The invention describes a method and apparatuses for characterizing groundwater measuring sites by differentiating between groundwater and static water and serves, for example, for determining the pumping-out times of groundwater measuring sites, optimum for investigations of the representative nature, as well as for identifying and localizing defects at groundwater measuring sites. The invention is based on measuring the radon activity concentration or the total activity concentration of the groundwater samples. The measurement of the concentrations by offline or online methods permits the ratio of groundwater to static water in a groundwater measuring site to be determined reliably. A novel flow-through measurement cell, as well as a borehole probe are described The invention can be employed wherever investigations of the nature of groundwater are carried out.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method and apparatuses for characterizing groundwater measuring sites by differentiating between groundwater and static water by determining groundwater parameters at measuring sites and can be used for the on-site determination of the optimum sampling time, for the determination of the pumping-out times optimum for-investigations of the representative condition and for monitoring groundwater measuring sites for defects. The invention can be used, in particular, within the scope of investigating the condition of groundwater.
The protection of groundwater for producing drinking water, as well as the checking of suspected abandoned polluted areas, the investigation of abandoned polluted areas and the clean-up of damage make it necessary to obtain a constantly increasing number of groundwater samples. Groundwater observation pipes and groundwater measuring sites were and are being set up in order to sample the groundwater. At the same time, the analytical methods for determining the components of the water were refined and the spectrum of individual materials detectable was expanded. Both led to new demands for the quality of groundwater samples. The high requirements of analysis and the financial expense involved in obtaining groundwater samples likewise require a careful depth-oriented and representative sampling. A prerequisite for this is the correct selection of measurement site type, sampling techniques and sampling technology. Moreover, for ensuring that a groundwater sample is representative, it is necessary to know the optimum pumping-out time. If a sample, because the pumping-out time selected has been too short, contains larger amounts of static water from the groundwater observation pipe, the evaluation of the results of analysis can lead to wrong conclusions. On the other hand, excessively long pumping-down times can attract water bodies from other levels, which is also undesirable. The correct determination of pumping-down times for groundwater observation pipes is a problem, which heretofore has not been solved completely.
Before any sample is taken, the groundwater observation pipe, which is to be sampled, must be pumped out until the pumped water corresponds to that of the surrounding groundwater and is no longer influenced by the measuring site. In this connection, it is known that the pumping out should be continued until the electrical conductivity, the temperature and the pH reach constant values. At the same time, it is known that the electrical conductivity is only an orienting parameter. Further known methods, such as the repeated exchange of the contents of the pipe, are rules of thumb. In summarizing, it can be surmised that the constancy of the electrical conductivity is the generally employed criterion at the present time for determining the time for taking a representative sample, although only little is known about the processes, which cause the decrease in electrical conductivity in a ground water observation pipe.
It is a disadvantage of this method that, although the constancy must be regarded as a necessary conditions for a subsequent sampling, it is not a sufficient condition, since the electrical conductivity can reach a plateau value even before the time, at which a representative sample can be taken. This occurs, for example, when the ground water observation pipe has already been sampled days or weeks before the sample is taken. On the other hand, the radon activity concentration can be taken as a reliable criterion, even if only a few days have elapsed between the two samplings. Moreover, the relative change between the initial value (static water) and the final value (groundwater) generally is several times smaller for conductivity than for the radon activity concentration, which makes it easier to establish the optimum time for taking representative samples when the radioactivity concentration is used.
2. Description of the Related Art
Such a method for determining the optimum pumping out times of groundwater observation pipes for establishing an optimum time for sampling is known from DE 3911366 C2. For this method, the conductivity of the water is monitored and representative sampling is initiated when the conductivity is constant
Furthermore, the DE 42 17 263 A1 discloses a method, with which gaseous components are also monitored for the sampling. However, this method is concerned not with using gas for establishing the sampling time but with a method of gas sampling, which is similar to the groundwater sampling.
Finally, from the literature references, Health Physics, vol. 53 (1987), pages 181-186 and Radioisotopes, vol. 30 (1981), pages 649-654, methods are known for measuring radon in air (unsaturated zone, ground air) by the LSC method. For this method, radon-containing air is blown with an inlet tube into stationary water in order to dissolve in the water. It can then be extracted from the water once again with an LSC cocktail and measured.
The invention is based on the objective of providing a method for characterizing groundwater measuring sites by differentiating between groundwater and static water and for determining the optimum pumping-out times of the groundwater observation pipes, which method is optimum for investigating the condition and permits the optimum pumping-out time to be determined reliably and reproducibly with high accuracy at a cost that is justifiable and ensures a reliable determination of the ratio of groundwater to static water in a groundwater sample, as well as the localization of defects.
Pursuant to the invention, this objective is accomplished by the distinguishing features in the characterizing part in claim 1. Appropriate developments of the invention are contained in the dependent claims.
A special advantage of the invention consists therein that the optimum pumping-out times and the optimum times for the sampling are determined with very high accuracy and reproducibility, in that water samples are taken at defined, consecutive times during the pumping-out process, the radon activity concentration of the samples taken is measured and the attainment of a radon activity concentration, which remains essentially constant, signals the optimum time for representative sampling.
A further advantage of the invention lies therein that the groundwater measuring site parameters can be determined without a delay of time, in that the radon activity concentration and/or the total activity concentration are determined and evaluated spectrometrically and/or by diffusion into an air volume or degassing by subsequent measurement in situ directly from the groundwater that is to be investigated.

Method for characterizing ground water measurement points by distinguishing ground water from subterranean water accumulation


An outer needle bearing race and thrust washer assembly provides improved lubrication for a pinion gear of a planetary gear assembly. The bearing race and thrust washer assembly are used in pairs with the bearing races disposed within the planet or pinion gear and the thrust washers disposed adjacent the end faces of the planet or pinion gear. Each assembly includes a cylindrical bearing portion having a crowned, i.e., convex, inner surface which is secured at one end to a thrust washer. The outside face of the washer includes a plurality of shallow radial channels or grooves. A plurality of oil passageways extend from the grooved surface of the washer to its opposite surface inside the cylindrical bearing portion.

The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may or may not constitute prior art.
Planetary gear assemblies are a mainstay of many mechanical power transmission devices. Such devices include a centrally disposed sun gear, a planet gear carrier disposed about the sun gear which rotatably supports a plurality, typically three or four, planet gears and an outer ring gear. The planet gears are in constant mesh with both the sun gear and the ring gear. Depending upon what elements are driven and held stationary as well as the number of teeth on the various gears, an extraordinary number of gear ratios can be achieved by these devices,
In many applications such as motor vehicle automatic transmissions, multiple planetary gear assemblies are utilized to provide multiple, sequenced gear ratios which complement the power and torque outputs of the motor and provide exceptional performance and fuel economy.
In some multiple planetary gear assembly automatic transmissions, the nominal operating speed of certain planet or pinion gears can be quite high. High operating speeds can have an effect on reliability and service life. A second factor affecting reliability and service life is the load, torque or overall power, i.e., speed times torque, carried or transmitted by a pinion gear. Accordingly, much effort has been directed to ensuring acceptable performance and service life of planetary gear assemblies in general and planet gears subjected to high operating speeds, torques and power in particular.
Many different approaches have focused on the planet pinion gear, its mounting shaft and bearing assembly. For example, the surface finish and hardness of the pinion gear bore as well as its straightness have been improved. The profile of the pinion shaft and the end profile of the bearing needles have been optimized. Coated washers have been utilized between the planet or pinion gears and the planet gear carrier.
From the foregoing discussion, it is apparent that improvements to this technology are desirable and the present invention is so directed.

Bearing assembly for planetary gear pinion


A method is provided for using optical time-domain reflectometry (OTDR) with a bi-directional optical transmission system that includes a plurality of terminals interconnected by first and second unidirectional optical transmission paths having at least one repeater therein. The method begins by transmitting a probe signal from a first terminal through the repeater over the first optical transmission path. A returned OTDR signal is received over the first optical transmission path in which status information concerning the first optical transmission path is embodied. The returned OTDR signal is transformed to a digitized electrical signal and the digitized electrical signal is transformed to an optical data signal. Finally, the optical data signal is transmitted over the second optical transmission path to the first terminal for extracting the status information embodied therein.

