The present invention relates to the use of compositions comprising trans-clomiphene for treating wasting, especially a loss of muscle mass. The invention is also directed to methods for treating wasting in a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder. The present invention is also directed to methods for treating hypogonadism in males with chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to compositions and methods for treating wasting. More specifically, the present invention relates to treatments for increasing muscle mass in individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The present invention also relates to the use of a composition comprising clomiphene enriched for trans-clomiphene reagents for treating hypogonadism, preferably secondary hypogonadism, in individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
2. Description of Related Art
a. Testosterone
Testosterone is the primary male androgen, playing a vital role in overall male health. Testosterone is essential to the development and maintenance of specific reproductive tissues (testes, prostate, epididymis, seminal vesicle and penis) and male secondary sex characteristics. It plays a key role in libido and erectile function and is necessary for the initiation and maintenance of spermatogenesis. Testosterone also has important functions not related to reproductive tissues. For example, it positively affects body composition by increasing nitrogen retention, which supports lean body mass, muscle size and strength. It also acts on bone to stimulate bone formation.
Testosterone deficiency can result from disease or genetic disorders and is also frequently a complication of aging. Some of the sequelae of adult testosterone deficiency include a wide variety of symptoms including: loss of libido, erectile dysfunction, oligospermia or azoospermia, absence or regression of secondary sexual characteristics, progressive decrease in muscle mass, fatigue, depressed mood and increased risk of osteoporosis.
Several forms of testosterone therapy exist in the United States today. Recently, transdermal preparations have gained favor in the market. However, a scrotal testosterone patch results in supraphysiological levels of 5α-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) due to the high concentration of 5α-reductase in scrotal skin. Elevated DHT levels may have pernicious effects on the prostate over time. Nonscrotal systems are considered more convenient and most patients achieve average serum concentrations within the normal range and have normal levels of DHT. Oral testosterone therapy is not recommended because doses required for replacement therapy are associated with significant risk of hepatotoxicity.
b. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive lung disease characterized by a gradual and irreversible loss of lung function. COPD includes two related lung diseases: chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Chronic bronchitis is an inflammation and eventual scarring of the bronchial tubes. Emphysema is the loss of elasticity of lung tissue and destruction of alveoli-supporting structures and alveoli-feeding capillaries within the lungs. Persons with COPD have difficulty breathing due to smaller air passageways and partially destroyed alveoli. Additionally, the air passageways of persons with COPD become clogged with mucus. COPD represents the fourth leading cause of death in the United States, where 14 million people have been diagnosed with the disease. The most important risk factor for COPD is cigarette smoking.
Muscle wasting is prevalent in a large population of patients with COPD, and it is estimated that over 50% of COPD patients experience some loss of fat-free muscle. Loss of muscle mass adversely affects respiratory and peripheral muscle function, exercise capacity and health status and is a demonstrated predictor of mortality in COPD patients. Gain in muscle mass and strength, on the other hand, is associated with increased exercise capacity and survival. Muscle wasting in persons with COPD does not appear to result primarily from inadequate nutritional intake. Similar to cachexia, preferential loss of muscle tissue over fat, unresponsiveness to nutritional intervention and enhanced protein degradation are observed in persons with COPD.
On the basis of the chronicity of COPD and the elevated age of most COPD patients, it has been suggested that men with COPD may be at risk for hypogonadism. Importantly, low testosterone levels have been observed in patients with COPD, especially those undergoing glucocorticosteroid therapy and significant atrophy of Leydig cells has been observed in some COPD patients. However, it is currently unclear to what extent COPD contributes to the observed decreased testosterone levels.
Numerous studies suggest that hormones may play a role in weight loss and wasting. Androgen supplementation therapy, directed at curing dysfunction of the peripheral muscles in COPD patients, has been the subject of several controlled studies. Positive effects on fat-free mass and overall weight gain in COPD patients were reported in these studies. At least one study also reported improvements in muscle function and exercise capacity.
The aforementioned studies indicate the usefulness and efficacy of testosterone therapy in treating symptoms of COPD. However, high amounts of testosterone increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) and some forms of testosterone administration result in elevated levels of DHT. The association of high levels of serum DHT and BPH and the subsequent development of prostate cancer is a potential drawback to the use of testosterone gels or patches that enhance DHT.
c. Clomiphene
Clomiphene, which is an antiestrogen related to tamoxifen, has also been used to treat men with low testosterone levels. Clomiphene blocks the normal estrogen feedback on the hypothalamus and subsequent negative feedback on the pituitary. This leads to increases in luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). In men, these increased levels of gonadotropins stimulate the Leydig cells of the testes and result in the production of higher testosterone levels.
Tenover et al., J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 64:1103, (1987) and Tenover et al., J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 64:1118 (1987) found increases in FSH, LH in both young and old men after treatment with clomiphene. They also found increases in free and total testosterone in men with young men showing significant increases.
Studies were also conducted to determine whether or not clomiphene could be used to improve fertility in men by improving semen quality. Homonnai et al. Fertil. and Steril 50:801 (1988) saw increases in sperm concentration and count but others have not. (See e.g., Sokel, et al., Fertil. and Steril. 49:865 (1988); Check, et al., Int. J. Fertil. 34:120 (1989); Purvis, et al., Int. J. Androl 21:109 (1989); and Breznik, Arch. Androl. 21:109 (1993).) One group saw a deterioration in the percentage of normal sperm with long-term treatment. Shamis, et al., Arch. Androl 21:109 (1991). A WHO study showed no changes in semen quality or fertility after 6 months of treatment. (Anonymous Androl. 15:299 (1992).) A meta-analysis seems to confirm that testosterone levels go up in men with poor quality sperm but not fertility. (Vanderkerckhove, et al., 2000).
Vandekerckhove, et al. (Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2000; (2):CD000151 (2000)) noted that ten studies involving 738 men have suggested that anti-estrogens appear to have a beneficial effect on endocrinal outcomes, i.e. testosterone, but there is not enough evidence to evaluate fertility effects. Nevertheless should clomiphene administration enhance testosterone levels then one could easily conclude that the drug should positively impact the side effects of testosterone deprivation as long as the testes still retain the ability to respond to gonadotropin stimulation.
Ernst et al., J. Pharmaceut. Sci. 65:148 (1976), have shown that clomiphene is a mixture of two geometric isomers which they refer to as cis, -Z-, clomiphene (cis-clomiphene or zuclomiphene) and trans-, E-, clomiphene, (trans-clomiphene or enclomiphene). According to Ernst, et al. trans-clomiphene HCI has a melting point of 149° C.-150.5° C., while cis-clomiphene HCI has a melting point of 156.5° C.-158° C. Ernst et al. have also noted that (the trans-isomer) is antiestrogenic (AE) while the cis-isomer is the more potent and more estrogenic form and has also been reported to have anti-estrogenic activity. The authors attribute the effect of the drug on ovulatory activity to both forms stating that the mixture is more effective than trans-clomiphene alone. The trans-isomer aids ovulation at the level of the hypothalamus. The estrogenic isomer cis-clomiphene contributes to enhanced ovulation elsewhere in the physiologic pathway leading to ovulation. The isomers are also reported to have different in vivo half-life. Furthermore the cis form has been reported to leave residual blood levels for in excess of one month following a single dose.
Clomiphene is currently approved as a mixture of both cis- and trans-isomers, the cis-isomer being present as about 30% to 50% (Merck Manual) for fertility enhancement in the anovulatory patient. Clomiphene improves ovulation by initiating a series of endocrine events culminating in a preovulatory gonadotropin surge and subsequent follicular rupture. The drug is recommended to be administered for 5 days at a dose of up to 100 mg daily. Clomiphene has also been associated with numerous side effects including: blurred vision, abdominal discomfort, gynecomastia, testicular tumors, vasomotor flushes, nausea, and headaches. Furthermore, other studies suggest that clomiphene possesses both genotoxic and tumor enhancement effects. The net outcome of these observations is that clomiphene in its current format, having between 30% and 50% of the cis isomer, would be unacceptable for chronic therapy.
There continues to be a need for methods of treating wasting and hypogonadism in patients with COPD which avoids the increased risk of cardiovascular disease and benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) accompanying traditional testosterone supplementation regimens. The present invention addresses this need and provides novel compositions and methods for treating wasting and hypogonadism.


Disclosed is a method, apparatus, and system for partition level restore, the operations comprising: determining a restoration source virtual machine disk image and a restoration target virtual machine disk image; determining partition information for the restoration source and target virtual machine disk images; determining whether the partition information for the restoration source virtual machine disk image matches the partition information for the restoration target virtual machine disk image; and in response to determining that the partition information for the restoration source virtual machine disk image matches the partition information for the restoration target virtual machine disk image, copying all data from a partition to be restored on the restoration source virtual machine disk image to a corresponding partition on the restoration target virtual machine disk image.

