A beverage bottling plant for filling bottles with a liquid beverage filling material, and a container filling lifting device for lifting containers in container filling machines. The lifting device is designed to lift a container, such as a bottle, to a first level for filling in the absence of counterpressure, and to a second, different level for filling under counterpressure.

1. Technical Field
The present application in one aspect relates to a beverage bottling plant for filling bottles with a liquid beverage filling material, and a container filling lifting device for pressing containers to container filling machines.
2. Background Information
A beverage bottling plant for filling bottles with a liquid beverage filling material can possibly comprise a beverage filling machine with a plurality of beverage filling positions, each beverage filling position having a beverage filling device for filling bottles with liquid beverage filling material. The filling devices may have an apparatus being configured to introduce a predetermined volume of liquid beverage filling material into the interior of bottles to a substantially predetermined level of liquid beverage filling material, and the apparatus configured to introduce a predetermined flow of liquid beverage filling material comprising apparatus being configured to terminate the filling of beverage bottles upon liquid beverage filling material reaching said substantially predetermined level in bottles. There may also be provided a conveyer arrangement being configured and disposed to move bottles, for example, from an inspecting machine to the filling machine. Upon filling, a closing station closes filled bottles. There may further be provided a conveyer arrangement configured to transfer filled bottles from the filling machine to the closing station; as well as a loading station that is configured to load filled bottles into containers, for example, in a six-pack arrangement. There may also be provided a conveyor arrangement configured to transfer filled bottles from the closing station to the loading station.
Container filling machines are preferably of a design of rotating machines that have a plurality of filling elements at their rotors. Support plates or support tables that can be raised and lowered are associated with the filling elements, which support tables receive the containers that are to be filled via input star wheels. Further, a so-called lifting device is associated with each of these support tables, the lifting device having the purpose of raising the containers that are disposed on the support tables towards the filling devices and to press the containers against the filling elements. In order to accomplish this function, these lifting devices generally comprise a combination of a fixed piston and a moveably disposed cylinder structure that surrounds the piston. The structural components are disposed vertically, and with the piston being rigidly connected to the rotor of the container filling machine. The cylinder can be moved up and down in a vertical direction. The cylinder chamber or cavity that is established between the fixed piston and the moveable cylinder, is in most cases impacted by compressed air, the compressed air being passed through a bore within the piston, such that the cylinder has the disposition to move in a vertical direction to an upper position. This movement is limited by a roller that is secured to the cylinder, which roller is configured to rotate about its longitudinal axis, with the roller contacting a curved path of a stationary cam structure. By way of the rotating movement of the rotor of the container filling machine, the roller rolls upon the curved path of the cam structure, that is, it follows the course of the curved path of the cam structure and simultaneously carries out an upwardly directed movement and a downwardly directed movement, which movements, due to the configuration of the design of the machine, are also carried out by the support table and, accordingly, a container supported on a support table.
In most cases, the curved path of such cam structures is not disposed along the entire circumferential surface area or region of the rotor, but they rather extend only along a portion of the circumference, preferably in the region of the container inlet and the container outlet, where the receiving surface of the support table needs to be disposed at the level of the transport structures that supply containers and also remove containers.
Such a lifting device has been proposed, for example, in German Patent No. DE 39 19 565. The embodiment described in this reference has the disadvantage that the stroke of the lifting device is determined exclusively by the contour provided by the curved path of the cam structure and changes of the movement of the stroke can only be accomplished by an exchange of the cam structure, this being a very time-consuming effort and, consequently, expensive in practical operation.
German Patent No. DE 39 19 565 and its corresponding Published European Patent Application No. EP 0 402 643 published on Jun. 15, 1989 are hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth in their entirety herein.
Within the scope of the efforts of lowering the cost, in the beverage industry there arises increasingly the problem to fill, with the same filling machine, containers with beverage liquids of great variety. Aside from the option to adapt the individual method steps of the filling procedure to the requirements of the filling material, the users also demand the option to select in simple manner between the method of filling under counterpressure and the method of filling in the absence of pressure.
The essential difference between the two filling methods is the connection between the filling element and the container that is to be filled during filling.
When counterpressure filling is to be utilized, the filling device and the container are disposed in sealed manner with respect to one another; this means that the container is pressed with a considerable force against the filling device, so as to ensure that the interior of the container is secured in a gas-tight manner against the ambient. This filling method is used primarily for carbon dioxide containing beverages, such as, for example, beer or mineral water. For filling in the absence of pressure, in turn, the filling devices and the container are not disposed in a sealed relationship with respect to one another, but they are rather disposed at a distance with respect to one another. This filling method applies to beverages that are free of carbon dioxide, such as, for example, fruit juices or milk.
Since the length of the stroke of a lifting device is essentially constant, the achievement of such a function, i.e., the option to select between counterpressure filling of an effervescent beverage, such as, beer, and filling of a still beverage in the absence of counterpressure, such as, for example milk, requires implementation of a special structural design.
To provide a solution to such a problem, the state of the art comprises the suggestion in which use is made of a lifting device comprising a stationary cylinder and a moveable piston, with the respective piston rod extending beyond each end of the cylinder. The support table is secured to the upper end of the piston rod, and an abutment plate is secured to the lower end of the piston rod. When a pressure filling is carried out, this abutment plate is idle, and the piston rod can move in upward direction until the container and the filling element are disposed in sealed relationship with respect to one another. In order to carry out filling in the absence of pressure, a spacer element is disposed at the lower end of the piston rod, anteriorly with respect to the abutment plate. Because this spacer element is disposed to reduce the length of travel of the abutment plate, or, respectively, the effective length of the lower portion of the piston rod is reduced, and the length of the stroke of the piston is effectively limited. This procedure has the considerable time disadvantage when the spacer elements have to be replaced, particularly in the case of filling machines that have many filling positions.
A further attempt to provide a solution comprises the design in which the filling machine vessel is configured to be adjusted with respect to height, i.e., it can be raised and lowered, so that establishing of a sealed condition, at constant stroke of the lifting elements can also be influenced. Such a solution is mechanically very demanding and, consequently, expensive.

Beverage bottling plant for filling bottles with a liquid beverage filling material, and a container filling lifting device for pressing containers to container filling machines


In a method for igniting the combustion chamber of a gas turbine unit, a safely working ignition and a long lifetime of the ignition device (10) is achieved by discharging a compressed gas with a supercritical pressure ratio through a nozzle (21) and heating it up to a temperature sufficient to ignite hydrocarbons by interacting with a resonance tube (19) arranged behind said nozzle (21), and using said heated-up gas to directly or indirectly ignite a fuel/air mixture introduced into said combustion chamber.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention concerns the field of gas turbines. It concerns a method for igniting the combustion chamber of a gas turbine unit and an ignition device for carrying out the method.
2. Brief Description of the Related Art
The continuous combustion in the combustion chamber of a gas turbine is initiated when an external ignition source ignites the combustion mixture (usually an air/fuel mixture). Usually this is accomplished with electric sparks that ignite the mixture in the combustion chamber either directly or indirectly using a so-called pilot burner. Alternative ignition sources provide the required energy via a glowing surface or a laser light source. The ignition plug for generating the ignition spark requires high electric voltage directly in the combustion chamber. The supply line, especially the isolation of this high voltage line that must be comprised of ceramics due to the existing temperatures at the compressor exit, is relatively susceptible to heat expansion and vibrations. This is why such ignition systems are comparatively sensitive and must be replaced relatively often during the life of a gas turbine. This could result in low availability of the unit. The other known ignition by way of an auto-ignition avoids the supply of high voltages; however, the ceramic glow element itself currently does not have a long enough lifecycle.
In a completely different technical field, i.e., in military applications, it is necessary to initiate a chemical reaction with very simple, robust devices. This led to the development of so-called Resonance Igniters that utilize the heating of gas for ignition purposes with the gas supercritically dissipating its pressure energy into heat in a resonance tube. Usually solid reaction mixtures or—using a H2/O2 and/or H2/air ignition flame—other fuels are being ignited (ref. for example U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,994,232 or 5,109,669).

Method for igniting the combustion chamber of a gas turbine unit and an ignition device for carrying out the method


Method for controlling the deployment operation of motor vehicles in a parking environment, in which, controlled by a management device of the parking environment, motor vehicles can be automatically parked after delivery by the driver and, after detection of a pick-up request on the part of the driver, taken from the parking place to a pick-up position in a pick-up area, wherein authentication information assigned to the motor vehicle, specific to the parking process and optically and/or wirelessly retrievable via a readout connection is provided by the management device to the driver when delivering the motor vehicle, wherein to pick up the motor vehicle, the authentication information is read out by a readout device in the parking environment, particularly in the pick-up area, and the deployment process is initiated only when the authentication information is present.