A typical long-range optical transmission system includes a pair of unidirectional optical fibers that support optical signals traveling in opposite directions. An optical signal is attenuated over long distances. Therefore, the optical fibers typically include multiple repeaters that are spaced apart from one another. The repeaters include optical amplifiers that amplify the incoming, attenuated optical signals. The repeaters also include an optical isolator that limits the propagation of the optical signal to a single direction.
In long-range optical transmission systems it is important to monitor the health of the system. For example, monitoring can be used to detect faults or breaks in the fiber optic cable such as attenuation in the optical fiber and splice loss, faulty repeaters or amplifiers or other problems with the system. Optical time domain reflectometry (OTDR) is one technique used to remotely detect faults in optical transmission systems. In OTDR, an optical pulse is launched into an optical fiber and backscattered signals returning to the launch end are monitored. In the event that there are discontinuities such as faults or splices in the fiber, the amount of backscattering generally changes and such change is detected in the monitored signals. Since backscatterring and reflection also occurs from elements such as couplers, the monitored OTDR signals are usually compared with a reference record, new peaks and other changes in the monitored signal level being indicative of changes in the fiber path, normally indicating a fault. The time between pulse launch and receipt of a backscattered signal is proportional to the distance along the fiber to the source of the backscattering, thus allowing the fault to be located. In a WDM system, one wavelength is usually assigned as the OTDR channel.
FIG. 1 shows a simplified block diagram of a wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) transmission system that employs a conventional OTDR. Each terminal 110 and 120 includes an OTDR unit 105 and 107, respectively. In operation, OTDR unit 105 generates an optical pulse that is launched into optical fiber 106. The optical pulse serves as the OTDR probe signal. Because optical isolators 115 located downstream from each optical amplifier 112 prevent the OTDR probe signal from being reflected and backscattered to the OTDR 105 on fiber 106, each repeater 114 includes a coupler arrangement providing an optical path for use by the OTDR. In particular, signals generated by reflection and scattering of the probe signal on fiber 106 between adjacent repeaters enter coupler 118 and are coupled onto the opposite-going fiber 108 via coupler 122. The OTDR signal then travels along with the data on optical fiber 108. OTDR 107 operates in a similar manner to generate OTRD signals that are reflected and scattered on fiber 108 so that they are returned to OTDR 107 along optical fiber 106.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing one example of a conventional OTDR unit that may serve as OTDR units 105 and 107. The OTDR unit includes a timing generator 211, a light source 212, a detector 214, an amplifier 215, an A/D converter 216, an adder 217 and controller 218. An optical pulse emitted by light source 212, which is driven by a signal from the timing generator 211, is launched into the transmission fiber 106. The reflected and backscattered OTDR signal is received by the detector 214 through a filter 213, amplified with a predetermined amplification factor by the amplifier 215 and introduced to the A/D converter 216. The A/D converter 216 samples the output of the amplifier 215 in a predetermined sampling cycle, and each of the sampled data is supplied to the adder 217. The adder 217 adds together the sampled data for a predetermined time and averages the data that is supplied to the controller 218. The controller 218 analyses the averaged data to monitor the transmission path for faults.
One problem with the conventional OTDR arrangement is that the OTDR signal returned to the OTDR unit in the terminal is typically attenuated by about 30 dB relative to the data signals. This low power level makes subsequent processing and analysis of the signal difficult.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide an OTDR arrangement for a multi-span, optically amplified transmission system that overcomes the aforementioned problem.

OTDR arrangement for detecting faults in an optical transmission system on a span by span basis