Two conventional mechanisms for restoring virtual machine data currently exist. With image level restore, an entire disk image (e.g., a Virtual Machine Disk "VMDK" file that represents a disk drive in a virtual machine) is restored. Further, with file level restore (FLR), specific folders and/or files on a virtual machine are restored.
The conventional mechanisms are associated with certain limitations. With image level restore, all partitions and file systems of a virtual machine disk image are always restored. Restoring a particular partition on the virtual machine disk drive is not possible, although it may be desired in certain situations. With file level restore, only specific files and/or folders are restored. Restoring entire file systems, metadata, and/or symbolic links, etc. is not possible with file level restore.


A technique for operating a storage network system includes storing, at one or more of a plurality of data collection storages arranged along a traveling path of a mobile body, data records received from the mobile body. An acknowledge (ACK) record including a storage identifier (ID) is transmitted, from the one or more of the plurality of data collection storages to the mobile body, in response to receiving the data records. Communication between a user storage and the one or more of the plurality of data collection storages is established via a communication network that is configured to receive the ACK record and receive and store at least one of the data records from the one or more of the data collection storages that is identified by the storage ID in the received ACK record.

The disclosure relates to a storage network system and, more specifically, to techniques for operating a storage network system.
For a mobile body, such as a portable terminal or a vehicle equipped with a sensor, there is a need to store, in a storage device (storage), sensor data detected by the sensor in chronological order. Since the sensor data increases as the mobile body moves, it is difficult to store all the sensor data in a storage having a finite storage capacity. Further, when all sensor data are stored only in a specific storage, there is a possibility that all the sensor data may be lost due to a problem with the storage or the like. Therefore, the selection of sensor data to be stored in the storage or the transfer (transmission) of data to an external storage has been conventionally performed.
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2000-41957 discloses a health control system in which, when a health-controlling person comes close to a terminal device, health data measured by health measuring equipment is automatically transferred to the terminal device together with information for identifying the health measuring equipment. In the health control system, many terminal devices are connected to a public network, and health data stored in health measuring equipment are extracted by any terminal device and transferred to a terminal device (e.g., a terminal device located at a home position) usually used by a health-controlling person.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Operating techniques for a storage network system

International Business Machines Corporation


An item such as a fabric-based item may have a layer of fabric such as a layer of woven fabric. The fabric layer may include warp and weft strands. The fabric may cover keys in a keyboard or may be used in forming other structures in the fabric-based item. Each key may have an illuminated key label. Portions of the fabric may be processed by pressing heated protrusions on a textured mold into polymer optical fibers in the fabric. The protrusions form corresponding light-scattering recesses in cladding portions of the optical fibers. Light-emitting diodes or other light sources may be coupled to respective end surfaces of the optical fibers. The light-emitting diodes emit light that is emitted from the thermally imprinted light-emitting regions formed by pressing the heated protrusions into the optical fibers.

Weaving and other techniques for intertwining strands of material can be used to form fabric. Fabric is sometimes used in forming structures in electronic equipment. A layer of fabric may, for example, be used to cover the keys in a keyboard.
In some keyboards, light-emitting diodes are used to provide keys with backlight. This allows keyboards to illuminate key symbols.
It can be challenging to create illumination for fabric-based items. If care is not taken, fabric-based items will not have visually appealing illumination, will be too complex to manufacture, or will not have desired patterns of illumination.

Fabric items with thermally imprinted light-emitting regions


A measurement apparatus for micro- and nano-scale materials and a measurement method thereof are provided. The measurement apparatus for the micro- and nano-scale material includes a transmission electron microscope to generate a magnetic field, and a conductive flat punch and a sample which are arranged in the magnetic field. The sample includes the micro- and nano-scale materials. When the current passes through the sample and the conductive flat punch, the conductive flat punch deflects laterally relative to the sample with controllable displacement driven by the electromagnetic force. The required lateral displacement of the present invention is controllable, so that the utilization rate of equipment is greatly increased, and the cost is reduced. In addition, the whole test is performed in the transmission electron microscope, so that a measurement process can be observed in real time.

Due to a strong demand of social development for miniaturization of functional devices, researches on the structure and the performance of a micro- and nano-scale material have become an emerging and thriving research direction (Nix, W. D., Thin Solid Films (2007)). However, the performance of the micro- and nano-scale material may not be obtained through extrapolation based on a knowledge system of a macroscopic bulk material, so that it is in urgent need of a new mechanical test tool and method to meet test requirements of the micro- and nano-scale material (Shan Zhiwei, MATERIALS CHINA (2013)). To systematically and accurately investigate the mechanical characteristics and the underlying mechanism of the micro- and nano-scale material, a monitoring platform having a tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of magnification factor is needed at first, and then, an in situ test technology having the space resolution at nano-meter and the mechanical test accuracy at nano-Newton is also needed.
An electron microscope is a microscope using electron beam for illumination, and has millions of magnification factor, which provides a basic observation platform for the research on the micro- and nano-scale material. The in-situ transmission electron microscope (in situ TEM) technology implements real-time observation of a dynamic process of the change in shape and structure of a sample under external stimulations such as force, heat and electricity by modifying a transmission electron microscope and a sample holder.
Modifying the sample holder is a main way to implement a mechanical test on the micro- and nano-scale material. In commercial sample holders, the Hysitron Incorporated Company in America developed the PI95-series holder based on the actuatable capacitive transducer. The position of a flat punch could be accurately adjusted through three-level control systems, i.e. mechanical control for millimeter-scale adjustment, piezoelectric ceramic for micrometer-scale adjustment and capacitive transducer nanometer-scale adjustment, and a quantitative force and displacement relation is output. However, the sample holder of the PI95 series may only apply a uniaxial force because of space limitation in the transmission electron microscope, so that application of the sample holder in researches on friction requiring a two-dimensional force is greatly restricted. In addition, on the influence of feedback control system, there is a certain lag effect in time on displacement and force application. Thus, a load frequency would be restricted to a certain extent during application of a cyclic load.
In addition, the sample holder of the Nano factory Company is based on the inertial sliding design. The flat punch is connected to a sapphire ball through metal springs.
When piezoelectric ceramic controls the sapphire ball to move, the metal springs may inertially side along the surface of the sapphire ball so as to enable the flat punch to move along a three-dimensional direction. However, the inertia-dependent sliding is unable to provide an accurate control for the quantitative displacement, and the lateral displacement is also affected by the length of the flat punch and the relative position between the metal springs and the sapphire ball, so that the controllability is poor.
The above-mentioned information disclosed in the background art is only used to strengthen the understanding of the background of the present invention, so that the information possibly includes information not constituting the prior art publically known to those of ordinary skill in the art in China.

Measurement apparatus for micro- and nano-scale material and measurement method thereof


A surgical splatter shield is provided which is adapted to be carried by a suction catheter for effecting the suction of blood from the area being operated on without the customary undesirable splatter of blood. The surgical splatter shield is preferably in the form of an elongated transparent plate which is transversely curved and which is attached to the customary suction catheter. The plate forming the surgical splatter shield has a sleeve permanently or fixedly attached to the edge of a central aperture. The sleeve extends upwardly from the plate and receives a terminal end of the suction catheter in press-fit or snug engagement.

During vascular surgery, and particularly anastomosis where one vein is grafted into another vein, blood frequently fills the surgical cavity. It is necessary to use a suction catheter to remove blood from the surgical theater so the surgeon can see clearly in order to complete the anastomosis. A typical suction catheter comprises a substantially rigid, hollow plastic tube having an opening at the aspirator end. A plurality of radially-located openings are disposed near the end of the tube. In use, a vacuum is drawn in the tube and the material (primarily blood and other fluids) to be suctioned is introduced into the tube through the aspirator end and the radial openings. Frequently, however, while the suction catheter is operating, blood is spattered around the area, including the surgical team. There is a need for a device which will permit use of the suction catheter to keep the surgical theater clear, but will minimize undesirable splatter of blood and other fluids during such use.


The present invention relates to a spectral enhancement method and to an apparatus carrying out this method. The method of the invention enhanced the spectral content of a signal having an incomplete spectrum including a first spectral frequency band, the method comprising the following stages:                at least one spectral content transposition of said first frequency band into a second spectral frequency band not included in said spectrum for the purpose of generating a transposed spectrum signal having a spectrum limited to said second spectral frequency band,        shaping the spectrum of the transposed spectrum signal for the purpose of producing an enhanced signal,        combining an incomplete spectrum signal and the enhanced signal for the purpose of producing an enhanced spectrum signal,                    characterized in thatsaid spectral content is subject to a stage of whitening.

