hereby incorporated by reference). The BLAST family of programs which can be used for database similarity searches includes: BLASTN for nucleotide query sequences against nucleotide database sequences; BLASTX for nucleotide query sequences against protein database sequences; BLASTP for protein query sequences against protein database sequences; TBLASTN for protein query sequences against nucleotide database sequences; and TBLASTX for nucleotide query sequences against nucleotide database sequences. See, Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Chapter 19, Ausubel, et al., Eds., Greene Publishing and Wiley-Interscience, New York (1995).
Unless otherwise stated, sequence identity/similarity values provided herein refer to the value obtained using the BLAST 2.0 suite of programs using default parameters (Altschul et al., Nucleic Acids Res. 25:3389-3402 (1997)). Software for performing BLAST analyses is publicly available, e.g., through the National Center for Biotechnology Information (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/). This algorithm involves first identifying high scoring sequence pairs (HSPs) by identifying short words of length W in the query sequence, which either match or satisfy some positive-valued threshold score T when aligned with a word of the same length in a database sequence. T is referred to as the neighborhood word score threshold (Altschul et al., supra). These initial neighborhood word hits act as seeds for initiating searches to find longer HSPs containing them. The word hits are then extended in both directions along each sequence for as far as the cumulative alignment score can be increased. Cumulative scores are calculated using, for nucleotide sequences, the parameters M (reward score for a pair of matching residues; always  greater than 0) and N (penalty score for mismatching residues; always  less than 0). Forsamino acid sequences, a scoring matrix is used to calculate the cumulative score. Extension of the word hits in each direction are halted when: the cumulative alignment score falls off by the quantity X from its maximum achieved value; the cumulative score goes to zero or below, due to the accumulation of one or more negative-scoring residue alignments; or the end of either sequence is reached. The BLAST algorithm parameters W, T, and X determine the sensitivity and speed of the alignment. The BLASTN program (for nucleotide sequences) uses as defaults a wordlength (W) of 11, an expectation (E) of 10, a cutoff of 100, M=5, N=xe2x88x924, and a comparison of both strands. For amino acid sequences, the BLASTP program uses as defaults a wordlength (W) of 3, an expectation (E) of 10, and the BLOSUM62 scoring matrix (see Henikoff and Henikoff (1989) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89:10915).
In addition to calculating percent sequence identity, the BLAST algorithm also performs a statistical analysis of the similarity between two sequences (see, e.g., Karlin and Altschul, Proc. Nat""l. Acad. Sci. USA 90:5873-5787 (1993)). One measure of similarity provided by the BLAST algorithm is the smallest sum probability (P(N)), which provides an indication of the probability by which a match between two nucleotide or amino acid sequences would occur by chance.
BLAST searches assume that proteins can be modeled as random sequences. However, many real proteins comprise regions of nonrandom sequences which may be homopolymeric tracts, short-period repeats, or regions enriched in one or more amino acids. Such low-complexity regions may be aligned between unrelated proteins even though other regions of the protein are entirely dissimilar. A number of low-complexity filter programs can be employed to reduce such low-complexity alignments. For example, the SEG (Wooten and Federhen, Comput. Chem., 17:149-163 (1993)) and XNU (Claverie and States, Comput. Chem., 17:191-201 (1993)) low-complexity filters can be employed alone or in combination.
(c) As used herein, xe2x80x9csequence identityxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9cidentityxe2x80x9d in the context of two nucleic acid or polypeptide sequences includes reference to the residues in the two sequences which are the same when aligned for maximum correspondence over a specified comparison window. When percentage of sequence identity is used in reference to proteins it is recognized that residue positions which are not identical often differ by conservative amino acid substitutions, where amino acid residues are substituted for other amino acid residues with similar chemical properties (e.g. charge or hydrophobicity) and therefore do not change the functional properties of the molecule. Where sequences differ in conservative substitutions, the percent sequence identity may be adjusted upwards to correct for the conservative nature of the substitution. Sequences which differ by such conservative substitutions are said to have xe2x80x9csequence similarityxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9csimilarityxe2x80x9d. Means for making this adjustment are well-known to those of skill in the art. Typically this involves scoring a conservative substitution as a partial rather than a fall mismatch, thereby increasing the percentage sequence identity. Thus, for example, where an identical amino acid is given a score of 1 and a non-conservative substitution is given a score of zero, a conservative substitution is given a score between zero and 1. The scoring of conservative substitutions is calculated, e.g., according to the algorithm of Meyers and Miller, Computer Applic. Biol. Sci., 4: 11-17 (1988) e.g., as implemented in the program PC/GENE (Intelligenetics, Mountain View, Calif., USA).
(d) As used herein, xe2x80x9cpercentage of sequence identityxe2x80x9d means the value determined by comparing two optimally aligned sequences over a comparison window, wherein the portion of the polynucleotide sequence in the comparison window may comprise additions or deletions (i.e., gaps) as compared to the reference sequence (which does not comprise additions or deletions) for optimal alignment of the two sequences. The percentage is calculated by determining the number of positions at which the identical nucleic acid base or amino acid residue occurs in both sequences to yield the number of matched positions, dividing the number of matched positions by the total number of positions in the window of comparison and multiplying the result by 100 to yield the percentage of sequence identity.
(e) (i) The term xe2x80x9csubstantial identityxe2x80x9d of polynucleotide sequences means that a polynucleotide comprises a sequence that has at least 70% sequence identity, preferably at least 80%, more preferably at least 90% and most preferably at least 95%, compared to a reference sequence using one of the alignment programs described using standard parameters. One of skill will recognize that these values can be appropriately adjusted to determine corresponding identity of proteins encoded by two nucleotide sequences by taking into account codon degeneracy, amino acid similarity, reading frame positioning and the like. Substantial identity of amino acid sequences for these purposes normally means sequence identity of at least 60%, more preferably at least 70%, 80%, 90%, and most preferably at least 95%.
Another indication that nucleotide sequences are substantially identical is if two molecules hybridize to each other under stringent conditions. However, nucleic acids which do not hybridize to each other under stringent conditions are still substantially identical if the polypeptides which they encode are substantially identical. This may occur, e.g., when a copy of a nucleic acid is created using the maximum codon degeneracy permitted by the genetic code. One indication that two nucleic acid sequences are substantially identical is that the polypeptide which the first nucleic acid encodes is immunologically cross reactive with the polypeptide encoded by the second nucleic acid.
(e) (ii) The terms xe2x80x9csubstantial identityxe2x80x9d in the context of a peptide indicates that a peptide comprises a sequence with at least 70% sequence identity to a reference sequence, preferably 80%, more preferably 85%, most preferably at least 90% or 95% sequence identity to the reference sequence over a specified comparison window. Optionally, optimal alignment is conducted using the homology alignment algorithm of Needleman and Wunsch, J Mol. Biol. 48: 443 (1970). An indication that two peptide sequences are substantially identical is that one peptide is immunologically reactive with antibodies raised against the second peptide. Thus, a peptide is substantially identical to a second peptide, for example, where the two peptides differ only by a conservative substitution. Peptides which are xe2x80x9csubstantially similarxe2x80x9d share sequences as noted above except that residue positions which are not identical may differ by conservative amino acid changes.