A method for decreasing the frequency of transmission of human immunodeficiency virus or herpesviruses by administering to a human an anti-human immunodeficiency virus amount or an anti-herpesvirus amount of cellulose acetate phthalate (CAP) or hydroxypropyl methylcellulose phthalate (HPMCP), such as in micronized form, or a combination thereof, either alone or in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent. The CAP and/or HPMCP may be employed as a suspension of micronized particles and may further contain a water miscible, non-solvent for CAP or HPMCP, such as glycerol.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention concerns methods for decreasing the frequency of transmission of viral infection, such as human immunodeficiency virus and herpesvirus, by administration of cellulose acetate phthalate or hydroxypropyl methylcellulose phthalate, which were heretofore employed as pharmaceutical excipients.
2. Background Information
Pharmaceutical excipients are defined as inert substances that form a vehicle for drug delivery (Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc. Publishers, Springfield, Mass., USA, 1985, p. 432). Thus, excipients convert pharmacologically active compounds into pharmaceutical dosage forms suitable for administration to patients. Some excipients are also used for the formulation or production of confectionery, cosmetics and food products. Therefore, approved excipients are used frequently and at higher dosage levels in comparison with most drugs. Excipients are also much less expensive and more easily produced in very large scale in comparison with most drugs.
Human immunodeficiency viruses ("HIV") have been known as the causative virus for AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome). The prevalence of AIDS cases is presently increasing at an alarming rate.
Two related retroviruses that can cause AIDS are human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and type 2 (HIV-2). The genomes of these two viruses are about 50% homologous at the nucleotide level, contain the same complement of genes, and appear to attack and kill the same human cells by the same mechanism.
HIV-1 was identified in 1983. Virtually all AIDS cases in the United States are associated with HIV-1 infection. HIV-2 was isolated in 1986 from West African AIDS patients.
HIV-1 and HIV-2 are retroviruses in which the genetic material is RNA, rather than DNA. The HIV-1 and HIV-2 viruses carry with them a polymerase (reverse transcriptase) that catalyzes transcription of viral RNA into double-helical DNA.
The viral DNA can exist as an unintegrated form in the infected cell or be integrated into the genome of the host cell. As presently understood, the HIV enters the T4 lymphocyte where it loses its outer envelope, releasing viral RNA and reverse transcriptase.
The reverse transcriptase catalyzes synthesis of a complementary DNA strand from the viral RNA template. The DNA helix then inserts into the host genome where it is known as the provirus. The integrated DNA may persist as a latent infection characterized by little or no production of virus or helper/inducer cell death for an indefinite period of time. When the viral DNA is transcribed and translated by the infected lymphocyte, new viral RNA and proteins are produced to form new viruses that bud from the cell membrane and infect other cells.
Attempts to treat AIDS with drugs which inhibit reverse transcriptase such as 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (AZT) have not been met with a desirable degree of success. Moreover, there is a potential for toxicity with the use of anti-viral drugs. Thus there is a need for an effective and safe means to prevent and treat AIDS.
HIV infections are transmitted by means such as contaminated intravenous drug needles and through sexual contact. Sexual transmission is the most frequent (86%) route of adult HIV-1 infections worldwide (AIDS in the World, Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Mass., (1992)).
The transmission of HIV by heterosexual sex poses an especially severe problem for women. By the year 2,000, it is estimated that 90% of HIV infections will be acquired via heterosexual intercourse.
The utilization of condoms provides a substantial degree of protection against transmission of HIV and herpesvirus infections during sexual intercourse, but a difficulty arises when condoms are not employed. Moreover, the use of condoms appears to be a culturally and socially unacceptable practice in many countries.
Although men can protect themselves from sexually transmitted HIV and herpesvirus infection by using condoms, women who are sexually active have no similar means. Women can encourage their male sex partners to use a condom, but may not succeed. The female condom, which is just becoming available, is expensive and there is presently no evidence that it prevents sexual transmission of HIV or herpesvirus.
Even maintaining a monogamous sexual relationship is no guarantee of safety, for if a woman's male partner becomes infected, he can pass the virus to her. And as more women are infected, so are more babies.
There is presently frustration in the medical field by the bleak prospect for an effective AIDS vaccine in the near future and the severe limitations of drugs that effectively and safely combat HIV.
Due to the present absence of a prophylactic anti-HIV vaccine and because of limitations of educational programs, other preventive methods have been sought. Spermicides with virucidal properties have been considered for this purpose, but their application is contraindicated by adverse effects (Bird, K. D., "The Use of Spermicide Containing Nonoxynol-9 in the Prevention of HIV Infection", AIDS, 5, 791-796 (1991)).
Anti-HIV drugs currently in use or expected to be clinically applied in the near future (Steele, F., "AIDS Drugs Lurch Towards Market", Nature Medicine, 1, 285-286 (1995)) are mostly not targeted to the earliest steps in the virus replicative cycle, lead to the emergence of drug resistant mutants, and are expensive, suggesting that their application for wide use in topical chemoprophylaxis is unlikely.
Cells which are the primary targets for sexual and mucosal transmission of HIV, either in the form of free virus or virus-infected cells, have not been fully defined and may be diverse (Miller, C. J. et al., "Genital Mucosal Transmission of Simian Immunodeficiency Virus: Animal Model for Heterosexual Transmission of Human Immunodeficiency Virus", J. Virol., 63, 4277-4284 (1989); Phillips, D. M. and Bourinbaiar, A. S., "Mechanism of HIV Spread from Lymphocytes to Epithelia", Virology, 186, 261-273 (1992); Phillips, D. M., Tan, X., Pearce-Pratt, R. and Zacharopoulos, V. R., "An Assay for HIV Infection of Cultured Human Cervix-derived Cells", J. Virol. Methods, 52, 1-13 (1995); Ho, J. L. et al., "Neutrophils from Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-SeronegatiVe Donors Induce HIV Replication from HIV-infected Patients Mononuclear Cells and Cell lines": An In Vitro Model of HIV Transmission Facilitated by Chlamydia Trachomatis., "J. Exp. Med., 181, 1493-1505 (1995); and Braathen, L. R. & Mork, C. in "HIV infection of Skin Langerhans Cells", In: Skin Langerhans (dendritic) cells in virus infections and AIDS (ed. Becker, Y.) 131-139 (Kluwer Academic Publishers, Boston, (1991)). Such cells include T lymphocytes, monocytes/macrophages and dendritic cells, suggesting that CD4 cell receptors are engaged in the process of virus transmission (Parr, M. B. and Parr, E. L., "Langerhans Cells and T lymphocyte Subsets in the Murine Vagina and Cervix", Biology of Reproduction, 44, 491-498 (1991); Pope, M. et al., "Conjugates of Dendritic Cells and Memory T Lymphocytes from Skin Facilitate Productive Infection With HIV-1", Cell, 78, 389-398 (1994); and Wira, C. R. and Rossoll, R. M., "Antigen-presenting Cells in the Female Reproductive Tract: Influence of Sex Hormones on Antigen Presentation in the Vagina", Immunology, 84, 505-508 (1995)).
Therefore agents blocking HIV-CD4 binding are expected to diminish or prevent virus transmission. Soluble recombinant CD4 cannot be considered for this purpose since high concentrations are required to neutralize the infectivity of primary HIV isolates (Daar, E. S., Li, X. L., Moudgil, T. and Ho, D. D., "High Concentrations of Recombinant Soluble CD4 are Required to Neutralize Primary Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Isolates", Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 87, 6574-6578 (1990), and in the case of SIV, the infectivity is enhanced by CD4 (Werner, A., Winskowsky, G. and Kurth, R., "Soluble CD4 Enhances Simian Immunodeficiency Virus SIVagm Infection", J. Virol., 64, 6252-6256 (1990)). However, anti-CD4 antibodies are expected to prevent virus transmission independently of subtype and variability, but their application would be too costly (Daar et al, supra, Watanabe, M., Boyson, J. E., Lord, C. I. and Letvin, N. L. "Chimpanzees Immunized with Recombinant Soluble CD4 Develop Anti-self CD4 Antibody Responses with Anti-human Immunodeficiency Virus Activity", Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 89, 5103-5107 (1992); and Perno, C. -F., Baseler, M. W., Broder, S. and Yarchoan, R., "Infection of Monocytes by Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Blocked by Inhibitors of CD4-gp120 Binding, Even in the Presence of Enhancing Antibodies", J. Exp. Med., 171, 1043-1056 (1990)).
There is a need for a safe and effective substance that can be inserted into the vagina by a foam, gel, sponge or other form to prevent HIV-1 or HIV-2 from infecting cells in the body. It is hoped that such substance be used by a woman without her partner's knowledge.
Prospects for the near and possibly not so near future to prevent HIV-1 transmission by vaccination do not seem good. A recent report that vaccination with inactivated SIV did not protect African Green monkeys against infection with the homologous virus notwithstanding a strong immune response to SIV does not appear to be encouraging in this respect (Siegel, F., Kurth, R., and Norley, S., (1995), "Neither Whole Inactivated Virus Immunogen nor Passive Immunoglobulin Transfer Protects Against SIV.sub.agm Infection in the African Green Monkey Natural Host", J. AIDS, 8, 217-226). Considering this problem, emphasis has been put on attempts to build a chemical barrier to HIV-1 transmission (Taylor, (1994), "Building a Chemical Barrier to HIV-1 Transmission", J. NIH Res., 6, 26-27).
The development of topically applied microbicides, expected to prevent sexual (mucosal) transmission of HIV-1, was suggested to need to be "effective against all sexually transmitted diseases and should not be seen, smelled, or felt while in use." It should also be inexpensive and widely available, and $25 million was expected to be devoted to its development in the United States in 1995 (Taylor,(1994) supra). Detergents (nonoxynol-9) as a universal pathogen killer have been selected for clinical trials. However, not surprisingly, this compound proved to be deleterious to the host.
Targeting the chemical barrier to transmission of individual pathogens could perhaps facilitate the development of compounds preventing the transmission of human immunodeficiency viruses. For example, effective blockade of receptors for the viruses might accomplish this goal. This concept may be supported by the finding that immunization of chimpanzees and rhesus monkeys, respectively, with human CD4 which has several amino acid point mutations in comparison with non-human primate CD4 sequences (Fomsgaard, A., Hirsch, V. M., and Johnson, P. R., (1992), "Cloning and Sequences of Primate CD4 molecules: Diversity of the Cellular Receptor for Simian Immunodeficiency Virus/Human Immunodeficiency Virus", Eur. J. Immunol., 22, 2973-2981), developed anti-CD4 antibodies which inhibited HIV-1 and SIV replication (Watanabe, M., Levine, C. G., Shen, L., Fisher, R. A., and Letvin, N. L. (1991), "Immunization of Simian Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Rhesus Monkeys with Soluble Human CD4 Elicits an Antiviral Response," Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 88, 4616-4620. Watanabe, M., Chen, Z. W., Tsubota, H., Lord, C. I., Levine, C. G., and Letvin, N. L., (1991), "Soluble Human CD4 Elicits an Antibody Response in Rhesus-Monkeys that Inhibits Simian Immunodeficiency Virus Replication", Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 88, 120-124; and Watanabe, M., Boyson, J. E., Lord, C. I., and Letvin, N. L., (1992), "Chimpanzees Immunized with Recombinant Soluble CD4 Develop Anti-self CD4 Antibody Responses with Anti-human Immunodeficiency Virus Activity", Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 89, 5103-5107).
Herpesviruses include the following viruses isolated from humans:
(1) herpes simplex virus 1 ("HSV-1") PA1 (2) herpes simplex virus 2 ("HSV-2") PA1 (3) human cytomegalovirus ("HCMV") PA1 (4) varicella-zoster virus ("VZV") PA1 (5) Epstein-Barr virus ("EBV") PA1 (6) human herpesvirus 6 ("HHV6") PA1 (7) herpes simplex virus 7 ("HSV-7") PA1 (8) herpes simplex virus 8 ("HSV-8")
Herpesviruses have also been isolated from horses, cattle, pigs (pseudorabies virus ("PSV") and porcine cytomegalovirus), chickens (infectious larygotracheitis), chimpanzees, birds (Marck's disease herpesvirus 1 and 2), turkeys and fish (see "Herpesviridae: A Brief Introduction", Virology, Second Edition, edited by B. N. Fields, Chapter 64, 1787 (1990)).
Herpes simplex viral ("HSV") infection is generally a recurrent viral infection characterized by the appearance on the skin or mucous membranes of single or multiple clusters of small vesicles, filled with clear fluid, on slightly raised inflammatory bases.
The herpes simplex virus is a relatively large-sized virus. HSV-2 commonly causes herpes labialis. HSV-2 is usually, though not always, recoverable from genital lesions. Ordinarily, HSV-2 is transmitted venereally.
The time of initial herpes simplex virus infection is usually obscure except in the uncommon primary systemic infection occurring in infants and is characterized by generalized cutaneous and mucous membrane lesions accompanied by severe constitutional symptoms. Localized infections ordinarily appear in childhood, but may be delayed until adult life. It is presumed that the herpes simplex virus remains dormant in the skin and that herpetic eruptions are precipitated by overexposure to sunlight, febrile illnesses, or physical or emotional stress; also, certain foods and drugs have been implicated. In many instances, the trigger mechanism remains undetected.
The lesions caused by herpes simplex virus may appear anywhere on the skin or on mucous membranes, but are most frequent on the face, especially around the mouth or on the lips, conjunctiva and cornea, or the genitals. The appearance of small tense vesicles on an erythematous base follows a short prodromal period of tingling discomfort or itching. Single clusters may vary from 0.5 to 1.5 cm in size, but several groups may coalesce. Herpes simplex on skin tensely attached to underlying structures (for example, the nose, ears or fingers) may be painful. The vesicles may persist for a few days, then begin to dry, forming a thin yellowish crust. Healing usually occurs within 10 days after onset. In moist body areas, healing may be slower, with secondary inflammation. Healing of individual herpetic lesions is usually complete, but recurrent lesions at the same site may result in atrophy and scarring.
In females infected with HSV-2, there may be no skin lesions, the infection may remain entirely within the vagina. The cervix is frequently involved, and there is increasing evidence that this may be a factor in the development of carcinoma of the cervix.
Corneal lesions commonly consist of a recurrent herpetic keratitis, manifest by an irregular dendritic ulcer on the superficial layers. Scarring and subsequent impairment of vision may follow.
Gingivostomatitis and vulvovaginitis may occur as a result of herpes infection in infants or young children. Symptoms include irritability, anorexia, fever, inflammation, and whitish plaques and ulcers of the mouth. Particularly in infants, though sometimes in older children, primary infections may cause extensive organ involvement and fatal viremia.
In women who have an attack of HSV-2 late in pregnancy, the infection may be transmitted to the fetus, with the development of severe viremia. Herpes simplex virus may also produce fatal encephalitis.
Kaposi's varicelliform eruption (eczema herpeticum) is a potentially fatal complication of infantile or adult atopic eczema. Exposure of patients with extensive atopic dermatitis to persons with active herpes simplex should be avoided.
No local or systemic chemotherapeutic agent has been demonstrated to be effective for treating herpes simplex virus with the possible exception of topical idoxuridine (IDU) in superficial herpetic keratitis. Reports on this compound in cutaneous herpes are conflicting. Other drugs which have been employed to treat HSV include trifluorothymidine, vidarabine (adenine arabinoside, ara-A), acyclovir, and other inhibitors of viral DNA synthesis may be effective in herpetic keratitis. These drugs inhibit herpes simplex virus replication and may suppress clinical manifestations. However, the herpes simplex virus remains latent in the sensory ganglia, and the rate of relapse is similar in drug-treated and untreated individuals. Moreover, some drug-resistant herpes virus strains have emerged.
Diseases caused by varicella-zoster virus (human herpesvirus 3) include varicella (chickenpox) and zoster (shingles).
Cytomegalovirus (human herpesvirus 5) is responsible for cytomegalic inclusion disease in infants. There is presently no specific treatment for treating patients infected with cytomegalovirus.
Epstein-Barr virus (human herpesvirus 4) is the causative agent of infectious mononucleosis and has been associated with Burkitt's lymphoma and nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
Animal herpesviruses which may pose a problem for humans include B virus (herpesvirus of Old World Monkeys) and Marmoset herpesvirus (herpesvirus of New World Monkeys).
In searching for inexpensive antiviral compounds which could be applied topically to decrease the frequency of sexual transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and herpesviruses (HSV), applicants decided against all odds to screen excipients for anti-HIV-1 activity and discovered the present invention which involves the administration of cellulose acetate phthalate ("CAP") or hydroxypropyl methylcellulose phthalate ("HPMCP").

Method for decreasing the frequency of transmission of viral infections using cellulose acetate phthalate or hydroxypropyl methylcellulose phthalate excipients


IgM can be obtained in the form of a pentamer by placing the genes encoding the H, L, and J chains on the same vector to transform appropriate host cells. The gene encoding the J chain may be introduced by co-transfection. When no J chain is expressed, the IgM is produced as a hexamer. The transformants obtained according to the present invention achieve a high yield of IgM. The present invention also provides methods which enable separation and quantification of polymeric IgM.