As regards rate-reduction audio encoding, the audio signal often must undergo a bandpass limitation when the bit rate becomes low. This bandpass restriction is necessary to preclude introducing audible quantizing noise into the encoded signal. In such a case the high-frequency content of the original signal should be regenerated to the extent possible.
It is known from the state of the art, and in particular from the patent document WO 9,857,436 A, to regenerate the high-frequency special content of the original signal by harmonically transposing the low-frequency spectrum of the decoded signal toward the high frequencies. This transposition is carried out by recopying the spectral value of a fundamental fk at all frequencies of the harmonic series n*fk. The shape of the high-frequency spectrum so developed is adjusted by applying spectral weighting factors.
FIG. 1 schematically illustrates the spectral reconstruction apparatus of the state of the art. The encoded audio signal is decoded by a decoder 101 that applies a low-frequency spectrum signal SB to a bank 102 of analyzing filters, the outputs k of these filters being connected to the inputs of harmonic orders n*k (n=1 . . . N) of a set of synthesizing filters 104 after having been weighted by spectral weighting factors 103. For simplicity, the decimators at the output of the analyzing filter bank (respectively the interpolations of the synthesizing filter bench) were omitted.
The synthesized signal SH exhibits a high frequency spectrum. It is added to the signal SB by a summer 105 to generate a reconstructed wideband signal SR.
The above cited reconstruction technique is based on a sub-band analysis and on a complex harmonic duplication. It entails computationally expensive methods for adjusting phase and amplitude. Moreover the spectral weighting factors only coarsely model the spectral envelope. In general and outside any decoding context, it is important that it be feasible to enhance the spectral content of a physical signal exhibiting an incomplete spectrum. The term "incomplete spectrum" denotes any spectrum with limited support or any spectrum exhibiting "holes". Such is the case in particular as regards an audio signal or a speech signal with limited bandpass: spectral enhancement then shall substantially improve sound quality and signal intelligibility.


A field effect transistor of the present invention has in a base layer (33) a difference in levels constituted by an upper main surface (35a) a wall surface (35b) and a lower main surface (35c), the wall surface (35b) having a gate insulating film (39) and a gate electrode (41) in a sequential order at least in a direction extending from the upper main surface (35a) to the lower main surface (35c), the wall surface (35b) being provided, on both sides of the portions thereof corresponding to the gate insulating film (39) and gate electrode (41), with inpurity diffusion regions for forming of source and drain, respectively.. Accordingly, the gate electrode (41) is provided in a manner that the gate width which needs to have a relatively large size is set in a direction vertical to the upper main surface of the base layer. This makes it possible to improve the degree of integration effectively.

To increase the degree of integration of LSIs, it is necessary to reduce the area occupied on the main surface of the substrate by the individual semiconductor elements which constitute an LSI.
FIG. 3(A) to 3(C) are schematic views illustrating a conventionally most widely known structure of MOS (Metal Oxide Semiconductor) type FET (hereinafter referred in some cases to simply as "MOSFET"). Namely, FIG. 3(A) is a plan view, as taken from above, of an essential portion of the semiconductor device; FIG. 3(B) is a sectional view taken along the one-dot chain line I--I of FIG. 3(A); and FIG. 3(C) is a sectional view taken along the one-dot chain line II--II of FIG. 3(A). In these Figures, only one element is shown and the hatching, etc. indicating sectional views are partially omitted. Further, in order to make it easier to understand the following descriptions, impurity diffusion regions for forming source and drain are referred as a "source region" and a "drain region" which are shown in a specified disposition relationship. However, this disposition relationship is only illustrative. Therefore, the function of the element is not impaired whatsoever even when the illustrated dispositions of the two regions have been reversed.
As well known, the MOSFET structure shown in these figures is the most basic structure among those of conventional elements, in which the voltage applied to a gate electrode 11 is used as a control signal for electrically switching a current passing between a source region 13 and a drain region 15.
First, as shown in FIG. 3(A), the gate electrode 11 is formed with a width W1 corresponding to disposition dimension of one element and is also formed with a length l1 in the shape of a stripe. Each element is electrically isolated from another by means of a field oxide film 17.
As shown in FIGS. 3(B) and 3(C), the element of this type uses a substrate 19 made of silicon, as a base layer, the above-mentioned gate electrode 11 being disposed on this substrate 19 via a gate insulating film 21. The above-mentioned source region 13 and drain region 15 are provided as independent constituent elements, respectively, on both sides of the gate electrode 11 (and the gate insulating film 21).
Usually, the gate length l1 is set at approximately 0.5 to 1.0 (.mu.m). Since the electric current passing between the source and the drain corresponding to the driving ability of the element is in proportional relation to the gate width W1, it is considered to be optimal that this width W1 is approximately ten times as large as the gate length l1, in consideration of the operating speed of the element. Accordingly, the width W1 is set at approximately 5 to 10 (.mu.m).
With an increase in the degree of integration of LSI, an attempt has been made to decrease the gate length l1 and the gate width W1. However, since both the l1 and W1 are set by utilizing the main surface of the substrate as the base layer in a two-dimensional manner, dimensional decreasing of the l1 and W1 is limited when considering that the above-mentioned driving ability and operating speed of the element should be maintained.
Under the above-mentioned existing circumstances, various proposals have been made as to the technology improving the degree of integration without impairing the function of the element. For instance, Japanese Laid Open Patent Publication No. 61-206253 discloses a technique enlarging the surface area effective to form the element by three-dimensional utilization of the base layer.
Another prior art technique disclosed in this publication will hereinafter be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of an essential portion of the element, which is intended to illustrate the above mentioned another prior art technique and in which hatching, etc. indicating sectional views are partially omitted. It is to be noted that FIG. 4 shows a structure of one MOSFET only although the above mentioned publication discloses a CMOS (Complementary MOS) in which two MOSFETs of different conductivity types are combined together into one device.
As will be seen in this FIG. 4, a difference in levels involving an upper main surface 23a, a wall surface 23b and a lower main surface 23c are formed in the substrate 19 in advance. The MOSFET is structured by utilizing this difference in levels. Usually, a groove or a trench formed in the main surface (corresponding to the upper main surface 23a) of the substrate 19 serving as the base layer is utilized for providing this difference in levels. The illustrated difference in levels is one of four levels which constitute such a groove. Accordingly, when forming a CMOS, a pair of opposing wall surfaces among a plurality of wall surfaces constituting the groove are utilized to form two MOSFETs, respectively.
To further explain the structure of the above-mentioned MOSFET, a gate insulating film 25 is formed on the wall surface 23b of the illustrated difference in levels. Further, a gate electrode 27 which is electrically isolated from the substrate 19 by the gate insulating film 25 is provided in such a manner as to diminish the difference in levels.
Furthermore, a source region 29 and a drain region 31 are formed in the substrate 19 in such a manner that respective diffusion depths thereof extend in a direction perpendicular to the wall surface 23b.
As will be seen in FIG. 4 as well, in case of this structure of the device, the gate width W2 is set in parallel with the main surface of the substrate, as in case of the device structure of which explanation has been made with reference to FIGS. 3(A) to 3(C).
On the other hand, the gate length 12 is set in a direction vertical to the main surface of the substrate by utilizing the above-mentioned difference in levels. For this reason, the wall surface 23b of the difference in levels is employed to form the element, so that it becomes possible to enlarge the surface area effectively.
However, in the above-mentioned prior art technique utilizing the difference in levels, the gate width W2 which necessitates approximately ten times larger size as the gate length l2 is set in parallel with the main surface of the substrate serving as the base layer, so that the effect of enlarging the surface area in a direction of thickness (direction vertical to the main surface) of the substrate by providing a difference in levels is relatively small, resulting in an insufficient increase in the degree of integration for FETs.
Besides, when studying the FET of FIG. 4 illustrated as a conventional structure from the standpoint of manufacturing process, there is a problem that, in the case of forming, by a conventionally most widely used ion implantation, the impurity diffusion regions used for forming source and drain such as the source region 29 and the drain region 31, performing of the process step involved becomes complicated.
In more detail, when performing ion implantation with respect to the upper main surface 23a, this surface 23a is damaged during the forming of the drain region 31 located deeply in the substrate 19 as the base layer.
Further, when forming the above-mentioned impurity diffusion regions by ion implantation with respect to the wall surface 23b from an oblique direction, it is necessary to form on the wall surface 23b an ion implantation mask extending in parallel with the main surface of the substrate. In case of the most typical element structure shown in FIGS. 3(A) to 3(C), the gate electrode is usually utilized for such a mask to form the impurity diffusion region by self alignment. In case of the element structure shown in FIG. 4, however, it is substantially difficult to form on the wall surface 23b a stripe-shaped mask extending in a direction parallel to the main surface. In addition, although the dimension of overlap region between the impurity diffusion region and the gate electrode needs to be controlled with high precision since the gate length decreases, it is impossible to control the dimension of overlap region vertically to the main surface.
Further, although no illustration is made in FIG. 4, when disposing electrodes, respectively, with respect to the two impurity diffusion regions for forming source and drain, the electrodes connected to the impurity diffusion regions formed in the substrate must be drawn out, respectively, through, for example, the groove formed in the lower main surface 23c in the vicinity thereof. Accordingly, in this electrode formation as well, a problem arises that the process step involved becomes complicated.
The object of the present invention, in view of the above-described conventional problems, is to provide the structure of a semiconductor element capable of improving the degree of integration of the field effect transistors by utilizing a difference in levels formed in the base layer, which can be realized by employing a simplified manufacturing process.

