The invention relates to motor vehicle door hinges with a braking and holding function, consisting of a first hinge half (1) which can be fixed to a door assembly part, door or door post, a second hinge half (2) which can be fixed to the other door assembly part and a hinge pin (3) which consists of a solid material and which connects the two hinge halves (1,2) in such a way that they pivot. The hinge pin (3) is connected to the gudgeon (5) of one hinge half (2) in such a way that it is rotationally fixed and is mounted in the gudgeon (4) of the other hinge half (1) with a running fit. The curvature (7) of the cross-section of said hinge pin also deviates from that of a perfect circle at least over a section (6) of the longitudinal part of the hinge pin which is associated with the particular gudgeon (4), this corresponding with a complementary configuration of the gudgeon bore of the gudgeon of the hinge half in which the hinge pin is mounted with its running fit. In order to ensure that the braking and holding force remains constant with a constant door-opening angle over the entire lifetime of the hinge, the gudgeon bore of the gudgeon (4) in which the hinge pin is mounted with a running fit is sealed steam-tight at both ends, as far as the hinge pin.

Motor-vehicle hinge having a braking and holding function, consisting of a first hinge half which can be fixed to a door assembly part, door or door strut, and of a second hinge half which can be fixed to the other door assembly part, and also of a hinge pin which is made of solid material, connects the two hinge halves pivotably to each other, is connected to the gudgeon of the one hinge half in a rotationally secure manner and is mounted in the gudgeon of the other hinge half with a running fit, the hinge pin, in conjunction with a complementary design of the hole of the gudgeon of that hinge half in whose gudgeon it is mounted with a running fit, having, at least over part of its longitudinal region which is assigned to this gudgeon, a rounded profile of its cross section which deviates from-the. pure circular shape.
Motor-vehicle door hinges fitted in this manner are particularly distinguished in that they make it possible to produce the holding and securing functions, which have hitherto and conventionally been produced by door stops formed by special components, for braking and securing a vehicle door in the partially open range, i.e. conventionally in an opening angle range with opening angles of between 20 and 70xc2x0. The holding and securing function, which, depending on the door equipment and therefore door weight, requires a force of 50 N and also more, is derived from the fact that the hinge pin, in conjunction with a complementary design of the gudgeon hole of the gudgeon of that hinge half in whose gudgeon it is mounted with a running fit, has a rounded profile of its cross section which deviates from the pure circular shape in such a manner that when there is a mutual pivoting of the two hinge halves, the rounded deviations in the hinge pin diameter and optionally in the gudgeon hole run onto one another and force an elastic deformation at least one of the two partsxe2x80x94the gudgeon or hinge pin, preferably of part of the wall thickness of the gudgeon. In this case, the deformation force is used as a braking and holding force for securing the motor-vehicle door in a selected partially open position determined by the geometrical position of the rounded deviations of at least the hinge pin. For motor-vehicle doors it is very important, for different reasons, for example in order to avoid the door hitting against a garage wall, that the holding points in predetermined partially open positions of the door are observed exactly. Deviating from pure theory, the forces whose sum total produces the braking and holding force, for braking and securing the door in a certain partially open position, partly result merely from the deformation work during the elastic deformation of the material, but partly also from frictional forces which arise during the relative movement of the surfaces which interact together and are dependent to a substantial part on the composition of these surfaces. In order that a selected holding point of the door is always reliably kept to, it must therefore also be ensured that the requirements for producing the forces used for this purpose do not change, or in any case do not substantially change, over the working life of the hinge.