Parking environments, e.g., parking lots and/or parking garages having many parking places, in which a driver may park his vehicle, particularly for payment, are already widely known in the prior art. Upon entering the corresponding parking environment, for example, a code card may be received, with which a driver may leave the parking environment again after payment at a pay machine.
Precisely in view of the fact that many motor vehicles, at least within certain system boundaries, have vehicle systems designed to control the motor vehicle fully automatically, recently automated parking environments were suggested, in which a driver parks his motor vehicle in a delivery area, registers it via suitable communication connections, e.g., via a mobile device, with a management system of the parking environment, which then assigns the motor vehicle a parking place and automatically, e.g., by piloting the motor vehicle, brings the motor vehicle to the assigned parking place. If the driver wishes to pick up the motor vehicle again, he may use his mobile device, for example, to communicate a pick-up request to the management system, which controls the motor vehicle to leave its parking position and drive to a pick-up position in a pick-up area. A trajectory to be taken, for example, may be communicated to a vehicle system designed to control the motor vehicle fully automatically. A central processing device of the management system of the parking environment, hereinafter referred to as a management device, may be designed generally to coordinate the operation of the various motor vehicles within the parking environment, particularly also cooperating with the vehicle systems of the motor vehicles themselves.
Such parking systems are known from DE 10 2008 027 692 A1 or DE 10 2014 211 557 A1, for example.
In such driver support by fully automatic parking and leaving the parking space, it is problematic that, because the driver initially has no knowledge of the precise parking position of the motor vehicle and must request this via mobile device or terminal, it cannot be directly ensured that the driver is in the parking environment, particularly the pick-up area, at all. However, this opens the door to improper motor vehicle reclaims, wherein interferences with the flow of traffic may also occur after the motor vehicle is not picked up by the driver in the pick-up area, for example. The physical presence of the driver obviously also could not be determined through a request via the communication connection to the mobile device because cellular and/or Internet connections have a large coverage area.
The features and advantages of the present embodiments will become more apparent from the detailed description set forth below when taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which like reference characters identify corresponding elements throughout. In the drawings, like reference numbers generally indicate identical, functionally similar, and/or structurally similar elements.

Method for controlling a deployment operation of motor vehicles in a parking environment, and management system for a parking area


The disclosure provides an acoustic logging device comprising a first tubular member comprising a plurality of grooves disposed on an exterior of the first tubular member. The acoustic logging device further comprises a ring transmitter module disposed around an exterior of the first tubular member, which comprises a piezoelectric (PZT) ring transmitter, a transmitter sleeve, wherein the PZT ring transmitter is disposed within the transmitter sleeve, and a cage, wherein the transmitter sleeve is disposed between the cage and the exterior of the first tubular member, wherein the transmitter sleeve is disposed over the plurality of grooves. The acoustic logging device further comprises a plurality of dual bender transmitters, wherein there is a gap disposed the plurality of dual bender transmitters in the exterior of the first tubular member, wherein there is an array of holes connecting each of the gaps together and providing fluid communication between the gaps.

Acoustic logging operations are used to collect data regarding the formations around a wellbore. Typically, an acoustic logging tool in the form of a wireline tool or logging while drilling tool is positioned within the wellbore to collect this data. The acoustic logging tool emits one or more acoustic signals in multiple directions at the surrounding wellbore wall or formation. The acoustic signal travels through the formation and returns to the logging tool having been altered by the formation. As different characteristics of the formation alter the signal differently, the returning signal carries data regarding the characteristics of the formation. Thus, by processing and analyzing the returning signal, the formation characteristics can be obtained.
Acoustic logging tools generally utilize an acoustic source such as an acoustic transducer, which produces an acoustic output. Depending on the parameters of the logging operation, it may be desired for the acoustic output to have a strong output at certain frequencies or over a certain frequency range.
While embodiments of this disclosure have been depicted and described and are defined by reference to exemplary embodiments of the disclosure, such references do not imply a limitation on the disclosure, and no such limitation is to be inferred. The subject matter disclosed is capable of considerable modification, alteration, and equivalents in form and function, as will occur to those skilled in the pertinent art and having the benefit of this disclosure. The depicted and described embodiments of this disclosure are examples only, and not exhaustive of the scope of the disclosure.

Robust logging-while-drilling sonic transmitters with improved strength and bandwidth


A device for holding a cannula and for the releasable arrangement on an injection pen, with a basic body, wherein the cannula is arranged in the basic body in a manner such that it is substantially non-displaceable along the central axis thereof. Latching provisions are arranged on the circumferential surface of the basic body. The latching provisions are designed in order to be engaged behind by mating latching provisions of a release mechanism of a storage or disposal container for the device.

Such a device is disclosed in EP 1 396 234 B1, for example. The device there, designed as a pen needle and used to hold a needle, has webs which are distributed about the circumference of its hollow cylindrical main body and which extend from the proximal end in the direction of the distal end of the main body, and the webs open out into an elevation which is designed as a bead and which is formed at the distal end about the entire circumference of the main body. Depressions are formed about the circumference of the main body by the webs. These depressions begin at the proximal end of the main body and extend in the direction of the distal end thereof, but without reaching the distal end. The webs and depressions thus formed serve to release a used pen needle from an injection pen and at the same time to dispose of it in a suitable disposal container. When the pen needle is to be disposed of, it is fitted into an opening of the disposal container, which opening corresponds approximately to the dimension of the pen needle. Elements corresponding to the webs and depressions of the pen needle are arranged on this opening, about a part of the circumference, and form a negative image of the webs and depressions of the pen needle.
To release the pen needle, the injection pen is therefore inserted, with the pen needle toward the front, into the opening of the disposal container until the webs and depressions of the pen needle engage in the corresponding elements of the opening. In this position, the pen needle, which has been screwed with an inner thread onto an outer thread of the injection pen, is unscrewed from the injection pen and engaged from behind by an abutment. Thereafter, the injection pen is moved away from the opening of the disposal container. Ideally, the pen needle with its webs and depressions should then release itself from the corresponding elements of the opening and drop into the disposal container, in which it is then safely stored.
However, it has been shown that, with the pen needle thus released from the injection pen, the elevation extending about its entire circumference at the open end and designed in particular as a bead catches on or becomes wedged in the elements of the disposal container that correspond to the webs and depressions of the pen needle. The pen needle therefore sticks in the opening of the disposal container and is not yet safely disposed of therein. To complete the safe disposal in the container, it is necessary in such a case for the stuck or wedged pen needle to be pushed by hand or with a tool into the disposal container. In doing so, there is a risk that the person wishing to dispose of the pen needle may be injured by the needle protruding from the opening of the disposal container. Such a needlestick injury is of course also associated with a not inconsiderable risk of life-threatening infection under some circumstances, since such devices for injection of liquids may be used by persons with highly infectious diseases.
In other pen needles according to the prior art, the pen needle is likewise engaged from behind by an abutment on the disposal container during release, in which case a gap is created between pen needle and injection pen, such that the known pen needles can be released from the injection pen by means of engagement from behind. To this extent, all of the known pen needles are dependent on the geometry of the injection pen from which they are released.

Device for holding a cannula and for the releasable arrangement on an injection pen


A through-wall electrical box that is capable of accommodating two wall-mounted electrical devices, one for each side of a wall. One of the electrical devices faces one direction and a second electrical device faces 180 degrees away from the first device. The electrical box includes a continuous peripheral wall having an open front side, an open rear side, and a channel therein. The front side includes a front facing surface for receiving a first electrical device in the channel. The rear side includes a rear facing surface for receiving a second electrical device in the channel. The peripheral wall has a length slightly less than the width of the structural wall thereby positioning the installed electrical devices flush or slightly less than flush with the outer surfaces of the structural wall. A fastening arrangement is included on the electrical box for securing the electrical box to the structural wall.

When wiring a building for electrical service, it is common to install several electrical boxes per room to provide mounting enclosures for outlets, switches, and other wall-mounted electrical devices. Commonly, the electrical boxes installed are capable of accommodating a single electrical device per box. This is adequate for providing the desired level of electrical service to the building, but is wasteful in that it requires a box for each separate electrical device. The expense of wiring a building is increased as a result of the great number of individual electrical boxes required. The large number of electrical boxes also increases the expense of wiring a building, as addition runs of wiring must be installed to provide electrical service to each of the boxes.
What is needed is an electrical box that can accommodate more than one electrical device per box, to reduce the number of electrical boxes and the overall expense of installing the electrical service.


The present invention provides methods for synthesis and therapeutic use of DNA and RNA oligonucleotides and analogs. RNA oligonucleotides are synthesized using a small, circular DNA template which lacks an RNA polymerase promoter sequence. The RNA synthesis is performed by combining a circular single-stranded oligonucleotide template with an effective RNA polymerase and at least two types of ribonucleotide triphosphate to form an RNA oligonucleotide multimer comprising multiple copies of the desired RNA oligonucleotide sequence. Preferably, the RNA oligonucleotide multimer is cleaved to produce RNA oligonucleotides having well-defined ends. Preferred RNA oligonucleotide multimers contain ribozymes capable of both cis (autolytic) and trans cleavage.