Maize endo-1,3;1,4-xcex2-glucanase nucleic acid

The Regents of the University of California


According to example embodiments a transistor includes a channel layer on a substrate, a first channel supply layer on the channel, a depletion layer, a second channel supply layer, source and drain electrodes on the first channel supply layer, and a gate electrode on the depletion layer. The channel includes a 2DEG channel configured to generate a two-dimensional electron gas and a depletion area. The first channel supply layer corresponds to the 2DEG channel and defines an opening that exposes the depletion area. The depletion layer is on the depletion area of the channel layer. The second channel supply layer is between the depletion layer and the depletion area.

1. Field
Example embodiments relate to a power device and/or a manufacturing method thereof, and for example, to a high electron mobility transistor having reduced threshold voltage variation and/or a method of manufacturing the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
A high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) may include compound semiconductors having different polarizabilities. A 2-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) may be formed in a channel layer and used as a carrier. When a HEMT includes a thick AlGaN barrier layer, the concentration of 2DEG in a channel layer may increase so that a current during turn-on, that is, an ON current, may increase. Yet, when the thickness of the AlGaN barrier layer is thick, a degree of an energy band of the AlGaN barrier layer being raised by a depletion layer formed between a gate and the AlGaN barrier layer is small. Thus, the 2DEG may not be completely removed from the channel layer under the gate so that an operation of an enhanced mode (E-mode) of the HEMT may be difficult.
Some HEMTs include a recess in the AlGaN barrier layer under the gate. However, the thickness of the AlGaN barrier layer remaining under the recess may vary in an etch process to form the recess. Accordingly, the thickness of the AlGaN barrier layer remaining under the recess may be different for each HEMT. Accordingly, a threshold voltage Vth for turn-on may vary for each HEMT.