Motor-vehicle door hinges are not only mass-produced articles and as such can be produced cheaply or at least at good value, but they are also exposed, on the one hand, to very high temperature fluctuations, corresponding to the vehicle operating conditions, and, on the other hand, as part of the bodywork are also to an increased extent exposed to environmental influences. Temperature changes in the order of magnitude of several umpteen degrees can result in gap-width changes, even though these are reversible, which may, inter alia, have the consequence of foreign bodies penetrating into the hinge bearing arrangement. Whereas the penetration of granular foreign bodies, and to a certain extent also dust and relatively coarse dirt, into the bearing arrangement of the hinge pin is generally largely avoided by the means which are in any case customarily present on a hinge, such as stepped hinge-pin sections or shims and the like, in the known types of hinges there is no obstacle to the penetration of contaminants, as are present microscopically finely distributed in air, into the bearing arrangement of the hinge pin. The presence of such contaminants in the hinge bearing arrangement has hitherto also not been assigned particular importance although it was definitely known that such contaminants in conjunction with condensation water or steam which has penetrated form aggressive waters which can attack metallic surfaces.
The presence of aggressive waters or the like in the hinge bearing arrangement has serious significance if in connection with the production of braking and holding forces by elastic deformation of material in such a manner that during operation of the hinge surfaces of the hinge pin and gudgeon which interact in a sliding manner force a deformation of material in the elastic range.
In the case of motor-vehicle door hinges of this type, those surface regions of the hinge pin and gudgeon hole which interact with one another in order to produce a deformation of material, which can be used as a holding force, are designed such that they gradually slope up to a vertex in such a manner that the deformation of material, and therefore the holding force, increases with increasing opening or closing of the door until, at a holding point predetermined by the vertex of the upward slope of the interacting surface regions of the hinge pin and gudgeon hole, or at a predetermined partially open position, the maximum deformation of material, and therefore the maximum holding force, is achieved and the door is securely fixed in this position. The point to be started from here is that the retarding force for each door, which force is required in order to stop and secure the door, has a magnitude which can be determined from the outset and the braking and holding means have to be configured in such a manner that this retarding force is achieved at a certain door opening angle, constantly over the entire working life of the hinge. The retarding force required for stopping and securing the door is, in the case of hinges of the type under discussion here, of course applied partly, even if to a relatively small extent, by means of frictional forces between the interacting surfaces, the magnitude of the frictional forces which occur being very substantially dependent on the composition of the directly interacting surfaces. In particular, the frictional forces resulting from the interaction of the surfaces become greater as the surfaces become rougher. An impairment occurring over the course of time, in particular an impairment of the surface composition of the interacting surfaces, which impairment can be attributed to roughening due to the action of aggressive waters, necessarily results in a considerable increase in the frictional forces, the magnitude of which increase cannot be foreseen for an individual case, which results then in a premature reaching of the retarding force required for securing the door, with the result that the door already comes to a standstill before its predetermined holding position is reached and can only be fully opened or closed if an increased amount of force is exerted thereon. This uncertainty, which could not hitherto be overcome, with regard to predetermined holding points of the door always being precisely kept to, constitutes an obstacle to the practical use of hinges of the type described at the beginning.
The present invention is therefore based on the object of further improving a motor-vehicle hinge of the type described at the beginning in such a manner that the application of a constant braking and holding force in the case of an invariably constant door opening angle is ensured over the working life of the hinge.
According to the present invention, this object is achieved by the hole of that gudgeon in which the hinge pin is mounted with a running fit being sealed with respect to the hinge pin at both ends in a steam-tight manner. A steam-tight sealing of the gudgeon hole with respect to the hinge pin produces a certain assurance to the effect that even contaminants which are very finely distributed particularly in the air are unable to pass into the hinge bearing arrangement and in particular are unable to pass into the region of those surface regions of the hinge pin and gudgeon hole which are designed such that they gradually slope up and interact in order to produce a deformation of material which can be used as the holding force, with the result that the formation of aggressive waters or similar media which adversely affect or change the composition of the interacting surfaces is ruled out. In addition, a steam-tight sealing also has the advantage that even under the action of relatively high temperatures evaporation of corrosion-retarding media or lubricants present within the hinge bearing arrangement is avoided. Finally, a steam-tight sealing also opens up the possibility of accommodating a depot of corrosion-retarding media, even easily volatile media, within the hinge bearing arrangement.