In recent years the availability of automated DNA synthesizers has revolutionized the fields of molecular biology and biochemistry. As a result, linear DNA oligonucleotides of specific sequences are available commercially from several companies. These can be used for a variety of applications. For example, DNA oligonucleotides can be used as primers for cDNA synthesis, as primers for the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), as templates for RNA transcription, as linkers for plasmid construction, and as hybridization probes for research and diagnostics.
DNA and RNA oligonucleotides, i.e., oligomers, also can act as sequence-specific inhibitors of gene expression through binding of a complementary, or "antisense," base sequence. See, for example, E. Uhlmann et al., Chem. Rev., 90, 543 (1990), and Oligodeoxynucleotides: Antisense Inhibitors of Gene Expression; J. S. Cohen, Ed.; CRC Press: Boca Raton, Fla., 1989. These antisense oligomers have been shown to bind to messenger RNA at specific sites and inhibit the translation of the RNA into protein, splicing of mRNA or reverse transcription of viral RNA and other processing of mRNA or viral RNA. In addition, "anti-gene" oligomers have been developed that bind to duplex DNA and inhibit transcription.
Strong inhibitory activity has been demonstrated in vitro and in vivo using these antisense and anti-gene oligomers against viruses such as HIV-1, Herpes Simplex Virus, and influenza virus, among others, as well as against several types of cancer. Thus, antisense and anti-gene oligonucleotides could be used as antiviral and anticancer agents and therapeutic agents against almost any disease mediated by gene expression. In addition, in some cases improved activity has been reported for analogs of DNA, including DNA and RNA phosphorothioates and 2′-O-methyl-ribonucleotides. All potential therapeutic applications, however, would require large amounts (tens or hundreds of grams) of specific oligomers for animal and clinical trials, and even more for eventual use as a pharmaceutical. See, for example, I. Kitajima et al., Science, 258, 1792 (1992), and M. Z. Ratajczak et al., PNAS, 89, 11823 (1992).
Ribozymes are naturally occurring RNA sequences that possess the property of self-catalyzed (autolytic) cleavage. Known ribozymes include, for example, hairpin and hammerhead motifs. The catalytic "hammerhead" domain of a ribozyme typically contains 11–13 conserved nucleotides at the juncture of three helices precisely positioned with respect to the cleavage site. A hammerhead containing less than 60 contiguous nucleotides was found to be sufficient for rapid autolytic cleavage in the absence of any protein (D. E. Ruffner et al., Gene, 82, 31–41 (1989)).
Autolytic cleavage by ribozymes is an intramolecular event and is referred to as occurring "in cis". However, the essential constituents for a biologically active RNA hammerhead structure can be present on separate molecules. For example, one strand may serve as a catalyst and the other as a substrate. Ribozymes acting in trans can, for example, interfere with the production of a protein by cleaving the target mRNA transcript encoding the protein. Reddy et al. disclosed ribozyme cleavage of a target RNA in trans using a synthetic RNA molecule containing a hammerhead (catalytic region) flanked by sequences designed to hybridize to the target RNA substrate on either side of the potential cleavage site. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,246,921, issued Sep. 21, 1993). The novel ribozyme was capable of selectively cleaving the bcr-abl mRNA of a cell containing the Philadelphia Chromosome, thereby blocking synthesis of the BCR-ABL protein associated with some forms of leukemia.
One major drawback in the use of oligonucleotides as diagnostic tools or therapeutic agents is the high cost of oligonucleotide synthesis by machine using the standard solid-phase synthetic methods. Reasons for this include the high costs of the synthetically modified monomers, e.g., phosphoramidite monomers, and the fact that up to a tenfold excess of monomer is used at each step of the synthesis, with the excess being discarded. Costs of DNA oligonucleotides have been estimated at $2–5 per base for one micromole (about 3 mg of a 10 mer) on the wholesale level. On this basis, 1 gram of a 20-base oligomer would cost on the order of $20,000. Thus, significant in vivo testing of antisense oligomers will be quite expensive until ways are found to lower the cost.
Enzymatic methods have the potential for lowering the cost of oligonucleotide synthesis. Enzymatic methods use DNA or RNA nucleotide triphosphates (dNTPs or NTPs) derived from natural sources as the building blocks. These are readily available, and are less expensive to produce than phosphoramidite monomers. Generally, this is because the synthesis of the nucleotide triphosphates from base monophosphates requires as little as one step. See, for example, E. S. Simon et al., J. Org. Chem., 55, 1834 (1990). Nucleotide triphosphates (NTPs) can also be prepared enzymatically. In addition, the polymerase enzymes used in these methods are efficient catalysts, and are also readily available.
There are two major methods now in use for enzymatic amplification of DNA: cloning and the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). See, for example, J. Sambrook et al., Molecular Cloning; 2nd ed.; Cold Spring Harbor Press, 1989, and R. K. Saiki et al., Science, 239, 487 (1988). Cloning requires the insertion of a double-stranded version of the desired sequence into a plasmid followed by transformation of a bacterium, growth, plasmid re-isolation, and excising the desired DNA by restriction endonucleases. This method is not feasible for large-scale preparation because most of the material produced (the vector) is in the form of unusable DNA sequences. PCR is a newer technique that uses a thermostable polymerase to copy duplex sequences using primers complementary to the DNA. Subsequent heating and cooling cycles allow efficient amplification of the original sequence. For short oligomers, such as those used in anti-sense applications (e.g., less than about 50 nucleotides), PCR is inefficient and not cost-effective because it requires a primer for every new strand being synthesized.
Recently, a method was developed for the enzymatic synthesis of DNA oligomers using a noncleavable linear hairpin-shaped template/primer in a PCR-like enzymatic synthesis. See G. T. Walker et al., PNAS, 89, 392 (1992). Although this method may be more cost-effective than PCR, the polymerase must still dissociate from the template to enable amplification. Furthermore, the end groups of the DNA produced are ragged and not well defined.
Other methods of DNA replication are discussed in Harshey et al., Proc. Nat'l. Acad. Sci., USA, 78, 1090 (1985); and Watson, Molecular Biology of the Gene (3rd Edition). Harshey et al., discuss the theoretical method of "roll-in" replication of double-stranded, large, circular DNA. The "roll-in" process involves small, double-stranded circle cleavage and incorporation into a genome. It is primarily a process for inserting double-stranded plasmids into a double-stranded genome. Although one could conceivably use an entire genome to replicate an oligonucleotide, the resulting product would be thousands of nucleotides longer than desired. Thus, the "roll-in" process would be a very inefficient means to produce target oligonucleotide sequences. Watson briefly mentions the replication of single-stranded circles, but the author focuses the reference on the replication of double-stranded circles.
Prior to the present invention, it was thought by those skilled in the art that processive rolling-circle synthesis would not proceed without additional proteins which unwind the duplex ahead of the polymerase. See, e.g. Eisenberg et al., PNAS USA, 73:3151 (1976); The Single-Stranded DNA Phages, D. T. Denhardt et al., eds., Cold Spring Harbor Press; Cold Spring Harbor (1978); and DNA Replication, W. H. Freeman, San Francisco, 1980. In Eisenberg et al., the in vitro replication of φX174 DNA using purified proteins is disclosed. Among the listed necessary proteins are DNA unwinding protein (also known as SSB, single-strand binding protein), cisA protein, and rep protein. These DNA unwinding proteins (which require ATP) are necessary for this replicative synthesis; otherwise the polymerase stalls. The Single-Stranded DNA Phages includes a discussion of the mechanism of replication of a single-stranded phage and furthermore shows a scheme for this replication in FIG. 8 therein. One of the beginning stages of replication involves the elongation of a single-stranded (−) template annealed to a full-length linear (+) strand. Any further elongation necessarily requires unwinding of the helix ahead of the polymerase. DBP (Double-strand binding protein) was thought to be necessary to coat the displaced strand in order for there to be successful DNA synthesis during elongation.
The polymerase from phage φ29 is known to amplify DNA strands as large as 70 kb in length. Even though this polymerase exhibits such a high degree of processivity, the use of the polymerase from phage φ29 still results in the wasteful (in both time and monetary resources) production of unwanted nucleotides. In order to replicate an oligonucleotide prior to the present invention, those of skill in the art would have encoded the oligonucleotide as only a small portion of the entire replicated region. Moreover, utilizing a plasmid or phage method to replicate an oligonucleotide would require the investigator to first separate the strands and then purify the oligonucleotide from thousands of other base pairs.
RNA oligomers are currently synthesized by two principal methods: DNA synthesizer and enzymatic runoff transcription. Methods have been recently published for the use of a synthesizer to construct RNA oligomers using a modification of the phosphoramidite approach. See, for example, S. A. Scaringe et al., Nucleic Acids Res., 18, 5433 (1990). Chemical synthesis of RNAs has the advantage of allowing the incorporation of nonnatural nucleosides, but the yield decreases significantly as the length of the RNA product increases; stepwise yields of only 97.5% per round of synthesis are typical. Moreover, because of the need for additional protecting groups, RNA phosphoramidite monomers are considerably more expensive than are the DNA phosphoramidite monomers, making RNA synthesis by this method extremely costly. An alternative, the enzymatic runoff transcription method, utilizes a single or double-stranded DNA template. Runoff transcription requires a phage polymerase promoter, thus a DNA strand ˜20 nucleotides longer than the RNA desired must be synthesized. There are also strong sequence preferences for the RNA 5′ end (J. F. Milligan et al., Nucleic Acids Res., 15, 8783–8798 (1987)). In runoff transcription the RNA copy begins to form on the template after the phage polymerase promoter and runs until the end of the template is reached. This method has the disadvantages of producing RNA oligomers with ragged, ill-defined end groups and giving relatively slow amplification. Both chemical synthesis and runoff transcription produce a number of undesired products shorter or longer than the desired RNA, lowering effective yields and requiring careful purification.
Double-stranded DNA plasmid vectors can be constructed to encode ribozymes as well as their self-cleavage sites, leading to self-processing after transcription (A. M Dzianott et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 86, 4823–4827 (1989); C. A. Grosshans et al., Nucleic Acids Res., 19, 3875–3880 (1991); K. Taira et al., Nucleic Acids Res., 19, 5125–5130 (1991)). However, plasmid vectors contain thousands of nucleotides extraneous to those required for the actual desired transcript, making them highly inefficient templates for ribozyme synthesis; shorter sequences generally possess greater activity. Their large size also poses problems for delivery into cells in cases where transcription is to be performed intracellularly. Also, plasmid vectors require promoters to initiate transcription.
Thus, there is a need for a low-cost, fast, and efficient method for the production of DNA and RNA oligomers having well-defined ends on a large scale. In view of their great therapeutic potential, new methods for in vitro and in vivo synthesis of ribozymes are particularly needed. In addition, there is a need to produce DNA and RNA analogs, such as, for example, DNA phosphorothioates, RNA phosphorothioates, and 2′-O-methyl ribonucleotides, with well-defined ends on a large scale and in an efficient manner. Furthermore, there is a need for a method that uses readily available enzymes and a readily prepared template to generate large amounts of a complementary sequence.