High electron mobility transistor having reduced threshold voltage variation and method of manufacturing the same


A self-regulated water separator provides centrifugal separation of fuel cell product water from oxidant gas. The system uses the flow energy of the fuel cell's two-phase water and oxidant flow stream and a regulated ejector or other reactant circulation pump providing the two-phase fluid flow. The system further uses a means of controlling the water outlet flow rate away from the water separator that uses both the ejector's or reactant pump's supply pressure and a compressibility sensor to provide overall control of separated water flow either back to the separator or away from the separator.

Proton exchange membrane fuel cell power plants are known in the art and have shown great promise as an energy source for the future. The use of such fuel cells has become increasingly important for space flight, both manned and unmanned, to supply power over extended periods of time without the need for often unreliable sources of energy such as solar cells. It is also expected that such fuel cell systems will soon find broad application to terrestrial systems, as well.
In application of fuel cell systems to space flight, a problem exists with the separation of fuel cell product water from circulating oxidant gas in variable gravity conditions. In addition, solutions to this problem must use a minimum of power while providing for safe, reliable, and maintenance-free operation of the device for dealing with product water.
A number of water separators have been suggested in the art for fuel cell systems under normal gravity conditions. Such systems have included motor-driven centrifugal separators, including vortex-type separators; gravity fed separators; certain wicking schemes; bubble-point pressure control for water outlet flow control; and hydrophilic/hydrophobic permeable membrane geometries to accomplish product water separation from a circulating reactant gas stream. However, these known systems either require too much power, are unreliable, are difficult to maintain, or exhibit all of these drawbacks. Further, water separator systems specifically designed for operation on the surface of the earth may not operate efficiently, or even at all, when confronted with conditions of varying gravity.
For example, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,503,944 to Meyer et al., a known problem in the operation of solid polymer, or proton exchange membrane, fuel cells relates to the management of water, both coolant and product water in the cells of the power plant. In a proton exchange membrane fuel cell, product water is formed by the electrochemical reaction at the membrane on the cathode side of the cells by the combination there of hydrogen and oxygen ions. The product water must be drawn away from the cathode side of the cells. However, makeup water must be provided to the anode side of the cells in amounts sufficient to prevent dry out while avoiding flooding of the anode side of the electrolyte membrane.
To address this need in the art, the system shown and described in the Meyer et al. '944 patent uses porous plates physically close to the cathode reaction sites of a fuel cell, whereby the product water produced at the cathode reaction sites travels through the porous plates to the coolant water stream. This transfer is caused by a pressure differential maintained between the oxygen and the coolant water streams. Excess water is removed from the coolant water stream. Control of water from the cathode reaction sites to coolant water passages is accomplished with the use of the "bubble-point" pressure of the porous plates. However, there is no active control of water outlet flow rates, and the use of bubble-point pressures and porous plates is affected by the thickness of the plate, as is the structural capability of the plates. This particular design solution is also difficult to configure initially when filling all the pores of all the plates uniformly with water. Furthermore, it is difficult to recover from a "blow through" condition, which is loss of the water seal in the porous plates due to exceeding the bubble point pressure.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,579,637 to Savage et al. purports to provide a fuel cell system having a compact, efficient, low-pressure-drop water separator for removing liquid water droplets from water-laden system streams. Water separators are necessary at several points within this system. The system described provides a swirling feature that provides for centrifugal separation of water droplets with the use of fixed swirl vanes. The separated water is then driven by the general fluid flow toward a gravity-dependent, float-switch-controlled water outlet valve. Such a system could not function in an application in which zero gravity and high gravity conditions may be variously encountered.
A water separator for use in an earth-bound vehicle is shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,485,854 to Grover et al. The separator includes a variable flow restriction device to be used as an oxygen and water separator. The variable flow restriction is intended to be adjusted to match the water separation needs of the fuel cell system in which it would be used. As with previously described systems, this system relies on gravity for functions of the system, and thus is inappropriate for variable gravity applications.
Thus, there remains a need for a simple, reliable, energy efficient water separator for use in a fuel cell system which must operate in zero gravity or multi-G conditions. The present invention addresses this need in the art.