In many species of higher animals, immunoglobulins (Ig) can be divided into five different classes: IgG, IgA, IgM, IgD, and IgE. These classes are different in size, charge, amino acid composition, sugar content, and the like. Among these classes, IgM makes up approximately 10% of whole plasma immunoglobulin. IgM is a major component of early-stage antibodies produced against cell membrane antigens that are of complex antigenicity, infectious microorganisms, and soluble antigens.
In general, human IgM has a pentamer structure in vivo. The five subunits, which constitute the pentamer structure of IgM, have a four-chain structure similar to IgG. The μ chain, the H (heavy) chain of IgM, is different from the γ chain, the H chain of IgG, with respect to the amino acid sequences, and additionally, they are different as follows:                The μ chain has one more domain in its constant region than the γ chain.        The μ chain has four more oligosaccharide chains than the γ chain.        IgM has a polypeptide chain called J chain, which is not found in IgG. The J chain is considered to facilitate polymerization of μ chains before IgM is secreted from antibody-producing cells.
In recent years, advances in monoclonal antibody technology and recombinant DNA technology have enabled mass production of pure immunoglobulin. Moreover, genetic engineering technology has allowed the production of chimeric and humanized antibodies. A chimeric antibody is an antibody which has a structure where a variable region has been changed to another variable region of a different species origin. For example, a "chimeric antibody" which has a variable region of a non-human animal species and a constant region of a human antibody is known (Reference 1/Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A, (1984) 81:6851). A humanized antibody made by transplanting complementarity determining regions (CDRs) from an animal species into human immunoglobulin is also known (Reference 2/Nature (1986) 321:521).
The anti-CD20 human chimeric antibody, Rituxan® (IDEC), and the anti-HER2/neu humanized antibody, Herceptin® (Genentech), are specific examples of anti-tumor antibodies. These antibodies have already passed clinical trials and have been approved for distribution. Antibody-dependent cellular mediated cytotoxicity (hereinafter referred to as ADCC activity) and complement-dependent cytotoxicity (hereinafter referred to as CDC activity) are known as effector functions of IgG and IgM. Since IgM has a CDC activity higher than that of IgG, it can be used as an anti-tumor antibody with the CDC activity as a main drug activity. However, unlike IgG, IgM forms a polymer as mentioned above. For this reason, the industrial scale production of recombinant IgM has been considered to be difficult.
Several production systems for IgM recombinants using non-lymphoid cells have been reported. For example, introducing the genes of IgM H and L (light) chains into C6 glioma cells, CHO cells, or HeLa cells successfully resulted in the formation of polymer; however, the yield from the CHO cells was very low (Reference 3/EMBO J. (1987) 9; 2753) (Patent document 1/W089/01975). Moreover, IgM-producing CHO cell lines were obtained by incorporating IgM H and L chains into separate expression vectors and co-expressing them (Reference 4/J. Immunol. (1990) 145; 3011) (Reference 5/Human Antibodies (1997) 8; 137). These reports also showed that the recombinant IgM produced by the CHO cells formed a polymer, but they failed to reveal a ratio of pentamer and hexamer or the like.
The main reason that a polymeric structure of IgM recombinant has not been developed is that no analytical technique has been established. Specifically, the polymeric structure of IgM cannot be correctly analyzed using known analytical methods for immunoglobulin,. For example, gel electrophoresis, such as SDS-PAGE, is known as a technique for separating and identifying proteins. However, the IgM macromolecule has a molecular weight of approximately one million. It is therefore difficult to quantitatively analyze the polymeric structure (pentamer and hexamer) using conventional means.
In a reported technique for analyzing the IgM polymeric structure, non-reducing SDS-PAGE was performed using RI-labeled IgM (Reference 6/J. Immunol. (1994) 152; 1206). However, to develop IgM as a drug, it is necessary to develop a technique with which the polymeric structure of IgM can be analyzed in manufacturing process. Specifically, analysis of the polymeric structure of IgM is required in all the steps of manufacturing, including selection of producing cells, monitoring of cell culture, purification, primary drug manufacturing, and pharmaceutical preparation. The use of RI, however, is not practical for assessment of all these steps.    [Reference 1] Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A, (1984) 81:6851    [Reference 2] Nature (1986) 321:521    [Reference 3] EMBO J. (1987) 9;2753    [Reference 4] J. Immunol. (1990) 145;3011    [Reference 5] Human Antibodies (1997) 8;137    [Reference 6] J. Immunol. (1994) 152;1206    [Patent document 1] WO89/01975

Polynucleotides encoding anti-ganglioside antibodies


A multiple-voice instructing unit (17) instructs pitch deforming ratio and mixing ratio to a multiple-voice synthesis unit (16). The multiple voice synthesis unit (16) generates a standard voice signal by means of waveform superimposition based on voice element data read from a voice element database (15) and prosodic information from a voice element selecting unit (14), expands/contracts the time base of the above standard voice signal based on the prosodic information and instruction information from the multiple-voice instructing unit (17) to change a voice pitch, and mixes the standard voice signal with an expansion/contraction voice signal for outputting via an output terminal (18). Accordingly, a concurrent vocalization by multiple speakers based on the same text can be implemented without the need of time-division, parallel text analyzing and prosody generating and of adding pitch converting as post-processing.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a general text-to-speech synthesizer. The text-to-speech synthesizer is mainly composed of a text input terminal 1, a text analyzer 2, a prosody generator 3, a speech segment selector 4, a speech segment database 5, a speech synthesizer 6, and an output terminal 7.
Hereinbelow, description will be given of the operation of a conventional text-to-speech synthesizer. When Japanese Kanji and Kana mixed text information such as words and sentences (e.g., Kanji "left") is inputted from the input terminal 1, the text analyzer 2 converts the inputted text information "left" to reading information (e.g., "hidari") and outputs it. It is noted that input text is not limited to a Japanese Kanji and Kana mixed text, and so a reading symbol such as alphabet may be directly inputted.
The prosody generator 3 generates prosody information (information on pitch and volume of speech and speaking rate) based on the reading information "hidari" from the text analyzer 2. Here, information on the pitch of speech is set by pitch of a vowel (basic frequency), so that in the case of this example, pitches of vowels "i", "a", "i" are set in order of time. Also, information on the volume of speech and the speaking rate are set by an amplitude and duration of speech waveform per phoneme "h", "i", "d", "a", "r", "i". Thus-generated prosody information is sent to the speech segment selector 4 together with the reading information "hidari".
Eventually, the speech segment selector 4 refers to a speech segment database 5 for selecting speech segment data necessary for speech synthesis based on the reading information "hidari" from the prosody generator 3. Herein, examples of a widely-used speech synthesis unit include a Consonant+Vowel (CV) syllable unit (e.g., "ka", "gu"), and a Vowel+Consonant+Vowel (VCV) unit that holds characteristic quantity of a transient portion of syllabic concatenation for achieving high quality sound (e.g., "aki", "ito"). Hereinbelow, description will be made in the case of using the VCV unit as a basic unit of speech segment (speech synthesis unit).
In the speech segment database 5, there are stored, as the speech segment data, waveforms and parameters obtained by analyzing speech data appropriately taken out by VCV unit from, for example, speech data spoken by an announcer and by converting the form of the data to the form necessary for synthesis processing. In the case of general Japanese text-to-speech synthesis with use of VCV speech segment as a synthesis unit, approx. 800 VCV speech segment data sets are stored. When the reading information "hidari" is inputted in the speech segment selector 4 as in this example, the speech segment selector 4 selects speech segment data containing VCV segments "*hi", "ida", "ari", "i**" from the speech segment database 5. It is noted that a symbol "*" denotes silence. Thus-obtained selection result information is sent together with prosody information to the speech synthesizer 6.
Finally, the speech synthesizer 6 reads corresponding speech segment data from the speech segment database 5 based on the inputted selection result information. Then, based on the inputted prosody information and the above-obtained speech segment data, while the pitch and volume of speech and speaking rate being controlled in accordance with the prosody information, systems of the selected VCV speech segments are smoothly connected in vowel sections and outputted from the output terminal 7. Here, to the speech synthesizer 6, there are widely applied a method generally called waveform overlap-add technique (e.g., Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 60-21098) and a method generally called vocoder technique or formant synthesis technique (e.g., "Basic Speech Information Processing" P76–77 published by Ohmsha).
The above-stated text-to-speech synthesizer can increase the number of speech qualities (speakers) by changing voice pitch or speech segment database. Also, separate signal processing is applied to an outputted speech signal from the speech synthesizer 6 so as to achieve sound effects such as echoing. Further, it has been proposed that pitch conversion processing, that is also applied to Karaoke and the like, is applied to the output speech signal from the speech synthesizer 6, and an original synthetic speech signal and the pitch-converted speech signal are combined to implement simultaneous speaking by a plurality of speakers (e.g., Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 3-211597). Also, there has been proposed an apparatus in which the text analyzer 2 and the prosody generator 3 in the above text-to-speech synthesizer are driven by time sharing, and a plurality of speech output portions composed of the speech synthesizer 6 and the like are provided for simultaneously outputting a plurality of speeches corresponding to a plurality of texts (e.g., Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 6-75594).
In the above conventional text-to-speech synthesizer, changing the speech segment database makes it possible to switch speakers so that a specified text is spoken by various speakers. However, there is a problem that, for example, a plurality of speakers cannot speak the same speech content simultaneously.
Also, as disclosed in the Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 6-75594, the text analyzer 2 and the prosody generator 3 in the above text-to-speech synthesizer may be driven by time sharing, and a plurality of speech output portions composed of the speech synthesizer 6 and the like may be provided for simultaneously outputting a plurality of voices corresponding to a plurality of texts. However, there is a problem that pre-processing needs to be done by time sharing which leads to complication of the apparatus.
Also, as disclosed in the above Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 3-211597, the pitch conversion processing may be applied to the output speech signal from the speech synthesizer 6, and a fundamental synthetic speech signal and the pitch-converted speech signal enable a plurality of speakers to speak simultaneously. However, the pitch conversion processing needs processing generally called pitch extraction with a large processing amount, which causes a problem that such apparatus configuration brings about larger processing amount and large cost increase.