Circular DNA vectors for synthesis of RNA and DNA


A fiber laser is disclosed comprising a single mode or low-order-mode cladding pumped fiber laser oscillator or preamplifier, a cladding pumped fiber laser power amplifier to guide multiple transverse modes, wherein an output from the oscillator or preamplifier is applied through a mode mixing means to the power amplifier to provide that a laser signal of the cladding pumped fiber laser power amplifier is emitted from the fiber laser power amplifier in the multiple transverse modes.

Lasers are used for a wide variety of applications including materials processing such as cutting, welding, drilling etc. More recently, optical fibre lasers have been developed where the active lasing element has been introduced into the core of the optical fibre itself and the pumping means necessary for establishing the laser action is introduced via the fibre cladding. Pumping energy (generally light) is applied via the waveguide formed by the inner and outer claddings and the core of the optical fibre is doped with a laser element such as a rare earth element. Pump light is absorbed by the active element in the core when rays of the cladding pump light intersect it. A laser oscillator is defined by two refractive index grating reflectors (Bragg grating) at either end of the fibre which is doped with the laser active iron (rare earth element).
The key elements of such a fibre are therefore the pump source, pump coupling and a cladding pumped fibre. Alternatively, a fibre laser may be formed by using as an input a seed source such as a semi-conductor laser diode or another fibre laser and using this to seed a series of optical fibre amplifiers.
High power fibre lasers of this type have applications in materials processing and also in telecommunications. To date, high power cladding pumped fibre lasers have concentrated on single-transverse-mode operation of the optical fibre gain medium. This has the advantage that the laser can have very good beam quality. However, there is a drawback with this scheme that, due to the small diameter of the core of the fibre that is required for single-transverse-mode operation, very high brightness pump sources (typically semi-conductor lasers) are required.
There is a need, therefore, for an improved cladding pumped optical fibre laser that overcomes the above limitations.


Described herein are vitamin C prodrugs of Formula (I), (II), or (III), and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions, cosmetic or personal care composition, neutraceutical composition, and medical food composition thereof. Methods of using the compounds or compositions thereof for treating diseases are also provided.

Vitamin C is a six carbon compound structurally related to glucose. The term "vitamin C" is commonly used to refer to two compounds: L-ascorbic acid, which is a strong reducing agent, and its oxidised form, L-dehydroascorbic acid:
Both forms have biological activity and are interconvertible by an oxidation/reduction reaction (Basu, T. K. and Dickerson, J. W. T. (1996) In: Vitamins in Human Health and Disease, Cab International, Oxford, UK, pp125-147).
Vitamin C is important in the synthesis of collagen, neurotransmitters and carnitine, in the absorption of non-heme iron, and as an enzyme cofactor. Vitamin C plays a major role as an antioxidant and free-radical scavenger and is involved in the detoxification of many foreign compounds. It is also essential in the metabolism of folic acid (Basu, T. K. and Dickerson, J. W. T. (1996) In: Vitamins in Human Health and Disease, Cab International, Oxford, UK, pp125-147).
Vitamin C is not produced in the human body. Humans rely on dietary intake of vitamin C for their needs. Vitamin C is by far the most consumed dietary supplement. It acts as an antioxidant; prevents colds and boosts immunity; promotes wound healing; protects against effects of stress; and even prevents or assists in the treatment of cancer. (G. Block, American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 1991, 54(6 Suppl):1310S).
However, vitamin C can be unstable in the presence of UV radiation and oxygen. The functional group in vitamin C that is responsible for the instability is the same functional group that is responsible for its beneifical effect, i.e., keto-2,3-enediol moiety. Therefore, there is a need for prodrugs of vitamin C to stabilize the keto-2,3-enediol functional group and to revert to the 2,3-enediol when the anti-oxidant activity of vitamin C is desired.

University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc.


An electric current measurement apparatus for measuring an electric current of each electrode of an electron tube includes a transformer, a detection resistor connected in an ampere meter route for measurement, a voltage detection unit for detecting electric potential difference of the detection resistor and outputting pulse signals corresponding to the detected electric potential difference, a switching part for providing a short circuit of the secondary winding according to the pulse signals, and a measurement current value output unit. The measurement current value output unit measures pulse attribute of pulse-shape signals which are induced on the primary winding of the transformer caused by the short circuit of the secondary winding, and outputs a value of electric current flowing through the detection resistor with referring to a predetermined relationship between a value of the electric current flowing through the detection resistor and the pulse signals generated in the voltage detection unit.

A traveling wave tube and klystron or the like are electron tubes which oscillate or amplify a high-frequency signal (microwaves) by interacting an electron beam ejected from an electron gun with the high-frequency signal. A composition example of the traveling wave tube 1 is illustrated in FIG. 9. The traveling wave tube includes an electron gun 10, a spiral-shape helix electrode 20, a collector electrode 30 and an anode electrode 40. The electron gun 10 ejects an electron beam 50. The helix electrode 20 is a high-frequency circuit which interacts the electron beam 50 ejected from the electron gun 10 with the high-frequency signal (microwaves). The collector electrode 30 captures the electron beam 50 outputted through the helix electrode 20. The anode electrode 40 draws out electrons from the electron gun 10 and leads the electron beam 50 ejected from the electron gun 10 into space surrounded by the helix electrode 20. The electron gun 10 includes a cathode electrode 11 which ejects thermal electrons and a heater 12 which gives thermal energy for ejecting thermal electrons to the cathode electrode 11.
The electron beam 50 ejected from the electron gun 10 is accelerated by electric potential difference between the cathode electrode 11 and the helix electrode 20, and is introduced into space surrounded by the helix electrode 20. The electron beam 50 travels through the space surrounded by the helix electrode 20 interacting with the high-frequency signal inputted from one end of the helix electrode 20. The electron beam 50 which has passed through the space surrounded by the helix electrode 20 is captured in the collector electrode 30. At that time, the high-frequency signal amplified by the interaction with the electron beam 50 is outputted from other end of the helix electrode 20.
A power supply apparatus 60 includes a helix power supply 61, a collector power supply 62 and a heater power supply 63. The helix power supply 61 supplies helix voltage (Ehel) between the helix electrode and the cathode electrode 11. The helix voltage (Ehel) supplied on the cathode electrode 11 is a negative DC (direct-current) voltage based on the electric potential of the helix electrode 20 (HELIX). The collector power supply 62 supplies the collector voltage (Ecol) between the collector electrode and the cathode electrode 11. The collector voltage (Ecol) supplied on the collector electrode 30 is a positive DC voltage based on the electric potential of the cathode electrode 11 (H/K). The heater power supply 63 supplies the heater voltage (Eh) between the cathode electrode 11 (H/K) and the heater 12. The heater voltage (Eh) supplied on the heater 12 is a negative DC voltage based on the electric potential of the cathode electrode 11 (H/K). The helix electrode 20 is usually connected to a case of the traveling wave tube 1 and grounded in the power supply apparatus 60.
Further, although FIG. 9 shows an exemplary configuration of the traveling wave tube 1 equipped with only one collector electrode 30, the traveling wave tube may also have a configuration in which a plurality of collector electrodes are provided. In FIG. 9, although a configuration in which the anode electrode 40 is connected with the helix electrode 20 in the power supply apparatus 60 is shown, the traveling wave tube may also have a configuration in which an anode voltage (Ea) is supplied between the cathode electrode 11 (H/K) and the anode electrode 40, and the anode voltage (Ea) is a positive DC voltage based on the electric potential of the cathode electrode 11 (H/K).
The helix voltage (Ehel), the collector voltage (Ecol) and the heater voltage (Eh) are generated by using the power supply apparatus which includes an inverter, a transformer and a rectifier circuit. The inverter converts a DC voltage supplied from outside into an AC (alternating current) voltage and supplies the converted AC voltage on a primary winding of the transformer as an output. The transformer performs voltage conversion of the AC voltage inputted to the primary winding, and outputs the AC voltage converted into a desired voltage from a secondary winding. The rectifier circuit converts the AC voltage outputted from the secondary winding of the transformer into the DC voltage which has a desired voltage value. Therefore, the power supply apparatus is provided for outputting the DC voltage having a desired voltage value necessary for each of the helix voltage (Ehel), the collector voltage (Ecol) and the heater voltage (Eh).
As a method for measuring an electric current which flows to the cathode electrode 11, the collector electrode 30, the helix electrode 20 or heater 12 of such a traveling wave tube, usually a method as shown in FIG. 10 in which an ammeter 70 is inserted in series between the electrode (in FIG. 10, cathode electrode 11) and the power supply apparatus 60 is considered.
However, high voltage (several kV to several 10 kV) is applied on the cathode electrode, the collector electrode and the heater. Therefore, when measuring the electric current which flows to the cathode electrode, the collector electrode and the heater by using such an ammeter 70, it is necessary to conduct secure insulation to the ammeter 70 in order to perform measurement work safely. It is because high voltage is also applied on the ammeter 70.
Further, it is necessary to prepare and use a special measurement apparatus and a special equipment in order to perform measurement of the electric current flowing to each electrode or voltage applied on each electrode of the traveling wave tube. Therefore, it is difficult to measure such electric current and the voltage simply under operating condition of the traveling wave tube.
Japanese Patent No. 2711897 discloses technology about a power supply apparatus which measures an electric current which flows to the collector electrode of the traveling wave tube with providing a special transformer for electric current detection and measurement.
The power supply apparatus according to this technology has a configuration in which the special transformer is inserted in series between a secondary winding (output side) of the voltage conversion transformer and the rectifier circuit. A couple of primary windings of this special transformer are inserted in series at the output side (secondary winding) of the voltage conversion transformer, and the output side (secondary winding) of the voltage conversion transformer is connected with the rectifier circuit. The rectifier circuit outputs a DC voltage having a high voltage value to the cathode electrode and the collector electrode of the traveling wave tube. By such configuration, an electric current, which corresponds to the electric current flowing to the collector electrode of the traveling wave tube, flows to the primary windings of the special transformer, then, at the secondary winding of the special transformer, an electric current which is proportional to the electric current flowing to the primary windings of the special transformer can be measured.
Here, in this power supply apparatus, the cathode current is measured and outputted as the measured current value by applying the following approximation: it is supposed that the helix current and the anode current are negligible small compared with the collector current and the cathode current, and these values are ignored; and it assumes that the cathode current is equal to the collector current.