Water outlet control mechanism for fuel cell system operation in variable gravity environments

United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration


A system, software, and methods related to enhanced pharmaceutical order entry and administration by medical personnel, and enhanced pharmaceutical inventory control within a medical institution are provided. An embodiment of the system includes a pharmaceutical information management server having memory and a medication administration program product including a set of instructions stored in the memory of the pharmaceutical information management server to enhance provision of pharmacy services. The system also includes medical institution physician computers to provide for computerized physician medication order entry, pharmacy computers to provide for review and verification by a pharmacist of electronic medication orders placed through the physician computers, and medical institution nursing unit computers, to provide for review of and input to electronic medication administration records.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to healthcare management systems. More specifically, the present invention relates to a system, software, and related methods for providing pharmaceutical services and inventory control.
2. Description of the Related Art
The approach to healthcare information management systems, in general, has changed significantly over the past few years. Previously mainframe computers with closed system architectures were the only solution. Today's technology uses three-tier client/server open system architectures, enabling: improved system flexibility; fully integrated applications with the ability to use multiple hardware and software vendors; and greatly enhanced information flow. Such integrated healthcare information management systems, typically connected to the computer networks in modern hospitals, allow hospitals to share information among departments and across facilities to enhance patient care.
Despite these advances in healthcare information management systems, hospital information systems typically do not properly integrate pharmacy information services. For example, SAPS® healthcare software provided by the SAP Aktiengesellschaft Corp. and partners T-Systems®, Austria, provides modular hospital information system software that does not include a pharmacy module. In such systems, ordering and delivery of pharmaceuticals typically relies heavily upon the use of manual processes. Written prescription are sent through the hospital mail distribution system to the pharmacy where the physician's order is then entered into a pharmacy's computer system through a dedicated terminal and separately entered into electronic medical records of the hospital information system.
Use of such systems has hampered efficient pharmaceutical order entry, comprehensive clinical and non-clinical checking, electronic recording of medication administrations, maintenance of approved drug formularies, capture of patient allergy information, accurate management of medication inventory, and allocation of healthcare costs to patients and to other cost center users. Improved information communication between the pharmacy and the hospital information system is also required for efficient management of operations and to realize significant cost savings and improved financial management through decision support. Lack of computerized integration with pharmacy hampers integration with automated drug dispensing systems/devices such as the Pyxis MedStation® 2000 by Pyxis Corporation of San Diego, Calif.
Thus, there is a need for an enhanced system integrated into the overall Hospital Information System to provide improved and timely access to drug information, to facilitate computerized physician order entry (CPOE), and to provide pharmacy verification and order management processes, to allow for integration of both inpatient and outpatient clinics, and to improve operations and the safe administration of drugs to patients, to reduce delays, and to streamline the order entry and management process.

System and software of enhanced pharmacy services and related methods


Multi-clad optical fiber cladding light stripper (CLS) comprising an inner cladding with one or more recessed surface regions to remove light propagating within the inner cladding. A CLS may comprise such recessed surface regions along two or more azimuthal angles about the fiber axis, for example to improve stripping efficiency. One or more dimensions, or spatial distribution, of the recessed surface regions may be randomized, for example to improve stripping uniformity across a multiplicity of modes propagating within a cladding. Adjacent recessed surface regions may abut, for example, end-to-end, as segments of a recess that occupies a majority, or even an entirety, of the length of a fiber surrounded by a heat sink. One or more dimensions, or angular position, of individual ones of the abutted recessed surface regions may vary, according to a regular or irregular pattern.

The laser industry continues to increase laser performance metrics, such as average power, pulse energy, and peak power. Some fiber laser systems employ multi-clad fiber. In contrast to single-clad fiber having only a core surrounded by one cladding material, multi-clad fiber includes a core surrounded by two or more cladding material layers. Double-clad fiber (DCF), for example, includes a core in which a source beam may propagate while pump light is to propagate within a first, or "inner" cladding that surrounds the core. The inner cladding may provide an index contrast with the core to guide the source beam and to also guide the pump light into the core where it may be absorbed by one or more dopants (e.g., Ytterbium, Erbium, etc.) along a length of the fiber. A second, or "outer," cladding further surrounds the inner cladding. Typically, light that enters the outer cladding is lost from the system. However, light within the inner cladding may propagate over significant distances within a fiber system. Because the retention of "cladding light" within the inner cladding may be detrimental to system performance, "cladding light strippers" (CLS) may be employed within an optical fiber system to remove such cladding light.
Some conventional CLS architectures include one or more materials operable to remove cladding light. For example, a layer of a high-index material (e.g., exceeding the index of the inner cladding material, or exceeding the index of a material index-matched to the inner cladding material) may be applied onto the inner cladding (or index-matched material) within a fiber length where the outer cladding has been removed. The high-index material, often a polymer, has a suitable index contrast with the inner cladding (or index-matched material) to "un-guide" light propagating with the inner cladding. Over a fiber length of the CLS more than one high-index material may be employed, or the index may otherwise vary, for example to better distribute the thermal load. The high-index material may further have an index that varies inversely as a function of temperature such that a portion of CLS that becomes hotter becomes less efficient at further stripping the cladding light than another, cooler, portion.
Some other conventional CLS architectures may include one or more structures operable to remove cladding light. For example, an outer surface of the inner cladding may be roughened, or much larger features on the order of the cladding diameter, may be milled into the inner cladding for the purpose of scattering, reflecting, refracting and/or diffracting out light.
To date, with the conventional CLS architectures it may be difficult to attain both high stripping efficiency across a large number of modes that may be propagating within the cladding, and good thermal load management. For example, the addition of materials to unguide cladding light may be difficult to spatially distribute and/or otherwise prevent hot spots where stripping is localized to a small region within the CLS. Roughening may also lead to hot spots and/or otherwise uncontrolled stripping within a CLS. While fiber-scale notching of the cladding may improve thermal load management, it can suffer non-uniform mode stripping efficiency, for example where a spatial distribution of the notches perturbs some cladding-light modes significantly more than other modes.
Techniques and fiber system architectures that mitigate problems associated with such conventional CLS architectures may therefore be advantageous.