Simultaneous plural-voice text-to-speech synthesizer


In a bottom valve apparatus in which a flow passage is formed in a bottom piece, a check valve opening and closing the flow passage is provided in one face side of the bottom piece, and a coil spring urging the check valve is fastened by a bolt and a nut which are provided in the bottom piece, a thread direction of the nut or the bolt fastening the coil spring is set to an opposite direction to a winding direction of the coil spring.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a bottom valve apparatus of a hydraulic shock absorber.
2. Description of the Related Art
A bottom valve apparatus of a hydraulic shock absorber may be structured, as described in Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-open No. 3-22150 (patent publication 1), such that a push side flow passage 1A and a pull side flow passage 1B are formed in a bottom piece 1. A push side damping valve 2 opening and closing the push side flow passage 1A and a check valve 3 opening and closing the pull side flow passage 1B are respectively provided in a lower face side and an upper face side of the bottom piece 1, and a coil spring 4 urging the check valve 3 is fastened by a bolt 5 and a nut 6 which are provided in the bottom piece 1 (FIGS. 6A and 6B).
However, when the bottom valve apparatus is assembled, there is often a problem in that a leading end portion of the coil spring 4 is caught in the check valve 3. The bolt 5 in which the damping valve 2 is assembled is inserted from a lower surface side of the bottom piece 1, the check valve 3 and the coil spring 4 are arranged in the vicinity of a protruding end of the bolt 5 protruding to an upper face side of the bottom piece 1, and the nut 6 is screwed with the protruding end of the bolt 5. The check valve 3 and the coil spring 4 are centered by a centering guide 6A of the nut 6 so as to be fastened. However, in this case, there may be a situation that an end portion 4A of the coil spring 4 rotating together with a rotation of the nut 6 in a contacting side with the check valve 3 gets under the check valve 3 so as to be caught in a position between the bottom piece 1 and the check valve 3, during the centering of the check valve 3 (FIG. 6A).
As a result of a study carried out by the inventor of the present invention, it has been found that since a thread direction of the nut 6 (a rotating direction for moving the nut 6 in a fastening direction) is a right handed thread, and a winding direction of the coil spring 4 (a winding direction for moving the coil spring 4 in a direction apart from the nut 6) is also a right handed coil (FIG. 6B), the end portion 4A of the coil spring 4 in the contacting side with the check valve 3 moves in a direction which the check valve 3 is caught when the coil spring 4 rotates together with the rotation of the nut 6.

Bottom valve apparatus of hydraulic shock absorber


There is provided an apparatus and method for x-ray imaging of a subject that comprises an x ray source emitting a spectrum of radiation of low energy component as well as high energy component to be attenuated by the subject. At least one CR plate adapted to absorb mainly the radiation of low energy component that was attenuated by the subject is provided, wherein low energy x rays image can be attained on the CR plate as well as a DR plate that is adapted to absorb the high energy component, wherein the DR plate is placed further to the CR plate relative to the subject so as to attain image from higher energy x rays. The apparatus is further provided with a processor adapted to process the CR and DR images obtained in a single irradiation of the subject so as to obtain a third combined processed image.

Digital Radiographic imaging is used to generate digital projection X-ray images of subjects, typically human patients. Common technologies in the art are Computed Radiography (CR) and Digital Radiography (DR). CR uses stimulable phosphor sheets that capture and absorb the X ray energy, store it and then the phosphor sheets are being scanned to provide the digital image. In DR, the radiation strikes a plate onto which large area position sensitive detectors are generating a digital image in real time.
The imaged subjects have internal structures that differ in X ray absorption due to different thickness, density and atomic composition. The internal structures may have different response to different X ray energy range, thus allowing to enhance the contrast between certain structures by different choice of beam energy. In dual energy scanning techniques, two images are obtained at two different beam energy ranges and a third improved image is usually generated by normalization and/or another mathematical manipulation such as subtraction technique, as an example. This technique had been used for the last two decades. The improvement may be directed to elimination of certain structures (e.g. bones in soft tissue imaging), differentiating between structures (e.g. bone from contrast agent, explosive from other materials) or enhancing the contrast between neighboring structures (e.g. tissues in a patient).
The existing methods such as multislice CT are relatively excessive radiation-prone and there is a need to reduce the amount of radiation that is used during patient imaging. In dual energy subtraction, acquisition of two images offers less radiation.
The ability to convert computed radiography combined with digital radiography, each having its unique features to dual energy system while maintaining relatively low doses of radiation opens the opportunity to many potential medical applications.

Method and apparatus for dual energy radiography


A glove compartment box energy having a tear seam on an inner wall is provided. The glove compartment box is mounted in an instrument panel of a vehicle. The tear seam is configured to allow a rearward moving structure from within the instrument panel such as a portion of the vehicle HVAC system to rupture the tear seam and enter an interior volume of the glove compartment box. The glove compartment box further has a frangible portion disposed on the inner wall. The frangible portion extends towards an interior of the instrument panel to concentrate stress on the tear seam. The tear seam and frangible portion prevent the rearward moving structure from displacing the glove compartment box rearward into a passenger compartment.

A glove compartment box or glove box is a compartment typically present as part of a dashboard or instrument panel in a vehicle. Glove boxes are typically located above the front-seat passenger's foot well and open into the passenger compartment. The glove box can be used for general storage of a number of different items such as gloves, the motor vehicle owner's manual, and miscellaneous items.
In a vehicle, components and structure located between the firewall and the passenger compartment are often concealed behind the instrument panel (IP). These components include portions of the HVAC, vehicle cross braces, and various electronic systems. As vehicles have become more complex, the amount of components and structure within the IP has increased such that there is little vacant space between the IP and the firewall.
In a front end collision, in which the firewall may be pushed rearwards towards the passenger compartment, these components and structure are also pushed rearwards into the passenger compartment where they may force the IP into contact with the occupants. In addition to airbags that protect occupants from impacting portions of the IP, it is well known for the surfaces of the IP to have energy absorbing capabilities. These energy absorbing surfaces break the load path between the occupant and the surface.
However, energy absorbing surfaces on the exterior of the IP do not prevent a rearward moving force from displacing the IP into the passenger compartment. Furthermore, when the firewall is deformed and there is engine push rearward towards the passenger compartment, the IP can become part of the system and transmit the combined forces rearwards towards the passenger. Given that the glove box is located proximate to a passenger traveling in the front seat of the vehicle, it would be desirable for the glove box to break the rearward load path that occurs in a front end collision.
As the glove box is often installed in the IP via a housing or the like, the glove box may become detached from the IP. It would likewise be desirable for the glove box to maintain the relationship between a passenger compartment door of the glove box and the rest of the instrument panel. In this way, rearward directed forces on the glove box would not displace the passenger compartment door towards the vehicle occupants. Since the glove box has an internal volume that resides within the IP, this internal volume can be used to accommodate rearward moving components and structure to prevent a similar rearward movement of the glove box and break the load path towards the passenger compartment.

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.


A semiconductor structure may be formed by forming a first semiconductor fin and a second inactive semiconductor fin above a substrate; depositing a masking layer above the first semiconductor fin and the second semiconductor fin; etching a trench in the masking layer exposing the second semiconductor fin while the first semiconductor fin remains covered by the masking layer; removing the second semiconductor fin to form a fin recess beneath the trench; filling the fin recess with an insulating material to form an insulating fence fin; and removing the masking layer to expose the first semiconductor fin and the insulating fence fin. A third semiconductor fin separating the first semiconductor fin from the second semiconductor fin may also be formed prior to depositing the masking layer and covered by the masking layer. The first semiconductor fin may be a pFET fin and the third semiconductor fin may be an nFET fin.

The present invention relates to semiconductor devices, and particularly to methods of fabricating one or more insulating fence fins adjacent to one or more active semiconductor fins.
Field effect transistors (FETs) are commonly employed in electronic circuit applications. FETs may include a source region and a drain region spaced apart by a semiconductor channel region. A gate, potentially including a gate dielectric layer, a work function metal layer, and a metal electrode, may be formed above the channel region. By applying voltage to the gate, the conductivity of the channel region may increase and allow current to flow from the source region to the drain region. FET structures having n-type source and drain regions may be referred to as nFETs, and FET structures having p-type source and drain regions may be referred to as pFETs.
FinFETs are an emerging technology which may provide solutions to field effect transistor (FET) scaling problems at, and below, the 22 nm node. FinFET structures include at least one narrow semiconductor fin as the channel region of the FET and are gated on at least two sides of each of the at least one semiconductor fin. FinFETs including more than one fin may be referred to as multi-fin FinFETs. FinFETs may be fabricated by forming a field, or sea, of many fins and forming gates and source/drain regions over active fins.