Electric current measurement apparatus, voltage measurement apparatus and power supply apparatus


A pull cup in a vehicle door is solidly connected to the door inner panel by mechanical fastening. The armrest substrate structure is also solidly connected to the door inner panel by mechanical fastening. The armrest substrate has a pull cup-receiving cavity formed therein as is generally known in the art. The pull cup is not mechanically fastened to the armrest substrate. This arrangement is strong in tension but is weak in compression.

It is known in vehicles to provide an armrest in a door having an integrated pull cup to allow the occupant to pull the door shut. According to the known arrangement, the pull cup, typically composed of a molded plastic, is anchored to the vehicle door inner panel by a variety of fasteners and, in some arrangements, by snap-fittings as well. In addition to being anchored to the vehicle door inner panel, the pull cup is also solidly connected to the armrest substrate, also by either mechanical fasteners, snap-fittings, or both.
The known approach to anchoring the pull cup to both the vehicle door inner panel as well as the armrest substrate provides a good degree of lateral door function to the vehicle occupant while opening and, particularly, closing the door. However, as in so many areas of vehicle technology, there is room in the art of vehicle interior door design for providing an alternative configuration which will strengthen door pull cup and armrest design overall without compromising lateral door function.

Collapsible armrest system with pull cup


A method of fabricating high resistivity thin film resistors. An isolation region is formed on a substrate to isolate the active regions. A polysilicon layer is formed above the substrate. A diffusion barrier layer is formed above the polysilicon layer. Lightly doped ions are implanted in the polysilicon layer. The substrate is annealed at a high temperature. The diffusion barrier layer and the polysilicon layer are patterned to form a high-resistive thin film resistor. Spacers are formed on the sidewalls of the high-resistive thin film resistor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a method for fabricating a semiconductor device, and more particularly to a method for fabricating a thin film resistor.
2. Description of the Related Art
Resistors are devices used in mixed-mode integrated circuits. In terms of rectangular block resistors, resistance value (R) is in direct proportion to the length (L) of the rectangular block and is in inverse proportion to the cross-sectional area (A) of the rectangular block. Thus, resistance is calculated as R=ρ(L/A) where ρ is the resistivity of the material, L is the length of the resistor along the direction of the current and A is the cross sectional area of the resistor along the direction of the current.
In conventional practice, heavy dopants are applied to a portion designated as the bottom electrode of the transistor's capacitor and light dopants to a portion designated as the resistor on the same polysilicon layer. The top electrode of the capacitor and the gate electrode are formed on another polysilicon layers.
Lightly doped polysilicon thin film resistors are generally formed in the shape of a rectangle. Changing the doping concentration of the polysilicon layer allows the fabrication of resistors with different levels of resistivity. With the increased integration of semiconductor devices, requirements on the properties of materials used in semiconductor fabrication have also risen enabling devices to be formed in smaller dimensions with greater performance.
Polysilicon is the material used in the conventional method of fabricating thin film resistors. However, during the post-ion implantation annealing of high resistive polysilicon thin film resistors, doped material diffuses out increasing resistivity and lowering current flow, which makes it difficult to control the quality of the product. Additionally, the surface of the polysilicon layer may be oxidized during the subsequent thermal oxidation step reducing the effective dimension of the polysilicon layer. Moreover, the implanted dopants may also be consumed during the thermal oxidation causing imprecise resistivity of the thin film resistor.
FIGS. 1A-1D show the fabrication steps of a conventional high resistive, polysilicon thin film resistor and gate electrode. As shown in FIG. 1A, a shallow trench isolation region 102 is formed on a substrate 100 provided to isolate an active area 104. A polysilicon layer is deposited over the substrate using the chemical vapor deposition.
As shown in 1B, dopants 110, in the form of ions, are implanted into the polysilicon layer 106 to lower its resistivity.
As shown in 1C, after ion implantation 108 has been completed, the substrate is annealed in a chamber containing inert gas to restore the lattice structure and electrical type of the surface of the lightly doped polysilicon layer 106a causing the dopants implanted in the lightly doped polysilicon layer 106a to undergo thermal diffusion. Moreover, some of the dopants 110 will diffuse out increasing the resistivity of the lightly doped polysilicon layer.
As shown in FIG. 1D, the lightly doped polysilicon layer 106a is patterned to form a high resistive thin film resistor structure 106b above the shallow trench isolation region 102. This high resistive thin film resistor structure is an important part of the conventional, high resistive thin film resistor.
As shown in FIG. 1E, a thermal oxidation process is performed to form a gate oxide layer 112 on the substrate 100. The silicon oxide 116 is formed-on the surface layer of the high resistive thin film resistor structure during the thermal oxidation reducing the effective dimension of the high resistive thin film resistor 106b. Moreover, implanted dopants 110 are consumed. A patterned, doped polysilicon layer 114 is formed above the gate oxide layer 112. This patterned, doped polysilicon layer 114 serves as the gate layer for a metal oxide semiconductor transistor.
During the post-ion implantation annealing step described in the conventional practice above, dopants implanted in the polysilicon layer undergo a thermal diffusion. Consequently, some of the dopants diffuse out. Additionally, during the thermal oxidation step of the conventional practice described above, the surface of the lightly doped polysilicon layer oxidizes and becomes silicon oxide. As a result, the effective dimensions of the lightly doped polysilicon layer are changed. Moreover, during the process of thermal oxidation implanted dopants are consumed.
Thus, during the fabrication process of high resistive, polysilicon thin film resistors and gate electrodes, resistivity undergoes considerable change causing ineffective resistance.

Method for fabricating a thin film resistor


A method and system for managing associations between entity records. The method includes: identifying a first plurality of entity records in at least one curated database, associations between the first plurality of entity records based on at least one entity attribute and associations between entity attributes of the first plurality of entity records; extracting data records from existing data sources, wherein the data records comprise entity names and entity attributes associated with the entity names; identifying the entity names, and entity attributes corresponding to each of the entity names in each of the extracted data records; clustering the entity names and corresponding entity attributes to create a second plurality of entity records; and identifying associations between the second plurality of entity records based on the identified associations between the first plurality of entity records and/or identified association between entity attributes of the first plurality of entity records.

With regard to technological as well as social advancement, research work and innovation require information regarding specific fields. Such research work requires data related to such specific fields. Conventionally, printed media used to act as source of data needed for the research work. However, digital media has now replaced the printed media as a source of data with easy accessibility and improved availability.
Generally, retrieving data spread across various centralized and/or distributed existing data sources is performed using existing data extraction techniques. Specifically, the existing data extraction techniques act upon search strings pertaining to a search entity name provided thereto. Subsequently, the existing techniques access the existing data sources and retrieve most relevant data records from the existing data sources. Specifically, the data records include entity names and entity attributes (namely, information) associated with the entity names. Furthermore, the entity names may be associated with each other in a way to provide additional information pertaining to context thereof.
However, the existing data extraction techniques may suffer with numerous performance issues. Such performance issues may include ambiguous identification of similar entity names. Specifically, the existing data extraction techniques may not be able to distinctively separate two or more similar entity names related to contextually different data records. Consequently, the existing data extraction techniques may require human intervention in order to remove such ambiguity among similar entity names by manually identifying contextual meaning thereof. Moreover, two or more entity names may be contextually associated and may pertain to a specific field. Furthermore, the existing data extraction techniques may not be able to determine such association between two or more entity names. Moreover, the existing data extraction techniques retrieve data only from homogeneous platforms. Additionally the existing data extraction techniques may be unable to extract data from existing data sources having heterogeneous (namely, different) format. Furthermore, data records that are extracted using the existing data extraction techniques may involve a lot of processing and time complexity as it includes ambiguous data therein. Consequently, such retrieval of data consumes a lot of human effort and time.
Therefore, in light of the foregoing discussion, there exists a need to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks associated with the existing data extraction techniques of managing associations between entity records.