A method loads training samples and forms training data set from the training samples. The method uses the bidirectional LSTM recurrent neural network that includes one or more input cells and one or more output cells and trains it with the training data set. The method determines a sensitive information and confidence values based on analyzing a text with the trained neural network. The method selects predicted samples from the text, where the sensitive information confidence value corresponding to a one or more predicted samples is above a threshold value, based on determining that a sensitive information accuracy has improved. The method forms a new training data set, where the new training data set comprises the samples and the verified one or more predicted samples based on the verified one or more predicted samples, and trains the previously trained neural network with the new training data set.

The present invention relates, generally, to the field of computing, and more particularly to natural language processing for data loss prevention of sensitive information.
Natural language processing (NLP) is a field of computer science, artificial intelligence, and computational linguistics related to the interactions between computers and human natural languages such as programming computers to process large natural language corpora.
Sensitive information is a piece of data owned by entities or individuals, which, if potentially lost, damaged or compromised, bares significant financial and integrity damages to the enterprise or person of interest. For example, personal identifiable information (PII), sensitive personal information (SPI), personal health information (PHI), and confidential business information.
Data Loss Prevention (DLP) are software products or services designed to protect sensitive information against malicious or accidental sharing outside of the defined trust zones. For example, in hybrid cloud solutions sensitive information may be transferred from the private cloud to a public cloud.
Hybrid cloud is typically a cloud computing environment that uses a combination of on-premises, private cloud and third-party, public cloud services by synthesizing between the two platforms. The synthesizing is defined as allowing workloads to move between private and public clouds as computing needs and costs change. The hybrid cloud solutions give businesses greater flexibility and more data deployment options.