Method for manufacturing a field effect transistor


The present invention relates to a SAPO-34 molecular sieve having both micropores and mesopores and synthesis method thereof. The mesopore diameter in the molecular sieve is in a range of 2-10 nm and the mesopore volume thereof is 0.03-0.3 cm3/g. Triethylamine is used as a template agent and the pore size modifiers are added to the synthesis gel at the same time in the synthesis process, thereby the prepared molecular sieve crystals have mesopore distribution besides micropores. The SAPO-34 molecular sieve synthesized in the present invention can be used as catalysts for conversion of oxygen-containing compounds to lower olefins.

The micropore-mesopore composite molecular sieves having double grade pores of micropores and mesopores have incorporated the pore advantage of mesopore materials with the strong acidic property and the high hydrothermal stability of micropore molecular sieves and made both of the materials complementary and cooperative. Furthermore, the pore diameter and acidic property are both adjustable, that is, a composite material with different pore allocations and acidic property distributions can be prepared by performing an optimized combination of two selected materials with different pore structures and acidic properties. The successful preparation and versatile modes of the molecular sieves with multi-grade pores characterized in assembly will have a wide application perspective in more fields (Nature, 417 (2002) 813).
The synthesis of micropore-mesopore composite molecular sieves began with the preparation of MCM-41/FAU composite material reported by Kloets tra etc. (Micro. Meso. Mater. 6 (1996), 287). Subsequently, numerous researchers devoted to this research field and developed many new composite methods of micropore-mesopore composite molecular sieves. According to the difference of the structure characteristics, the micropore-mesopore composite molecular sieves have two types of composite modes: (1) a composite of two materials of micropore molecular sieve and mesopore molecular sieve. In this type of composite mode, the two materials of micropore molecular sieve and mesopore molecular sieve often show a coating structure, an embedding structure, or a complex combination of both of the structures. Here, an obvious connected interface (transition layer) is present between the two materials and the results characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) will show the diffraction peaks corresponding to the two materials, respectively; (2) a composite of mesopores and micropores in a molecular sieve material, and this type of composite mode includes two manners: a micropore molecular sieve with mesopores, that is, a micropore molecular sieve introduced with mesopores, contributes to the diffusion of molecules while maintaining the strong acidic property and stability of the micropore molecular sieve; a mesopore molecular sieve with parts of the properties of micropore molecular sieve, that is, a mesopore material whose amorphous pore walls have been introduced with a primary or secondary structure unit of zeolite, realizes pore walls in a nanometer range. The detailed research progress on this aspect is described in "Petrochemical Technology" (02 (2005) 188). Up till now, all the reported mesopore-micropore composite molecular sieves are of the molecular sieve system consisted of silicon and aluminum, however, as to the molecular sieve system consisted of silicon, phosphorus and aluminum, there are no opened literature reports because the synthesis system is relatively complex.
SAPO-34 molecular sieve was disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,440,871 in 1984. According to the definition of IUPAC on pore diameter size, SAPO-34 belongs to the small pore molecular sieves (<2 nm). SAPO-34 molecular sieve has attracted attention because it has shown superior catalysis performance in the conversion reaction of methanol to olefins (MTO).

SAPO-34 molecular sieve having both micropores and mesopores and synthesis methods thereof

Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences


A ring insert kit includes a plurality of ring inserts and optional a selection template. The ring inserts are arranged in predetermined sizes for selection using the template. The ring inserts are insertable into one or more finger receiving openings within a pair of scissors for reducing the opening size to accommodate the size of the user's fingers.

Scissors are universally used in the cutting of hair in beauty salons and in barbershops. Although scissors are manufactured in various designs and constructions, they almost always incorporate two pivotably connected blades each having coacting cutting regions on one side of the pivot point and handle portions provided on the other side of the pivot point with finger and thumb supports. Manipulation by the operator of the scissors by relative movement of the operator's fingers and thumb causes corresponding pivotable movement of the cutting blades whereby the cutting regions cooperate to cut hair positioned therebetween.
The finger openings provided in a pair of scissors, e.g., ring finger and thumb, are often standardized by the manufacturer. However, scissors are sold to and used by multiple operators whose finger sizes vary greatly. It is therefore unusual that stock finger and thumb openings in a pair of purchased scissors will properly fit the operator. In this regard, the openings are oversized by the manufacturer so as to accommodate ring inserts that allow personalizing of the openings to fit one's fingers and thumb. Scissors having inserts of various construction are known from U.S. Pat. Nos. 970,406, 1,357,200, 2,640,264, 3,840,990, 3,974,563, 4,091,539, 5,720,103, 5,778,540, 5,781,999, 5,819,416, 5,987,757, 6,000,138 and 6,397,478.
There are also known polymer ring inserts that can be removably inserted into the finger and thumb openings of a pair of scissors to reduce their effective size. These ring inserts have been provided each of a different outside diameter and a different inside diameter. Although these ring inserts can modify a pair of scissors to accommodate certain finger and thumb sizes, there are operators whose finger sizes do not match appropriately those of the known ring inserts. As a result, the operator will select the best possible size to accommodate the operator's fingers. However, the ring insert may still result in the finger or thumb opening being either too large or too small. This can result in improper fit of the scissors, potentially causing carpal tunnel syndrome with prolonged use.
There is therefore the need for ring inserts that can be provided in a kit containing a plurality of inserts that more correctly fit the user's fingers, as well as a template for proper selection of the ring inserts.

Ring insert kit for scissors and template for use therewith


A method of generating data for controlling a rendering system (9) includes obtaining data representative of a recording of at least intervals of an event, the recording having at least two components (22,23) obtainable through different respective modalities. The data is analyzed to determine at least a dependency between a first and a second of the components (22,23). At least the dependency is used to provide settings (30) for a system (9) for rendering in perceptible form at least one output through a first modality in dependence on at least the settings and on at least one signal for rendering in perceptible form through a second modality.

WO 2005/084339 discloses an apparatus for controlling a lighting system in response to an audio input. A mapping facility can be provided with a lighting program (e.g. stored in a mapping (able) that can include one or more variables to receive input values at execution time. The mapping facility can receive the output of an audio decoder, so that information concerning the characteristics of the input audio signal can be provided to the mapping facility to provide the input values for variables in the lighting program executed by the mapping facility. In an embodiment, the particular mapping function employed can be selected based upon information provided with the audio signal that provides an indication of the type of music included therein. Specifically, some pieces of music can include a tag or other information in the music, or associated therewith, that identifies the type of music. Such information can be used to select a mapping function that fits the style of music. The lighting programs can be authored on a different system and then transferred, via a computer-readable medium, to the mapping table in the apparatus.
A problem with such a system is that it is not very suited to re-creating the atmosphere at any performance venue. This would require that the same type of lighting system was in use at the performance venue, and that the user could obtain the lighting program used during the performance.

Method and system for generating data for controlling a system for rendering at least one signal


A system and method to provide navigational maintenance assistance for a vehicle includes a first step of estimating when the vehicle will require maintenance. A next step includes establishing a location and direction of travel of the vehicle. A next step includes searching a database for any service stations within a range of the vehicle and ahead of the location of the vehicle in the direction of travel of the vehicle before the vehicle becomes disabled. This step can be provided by a remote service provider. A next step includes presenting the found service stations from the searching step to a driver of the vehicle via a user interface.

Wireless communication technology, such as is used with cellular phones or in-vehicle communications such as Telematics systems, is becoming much more sophisticated as the technology evolves. Presently, wireless communication systems and devices have the capability to not only provide communication between people, but also can acquire and provide different types of content including information from various sources.
For example, there are presently many different types of navigation systems that will direct a driver of a vehicle from a starting point to a destination point. These systems generally give audio or visual indications of a particular route to take to arrive at the desired destination. Some navigation systems go further by providing supplementary information to a driver at a particular location. For example, systems can provide location-based advertising that gives a driver a list of available products or services within a radius of the present location of the vehicle. However, one serious drawback to these systems is that a driver may not want to reverse directions to go back to a vendor that the driver has already passed along the driver's route. Moreover, a driver may be subject to a high number of unsolicited and undesired advertisements, which will be distracting to the driver. In addition, it is envisioned that many of these advertisement would not be applicable to a particular vehicle or driver.
What is needed is a method and system to provide navigational information for a driver of a vehicle to obtain maintenance. It would be an advantage to have such navigational information direct the driver to a location ahead of the driver in a direction of travel of the vehicle. Further, it would be of benefit to predict when maintenance is needed and direct the driver to a location providing a corresponding product or service before the vehicle is disabled. It would also be of benefit to tailor the information content in accordance with driver preferences.


Processes for the preparation of 2,5-dihydroxybenzenesulfonic acid salts of formula (I) and a crystalline form of potassium 2,5 2,5-dihydroxybenzenesulfonic acid are provided.

2,5-Dihydroxybenzenesulfonic acid derivatives and specifically calcium dobesilate, ethamsylate and persilate are known in the art as active agents for the treatment of male sexual dysfunction and other vascular disorders of endothelial origin, both alone and in combination with other agents. U.S. Pat. No. 6,147,112 describes a method for the use of 2,5-dihydroxybenzenesulfonic acid derivatives, preferably calcium dobesilate, ethamsylate and persilate.
Calcium dobesilate or hydroquinone calcium sulfonate, with the chemical name 2,5-dihydroxybenzenesulfonic acid calcium salt, is being sold as Dexium (Delalande) and Doxium (Carrion), and a process for its preparation is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,509,207.
The potassium salt of 2,5-dihydroxybenzenesulfonic acid, formula (Ia), is also an important compound.