Method and system for managing associations between entity records


A nonvolatile memory, such as a write-once memory, includes a memory cell array that has first memory cells and at least one second memory cell. The memory also includes a first writing circuit that is capable of writing data to the first memory cells and the second memory cell, a second writing circuit, and a verify circuit which is capable of confirming whether the data is normally stored in the first memory cells. When the writing of data to one of the first memory cells fails, the second writing circuit is arranged to assign an address of the one of the first memory cells to the second memory cell. The first memory cells and the second memory cell are arranged to irreversibly change their electrical resistance when the data is stored in them. The first memory cells and the second memory cell include an organic compound layer interposed between a pair of electrodes.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor memory. In particular, the present invention relates to a nonvolatile memory having a plurality of memory cells that can be written once (also referred to as a nonvolatile semiconductor memory).
2. Description of the Related Art
As a semiconductor memory, there are a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory), a SRAM (Static Random Access Memory), a flash memory, an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory), and the like. As these memories have large capacities, there is high probability that a defective bit exists even in an advanced manufacturing process. As for a conventional large capacity memory, a redundant circuit is provided and a defective bit is modified after manufacturing a chip; therefore, a yield may be improved and the cost may be reduced. Specifically, a memory is inspected before the shipment. When there is a defective bit, such setting that an fuse within a redundant circuit is disconnected is configured for a memory having the defective bit, and the memory is shipped after restoring the defective bit (for example, see Reference 1: Keeth Baker, "DRAM: Circuit Design A TUTORIAL", IEEE PRESS, 2001, P.108-109).

Write-once nonvolatile memory with redundancy capability

Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.


A product display system and method includes a support and at least one product container supported by the support. The product containers incorporate one or more wings or flanges that enhance viewability of the containers from the side. The wings of the product containers may project forwardly or rearwardly from card portions of the containers, such as at angles of at least 20 degrees relative to the card portions. The containers may be supported at a support arm or the like, and have a center of gravity located behind a header for suspending the packages from the support arm, causing the packages to angle or tilt with their front faces angled somewhat upwardly, such as toward an illumination source, when suspended from the support arm.

Packaged goods, such as are typically packaged in rectangular boxes or "bubble" or "blister" packages, are typically placed on generally horizontal pegs or display racks or rods within a grocery store or the like, such as self-service retail stores or the like. Typical products in such packages on the shelves in retail stores contain or include, for example, toothbrushes, pens, playing cards, camera film, batteries, small toys, or the like. Typically, these packages are suspended from the display racks in rows and are placed adjacent to other choices or brands of similar products. The boxes or packages include facings with text and graphics or the like to communicate to the shoppers what is in the boxes and any other information about the products in the boxes. The boxes or packages of similar products are typically generally the same shape, and seek to achieve distinction in the selection process of the consumer through various characteristics, such as brand identification, special product offers or other offers on the package, color attraction, value of benefits and the like, that are visible or viewable at the product package and that may encourage the shopper to select one brand of product over another. Suspended goods are often supported at their back panels such that their front panels or faces are angled somewhat downward when they are suspended.
As the consumer patrols the aisles of the store for their groceries or other items, the consumer will look at the products along the shelves of the aisles and select a desired product or often a product that catches his or her attention better than other products in that aisle. Because such products are often purchased on impulse, and with little prior thought or planning on the part of the consumer, it is often desired to distinguish the packages from one another to improve the chance that a consumer will notice and select a particular package over the others on the display racks. Any competitive advantage or enhancement to the appearance or distinction from one product to another may significantly increase the likelihood that a consumer will select the enhanced or distinct product package over the other products and packages on the display racks.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for a package that will have enhanced visual appeal to further distinguish it from the other packages at the display rack or panel.


A fluid treatment system includes a fluid source, at least one anaerobic reactor vessel, and at least one aerobic reactor vessel. The anaerobic reactor vessel contains retaining a set of retaining structures that are at least partially coated with an anaerobic biofilm. The aerobic reactor vessel contains an aerobic biofilm. When fluid from the fluid source is exposed to the anaerobic biofilm, the anaerobic biofilm removes one or more metal substances from the fluid. When the fluid is exposed to the aerobic biofilm, the aerobic biofilm may cause organic materials in the fluid to metabolize. The system also may include a precipitation reactor that separates divalent metals from the fluid, a settling facility that forms a slurry comprising separated metals, and a neutralization reactor that modifies the fluid to a substantially neutral pH.

Hydraulic fracturing is a process whereby fluid under pressure is used to fracture open the shale, such as that in the Marcellus Shale, to greatly enhance the recovery of natural gas or oil. The fluid used in hydraulic fracturing (often referred to as "fracture water," "frac water" or "frac fluid") is primarily water. Other components of frac fluid may include proppant, hydrochloric acid, glutaraldehyde as a biocide, sodium chloride, ethylene glycol and various components for scale inhibitor and iron control. The exact composition of frac fluid may vary.
Disposal of frac fluid that is returned from a well (flowback) is one of the biggest challenges facing the recovery of natural gas from shale. Each well can produce millions of gallons of flowback water because after the fracturing process a large percentage of the water used is pumped back up the well in order to produce the natural gas. Ground water can be protected by properly casing the well, but the problem lies in the safe disposal of the flowback water which can contain arsenic, manganese, cobalt, chromium, lead, various other metals and organic substances, as well as compounds added by the manufacturer.
Current disposal systems are unsatisfactory for environmental or economic reasons and do not always provide for the recycling of frac fluid. These disposal methods include deep well injection, or trucking the waste to industrial or municipal water treatment facilities.
This disclosure describes a novel system for treating a fluid, such as industrial wastewater or frac flowback fluid that is contaminated with heavy metals.