Semiconductor structure containing semiconductor fins and insulating fence fins on a same substrate

International Business Machines Corporation


An accessory lock device which when combined with a pre-existing load-bracing bar, will stabilize a cargo load in a much more secure manner. Thus eliminating shifting of the load in substantially any direction, namely forward, rearward, or sideways.

Bracing bars are well known within the prior art and are most often utilized within cargo compartments. For example, they can be used within a cargo transport truck, within ships, or even used within trains, etc.
Unfortunately, all of the known bracing bars found by the applicants are only functional for stabilizing a load from shifting in a forward or backward direction. Examples of such bracing bars are taught within U.S. Pat. Nos. #4,434,970, #4,473,331, and #5,094,576. All of which are not functional for stabilizing a load from shifting sideways. This is an inherent problem with each of the noted references and the present invention recognizes this problem, addresses it, and overcomes it in a manner heretofore not taught within the prior art.
It is well known when transporting cargo within a transport truck, that the weight of the cargo must be distributed equally over the axles, so as to comply with strict trucking regulations. This can be most difficult if the load to be transported is only a partial load, which will not completely fill the truck bed when loaded. Therefore, the load must be positioned in the nose of the truck, within the rear of the truck, or at any other position of choice that will distribute the weight in the proper, legal manner.

Accessory lock device for a load bracing bar


A bypass arrangement in accordance with an embodiment of the invention includes an actuator movable in a first direction and a second direction, a volume booster in fluid communication with the actuator, the volume booster having a supply passage, an exhaust passage, and a volume booster output bypass connection in fluid communication with the supply passage, and a bypass valve in fluid communication with the volume booster output bypass connection.

Control valve systems for controlling the flow of liquids and/or gasses in a process system are generally known in the art. These systems generally employ an actuator to open and close the control valve. The position of the control valve is generally controlled by a positioner. Volume boosters are generally included in the control valve system to improve the stroking speed of the actuator.
Manual override of the positioner to allow for manual control of the actuator and override of the positioner generally requires the use of a bypass value in fluid communication with the actuator. The bypass valve allows the pressure in the actuator to equilibrate, so that manual operation of the actuator is possible. For example, in a piston actuator, the bypass valve is generally disposed between first and second chamber portions of the cylinder. Once the pressure in the upper and lower cylinders has reached equilibrium, the piston is freely moveable in response to a manual operating device, such as a hand wheel.
FIG. 1 shows a typical bypass arrangement with a pneumatic bypass on a piston actuator. The bypass valve 10 is connected to the boosters 12, 14 and the actuator 16 by a tee 18 and pipe nipple 20. FIG. 2 shows a typical bypass arrangement with a hand wheel and bypass valve 10 disposed downstream of the volume booster 12. As in FIG. 1, the volume booster 12 is connected to the bypass valve 10 using a tee 18. Such arrangements create additional leak paths and increases fitting costs and assembly time.


A method for performing a matrix-based verification technique such as optical process correction (OPC) that analyzes interactions between movement of a fragment on a mask and one or more edges to be created on a wafer. In one embodiment, each edge to be created is analyzed and one or more fragments of a mask are moved in accordance with a gradient matrix that defines how changes in position of a fragment affect one or more edges on the mask. Fragments are moved having a significant effect on an edge in question. Simulations are performed and fragments are moved in an iterative fashion until each edge has a objective within a prescribed tolerance. In another embodiment, each edge has two or more objectives to be optimized. A objective is selected in accordance with a cost function and fragments are moved in a mask layout until each edge has acceptable specification for each objective.

The most common technique for forming circuit elements on a semiconductor wafer is by photolithographic printing whereby one or more reticles (also more commonly called masks or photomasks) are used to form a pattern and selectively expose areas of photosensitive resist layers on the wafer. As integrated circuits become more complex, the number of circuit elements to be created on a wafer become increasingly large and each object becomes correspondingly smaller. As the size of the objects to be created become similar in size or smaller than the wavelength of light used to illuminate the wafer, distortions occur whereby the pattern of objects formed on the wafer do not correspond to the pattern of objects defined by the mask. One objective criterion that defines how well an image is formed or an object is created is the edge placement error (EPE) that indicates how far an edge of an object is shifted from its desired position. Another objective criterion is the edge contrast or slope that describes how sharply the image intensity changes from exposed to not exposed, or vice versa.
To improve the manufacturability of target layout designs, optical process correction (OPC) techniques have been developed that alter a mask layout pattern in order to correctly create the desired pattern of objects on a wafer. The conventional OPC method of improving the fidelity of a layout is to simulate how a pattern of polygon fragments fabricated on a mask will be lithographically reproduced as corresponding edges on the wafer, and then moves the fragment such that the edge on the wafer will be created at the proper location.
In a typical OPC procedure, a target layout comprising several polygons represents the objects desired on the wafer. As shown in FIG. 1A, the polygons 1 in this layout are divided up into several edges 2a, 2b, 2c, etc. For each of the edges, a simulation site 3c, 3d, etc. (also called a control point) is designated. Some edges may have more than one simulation site, although typically there is one site per edge.
A simulation of the image that will be formed if the target layer is used as the mask layout is then run. Simulations are generated at each of the sites of the edges, usually along a cut line perpendicular to the edge, and measurements of the predicted image slope, maximum and minimum intensities are calculated as shown in FIG. 1B. From these image parameters, the actual placement of the edge is predicted using techniques such as the variable threshold resist model, or other simulation techniques. The edge location as predicted and the location of the ideal edge in the target layout are then compared, and the difference calculated as an edge placement error (EPE).
Changes are then made in the mask layout to minimize the EPE. For each edge, a fragment in the mask layout is designated, and each mask fragment is moved in an attempt to reduce the EPE. New simulations at the sites are then generated from the revised mask layout, and new EPEs calculated. This procedure is repeated iteratively until the EPE is small enough, i.e., is within a certain tolerance value.
It has since been recognized that a fragment on a mask often affects more than one corresponding edge on a wafer. Each fragment can potentially affect the creation of many edges that lie within a predefined optical radius. To accurately model these effects, matrix-based computation of the Mask Error Enhancement Factor (MEEF) was developed by Yuri Granik and Nicolas Cobb of Mentor Graphics Corporation, the assignee of the present invention, and others. In matrix-based MEEF computations, the interaction of a single fragment on a mask with many edges to be created on a wafer is considered. In principle, the inverse is also possible, in which the relationship of multiple fragments on a mask with a single edge on a wafer can also be considered. More complex multi-fragment interactions with multi-edge results can also be evaluated.
This matrix formulation can also be applied in the context of OPC. However, in practice, matrix-based OPC has been difficult to implement. First, the matrices that define the relationship between a mask fragment and a number of edges to be created on a wafer are often large and can be difficult to mathematically invert in order to calculate an exact solution for the optimal position of each fragment on the mask. Secondly, an exact solution for each fragment position on a mask does not necessarily ensure the manufacturability of a layout design under a variety of process conditions where variations may occur in illumination, focus, or other conditions. Therefore, there is a need for a method of enhancing the manufacturability of a target layout under a variety of process conditions that takes into consideration each mask fragment's effect on multiple edges on a wafer.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A user installs a hotspot alert application on their mobile device. The application employs the location technology of the user device to transmit the location of the device, and thus the location of the user. The location can be transmitted to a server located in a hotspot tracking system. By establishing the location of the user, the server may search for hotspots on a database stored on the system. The server establishes the dimensions of a hotspot zone around the user's location and transmits the hotspots and the zone dimensions to the application on the user device. The application monitors the location of the user device and deliver's configured alerts to the user when approaching a hotspot. When the device leaves a zone or remains idle for a configured amount of time, the device requests and receives an updated zone of hotspots.

Location data from a mobile device can be used for numerous applications. There are applications that use the location data for locating friends, playing games, and assisting a user with directions. The location data can also be used to alert a user when the user and the user's device are in the vicinity of a hotspot. A hotspot is any business, institution, or location that would be of interest to a user. For example, a user may choose to be alerted every time the user nears a particular store or restaurant, or the server may identify a hotspot as a nearby store that the user frequents and that is currently offering a promotion or coupon.
Unfortunately, hotspot information is constantly changing. New stores are built, promotions are updated, and the user location changes. A user may desire constantly updated hotspot information, but the mobile devices are not typically capable of maintaining a database of all the hotspots and hotspot marketing data. Trying to maintain this data may have an adverse effect on the data storage capacity of the device, the battery life of the device, the required data transmission capacity, or other aspects of operating a mobile device.
Conversely, tracking the location of the user device by the server and continually providing updates with hotspot data as the mobile device changes locations also adversely affects the battery, storage capacity, and data transmission capacity of the device.
Thus, a need in the art exists for systems and methods that improve upon one or more of the above-described limitations.

Providing hotspots to user devices within server-controlled zones


Ebola virus and Marburg virus are filoviruses and are responsible for outbreaks that cause up to 90% fatality, including the recent outbreak in West Africa that has resulted in over 11,000 deaths. The present disclosure generally relates to novel arylnaphthalene compounds as a vacuolar-ATPase inhibitor that are useful for the treatment of various viral infections, including those infections caused by filoviruses. Pharmaceutical composition matters and methods of use are within the scope of this invention.