Context aware sensitive information detection

International Business Machines Corporation


There is provided a system always capable of detecting AE/ultrasound received by an FBG, even when the FBG receives a change in temperature or strain and the Bragg wavelength is fluctuated. In the AE/ultrasound detection system, the reflected light from the FBG is caused to enter a Fabry-Perot filter having an FSR equal to or greater than the reflection wavelength band of the FBG. A change in the intensity of the transmitted light corresponds to the AE/ultrasound received by the FBG. Alternatively, the reflected light from FBG is caused to enter two Fabry-Perot filters having an FSR equal to or greater than the reflection wavelength band of the FBG and having the filter-transmittance peak wavelengths different from each other by FSR/4. The intensity of the transmitted light from each of the two Fabry-Perot filters is converted into a voltage signal, and the individual signals are subjected to addition and subtraction processes. Thus, a signal having a large amplitude corresponding to the AE/ultrasound received by the FBG can be obtained.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an AE/ultrasound detection system. For example, it relates to a technique for detecting AE/ultrasound with the use of an FBG sensor, and to a system in which such technique is applied for evaluating the soundness of a structure.
2. Background Art
In recent years, for the purpose of improving the reliability of a structure, it has been expected to establish a soundness evaluation apparatus. When the soundness of a structure is evaluated, it is very important to measure strain and to detect defection such as cracking. Strain has been often measured with the use of a resistive strain gauge utilizing change in electrical resistance associated with deformation of metal. Further, as a method for detecting defection such as cracking, the detection of elastic-wave emission (AE: acoustic emission) associated with occurrence of defection and a nondestructive inspection utilizing ultrasound are conducted.
Piezoelectric elements have been widely used as AE detection sensors and ultrasound detection sensors in a nondestructive inspection using ultrasound. However, such AE/ultrasound measurement using piezoelectric elements involves the following problems. Namely, since piezoelectric elements are influenced by electromagnetic interference, the AE/ultrasound measurement cannot be conducted in the atmosphere of electromagnetic waves. Also, since piezoelectric elements have narrowband response frequency characteristics, it is necessary to change the kind of piezoelectric elements in accordance with the frequency band of the AE/ultrasound to be detected.
In recent years, in order to solve the above problems of the AE/ultrasound detection using piezoelectric elements, AE/ultrasound detection using an FBG (Fiber Bragg Grating) sensor, a kind of optical fiber sensor, (which will be occasionally referred to simply as an "FBG" hereafter in the specification) has drawn attention. Conventionally-proposed AE/ultrasound detection systems using the FBG are divided roughly into two kinds, depending on the light source used. One kind is a system using a laser light source, as disclosed in JP Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2005-326326 A. In this system, laser light whose oscillation wavelength is set at a wavelength at which the reflectance of the FBG is decreased by half is caused to enter the FBG. Upon entry of the light, since the intensity of the light reflected from the FBG varies depending on the AE/ultrasound received by the FBG, the AE/ultrasound can be detected. The other type is a system using a broadband light source, as disclosed in JP Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2005-009937 A. In this system, broadband light including a Bragg wavelength, the central reflection wavelength of the FBG, is caused to enter the FBG, and the reflected light is transmitted to an optical filter having the transmission wavelength band approximately equal to the reflection wavelength band of the FBG. At this point, a portion of the transmission wavelength region of the optical filter needs to overlap the reflection wavelength region of the FBG. By utilizing such phenomenon; that is, the transmitted-light intensity or the reflected-light intensity of the optical filter changes depending on the AE/ultrasound received by the FBG, the AE/ultrasound can be detected.
However, the Bragg wavelength of the FBG fluctuates depending on the temperature and strain received by the FBG. For example, in the case of a FBG having a Bragg wavelength of 1550 nm generally used for evaluating the soundness of a structure, the Bragg wavelength varies by 10 pm for a temperature of 1° C. with respect to the reflection wavelength band from 200 pm to 2000 pm, and the bragg wavelength also varies by 1.2 pm per micro strain. Thus, when the FBG receives a large change in temperature and strain, based on the system using a laser light source, there are cases in which the laser oscillation wavelength does not fall within the reflection wavelength region of the FBG. Similarly, based on the system using a broadband light source, there is a situation in which the transmission wavelength region of the optical filter does not cross the reflection wavelength region of the FBG. In such cases, the AE/ultrasound received by the FBG cannot be detected. Thus, it is necessary to control the laser oscillation wavelength or the optical-filter transmission wavelength in accordance with the fluctuation of the Bragg wavelength of the FBG. However, when the Bragg wavelength of the FBG fluctuates at high speed, such control cannot follow the change of the Bragg wavelength, and it is therefore conceivable that the AE/ultrasound cannot be detected. Particularly, since the AE generated upon destruction of a material is a phenomenon caused along with a large change of strain, a large fluctuation of the Bragg wavelength is caused upon occurrence of the AE. Thus, it is conceivable that the AE detection is very difficult with convention measurement systems.
In order to overcome the disadvantage, JP Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2003-169801 A discloses a technique in which two thermally-coupled Bragg gratings made of the same material are used, so that the ultrasound received by the Bragg gratings can always be detected. In this technique, the Bragg gratings of the sensor and the filter that are thermally-coupled are synchronized upon receiving a temperature change, and the Bragg wavelengths are thus fluctuated.

AE/ultrasound detection system, and material monitoring apparatus and nondestructive inspection apparatus equipped the system

National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science & Technology

Ishikawajima Inspection & Instrumentation Co., Ltd


The disclosed embodiments relate to a system that supports dynamic bursts to facilitate frequency-agile communication between a memory controller and a memory device. During operation, the system monitors a reference clock signal received at an interface between the memory device and the memory controller. Upon detecting a frequency change in the reference clock signal from a fullrate to a subrate, the interface operates in a burst mode, wherein data is communicated through bursts separated by intervening low-power intervals during which portions of the interface are powered down.

Field
The disclosed embodiments generally relate to clocked memory systems. More specifically, the disclosed embodiments relate to a clocked memory system that supports dynamic bursts to facilitate agile communication between a memory controller and a memory device at varying data loads and improved power efficiency.
Related Art
A portable computing device typically enters a power-saving mode to operate at reduced clock speeds when computational workloads are low. These reduced clock speeds enable the supply voltage to be reduced for rail-to-rail Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (CMOS) circuits in the portable computing device, which reduces power consumption and thereby extends battery life. However, link interface circuitry between the processor and the memory as well as analog/mixed-mode circuitry is typically not implemented exclusively in rail-to-rail CMOS and consequently cannot always take full advantage of these speed and voltage reductions. Hence, link/mixed-mode circuitry continues to burn some static power, even though less data is being transferred during the power-saving mode. As a consequence, the power consumed per-bit-transferred by a link can actually increase when the system enters a power-saving mode even though the total power is reduced. In addition, for optimal system power efficiency, most links have a particular operating speed at which they are most power efficient. Ideally the links would, when operational, always be operating at this "sweet spot."
Hence, what is needed is a method and an apparatus for reducing the power consumption for the link circuitry, roughly proportionally, when a portable computing device enters a power-saving mode that reduces the average data delivery rate.