A novel method of manufacturing a golf ball. A golf ball made with this invention exhibits the characteristic feel and playability of a balata cover with superior durability characteristics (cut and shear resistance) which exceed those of a balata or ionomer cover.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to novel chemical compositions for golf ball covers, construction and manufacturing processes that provide improved manufacturability and playability characteristics.
2. Description of the Related Art
Until the late 1960's, most golf balls were constructed with a thread wound core and a cover of compounds based on natural (balata and gutta percha) or synthetic transpolyisoprene. These golf balls have been and are still known to provide good flight distance. Additionally, due to the relative softness of the balata cover, skilled golfers can impart various spins on the ball in order to control the ball's flight path (e.g., "fade" or "draw") and "bite" characteristics upon landing on a green. "Fade" is the term used in golf to describe a particular golf ball flight path that is characterized by a curved or arched flight exhibited towards the latter portion of the flight path that veers off from the center line of the initial flight path to the right of a right-handed golfer. Upon contact with the ground, a ball hit with "fade" will stop in a relatively short distance. "Fade" results from imparting clockwise sidespin on the golf ball.
"Draw" is the term used in golf to describe a particular golf ball flight path that is characterized by a curved or arched flight exhibited towards the latter portion of the flight path that veers off from the center line of the initial flight path to the left of a right-handed golfer. Upon contact with the ground, a ball hit with "draw", unlike a ball hit with "fade", will roll for a considerable distance until coming to rest. "Draw" results from imparting counter-clockwise sidespin on the golf ball.
"Bite" is the term used in golf to describe the effect of imparting a substantial amount of backspin to an approach shot to a green which causes the golf ball to stop abruptly upon contact with the green.
Another desirable feature of balata-based compounds is that they are readily adaptable to molding. These compounds therefor can be easily compression molded about a spherical core to produce golf balls.
Though possessing many desirable properties, there are substantial drawbacks to use of balata or transpolyisoprene-based compounds for golf ball covers. From a manufacturing standpoint, balata-type materials are expensive and the manufacturing procedures used are time consuming and labor-intensive, thereby adding to the material expense. From a player's perspective, golf balls constructed with balata-based covers are very susceptible to being cut from mishits and being sheared from "sharp" grooves on a club face. As a result, they have a relatively short life span.
In response to these drawbacks to balata-based golf ball covers, the golf ball manufacturing industry has shifted to the use of synthetic thermoplastic materials, most notably ionomers sold by E. I. DuPont De Nemours & Company under the name SURLYN.
Thread wound balls with ionomer covers are less costly to manufacture than balls with balata covers. They are more durable and produce satisfactory flight distance. However, these materials are relatively hard compared to balata and thus lack the "click" and "feel" of a balata covered golf ball. "Click" is the sound emitted from the impact of a golf club head on a golf ball. "Feel" is the overall sensation transmitted to the golfer through the golf club after striking a golf ball.
In an attempt to overcome the negative factors of the hard ionomer covers, DuPont introduced low modulus SURLYN ionomers in the early 1980's. These SURLYN ionomers have a flexural modulus from about 3000 to about 7000 PSI and peak hardness from about 25 to about 40 as measured on the Shore D scale-ASTM 2240. The low modulus ionomers are terpolymers, typically of ethylene, methacrylic acid and n- or iso-butylacrylate, neutralized with sodium, zinc, magnesium or lithium cations. E.I. DuPont De Nemours & Company has disclosed that the low modulus ionomers can be blended with other grades of previously commercialized ionomers of high flexural modulus from about 30,000 to 55,000 PSI to produce balata-like properties. However, "soft" blends, typically 52 Shore D and lower (balata-like hardness), are still prone to cut and shear damage.
The low modulus ionomers when used without blends, produce covers with very similar physical properties to those of balata, including poor cut and shear resistance. Worse, wound balls with these covers tend to go "out-of-round" quicker than wound balls with balata covers. Blending with hard SURLYN ionomers was found to improve these properties.
Another approach taken to provide a golf ball cover that has the playing characteristics of balata is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,334,673 ("the '673 patent") assigned to the Acushnet Company. The '673 patent discloses a cover composition comprising a diisocyanate, a polyol and a slow-reacting polyamine curing agent. The diisocyanates claimed in the '673 patent are relatively fast reacting. Due to this fact, catalysts are not needed to lower the activation energy threshold. However, since relatively slow-reacting curative systems are used, a catalyst is added to speed the reaction. Because a catalyst is used, the reaction rate cannot be easily controlled thereby requiring the implementation of substantial processing controls and precise reactant concentrations in order to obtain a desired product.
Isaac (U.S. Pat. No. 3,989,568) does not disclose toluene diisocyanate, 4,4′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate, Isophorone diisocyanate or their mixtures. He teaches a step-wise process for making polyurethane-based golf ball covers. The process involves the steps of making sheets, cutting the sheets into square preforms, molding half-shells, compression molding golf balls along with a post-cure or extended compression molding cycle. The Isaac process requires the addition of a catalyst to the polymer system.
The Isaac process cannot be used with the components of the presently disclosed polyurethane system. The compression molding taught by Isaac is damaging to the core of a golf ball that is made with thread windings. According to the Isaac process, the compression molding takes place at 240° F. for 5 minutes or, to eliminate the post-cure, for 10-12 minutes. Under either conditions, the performance characteristics of the thread wound core of the golf ball would be unacceptably compromised. In contrast, a golf ball made in accordance with the components and processing steps of the instant invention would experience a temperature of less than 160° F. for only about 5 minutes.
Furthermore, the post-cure of Isaac requires preferably two months at room temperature for completion. Two months work-in-process is impractical. The presently disclosed process overcomes this problem by a novel combination of components and processing steps that requires only an 8 hour room-temperature post-cure which amounts to 0.56% of the time required by Isaac. Apart from this difference, the present invention's claimed components and process eliminate many of the steps of Isaac such as the post-cure requirement.
The Isaac process is further incompatible with the presently claimed chemistry and process since with the presently claimed chemistry and process, a thermoset polymer is produced from a liquid mixture in less than one minute. The resulting thermoset polymer cannot be re-formed under heat or pressure. Neither Wu nor Presswood (U.S. Pat. No. 4,631,298) provide teachings to overcome this problem and, in fact, teach away from being combined with Isaac to obviate the presently claimed invention.
Wu discloses prepolymer compositions based on diisocyanates and polytetramethylene ether glycol with a slow reacting curing agent and method of producing golf ball covers. Presswood discloses the use of fast and slow reacting polyamines to cure polyurethane polymers. The two references teach away from each other as well as Isaac for the following reasons.
The chemistry disclosed by Wu, which involves a prepolymer, a slow reacting diamine and a catalyst caters to a method involving several manufacturing steps. This method includes several curing steps requiring a combined 66-94 minutes and the use of a catalyst, which makes the process very difficult to control. Wu is further limited to a multi-stage molding process as described in columns 5 and 6. The presently disclosed composition could not be used in a process as described by Wu nor could the chemistry of Wu be used in the presently disclosed process. The amount of catalyst that is required to use the chemistry of Wu in The presently disclosed process would make the reaction uncontrollable and thus unsuitable for manufacturing purposes. The relatively rapid cure of The presently disclosed composition would be unsuitable in the multi-stage process of Wu. In short, the chemistry and process of Wu is incompatible with The presently disclosed chemistry and process. As such, Wu teaches away from The presently disclosed claimed composition and chemistry even in view of Isaac and Presswood.
Although Presswood discloses a curing agent blend, it is taught as being used in a reaction injection molding (RIM) process that has novelty due to the high green strength resulting in fast RIM cycle times. A golf ball cover molded by a RIM process is not feasible using current engineering practices. Locating a spherical wound core in a spherical molded cover cannot be accomplished in one step as suggested by the teachings of Wu, Isaac, Ward (U.S. Pat. No. 3,147,324, discussed below) or Watson (U.S. Pat. No. 3,130,102, discussed below).
The chemistry and process of The presently disclosed claimed invention is not compatible with a RIM process. First, the speed of a RIM process, even with the use of slow reacting curing agents, is far too fast to accomplish the task of placing a core in the curing polymer. Because of the rapid speed of the reaction, even if the cover were poured in hemispherical segments, by the time the second hemisphere was poured, there would not be enough reactivity left in the second poured half to bond to the first poured half. The reaction time is simply too quick for current production methods.
Second, it would not be possible to suspend a core within the center of a mold using the RIM process. The uneven surface of a wound core would not allow for adequate centering and would produce an inferior golf ball. Additionally, the use of pins to suspend a core in the approximate center of a mold would cause additional problems when the thermoset composition of The presently disclosed claimed composition would adhere to the pins and thus make it impractical. Again, from a manufacturing perspective, the teachings of Presswood are not compatible with The presently disclosed claimed chemistry or process.
A further problem with the teachings of Presswood is the resulting high green strength of the polymer. The presently disclosed claimed composition and process produce a polymer with low green strength which does not allow for quick removal from the molds being used. The presently disclosed composition is only compatible with a cast process.
Accordingly, Presswood does not teach or motivate one skilled in the art when viewed with the process of Isaac and the chemical component teachings of Wu to provide a catalyst-free polyurethane system that eliminates a number of processing steps including long post-cure periods to provide a polyurethane-covered golf ball exhibiting superior playability characteristics.
The presently disclosed process as claimed, is designed to be relatively fast and continuous. These characteristics of the presently disclosed process are dictated by the novel chemistry as claimed. The process in Ward differs markedly from the presently disclosed process in that the presently disclosed process produces a thermoset polymer from a liquid mixture in less than one minute. The presently disclosed claimed composition cannot be reformed under heat or pressure. The teachings of Ward's process retards the curing process. Ward's process is incompatible and does not render obvious the presently disclosed process since use of Ward's process with the presently disclosed composition would result in the initial cure of the first mold half containing the golf ball core being complete before the second mold half is filled with urethane mixture. Our invention requires that the second mold half to be filled after the first mold half and before the core is loaded into the first mold half. Ward does not teach this sequence. Neither Isaac nor Watson teach this sequence.
Watson specifically teaches the manufacture of golf balls from half-shells that have been frozen to halt the curing process. These steps are inherently slow and expensive and thus undesirable. The presently disclosed process eliminates the need to halt the curing process and in fact teaches a way of streamlining and maximizing the speed of the process without compromising the superior characteristics of the final product.
Isaac also teaches the interruption of the processing cycle by describing how to partially cure the polyurethane which allows the half-shells to be produced and handled and then compression molded to form dimples and the cover around the core. The presently disclosed claimed process eliminates the delays caused by the process of Isaac. The presently disclosed composition also does not allow the use of the process teachings of Isaac. Watson and Isaac teach how to arrest the curing process. The presently disclosed claimed process teaches how to streamline and speed the process.
To avoid the problems associated with fast-reacting prepolymer systems, slow-reacting systems such as Toluene diisocyanate (TDI) prepolymer systems can be employed. However, these systems, while avoiding the problems associated with fast-reacting systems, present similar problems, albeit for different reasons. The most noteworthy problem with slow-reacting pre-polymer systems is the requirement for a catalyst.
By introducing a catalyst into the system, processing problems similar to those associated with fast-reacting pre-polymer systems are virtually inevitable. As is well known in the art, the use of a catalyst can severely restrict the ability to control the speed of the reaction, which is undesirable.
It has now been discovered that a blend of diamine curing agents with slow-reacting prepolymer systems eliminates the problems associated with catalysts while maintaining the advantages associated with slow-reacting prepolymer systems. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a golf ball cover composition that does not require a catalyst.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a golf ball having a synthetic cover material that achieves the click, feel, playability and flight performance qualities of balata covered golf balls.
It is yet another object of the invention to provide a polyurethane formula that achieves hardness characteristics similar to those associated with balata without compromising the durability of the polyurethane material. In contrast, polyurethane systems such as those disclosed in the '673 patent produce relatively high hardness ranges that obviate the possibility of providing a polyurethane system that can truly mimic the feel and playability of a balata-based product.
It is yet another object of the invention to put a urethane cover on a golf ball core in a single manufacturing step.
It is yet another object of the invention to provide a polyurethane formula that eliminates the damaging high temperature post cure operation.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball cover material that has improved manufacturing process as well as improved durability and resilience over balata.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method for manufacturing two and three piece golf balls constructed from polyurethane material


The present invention provides systems and methods for providing real-time context-based content items to a user client system. Methods include dynamically monitoring a user client system to determine a real-time context of the user client system based on one or more of identifying one or more content keywords of an application operating on the user client system and/or one or more system capabilities of the user client system. One or more content items can be presented and changed based on changes detected in the real-time context of the user client system.