This section introduces aspects that may help facilitate a better understanding of the disclosure. Accordingly, these statements are to be read in this light and are not to be understood as admissions about what is or is not prior art.
Filoviruses are highly contagious, lethal viruses that cause severe hemorrhagic fever in humans and primates (Ansari, A A, J. Autoimmun. 2014, 55, 1-9; Messaoudi, I., et al, Nat. Rev. Microbiol. 2015, 13(11), 663-676; White, J M, et al., Nat. Rev. Microbiol. 2012, 10(5), 317-322). They are negative-strand RNA, filamentous viruses that group into 3 families named Ceuvavirus, Ebolaviruses (EBOV) and Marburgviruses (MARV). Viruses from the latter two families are responsible for outbreaks that have up to 90% fatality, including the recent outbreak in West Africa that resulted in over 28,000 reported cases and 11,317 deaths according to the WHO. Currently, there are no approved therapeutic measures for the treatment of filovirus infections but the development of a vaccine is being prioritized by the FDA and a promising viral polymerase inhibitor has also recently advanced in development (Sheahan, T P, et al., Sci. Transl. Med. 2017, 9, eaal3653). There are unmet needs in fighting those viral infections.

Arylnaphthalene compounds as vacuolar-ATPase inhibitors and the use thereof


Phase locked loop circuitry operates digitally, to at least a large extent, to select from a plurality of phase-distributed candidate clock signals the signal that is closest in phase to transitions in another signal such as a clock data recovery (“CDR”) signal. The circuitry is constructed and operated to avoid glitches in the output clock signal that might otherwise result from changes in selection of the candidate clock signal.

This invention relates to phase locked loop ("PLL") circuitry, and more particularly to digital phase locked loop ("DPLL") circuitry.
PLL circuitry is a frequently needed type of circuitry. For example, in the reception of clock data recovery ("CDR") signals, PLL circuitry may be used to help match the frequency and phase of a controllably variable clock signal to the clock information that is embedded in the received CDR signal. The frequency-and-phase-matched clock signal can be used as a "recovered" clock signal, which is useful, for example, in processing the data information that is also recovered from the CDR signal.
PLL circuitry may include a "digital" portion ("DPLL circuitry"). For example, after a frequency match has been achieved, several versions ("candidate clock signals") of the frequency-matched clock signal may be produced. Each of these versions is shifted somewhat in phase relative to the other versions. The digital portion of the PLL circuitry may be used to make a final selection of the version that has the best phase match. Relative stability in such a final selection is important (e.g., to avoid final selections that change too soon (prematurely) or too often ("hunting")). Also, it can be important to avoid "glitches" in the recovered clock signal. Glitches can be associated with certain types of changes in the final selection of the clock signal version to be output as the recovered clock signal. A glitch is typically one or more signal transitions that are fragmentary or too close to one another or to other transitions in the recovered clock signal (i.e., signal transition spacings that are too small a fraction of a proper recovered clock signal cycle).

Digital phase locked loop circuitry and methods


A method of determining the spatial and/or spectral distribution of nuclear magnetization in separate regions (which are not coherent in respect of space or frequency) utilizes multi-dimensional RF pulses which are configured such that it is possible to determine the nuclear magnetization distribution in the individual regions from a linear combination of the MR signals occurring subsequent to an excitation (or from MR data derived therefrom). This results in shorter measuring times or a more attractive signal-to-noise ratio.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method of determining the spatial and/or spectral distribution of the nuclear magnetization in separate regions within an object.
For MR examinations (MR=Magnetic Resonance) it is often desirable to examine spatially separate regions of an object:
a) For example, for in-vivo spectroscopy it is important to acquire reference spectra from non-pathological regions for the evaluation of the spectral nuclear magnetization distribution in a diagnostically relevant region. PA1 b) In the MR imaging processes often only given regions of the overall image are of diagnostic interest, so that it is not necessary to image the entire examination zone. The possibility to image only given regions can then be advantageous if the examination zone contains highly vascularized regions which are not of diagnostic interest and could cause strong flow artefacts. In that case it is desirable to excite and to image only the other regions. PA1 c) Furthermore, it is often important to generate separate fat or water images in different regions, for example in two different planes. The fat or water images are then formed from different frequency ranges of the MR signals. In this case, therefore, there is a total of four separate regions (two spatially separated and two frequency separated regions) in which the nuclear magnetization distribution is to be determined. PA1 a) Predetermining n linearly independent codes of the phase and/or the amplitude of the nuclear magnetization in the n separate regions. PA1 b) Generating n different multi-dimensional RF pulses which are shaped so that the nuclear magnetization is excited only in the n regions, that is to say always in conformity with one of the n codes. PA1 c) Acquiring of the MR signals appearing subsequent to the excitation of the nuclear magnetization in the regions. PA1 d) Forming linear combinations of the MR signals, or MR data linearly derived therefrom, in order to determine the nuclear magnetization distribution in a respective one of the regions. PA1 a) an RF coil system for generating RF pulses, PA1 b) a gradient coil system for generating temporally variable magnetic gradient fields, PA1 c) a coil system for receiving MR signals, PA1 d) a reconstruction unit for reconstructing the nuclear magnetization distribution from the MR signals received, PA1 e) means for predetermining the phase and/or the code in n separate regions, PA1 f) a control unit for controlling the components in such a manner that the following steps are carried out:
It is already known that the nuclear magnetization can be excited or refocused in arbitrarily shaped, spatially multi-dimensional regions by means of so-called multi-dimensional RF pulses. Multi-dimensional RF pulses are amplitude and/or phase-modulated pulses which, in the presence of temporally varying magnetic gradient fields, excite longitudinal magnetization or refocus transverse magnetization. Such multi-dimensional RF pulses are described in J Magn. Reson. 82, 647-654 (1989). Moreover, the publication Magn. Reson. Med. 15, 287-304 (1990) describes the formation of RF pulses which are spatially and spectrally selective at the same time and enable excitation of each time one of several spatially and frequency-wise separated regions. These pulses are also to be considered as multi-dimensional RF pulses.

Method for determining the spatial and/or spectral distribution of nuclear magnetization


A sealing structure is between a workpiece or substrate and a carrier for plasma processing. In one example, a substrate carrier has a top surface for holding a substrate, the top surface having a perimeter and a resilient sealing ridge on the perimeter of the top surface to contact the substrate when the substrate is being carried on the carrier.

The current market demand for smaller and more functional mobile devices and other computing platforms drives the semiconductor industry towards reducing the size of the chips that go into these computing platforms. The packages that contain the chips are also being reduced in size.
For some types of packages, thin silicon chips are required. This requires thin silicon wafers. In order to effectively process thin silicon wafers (including wafers as thin as or thinner than 30 μm), wafer carriers have been proposed. The carrier provides a rigid support to the wafer during transport and handling, Wafer carriers have also been proposed to provide support while a wafer is being thinned by backgrinding, h some other alternative production techniques, wafer carriers may be exposed to deposition, which may include common processes such as physical vapor deposition (PVD), chemical vapor deposition (CVD), atomic layer deposition (ALD), electrochemical deposition (ECD), etc., that are heavily utilized for thin film fabrication.
Many current wafer carriers are electrostatic carriers and hold the wafer without adhesive. The carrier bonds a full thickness wafer to a rigid substrate by electrostatic induction, To maintain the electrostatic bond, the carrier and wafer are made flat, especially for chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) and backgrinding processes that expose wafers to shear forces.

Sealing structure for workpiece to substrate bonding in a processing chamber


Disclosed herein is an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus employing two or more ultrasonic probes each comprising a plurality of ultrasonic transducers each for transmitting and receiving an ultrasonic wave, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus further comprising: a first storage means for storing only standard focus data, that is, focus data for forming received ultrasonic beams employed in a predetermined one of the ultrasonic probes; a second storage means for storing a ratio of a center frequency of the predetermined one of the ultrasonic probes to a center frequency of another one of the ultrasonic probes; and a calculation means for calculating focus data for forming received ultrasonic beams employed in the other ultrasonic probe from the standard focus data stored in the first storage means and the ratio stored in the second storage means to form an ultrasonic image from the ultrasonic waves received by the ultrasonic transducers employed in the other ultrasonic probe, wherein focus data for forming received ultrasonic beams employed in any of the ultrasonic probes is used for focusing the ultrasonic waves received by the ultrasonic transducers employed in the ultrasonic probe into pieces of digital received signal data and for delaying the pieces of digital received signal data by a predetermined delay time, and delayed pieces of digital received signal data are finally added up to form an ultrasonic image.