Combinations of active substances comprising a 2,5-dihydroxybenzenesulfonic acid compound including potassium 2,5-dihydroxybenzenesulfonate are disclosed in International Application Publication No. WO 2005/013962. Compositions and methods of use for 2,5-dihydroxybenzenesulfonic acid compounds and their pharmaceutically acceptable salts, including potassium 2,5-dihydroxybenzenesulfonate, are discussed in U.S. Patent Publication No. 20070149618.
In view of the importance of the potassium salt of 2,5-dihydroxybenzenesulfonic acid, it is desirable to develop a process for its manufacture by a simple method with improved yield, purity and stability.


For optimizing executable code, during a first compilation of a source code, a set of signatures is inserted in a first executable code. A signature in the set of signatures includes a combination of executable instructions. During an execution of the first executable in a debugger an instruction to call a counter code is executed from a location of the signature to increment a counter corresponding to the signature. A value of the counter is provided to a compiler to correspond with the location of the signature in the first executable code. The source code is recompiled into a second executable code, optimizing a portion of the second executable code responsive to the value exceeding a threshold. The portion is related to the location of the signature in the first executable code.

A compiler accepts as input a source code in a high-level programming language or some other equivalent high level semantic representation of a computer program. The compiler converts or "compiles" the source code into machine language code, i.e., binary code in ones and zeros, which is executable on a data processing system or machine. The machine language code produced from a compiler is also called an executable code, or simply an executable. Many compilers are presently available for compiling source code written in a variety of programming languages.
Debugging is the process of determining a cause of an undesirable operation of an executable. Some examples of an undesirable operation include, but are not limited to, an error during the execution of the executable, an error caused elsewhere in the machine as a result of the execution, a malfunction of a system, incorrect manipulation of data, an incorrect or faulty operation of the executable, an undesirable rate or speed of performance of the machine or the executable during the execution, an undesirable output or a lack of an output during the execution, an adverse effect of the execution, and the like.
A debugger is a software tool, which controls and examines an execution of an executable, to assist in locating an operation in the executable, which may be contributing to the undesirable operation. Many debuggers are presently available for this purpose.
A profile of a code, such as of a portion of a source code or a portion of an executable code, includes a frequency of use of the code during the execution of an executable corresponding to the code. In other words, the higher a number of times a portion is called, used, or executed during the execution, the higher the profile of the portion. Many profilers are presently available for this purpose. The number of times a portion of code is called, used, or executed during an execution of the code is interchangeably referred to herein as a "count" or a "frequency".

Feedback directed optimized compiling of optimized executable code

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


A denture adhesive which is useful in aiding in the retention of dentures to the oral mucosa constitutes a mixture of polyacrylic acid and hydroxy compound of sufficiently high molecular weight to be solid at room temperature. The combination can be used in the form of a powder or can be mixed in an oil base for application as a cream or liquid. The composition can also include hydration enhancers and pH adjustment agents.

Denture adhesives are employed for the purpose of assisting the adherence of dentures to the oral mucosa. Such adhesives are usually formulated either as anhydrous powders or as cream based formulations. Both types acquire moisture from saliva to hydrate the formulation in such a way to form a thin film between the denture and oral mucosa and to develop their useful properties. A high degree of tack is essential for the adhesive to function properly and equally important is the cohesive strength of the hydrated denture adhesive. A high degree of strength helps to prevent loss of adhesion of the denture to the oral mucosa.
Another important characteristic of a denture adhesive is the rate of hydration. Only after the adhesive becomes fully hydrated does it become fully effective. Not only do the polymers and/or gums employed play an important role in determining the rate of hydration but also the form of the adhesive is significant. Thus, for example, a powder adhesive can hydrate faster than a cream. The rate of hydration further affects the smoothness and overall mouth feel of the denture adhesive. Moreover, it is apparent that part of the adhesive will be between the denture and the gums and will therefore not have access to the moisture because it is out of direct contact with the saliva. It is therefore important that a denture fixative composition have the characteristic of becoming hydrated evenly throughout so that its strength is evenly distributed. As a result, various polymers and gums have been used heretofore for the specific purpose of promoting adhesion. While these hydration adjuvants may not contribute to the tack and strength of the denture adhesive, they are useful in assisting in water pick up.
Polyacrylic acid has been employed in numerous pharmaceutical formulations in order to exploit its thickening, suspending and emulsifying capabilities. It has been used also in denture adhesive formulations. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,373,036 teaches the use of polyacrylic acid with neutralizing agents and cross-linkers in a denture adhesive formulation which can also include hydroxypropyl cellulose and polyethylene oxide. However it cannot be used alone because, as is known, a partially or wholly neutralized polyacrylic acid generates a gel in aqueous systems which has a low cohesive strength and a structure which may easily be ruptured when subjected to stresses such as those which occur during mastication.
Polyvinyl alcohol is a water soluble polymer which can form a highly viscous gel in water. It has been used as a thickener, emulsifier, adhesive and coating. U.S. Pat. No. 4,880,702 teaches the use of polyvinyl alcohol in a three layer composition for stabilizing dentures alone or in combination with polyethylene oxide, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose or microcrystalline wax. The polyvinyl alcohol is cast into a thin film which is used in the outer layers of the composition and becomes tacky when hydrated in the mouth.
Polyalkylene oxides such as polyethylene oxide and polypropylene oxide have been widely used as solvents, lubricants, surfactants and in pharmaceutical and cosmetic bases. They have also been used in a denture adhesive composition containing, inter alia, cellulose ethers, an alkali metal salt of carboxymethyl cellulose and a hydrocarbon base (EP 140,486). Polyethylene glycol has been used in denture adhesives as taught for instance in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,530,942, 4,522,956, 4,521,551, 4,514,528 and 4,474,902. Polypropylene glycol has been used in conjunction with polyvinyl acetate and other natural gums in U.S. Pat. No. 4,804,412.
Chang et al. in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,470,814 and 4,542,168 teach a denture fixative composition containing as the fixative, a partially neutralized and crosslinked polyacrylic acid or a precursor combination of the polyacrylic acid, neutralizing agent and crosslinking agent adapted to form the active fixative, and at least one hydrophilic polymer which is preferably sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl guar or sodium alginate. The crosslinking agents are the dentally acceptable salts, oxides and bases of divalent cations and/or polyhydroxy compounds such as glycerin, propylene glycol, ethylene glycol, tetramethylene glycol and the like.
It is known that polyacrylic acid and compounds containing hydroxyl functionality interact. A combination of the two materials does result in a mixture with a higher viscosity than either of the compounds alone and when this occurs, a highly viscous and gummy material is obtained. That property is advantageous when the combination is used as a denture adhesive but the same property also introduces an element of difficulty in applying the denture adhesive onto the dentures. It is desirable that the denture adhesive be applied as a thin layer on the denture in order to provide for an even distribution of the adhesive and a comfortable fit. Development of a viscous and gummy consistency when the two compounds are mixed makes the even application of the denture adhesive more difficult.
It is accordingly the object of this invention to provide a new denture adhesive composition which hydrates more evenly, and develops high tack and superior cohesive strength and which can be more easily applied to a denture. This and other objects of the invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in this art from the following detailed description.


A device for collecting liquid and, in particular, a device for collecting liquid or liquid-like substances used and/or generated in the course of medical procedures, the device including a bag-like product that is removable attachable to the site being treated, such as the ear or the nose, and including at least one opening for transporting the flushing liquid or other liquid-like substance from the site being treated into the bag. In accordance with the invention, the bag includes a collection section to be placed at the site being treated and a connecting support section that extends at least over the patient's one shoulder, the bag being designed to be supported on at least one shoulder when being used.