1. The Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to selecting and/or presenting content items based on the real-time context of a user client system. More particularly, methods and systems are provided for selecting certain aspects of the real-time context of a user client system on which to base selecting and/or presenting of content items.
2. The Relevant Technology
Currently, advertisements are selected and delivered to a client system based on the static state condition of the client system. Advertisement providers do not take into account a user's context. Furthermore, current advertising systems do not take into account any external factors outside of the existing page in which the advertisements are displayed. For example, in an instant messaging system, all of the participants in the instant messaging session are presented with the same advertisements. It would be advantageous to be able to present a user with content items that are personalized and tailored to the particular real-time context of that user.
The subject matter claimed herein is not limited to embodiments that solve any disadvantages or that operate only in environments such as those described above. Rather, this background is only provided to illustrate one exemplary technology area where some embodiments described herein may be practiced.

Presentation of content items based on dynamic monitoring of real-time context


A fastening device for fastening a small component, in particular a stud provided with an adhesive flange, to a mounting surface using a heat-activated adhesive that creates an adhesive bond between the component and the mounting surface, has an induction coil to heat the component and/or the adhesive and a holding mechanism which holds the component while the fastening device moves to the bonding position. On the side facing the mounting surface is a bearing surface for the component toward which the component can be brought from outside. The holding device can be advanced to the component by the induction coil and has an electromagnet for generating a holding force that is directed toward the bearing surface.

Fastening devices of the specified type are used to automatically transport small components such as mounting studs, drain plugs, fasteners, pegs and the like to a mounting point on a mounting surface such as a motor vehicle body and hold the component there until the adhesive bond is established, and to heat the heat-activated adhesive to the required temperature. The adhesive providing the adhesive bond may be located either on the component or on the mounting surface.
From EP 0,927,091 B1 is known a device of the specified type for automatically setting and bonding mounting studs coated with hot-melt adhesive. The device has a housing with a stud catching station and a stud feed channel which is connected to a feed tube through which the mounting studs are conveyed by compressed air into the housing and the feed channel. Located at the end of the feed channel is a cylinder, equipped with an induction coil, that can be placed on the mounting surface and into which the mounting stud can be introduced with the disk flange first. Provided above the cylinder is a device with a plunger that can move into the cylinder, which presses the mounting studs in the cylinder onto the fastening position on the mounting surface. In one design, the plunger has a conical recess for centering the stud end. In another design, the plunger is provided with a gripper that guides the stud. This known device requires a relatively large amount of clearance at the fastening point since the inside diameter of the cylinder arranged within the induction coil must be larger than the outer diameter of the mounting stud's disk flange.
Also known, from DE 203 00 624 U1, is a portable stud gluing device with a portable electric power supply unit and a hand unit which are electrically connected to one another, wherein the hand unit has an inductor mechanism for generating heat. The hand unit of this device has a stud receiving device that carries a toroidal, cylindrical ferrite core that is enclosed by an induction coil. The shank of the stud is inserted in the stud receiving device and is held therein by a permanent magnet attached to a spring. The stud flange, which is located outside the stud receiving device, rests at a distance from the end face of the ferrite core and is pressed against the ferrite core by force applied manually to the hand unit during the fastening process.

Fastening device for fastening small components to a mounting surface by adhesive bonding


According to some implementations, a method of managing database storage is performed for a database storage system having content storage, a content index, and a reference table. The content index identifies content chunks and the reference table stores references to each content chunk. An object is received for storage, which comprises one or more content chunks. The object is identified by a unique object ID. For each content chunk, the method constructs a content hash of the content chunk and looks up the content hash in the content index. When the content hash is not found in the content index, the method stores the content chunk in the content storage and inserts a record into the content index that identifies the location of the content chunk in the content storage. In addition, the method inserts a record into the reference table, which includes the content hash and the object ID.

The enterprise computing landscape has changed. The central-service architecture has given way to distributed storage clusters. Storage clusters can be built of commodity PCs that can deliver high performance, availability and scalability, and at a lower cost compared to monolithic disk arrays. The data is replicated across multiple geographical locations, which increases availability and reduces network distance from clients.
In a distributed storage system, objects (e.g., blobs) are dynamically created in different clusters. New visualization, multimedia, and other data-intensive applications use very large objects, with individual objects consuming hundreds of gigabytes of storage space or more, and the trend toward larger objects is expected to continue. When such objects are uploaded into a distributed storage system, other objects with identical content may already exist, or multiple instances of an object that suddenly became popular may be uploaded around the same time (e.g., as an email attachment to an email delivered to multiple recipients). De-duplication is a technique that allows storage of one physical replica of the content for a plurality of identical objects in the same storage cluster. This avoids passing the content around when it matches an existing object (e.g., by comparing a content hash), thus saving storage resources and network bandwidth. The value of de-duplication increases as the number of objects that reference a single physical content replica increases (e.g., a new 50 Gigabyte video can "go viral" from social networking, creating hundreds of thousands of copies in a very short period of time).

Efficient reference counting in content addressable storage


Methods and apparatus for delivering and installing a new Length of tubing between two sections of a patient's existing body organ tubing and at least partly outside of that existing structure. For example, the new length of tubing may be for the purpose of providing the patient with a coronary bypass. The new tubing may be an artificial graft, a natural graft (harvested elsewhere from the patient), or both. The new tubing is delivered to and installed at the operative site primarily by working through the patient's existing tubular body organ structure. This avoids the need for any significant surgery on the patient. The artificial grafts may have shapes other than tubular. Certain procedural and apparatus aspects of the invention have uses other than in connection with grafting in general or tubular grafting in particular.

This invention relates to grafts for use in the repair, replacement, or supplement of a medical patient's natural body organ structures or tissues. The invention also relates to methods for making graft structures. The invention further relates to methods and apparatus for delivering a graft to an operative site in a patient, and for installing the graft at that site. Some aspects of the invention may have other uses such as for viewing the interior of a patient, providing access to the interior of a patient for other procedures, etc. An example of the possible uses of the invention is a minimally invasive cardiac bypass procedure. This example will be considered in detail, but it will be understood that various aspects of the invention have many other possible uses.
Several procedures are known for revascularizing the human heart in order to treat a patient with one or more occluded coronary arteries. The earliest of these procedures to be developed involves exposing the heart by means of a midline sternotomy. Following surgical exposure of the heart, the patient's aorta and vena cava are connected to a heart/lung machine to sustain vital functions during the procedure. The beating of the heart is stopped to facilitate performance of the procedure. Typically, a suitable blood vessel such as a length of the patient's saphenous (leg) vein is harvested for use as a graft. The graft is used to create a new, uninterrupted channel between a blood source, such as the aorta, and the occluded coronary artery or arteries downstream from the arterial occlusion or occlusions.
A variation of the above procedure involves relocating a mammary artery of the patient to a coronary artery.
Although the above-described sternotomy procedures are increasingly successful, the high degree of invasiveness of these procedures and the requirement of these procedures for general anesthesia are significant disadvantages. Indeed, these disadvantages preclude use of s3ternotomy procedures on many patients.
More recently, less invasive procedures have been developed for revascularizing the heart. An example of these procedures is known as thoracostomy, which involves surgical creation of ports in the patient's chest to obtain access to the thoracic cavity. Specially designed instruments are inserted through the port, to allow the surgeon to revascularize the heart withou the trauma of a midline sternotomy. Drugs may be administered to the patient to slow the heart during the procedure. Some thoracostomy procedures involve relocating a mammary artery to a coronary artery to provide a bypass around an occlusion in the coronary artery.
Thoracostomy bypass procedures are less traumatic than sternotomy bypass procedures, but they are still too traumatic for some patients. Also, the number of required bypasses may exceed the number of mammary arteries, thereby rendering thoracostomy procedures inadequate to fully treat many patients.
Another technique for revascularizing the human heart involves gaining access to the thoracic cavity by making incisions between the patient's ribs. This procedure is known as thoracotomy. It is also substantially less traumatic than midline sternotomy, but it is still too traumatic for some patients.
In view of the foregoing, it is an object of this invention to provide less traumatic methods and apparatus for revascularizing a patient.
It is another object of the invention to provide minimally invasive methods and apparatus for repairing, replazing, or supplementing the blood vessels or other body organ tubing or tissues of a patient.
It is still another object of the invention to provide improved graft structures for use in the repair, replacement, or supplementing of natural body organ structures or tissues, and to provide methods for making such graft structures.
It is yet another object of the invention to provide improved methods and apparatus for transporting or delivering and installing graft structures for use in the repair, replacement, or supplementing of natural body organ structures or tissues of a patient.