1. Field of the Invention
In general, the present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. In particular, the present invention relates to an effective ultrasonic technology applied to reduction of the amount of focus data for forming received ultrasonic beams of ultrasonic probes with center frequencies different from each other and reduction of the amount of focus data (focus data for forming received ultrasonic beams) for forming a focus of ultrasonic waves received by ultrasonic transducers of a broad-frequency-band ultrasonic probe employed in an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, ultrasonic waves transmitted by a plurality of ultrasonic transducers to an object are reflected by the object and received by the ultrasonic transducers. Received signals are each amplified and are delayed by a delaying process (beam-forming process) that adjusts wavefronts coming from a focus in order to electrically converge the received signals output by the ultrasonic transducers. The delayed signals are finally added up to form an ultrasonic beam.
In addition, the focus point of ultrasonic waves received by ultrasonic transducers changes with the lapse of time through a number of stages or in a dynamic manner.
If analog processing is carried out on a received signal, a delay time deliberately introduced in the delaying process described above is converted into tap switching data of an analog delay line which is used for determining a tap on the analog delay line.
If digital processing is carried out on a received signal, on the other hand, a delay time with a predetermined length is deliberately introduced after the analog signal has been converted into digital data in an analog-to-digital conversion process. The delay method is determined in dependence upon the beam-forming technique. Typically, the delay time is introduced as follows. Pieces of digital data (digitized received-signals) are stored at a sequence of addresses in a memory and then read out from the memory starting from an address shifted from the head of the address sequence by an offset to result in a delay time .tau..sub.0 corresponding to the offset. In this case, in order to provide a delay time shorter than the sampling period of the analog-to-digital conversion process, delayed digital data is obtained by interpolation of pieces of digital data read out from the memory.
In an ultrasonic diagnoses apparatus of an electronic scan type, for example, about 100 to 300 rasters are required to form a frame. The rasters are each formed by dynamic reception focusing in the transmission direction of the ultrasonic wave. An image of one frame is formed by sequential scanning in the direction.
Thus, if the number of focus steps per raster is a1, the number of ultrasonic transducers is a2 and the number of rasters is a3, as many as a1.times.a2.times.a3 pieces of focus data for forming received ultrasonic beams are required.
By the way, the conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus may employ a plurality of ultrasonic probes which generally have frequencies different from each other. The examiner selects an ultrasonic probe with a frequency that is appropriate for an object to be diagnosed. Typical frequencies of ultrasonic probes are 3.5 MHz, 5 MHz, 7.5 MHz and 10 MHz.
Thus, in the conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, focus data for forming received ultrasonic beams is stored in a ROM (Read-only Memory) in advance for each ultrasonic probe employed therein. In order to form a focus of ultrasonic waves received by ultrasonic transducers employed in an ultrasonic probe, the ultrasonic probe reads out the focus data from the ROM.
In addition, an ultrasonic probe operating at frequencies over a broad frequency band is being put to use in recent years. An ultrasonic probe operating at frequencies over a broad frequency band is referred to hereafter as a broad-frequency-band ultrasonic probe. Thus, the same broad-frequency-band ultrasonic probe can be used at typically 3.5 MHz, 5 MHz or 7.5 MHz which is selected according to the object being diagnosed. The examiner sets only the center frequency of a broad-frequency-band ultrasonic probe at a desired frequency. Since the operation of a broad-frequency-band ultrasonic probe is not dependent upon the value of the center frequency, it is not necessary to adjust focus data for forming received ultrasonic beams according to the value of the center frequency in an analog beam-forming process.
If a digital beam-forming process is carried out, however, ultrasonic waves received by ultrasonic transducers are needed not only sampling delayed but also produced a delay time shorter than the sampling period. In this case, a variety of techniques such as interpolation need to be devised to produce a delay time shorter than the sampling period of the ADC. For this reason, it is necessary to re-calculate data for producing such a small delay, by which digital received signal data resulting from the analog-to-digital conversion carried out by the ADC is to be delayed, in order to form a focus of ultrasonic waves received by ultrasonic transducers.
As a result of studying the conventional technologies described above, the inventor of the present invention has identified the following problems.
In the conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus employing a plurality of ultrasonic probes, there is no relation among the ultrasonic probes as far as the design and usage conditions of the ultrasonic probes are concerned. Thus, focus data for forming received ultrasonic beams employed in one ultrasonic probe is different from focus data for forming received ultrasonic beams employed in another ultrasonic probe. For this reason, in the conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, focus data for forming received ultrasonic beams needs to be provided for each ultrasonic probe. By the way, the amount of focus data for forming received ultrasonic beams for each individual ultrasonic probe is large, raising a problem of an extremely large total amount of focus data for forming received ultrasonic beams for all the ultrasonic probes.
As a result, a ROM with a large storage capacity for storing such data is required, giving rise to a problem of an increased cost of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.
In addition, when a new ultrasonic probe with unknown focus data for forming received ultrasonic beams thereof is incorporated in the conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, it is necessary to calculate the data. If the focus data for forming received ultrasonic beams for the new ultrasonic probe is known, on the other hand, the data can be stored in the ROM. In this case, however, it is necessary to supply the data for finding a focus of ultrasonic waves received by ultrasonic transducers from the ROM to a controller of a beam-forming circuit for receiving such data, raising a problem of a decreased diagnosing efficiency of a physician, a typical examiner utilizing the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.
Even in the case of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus employing a single broad-frequency-band ultrasonic probe which is capable of operating at a plurality of transmission/reception frequencies, a problem of an extremely large total amount of focus data for forming received ultrasonic beams for all the transmission/reception frequencies is encountered as is the case with an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus employing a plurality of ultrasonic probes. In addition, there are also raised a number of problems such as the necessity to calculate data required for interpolation to produce a small delay or to supply focus data for forming received ultrasonic beams stored in the ROM to a controller of a beam-forming circuit for receiving such data. As a result, there is also encountered a problem of a decreased diagnosing efficiency of a physician, a typical examiner utilizing the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

Ultrasonic imaging system adapted for use with ultrasonic probes having different center frequencies


A method and system of testing data retention of memory is provided. An embodiment of the method of testing data retention of memory comprises: writing first data to a first memory sub-group during a first time period; writing second data to a second memory sub-group during a second time period subsequent to said first time period; pausing for a predetermined time interval during a third time period subsequent to said second time period; reading a first one of said first and second data during a fourth time period subsequent to said third time period; reading a second one of said first and second data during a fifth time period subsequent to said fourth time period; and comparing said first and second ones of read data to expected results to determine data retention capabilities of said first and second memory sub-groups.

Advances in fabrication techniques and other areas of integrated circuit technology continue to decrease the size of on-chip memory. Consequently, designers are taking advantage of a rapid increase in the packing density of memory cells. Accordingly, as much as 10–20 Mbits of memory may presently be formed on a single chip and there is every reason to believe the amount of memory will continue to increase.
Although generally a positive development, the increased packing density of memory cells, and increasing memory capacity resulting therefrom, is accompanied by increased testing time and corresponding costs. For example, quality control standards often mandate that most if not all of the memory cells in a particular manufacturing lot or chip be tested. As such, the increased packing density generally increases the length and costs of the testing phase of manufacturing for each chip fabricated.
For example, an important part of quality control in the manufacture of on-chip memory is data retention testing, which determines the ability of memory cells to retain their data content over a relatively long period of time. The inability of memory cells to retain data may point to a manufacturing defect. Existing data retention testing techniques typically include writing data to a memory cell or group and subsequently reading the memory after a predetermined waiting period. The waiting period is generally much longer than memory access times for an effective test. For example, the waiting period typically ranges between about 500 ms and about 1 second, whereas read and write speeds can be performed at speeds ranging, for example, between about 20 and about 50 MHz. It follows that the increase in the number of memory cells on a chip can increase the time and corresponding costs required for data retention testing of all or a portion of the memory cells.
Accordingly, in an effort to keep the total test time to a minimum, existing data retention testing techniques typically include simultaneously writing to all of the memory cells on a chip, simultaneously holding all of the cells in one waiting period, and simultaneously reading data from all of the cells for comparison to expected values. By holding all of the memory cells on a chip in the waiting period simultaneously, only one waiting period is required for testing of each chip, thereby minimizing the total testing time. However, the simultaneous access of the large number of memory cells presents issues of power consumption management during testing, as described below.
One such power management issue regards peak power. That is, the simultaneous access of a large number of cells requires a significant demand on current and power during a short time period, which can damage chip components not necessarily designed for such increased current and power levels. Another power management issue regards average power. Generally, the average power consumption during existing memory testing techniques may be greater than desired, which can cause thermal degradation of various components and power supply voltage drop problems. Further, designing the chip to handle such peak and average power issues during testing may consume unnecessary resources on the chip since these issues may rarely, if ever, arise during normal operation.
One attempt at overcoming these power management issues has been to partition the memory being tested such that only portions of the memory cells on a chip are written to or read from at a time. In such an arrangement, data is written to a group of memory cells, the conventional waiting period is performed, data is read from the cells, and the process is repeated for each remaining group of cells. While such an approach may mitigate the power management issues discussed above, it requires the inclusion of a waiting period for each group of cells that are tested, thereby increasing the total test time required to effectively verify the data retention capabilities of all of the memory cells on a chip. As discussed above, it is desirable that this total test time be minimized to streamline fabrication and reduce costs.
Consequently, there is a need in the art to address these competing interests in effectively managing power consumption and minimizing total testing time and costs.

Method and system of testing data retention of memory


A dispensing measuring device. The device correlates the relative proximity between a Hall effect sensor and a magnet. One is held stationary, while the other is movable in response to ordinary actuation which occurs during dispensing. Detection of changes in the proximity are correlated to the amount of material dispensed.

Measurements of materials being dispensed is known in the art. For example, magnets and Hall effect sensors have been used to indicate qualitative dispensing. For example, medication compliance monitoring is shown in US 2003/0089733 A1, dispensing of a predetermined volume of liquid is shown in GB2087839 A, U.S. Pat. No. 4,934,566 shows portion monitoring based upon a slidable control stem, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,360,181 B1 shows toilet tissue usage data collection. Generally, these references rely upon the proximity of the Hall effect sensor and magnet to indicate a change in state or in component operating position. Such a change is then related to the amount of material dispensed.
However, none of these attempts deals with the problems which occur when the amount of material being dispensed changes as a function of time and usage of that dispenser. For example, a pressurized container, such as one containing propellant dispensed air freshener, will dispense less material as depletion of the propellant occurs, due to less pressurization of the material to be subsequently dispensed. Further, a long continuous burst of dispensing will release a different amount of product than several quick bursts having the same cumulative dispensing time.
Additionally, when using a pump-type dispenser, such as a squeeze trigger liquid fabric refresher, partial pulls of the trigger will typically result in only partial dispensing of the pump charge. This causes less material to be dispensed, dependent upon the trigger stroke.
However, accurate measurement of material to be dispensed requires the factors be considered. Furthermore, the measurement should occur in a matter not readily detectable to the user or which does not interfere with normal usage patterns.

Dispensing measurement device and method of measuring dispensing