In the treatment of humans, there are procedures that involve the spraying of liquid into the body or, more precisely, into bodily orifices in an attempt to remove substances that may cause infections or have other detrimental impact on health. A typical procedure of this type is the removal of ear wax or other impurities from the outer auditory canal. Ear wax excreted in the outer auditory canal may become lodged and hardened inside the canal causing hearing impairment and infections. When the ears are cleaned, a flushing liquid, such as water, is sprayed into the outer auditory canal to soften and finally wash out the material inside the auditory canal.
In other procedures, liquid or liquid-like substances are drained from the human body. Such procedures include antral puncture to open the sinus(es) or remove the liquid substances contained therein through the nostrils.
When these procedures are performed, the liquid from the ear or nose is collected using a range of equipment. For example, when ears are cleaned, the amount of water required is relative high, anything from 0.5 to 1.5 liters, making it necessary to use a fairly large collection device. Such devices include e.g. kidney bowls, which are placed under the ear or nose and into which the liquid flows during the procedure. If and when the kidney bowl is filled, it is emptied and the flushing is continued. Kidney bowls are made of paper, recycled paper, plastic or steel. Other types of collection devices are used as well. The kidney bowl or similar collection device is used by the nursing staff, or the patient himself holds the bowl under the ear or nose to make sure that he liquid or liquid-like substance is drained into the said collection device without soiling the clothes or the surroundings. If the collection device is held by the person performing the procedure, he or she can only use one hand for this purpose, which may complicate or prolong the procedure. If the patient holds the collection device, there is a risk of the device being tilted or over-turned when the patient makes a move in response to a sensation of pain or if the patient is unable to determine the correct location and position of the collection device. If another staff member is required to hold the collection device, the cost of treatment is increased. In difficult cases, and particularly when treating children in pain, the flushing water or the liquid being collected may splash over the patient even if the device were held by another person. This may happen especially if the patient (child) squirms during the procedure.
There is also equipment designed for flushing ears that incorporate a suction device for collecting the flushing liquid. When this type of equipment is used, there is some by-pass flow meaning that while the amount of liquid to be collected is relatively small, a kidney bowl or other such collection device must, nevertheless, be used.
In addition, there are known to be collection bags that are attached around the patient's head with a rubber band or similar. The problem is that such collection bags do not stay in position because the amount of liquid to be used may be large. Consequently, they have to be supported all the time and there is a risk of the bag falling off and the liquid spilling out. A specific problem is that if an on-sided bag is formed in between the wall membrane(s) of the bag, or such a bag is formed on both sides, the weight and pressure of the liquid may press the membranes together. This prevents the liquid from entering the bag in which case it will go somewhere else. Loose plastic membranes, in particular, are prone to develop obstacles to the free flow of liquid.


A method for stimulating the immune system by treating an individual who has been immunocompromised as a result of severe trauma, including closed head injury and infection, with human growth hormone. This treatment leads to an increase in total lymphocyte number, and in an increase in the T4/T8 ratio. The treatment represents an effective therapy for maintaining or stimulating the immunocompetence of an individual who has been immunocompromised.

This invention relates to a method for stimulating the cells of the immune system of a human by administering human growth hormone. More particularly, the invention relates to a method for increasing the total lymphocyte count of a human by administering human growth hormone. Even more particularly, the invention relates to a method for increasing the T4/T8 ratio in a human by administering human growth hormone.
2. Background Art
The immune systems of vertebrates generally provide a dual mechanism for recognizing and eliminating materials which are foreign to the body. These mechanisms, which are ordinarily referred to as humoral (antibody mediated) and cellular immunity, are provided by B- and T- lymphocytes, respectively.
The immune response to foreign material, or antigens, involves complex interactions of various lymphocytes, or B-and T-cells. These interactions can be severely compromised following certain infections and after injury. T-cells, which are derived from the thymus, are particularly important for the maintenance of immunocompetence following injury (Hoyt, et al., J. of Trauma, Vol. 30, p. 759, 1990).
There are several subsets of T-cells which are named by their functions. Helper T-cells (T.sub.H) are involved in the activation of B-cells into plasma cells which produce antibodies, which in turn, react with foreign antigens. T.sub.H cells express a surface antigen called CD4 or T4. T4.sup.+ cells comprise predominantly T.sub.H cells, along with another type of T-cell, called the accessory T-cell (T.sub.A). Cytotoxic T-cells (T.sub.C) are involved in the destruction of antigen-bearing cells. Another cell, derived from the same precursor as the T-cell, the natural killer (NK) cell, aids the T.sub.C in protecting the body from tumor cells. T.sub.C cells express a different surface antigen from T.sub.H cells which is called CD8 or T8. T8.sup.+ cells consist of T-cells with both suppressor (T.sub.S) and cytotoxic activities. T-cell function and a normal T4/ T8 ratio are important to providing cellular immunity, which, in particular, defends the body from foreign antigens including invaders such as bacteria, fungi, parasites, and viruses.
The ratio of T4.sup.+ to T8.sup.+ cells is tightly regulated in humans, and has recently been shown to decrease as a result of severe head injury (See e.g. Hoyt, et al, 1990). This decreased T4/T8 ratio may result from alterations in the production of various cytokines, alterations to macrophages and their metabolites, and by activation of T.sub.S cells which inhibit the proliferation of other T-cells. Activation of T.sub.S cells probably may occur as a result of injury-induced serum suppressor substances such as prostaglandin E.sub.2 (PGE.sub.2), leukotrienes, tumor necrosis factor, and lymphocyte and proteolytic fragments of cytokines and their receptors.
A decreased T4/T8 ratio has also been shown to be characteristic of patients having acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) which is caused by infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV; Cease, et al., in AIDS Vaccine Research and Clinical Trials, Putney and Bolognesi, eds., p. 139, 1990). In the case of AIDS, one mechanism for the decreased T4/T8 ratio is the utilization of the T4 molecule by HIV as a cellular receptor. In binding to the T4 molecule, the virus is provided entry to that particular cell, which ultimately results in disablement of the normal cellular functions. The decrease in circulating T4.sup.+ lymphocytes is caused not only by the death of these cells following infection, but also from the loss of cell surface expression of T4 molecules on HIV infected T4.sup.+ cells (Orloff and McDougal, in AIDS Vaccine Research and Clinical Trials, Putney and Bolognesi, eds., p. 63, 1990). Infection by other viruses, which do not use the T4 molecule as a receptor, may result in immune suppression by other mechanisms which are not all completely understood. Oncogenic or tumor forming viruses can cause immunosuppression by inducing cells to form tumors which release immunosuppressive factors. Other viruses, such as cytomegalovirus (CMV) and lactic dehydrogenase virus (LDV) inhibit cellular and humoral immunity by unknown mechanisms.
HGH is a 191 amino acid single chain protein which is released by the anterior pituitary. It has a molecular weight of 21,500 kilodaltons and has disulfide bonds linking amino acids 53 and 165 and amino acids 182 and 189 (Niall, Nature New Biol. Vol. 230, p. 90, 1977). HGH is a potent anabolic agent, especially due to retention of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and calcium.
HGH causes a variety of physiological and metabolic effects in various animal models including linear bone growth, lactation, activation of macrophages, insulin-like and diabetogenic effects (Chawla, et al., Ann. Rev. Med. Vol. 34, p. 519, 1983; Isaksson, et al., Ann. Rev. Physiol., Vol. 47, p. 483, 1985; Edwards, et al. Science Vol. 239, p. 769, 1988; Thorner and Vance, J. Clin. Invest. Vol. 82, p. 745, 1988; Hughes and Friesen, Ann. Rev. Physiol. Vol. 47, p. 469, 1985). Treatment of hypophysectomized rats with GH can restore at least a portion of the growth rate of the rats (Moore, et al., Endocrinology, Vol. 122, p. 2920, 1988).
A connection has been said to exist between the anterior pituitary and the immune system, and specifically with GH. Human growth hormone (HGH) is believed to be necessary for maintaining lymphoid tissues populated with lymphocytes. In mice, GH removal results in thymic atrophy, which can be reversed by readministration of GH (Baroni, Experientia, Vol. 23, p. 282, 1967). Two groups of investigators concluded from their studies that GH controls the growth of lymphoid tissue (Pierpaoli and Sorkin, Nature, Vol. 215, p. 834, 1967; Baroni, Experientia, Vol. 23, (1967). Subsequently, immunologic function was restored in the pituitary dwarf mouse by a combination of bovine somatotropic hormone and thyroxin (Baroni et al., Immunol., Vol. 17, p. 303, 1969).
In a sex-linked dwarf chicken strain, bovine GH treatment resulted in enhanced antibody responses and bursal growth while thyroxine treatment stimulated thymus growth (Marsh et al., Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med., Vol. 175, p. 351, 1984). However, neither treatment altered immune function in the autosomal dwarf chicken. Bovine GH therapy alone partially restored immunologic function in immunodeficient Weimaraner dogs (Roth et al., Ann. J. Vet. Res., Vol. 45, p. 1151, 1984).
Mice with hereditary GH deficiency develop an impairment of the immune system associated with thymic atrophy, immunodeficiency, and wasting, resulting in a shortened life expectancy (Frabris et al., Clin. Exp. Immunol., Vol 9, p. 209, 1971). It has been shown that an age-associated decline in the plasma concentration of thymulin (a thymic hormone) occurs and that plasma thymulin concentration increases in bGH-treated middle-aged and old dogs (Goff et al., Clin. Exp. Immunol., Vol 68, p. 580, 1987). Further, administration of HGH to C.sub.57 /B1/6J mice was found to reverse the inhibitory effect of prednisolone on thymus and spleen cellularity and on natural killer activity; administration of HGH without prednisolone had no effect, although at higher doses it induced a decrease of thymic parameters and natural killer activity with no effect on spleen cellularity, and relative weights (Franco et al., Acta Endocrinologica, Vol. 123, p. 339, 1990).
Two different human receptors have been cloned with which HGH appears to interact; the HGH liver receptor (Leung et al., Nature, Vol. 330, p. 537, 1987) and the human prolactin receptor (Boutin et al., Mol. Endocrinol. Vol. 3, p. 1455, (1989). However, there may be others including the human placental lactogen receptor (Freemark, et al., Endocrinol. Vol. 120, p. 1865, 1987). These homologous receptors contain a glycosylated extracellular hormone binding domain, a single transmembrane domain and a cytoplasmic domain which differs considerably in sequence and size. One or more receptors play a role in determining the physiological response to HGH.
It has been reported that, especially in women after menopause, GH secretion declines with age. Millard et al., Neurobiol, Aging, Vol. 11, p. 229, 1990; Takahashi et al., Neuroendocrinology, Vol. 46, p. 137, 1987). See also Rudman et al., J. Clin. Invest., Vol. 67, p. 1361, 1981 and Blackman, Endocrinology and Aging, Vol. 16, p. 981, 1987. Moreover, a report exists that some of the manifestations of aging, including decreased lean body mass, expansion of adipose-tissue mass, and the thinning of the skin, may be reduced by GH treatment three times a week. See, e.g., Rudman et al., N. Eng. J. Med., Vol. 323, p. 1, 1990 and the accompanying article in the same journal issue by Dr. Vance (pp. 52-54).
HGH is released in response to stimulation by human growth hormone releasing hormone, hGHRH, which is released by the hypothalamus. hGHRH is also referred to as human growth hormone releasing factor, hGHRF or GRF, as somatoliberin or as somatocrinin. HGH stimulates the growth of many tissues of the body, exerting many of its effects by stimulating the secretion of other growth factors, such as the somatomedins, which display insulin-like activities (U.S. Pat. No. 4,769,361). A major biological effect of HGH is to promote growth in young mammals and to maintain tissues in older mammals. The organ systems affected include the skeleton, connective tissue, muscles, and viscera such as liver, intestine, and kidneys. Growth hormone exerts its effect through interaction with specific receptors on the target cell's membrane. HGH is a member of a family of homologous hormones that include placental lactogens, prolactins, and other genetic and species variants of growth hormone (Nicoll, et al., Endocrine Reviews, Vol. 7, p. 169, 1986). HGH is unusual among these in that it exhibits broad species specificity and binds to either the cloned somatogenic (Leung, et al. Nature, Vol. 330, p. 537, 1987) or prolactin receptor (Boutin, et al., Cell, Vol. 53, p. 69, 1988). The cloned gene for HGH has been expressed in secreted form in E. coli (Chang, et al. (11987) Gene, Vol. 39, p. 247, 1987). The effects of HGH include linear growth (somatogenesis), lactation, activation of macrophages, and other insulin-like and diabetogenic effects (Chawla, Ann. Rev. Med., Vol. 34, p. 519, 1983; Edwards, et al., Science, Vol. 239, p. 769, 1988; Thorner, et al., J. Clin. Invest., Vol. 81, p. 745, 1988).
HGH has been used primarily in the treatment of hypopituitary dwarfism (Rapaport, et al., J. of Pediatrics, Volume 109, p. 434, 1986). HGH treatment in growth hormone deficient patients results in the stimulation of skeletal growth, an increase in cellular protein synthesis, an increase in serum glucose and insulin levels, a reduction in body fat stores, and stimulation of connective tissue and mineral metabolism. Among its most striking effects in hypopituitary (GH-deficient) subjects is accelerated linear bone growth of bone-growth-plate-cartilage resulting in increased stature (Kaplan, Growth Disorders in Children and Adolescents, Springfield, Ill., Charles C. Thomas, 1964).
In addition to being used to stimulate growth, HGH has also been used as a dietary supplement to maintain a positive nitrogen balance (U.S. Pat. No. 4,863,901), for the treatment of intoxicated individuals (U.S. Pat. No. 4,816,439) and for the treatment and diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's Disease and Parkinson's Disease (U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,939,124 and 4,791,099). Growth hormone (obtained from either rats or pigs) has also been shown to act on the immune system of animals by increasing the production of macrophages, and by activating their oxidative metabolism (U.S. Pat. No. 4,837,202).
Studies have also recently been conducted on GH and T-cell proliferation in the thymus (Murphy et al., FASEB Meeting Abstract, Atlanta, April 1991; Durum et al., FASEB Meeting Abstract, Atlanta, April 1991). For other articles on the immune effects of GH, see Kelley, "Growth Hormone in Immunobiology," in Psychoneuroimmunology II, 2nd Ed., B. Ader et al., eds., Acad. Press 1990, and Ammann, "Growth Hormone and Immunity," in Human Growth Hormone--Progress and Challenges, L. Underwood, ed., Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, p. 243, 1988; and Weigent and Blalock, Prog. NeuroEndocrinImmunology, Vol 3, p. 231, 1990; and Kelly, Biochem. Pharmacol., Vol. 38, p. 705, 1989.
Human growth hormone treatment has been shown to suppress some immunological functions in growth hormone-deficient children (Rapaport, et al., 1986, Bozzola, et al., Acta. Paediatr. Scand., Vol. 74, p. 675, 1988). However, there is a difference in the responses of lymphocytes from growth hormone-deficient patients and normal controls to HGH. Rapaport et al. reported that when HGH was administered to normal subjects, a significant depression in spontaneous lymphocyte proliferation was seen. In contrast, a significant increase in proliferation was demonstrated when HGH was administered to the growth hormone deficient group. (Rapaport, et al., Life Sciences, Vol. 41, p. 231, 1987). It therefore appears that HGH has different effects on immune function, depending on the status of the patient's hormonal interactions and baseline immune responsiveness. Some studies suggest that administration of HGH to HGH deficient patients decreases the T4/T8 ratio (Rapaport, et al., 1986).