Using dynamic bursts to support frequency-agile memory interfaces


Light of wavelengths λ2 and λ3 (λ2<λ3) is propagated in a first core. The light emitted form the first core is divided at a filter. That is, the light of the wavelength λ2 transmits through the filter and is made incident onto a third core while the light of the wavelength λ3 is reflected from a filter and is made incident onto a second core. The second core has a sectional area which works in a single mode for the light of the wavelength λ3 and works in a multiple mode for the light of the wavelength λ2. It is therefore possible to prevent noise or stray light in an optical multiplexer/demultiplexer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical multiplexer/demultiplexer.
2. Description of the Related Art
Various kinds of structures of an optical multiplexer/demultiplexer have been proposed in the field of optical communications. FIG. 1 shows the structure of a conventional optical multiplexer/demultiplexer using a dielectric multilayer filter, in which a clad is cross-sectioned along a plane passing an upper face of a core. According to the optical multiplexer/demultiplexer 1, an optical waveguide 4 is constituted such that cores 3a, 3b and 3c are buried in a clad 2 made of a transparent material. In the optical waveguide 4, a groove 6 for a filter 5 such as a dielectric multilayer filter is formed, and the filter 5 is inserted in the groove 6. The first and second cores 3a and 3b are provided in the clad 2 positioned at one side of the groove 6, and are connected in the approximate V-shape at the end facing the groove 6. In addition, the third core 3c is provided in the clad 2 positioned at the other side of the groove 6 such that its end is opposed to the end of the first core 3a.
In addition, an optical fiber 7a is coupled to an end face of the first core 3a; an optical fiber 7b is coupled to an end face of the second core 3b; and an optical fiber 7c is coupled to an end face of the third core 3c.
It is assumed herein that the filter 5 used in this optical multiplexer/demultiplexer 1 has characteristics of making the light of wavelengths λ1 and λ2 transmit therethrough and making the light of a wavelength λ3 reflect therefrom among the light of the wavelengths λ1, λ2 and λ3 (λ1<λ2<λ3), for example. According to the optical multiplexer/demultiplexer 1, as shown by arrows of solid line in FIG. 1, when the light of the wavelength λ2 and the light of the wavelength λ3 are simultaneously made incident from the optical fiber 7a onto the first core 3a, for example, the light propagated in the first core 3a and emitted from the end face thereof opposed to the filter 5 is divided into the second core 3b and the third core 3c by the filter 5. That is, among the light emitted from the first core 3a, the light of the wavelength λ2 transmits through the filter 5, in made incident onto the third core 3c, is propagated the third core 3c and is coupled to the optical fiber 7c. At the same time, the light of the wavelength λ3 emitted from the end face of the first core 3a is reflected from the filter 5, is made incident onto the second core 3b, is propagated in the second core 3b is and coupled to the optical fiber 7b.
In addition, as shown by arrows of broken line in FIG. 1, when the light of the wavelength λ1 is made incident from the optical fiber 7c onto the third core 3c, the light of the wavelength λ1 is propagated in the third core 3c, is emitted from the end face thereof opposed to the filter 5, transmits through the filter 5, is made incident onto the first core 3a, is propagated in the first core 3a and is coupled to the optical fiber 7a.
According to the above-described optical multiplexer/demultiplexer 1, as shown FIG. 2 in which an X part in FIG. 1 is enlarged, the end of the first core 3a and the end of the second core 3b are connected in approximate V-shape, and both cores 3a and 3b are overlapped with each other over a distance L shown in FIG. 2. The light of the wavelengths λ1, λ2 and λ3 is all single-mode light, and the cores 3a , 3b and 3c propagate the light of the wavelengths λ1, λ2 and λ3 in the single mode. Therefore, when the light of the wavelength λ2 and the light of the wavelength λ3 are made incident from the optical fiber 7a onto the first core 3a, the light is emitted from the first core 3a and, then, a part of the light of the wavelength λ2 which is to transmit through the filter 5 and to be made incident onto the third core 3c enters the core 3b side in a region where the cores 3a and 3b are overlapped, so that the light is disadvantageously made incident onto the second core 3b in some cases. When this phenomenon occurs, the light of the wavelength λ2 is mixed in the second core 3b which is provided for extracting only the light of the wavelength λ3, so that the light of the wavelength λ2 is coupled to the optical fiber 7b and becomes noise, which causes an adverse effect in which communication is hindered, for example.
Similarly, when the light of the wavelength λ1 is made incident from the optical fiber 7c onto the third core 3c, a part of the light emitted from the end face of the third core 3c and transmitting through the filter 5 is not led to the first core 3a but made incident onto the second core 3b, so that it is propagated in the second core 3b and becomes noise, which lowers communication quality in some cases.
In order to reduce the above-described noise, there is known that a branching angle θ between the first and second cores 3a and 3b is increased and isolation between both cores 3a and 3b is enhanced by shortening the overlapped portion of the cores 3a and 3b (the portion shown by the distance L in FIG. 2). FIG. 3 shows a result obtained by making the light of the wavelength λ3 of power P1 incident from the first core 3a onto the filter 5, measuring a power P3 of the light made incident onto the third core 3c and measuring its loss:−10 log [(P1−P3)/P1] (dB).In FIG. 3, a vertical axis designates loss and a lateral axis designates a position (displacement) ξ of the filter 5, in which a filter position showing a minimum loss is a reference point. In addition, in FIG. 3, a thick solid line shows the loss when the branching angle θ is 16° and a thin solid line shows the loss when the branching angle θ is 24°. As can be clear from the result shown in FIG. 3, the minimum value of loss (loss when ξ=0) can be made smaller if the branching angle θ is made larger, so that noise is not likely to leak to the core 3b.
However, since a curve showing variation in loss becomes abrupt when the branching angle θ becomes large. According to the method of increasing the branching angle θ in order to reduce the noise, therefore, loss is largely varied by a slight variation of the filter position in the groove 6, so that the required position precision of the filter 5 becomes strict and it becomes difficult to manufacture the optical multiplexer/demultiplexer.
In addition, since it is necessary to align the end of the first core 3a and the end of the second core 3b in parallel so that optical axes may coincide with that of the optical fibers 7a and 7b, on the coupling side to the optical fibers 7a and 7b, when the branching angle θ between the cores 3a and 3b is increased, it is necessary to largely curve the first and second cores 3a and 3b in the middle for that. However, since a maximum curvature in which the cores 3a and 3b can be bent while keeping the light confined has been decided, the cores 3a and 3b cannot be bent below the predetermined curvature radius. Therefore, as the branching angle θ is increased, a length of the curved portion of each of the cores 3a and 3b has to be increased, so that the optical waveguide becomes large, cost of the optical waveguide is increased and propagation loss is also increased.