With regard to the structural design of the steam-tight sealing of the hinge bearing arrangement, four different types are provided in principle, namely first of all a sealing of the gudgeon hole with respect to the hinge pin by soft-material seals which are under radial prestress. However, a design form which can be realized equally favorably can also provide a sealing of the gudgeon hole with respect to the hinge pin by sealing elements which are under axial stress. Moreover, for many cases of use, a contact-free sealing, in particular in the form of a labyrinth seal, may also be recommended. Finally, another design form for effective sealing of the gudgeon hole with respect to the hinge pin comprises providing a covering which fits over at least the head rollers of that hinge half in which the hinge pin is mounted with a running fit.
However, for practical use it is frequently expedient to realize the steam-tight sealing of the gudgeon hole with respect to the hinge pin by using two of the above-described design principles to the effect that sealing means which differ in design are used from the one to the other end of the gudgeon hole.
In a preferred form of implementation, provision may be made for the steam-tight sealing to be formed at least on one side by a deformation of the hinge pin and/or gudgeon wall, which deformation is directed radially with respect to the hinge axis. A radial deformation expediently of the hinge pin can be provided particularly at that end of the gudgeon hole which is assigned to the free end of the hinge pin, it being possible, given a suitable design, for the radial deformation at the same time also to form a rivet for the hinge pin.
In a first advantageous development of this form of implementation, provision can further be made for the steam-tight sealing to be formed by run-on washers braced axially against the end sides of the hinge part, in conjunction with a deformation of the free end of the hinge pin, which deformation is directed radially to the hinge axis.
In a further advantageous development of this form of implementation, provision can furthermore be made for the steam-tight sealing to be formed by run-on washers braced axially against the end sides of the gudgeon or of the hinge part, clamping the radial collar of bearing bushings designed as collar-type bushings, expediently in conjunction with a deformation of the free end of the hinge pin, which deformation is directed radially with respect to the hinge axis. Instead of a radial deformation of the hinge pin, an axial screw connection, for example, by means of a nut placed onto the free end of the hinge pin, which end is designed as a threaded stem, can, of course, also be provided in order to produce the required bearing pressure for axial sealing means, such as run-on washers or the collars of collar-type bushings.
In conjunction with at least one corresponding, radial projection of the hinge pin or in conjunction with the use of run-on washers braced against the end sides of the hinge part, provision can also be made in a modified design form for the steam-tight sealing to be formed by soft-material seals which bear under prestress against the end sides of the gudgeon or of the hinge part in which the hinge pin has a running fit.
In a second advantageous form of implementation, provision is made for the steam-tight sealing to be formed by contact-free sealing means, the contact-free sealing means for the steam-tight sealing preferably being formed by labyrinth seals.
In a practical design form of this form of implementation advantageous in particular for demountable hinges, provision is made for the labyrinth seals to be formed at one end by a cap which is placed onto the free end of the hinge pin and has a collar coaxial to the hinge pin, and at the other end by a collar which is fitted to a radial projection of the hinge pin and is coaxial to the hinge pin and in each case an axial annular groove, which is assigned to the particular collar, in the end surfaces of the gudgeon or of the hinge part of that hinge half in which the hinge pin has a running fit.
In addition, in an advantageous form of implementation comparable to the use of contact-free sealing means, and suitable for arrangement on that side of the hinge part which is assigned to the free end of the hinge pin, provision can also be made for the steam-tight sealing to be formed on one side by a cap which fits over the free end surface of that hinge part in which the hinge pin is mounted with a running fit, and bears in a sealing manner against the side surfaces of the hinge half.
Finally, according to a particular form of implementation, provision can also be made for the steam-tight sealing to be formed by a closed bellows which fits around the hinge parts of both hinge halves and in each case bears in a sealing manner against the hinge leaves.