Human growth hormone induced improvement in depressed T4/T8 ratio

The University of Tennessee Research Corporation


A method and system for monitoring and managing a remote infusion regimen where a prescribed infusion regimen is provided and compared to subsequent infusion event data to determine if the data falls within predetermined parameters. If the data does not fall within predetermined parameters a monitoring technician, supportive caregiver, patient or some combination thereof are immediately notified so that corrective action may be taken.

This invention is directed to a system and method that automates compliance of use of an infusion pump and more particularly a system and method that increases the probability that a prescribed infusion regimen is followed.
Ambulatory pumps are used on patients that can actively ambulate, which presents unique challenges in the care and management of patients. Within a healthcare setting, patients on ambulatory pumps remain under observation which limits non-compliance opportunities. In the home or other alternate site locations it becomes difficult to monitor and enforce patient compliance with prescribed infusion protocols. Home infusion patients generally prefer to be home versus the hospital in many cases, but can become non-compliant with infusion plans due to the technical challenges of managing infusions, a desire to skip or terminate treatments, or inadvertent misses.
Compliance with prescribed infusion plans is particularly important in the home setting as there is typically an expense associated with incorrectly followed infusion schedules. Antibiotics, the most ubiquitous home infusion medication class, are typically effective only if completed in a full protocol. The patient who feels better on day three or four and subsequently fails to complete a planned seven day infusion regimen will likely require a hospital re-admission, often through the Emergency Room, thereby negating the financial benefits and patient preference benefits of out-of-hospital infusion strategies. Such non-compliance becomes noteworthy not only to the patient but to the hospital as well as the payer/insurer, who generally supports alternate care strategies in order to avoid or truncate hospitalizations. Other medications delivered at home include medical necessities such as TPN, protein-derived therapeutics (which are typically very expensive), and oncolytics. All of these medications' effectiveness are dictated by timely and complete compliance. Payers generally will continue to be very invested in paying for home infusions that are in fact correctly administered. Further, discharging hospitals are growing more invested in post-discharge patient outcomes through pay-for-performance incentives and re-admission metrics are growing in importance through accountable care evolution.
In the past, compliance with home infusion plans has been loosely monitored through phone calls to patients or caregivers to ask about compliance. Further, compliance has been indirectly monitored through observation of appropriate re-order needs for IV medications and infusion supplies. Also, home nursing visits could be used to apply either of the two above techniques as well as ascertain probability of compliance based on patient condition. Finally, pump infusion and event history downloads can be used to note likely compliance. These techniques provide some guidance but do not offer a full perspective on patient compliance as phone inquiries can be misleading, medication inventory can be manipulated, home nurse visits may be infrequent, and pump activity downloads provide ex-post facto compliance datum but certainly are not timely enough to be actively useful. Therefore, a need exists in the art for a system and method that addresses these deficiencies.
An objective of the present invention is to provide a system and method that fully automates compliance monitoring and management of an infusion pump regimen.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a system and method to link a prescribed infusion regiment to what is actually carried out by the home patient.
A still further objective of the present invention is to provide a system and method that increases the probability that a patient follows a prescribed infusion regimen.
Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide a system and method that increases the probability that an incomplete or incorrect regimen is addressed early in the non-compliance cycle.
Still, another objective of the present invention is to provide a system and method that captures value for a patient, a payer, an alternate site caregiver, and a discharging hospital.
One more objective of the present invention is to provide a system and method that increases motivation to use pumps for home infusions, whereby pumps can generally provide a safer means of controlled medication infusion than gravity infusions and provide a means by which to electronically capture the medication delivery details.
These and other objectives will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art based upon the following written description, drawings, and claims.