There is obtained with greater efficiency a powder coating having an average particle diameter smaller and a particle size distribution range narrower than those currently made by conventional methods. The method to obtain the powder coating comprising; introducing a solid mixture of coating materials between a rotor and a stator; the rotor being supported in such a manner as to be rotating round the shaft center and, on its periphery, being arranged with multiple convex lines extending in a direction of the shaft and being lined up along the periphery; the stator having a cylindric rotor-opposite face arranged with a certain interspace between this face and the rotor periphery and having, on the rotor-opposite face, multiple convex lines extending in the direction of the shaft and being lined up along the circumference, wherein the rotor-opposite face is arranged in such a manner as to be capable of opening in order to expose the rotor periphery; and then pulverizing finer said mixture by said rotating rotor and said stator.

The present invention relates to a method for making a powder coating.
The powder coating is usually produced by passing it through the following processes in sequence: 1) a process for premixing materials for coating under dry conditions, 2) a process for melting and kneading the materials, 3) a process for pulverizing it, and 4) a process for classifying it.
The performance of a coated film made by using a powder coating, in particular, the presence or absence of uneven irregularities on the coated film as well as the gloss, is affected by the average particle diameter and particle size distribution range of the powder coating particles. That is, as the average particle diameter becomes smaller and/or the particle size distribution range becomes narrower, the surface smoothness becomes better. As a result, the irregularities on the coated film disappear and the gloss is improved.
To make the average particle diameter of a powder coating smaller, it is preferable to pulverize the powder coating finer. But the average particle diameter is from about 20 to 30 .mu.m using conventional procedures, such as, for example pulverizing particles by a hammer mill.
To make the particle size distribution range narrower, it is preferable to classify the powder coating. But there occurs a problem that the efficiency of making a powder coating decreases greatly due to this classification.