System and method of monitoring and managing a remote infusion regimen


An attempt to write to a block of data in a main volume of data is detected. An indicator associated with the block of data is accessed before a copy-on-write operation to a snapshot volume is performed for the block of data. The indicator is used to determine whether the copy-on-write operation is to be performed for the block of data.

Snapshots are used to record and preserve the state of a volume of data at any given moment. There are many scenarios where a consumer application (e.g., a backup or replication application) takes a volume snapshot to create a consistent, point-in-time image of the stored information, in order to read blocks of data without interfering with another application (e.g., a database application) that is also making use of that information. These snapshots are, most of the time, solely for the purpose of the consumer application. The duration of the backup/replication task is also the lifetime of the snapshot. Depending upon the amount of data to be processed from the snapshot, this lifetime can be quite long, especially if the backup/replication application requires persisting the snapshot during the processing.
For the lifetime of the snapshot, there will be a copy-on-write overhead associated with every first write to a block in the volume of data, even for those blocks that have already been read by the consumer application. That is, even though a block in the volume has already been read by the consumer application and a point-in-time image of the data in that block is no longer needed for that purpose, the data in the block will still be copied from the volume to the snapshot if data is to be written to that block, unnecessarily incurring a copy-on-write overhead.


A method for predicting electromagnetic radiation characteristics, a computer-readable recording medium and a simulator are provided. The method includes the steps of obtaining a plurality of first radiation currents in an equivalent circuit model of an electronic component, calculating a radiation resistance according to the first radiation currents, inserting the radiation resistance into the equivalent circuit model, and then obtaining a plurality of second radiation currents in the equivalent circuit model, and predicting electromagnetic radiation characteristics of the electronic component according to the second radiation currents.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention generally relates to a technique for predicting electromagnetic radiation characteristics, in particular, to a method, a computer-readable recording medium and a simulator for predicting electromagnetic radiation characteristics.
2. Description of Related Art
Presently, electromagnetic radiation characteristics such as an electromagnetic radiation power generated by an electronic component or a radiation pattern of an antenna structure in an electronic system may only be obtained via an electromagnetic full-wave solver at a product designing stage. Since algorithms such as a finite element method (FEM), a finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method, or a method of moment (MOM) are adopted by the electromagnetic full-wave solver, intensive and massive mathematical computation is involved, which is very time-consuming.
Furthermore, when signal integrity analysis or power integrity analysis is performed on a system, an eye pattern of the system architecture may be analyzed to obtain an overall performance of the system through the use of time-domain circuit software. However, most existing electromagnetic full-wave solvers may only provide an analytic result of an electronic component in a frequency domain. The file type of the analytic result may not be compatible with other circuit architectures in the time-domain circuit software, and may thus create difficulties in analysis or may even provide incorrect results.

Method for predicting electromagnetic radiation characteristics, computer-readable recording medium and simulator


A coupling device for establishing a detachable connection for a tube system is to be improved so that while simple detachability of the pipe socket and tube is guaranteed, the pulling-off force is equivalent to firm clamping. To accomplish the task, a sleeve-like coupling box 7 is provided, which surrounds the tube 5 in a clamp-like manner and, for fixation on the pipe socket 2, it has, on the inside, a circumferential notch 8, into which two oppositely arranged projecting parts 4 of the pipe socket 2 snap. The coupling box 7 expands under the effect of a force acting laterally, so that the projecting parts 4 will disengage from the notch 8.

A coupling device of this type has become known from DE-C2-36,23,367. The prior-art coupling device is used to connect a tube to the pipe socket of an anesthesia device or respirator. On its inside, the tube has a locking member which is designed as an elastic lip and snaps into an undercut when pushed over the pipe socket. The coupling device is designed such that even though the tube is in firm contact with the pipe socket during respiration, it is possible to rapidly remove the tubes from the pipe socket in the case of an emergency. The locking member is expanded radially by the axial pulling force acting on the tube to the extent that it will slide out of the undercut and the coupling device will thus be detached.
Coupling devices have also been known from the connection of respiration tubes in gas masks and breathing apparatus. It is required here for the respiration tubes to be firmly connected to the corresponding pipe socket during operation, but rapid separation is desirable during the preparation of the apparatus for use. To achieve this, the tube is firmly clamped onto the corresponding pipe socket, which means a large amount of mounting work. However, the tube may be damaged by tightening the clamps too tightly, and it is often difficult to work with a tool in breathing apparatus of compact design.
A quickly detachable coupling described in DE-C3,26,57,215 consists of a pipe socket that is provided with a circumferential notch and a tube with a coupling box, at the end of which opposite projecting parts, which snap into the notch of the pipe socket in the assembled state, are provided. The coupling box is made of elastic material in the area of the projecting parts and is provided with pressure-absorbing areas which are arranged offset by 90.degree. in relation to the projecting parts. On compression of the pressure-absorbing areas, the coupling box is expanded to the extent that the projecting parts will slide out of the notch.
Even though the prior-art coupling permits the tube and pipe socket to be joined rapidly, the connection is able to absorb only limited pulling-off forces. The outer, flexible part of the coupling box expands radially and the projecting parts slide out of the notch in the case of stronger pulling-off forces. In addition, such a coupling is expensive to manufacture, because complicated plastic parts, which are shaped correspondingly to fit one another and must be manufactured with close tolerances, are needed.


A rolling bearing including a conductive shield and an insulation coating is provided. The rolling bearing assembly includes a fixable bearing ring including a first raceway and a rotatable bearing ring including a second raceway. A roller assembly includes a cage and a plurality of rolling elements are located in the cage and supported to roll on the first raceway of the fixable bearing ring and the second raceway of the rotatable bearing ring. A shield extends between the fixable bearing ring and the rotatable bearing ring. The shield includes a first end connected to the fixable bearing ring, and at least one electrically conductive element extends from a second end of the shield and contacts the rotatable bearing ring. A conductive extension on the first end of the shield is connectable to ground. The insulation coating covers surfaces of the fixable bearing ring outside of the first raceway.

Rolling bearings are widely used in various mechanical applications, including automotive and industrial applications. Grounding devices are used in a variety of bearing applications, including AC or DC electrical motors, generators, and other applications having rotating shafts. Grounding devices are used to prevent shaft induced currents from causing electrical discharge machining (EDM) due to electrical currents passing through a rolling bearing component. EDM causes pitting, fluting, and fusion craters on the rolling bearing components resulting in premature rolling bearing failure. Known EDM prevention methods include di-electric ceramic bearing coatings, Faraday shields, electrically conductive bearing grease, and shaft-contacting ground brushes.
Di-electric ceramic bearing coatings include a hard brittle coating that can fracture during installation or during running. Cracks in the coating can allow current to pass through the bearing which results in EDM. Di-electric ceramic bearing coatings also have limited di-electric strength and at high voltage potential, current can pass through the coating structure compromising the EDM protection of the coating. Known Faraday shields are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,878,814. Faraday shields are expensive to implement in most rolling bearing applications. Electrically conductive grease or liquid metal, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,248,725, are used to allow current to continuously pass through bearing surfaces but may contain elements such as copper, carbon, or phosphorous which can cause excessive wear on the bearing surfaces and lead to premature failure of the rolling bearing.
Spring loaded shaft grounding brushes allow a continuous flow of current to ground. Known grounding brushes are prone to excessive wear, material transfer, and oxide formation on the mating surface. These oxides may become a di-electric and may prevent effective current transfer from the shaft to the ground. This can cause electrical arcing and lead to damage of the shaft. Once the impedance of the shaft grounding brush exceeds the impedance of the bearings, the current can seek ground through the bearings which can potentially cause EDM damage to the bearings. Shaft grounding brushes may also vibrate due to imperfections in the shaft surface, i.e. an out of round condition. When the grounding brush momentarily loses contact with the shaft during vibration, the current can arc from the grounding brush to the shaft causing EDM damage. Alternatively, the current can flow through the bearings if the voltage potential is sufficiently high while the brush loses contact with the shaft during vibration. Traditional spring loaded shaft grounding brushes are prone to rapid and excessive wear and can ultimately lose contact with the shaft causing the current to seek ground through the bearing and causing EDM damage in the bearing. Known shaft grounding brushes are typically not installed too close to the bearing; however, providing a grounding surface near the bearing is essential to protecting the bearing surfaces against EDM.
As shown above, known EDM protection for bearings are either too expensive, unreliable, or can cause damage to the bearing components. One improvement for preventing EDM is disclosed in U.S. Pub. No. 2014/0334758, which is commonly owned by Schaeffler Technologies and incorporated by reference herein as if fully set forth. U.S. Pub. No. 2014/0334758 discloses a shield for a bearing assembly including a first end connected to a fixed bearing ring and an electrically conductive element contacting a rotating bearing ring. It would be desirable to provide an improvement to this known rolling bearing assembly that increases the resistance for current to flow through the bearing ring-rolling element-bearing ring pathway and encourages current to flow through the shield arranged between the bearing rings to prevent EDM to the rolling element and races.