Motor vehicle hinge with a braking and holding function


The ground anchored post is made exclusively from the steel-belted treads and metallic wire rings of reclaimed, used, pneumatic tires. Each used tire is cut with a shearing tool to remove therefrom the rubber side walls thereof. A selected number of treads are then compressed flatly against one another, while a plurality of wire rings engage by their hollow the compressed pack of treads. The total number of treads selected is a function of the thickness of each tread and of the diameter of the tires, whereby the number of treads is high enough to provide taut, friction-fit engagement of the wire rings around the pack of treads. The taut engagement of wire rings around the pack of treads positively prevents the treads from engaging in sliding displacement relative to one another.

It is now a required safety measure to provide guard rail bumper guards in pronounced curbs along motor vehicle highways, to prevent these vehicles from falling into ditches. Some of these road guards have desirably been made from spring-back, elastic components that will provide some measure of yield under the vehicle load, while "rebounding" the vehicle on the road thereafter. A number of patents have issued in this particular field, for example U.S. Pat. No. 4,030,706 dated Jun. 21, 1977 in the name of James S. WARD. In this patent, a pair of automobile tires are arranged concentrically one within the other is with their central mouth engaged therethrough by a rail bumper guard, transversely to its longitudinal axis. Such arrangement is of course crude (as seen in FIG. 1 of the Ward patent), and is of overall low impact absorbing capability.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,186,913 issued Feb. 5, 1980 to A. Bruner et al , the road guard includes a plurality of uprightly disposed, used, pneumatic tires 8, supported by and embedded into a reinforced resilient base. This traffic divider is used both as a resilient bumper as well as a road divider or safety rail. Hence, when the barrier is used as a safety divider alongside a road, a vehicle striking this barrier would be diverted with minimum damage back on the roadway.
A tire is a pneumatic structure, of generally toroidal shape, for encircling the wheels of a road-going vehicle. A tire conventionally includes a radially outward, road surface engaging tread, a pair of opposite, radially inward, wheel rim engaging, annular wires, and a pair of side walls integrally joining the tread (via a pair of opposite annular beads) to the pair of wires. The discrete external covering of synthetic rubber (the tread) is reinforced with a steel belt and fabric ply, laminated against the interior face of the tread. The tire further defines a radially inward, annular mouth, forming the gap separating the two wires, for through passage of the inflatable, cushioning inner tube. The wires and steel belt are embedded into the synthetic rubber of the tire.
Most current passenger car tires have an overall diameter ranging from about 60 to 75 centimeters (cm), such tires constituting the overwhelming bulk of the used tire market. This in turn means that the developed length of any given tire tread would then range approximately from 190 to 235 cm (3.141592.times.60 to 75).
It is understood that a so-called "used" tire is a tire whose tread thickness has been substantially reduced by road-borne frictional forces, up to a point where efficient road surface contact by the tire is compromised in such a way that hazardous road-going conditions appear. That is to say, the remaining tire components usually retain substantially all their original performance features, including the steel belt and the metallic wires.
Such use of used tires as impact absorbers on road guards is all the more desirable, in that current methods of tire recycling are not cost-effective. Indeed, the tire recycling end product, usually rubber powder, cannot be sold at a competitive price, because the cost in manpower and particularly in energy requirements to transform the tire into powder--including separation of the steel wires and steel belt from the rubber material proper--exceeds the market price for such rubber powder. Government subsidies are therefore a prerequisite for such business endeavours.
Currently, the used tire reclaiming process operates in three main steps, each representing about a third of the reclaiming costs to the recycling plant operator:
(a) slashing the tire into shreds; PA1 (b) setting apart the steel from the rubber; PA1 (c) transforming the rubber shreds into a granular compound, by grinding same into a fine powder.

Resilient road-guard post, and method of manufacture thereof


Embodiments can provide a computer implemented method in a computing system including a processor and a memory comprising instructions, which are executed by the processor to cause the processor to implement a system for virtual reality user authentication, the method including responsive to a user request, generating, by a virtual reality system, a virtual reality authentication program splash screen based on at least one of a user profile and one or more real-life activities of the user; activating, by the virtual reality system, a virtual reality authentication module; prompting, through the virtual reality system, the user to perform one or more real-life tasks specific to the user involving motions using the virtual reality system; recording, through the virtual reality system, the motions using one or more sensors; and storing, using an authentication server, the motions of the at least one of the user as authentication requirements for accessing a virtual reality program.

Virtual reality (VR) is one of the most widely discussed concepts in technology circles. Virtual reality headsets have the potential to make significant changes in the way consumer experiences work. Currently, the authentication system using various techniques to authenticate a user (most commonly, simple authentication using a user id and password, sometimes using multi-factor authentication to verify the identity of user), are quite old techniques and very monotonous, with no customization possible based on user personal profiles and/or interests.

Authentication of user identity using a virtual reality device

International Business Machines Corporation


A user interface may be presented to a creator to facilitate the creation of narrative content. The user interface may be part of a system configured to generate recommendations pertaining to narrative content. The narrative content is meant to be experienced by users, e.g., in a virtual space. Feedback and/or other responses from the creator may be used to train and/or modify the generation of new recommendations. Feedback and/or other responses from the users may be used to train and/or modify the generation of new recommendations.

Providing interactive narrative content in a virtual space presents complex challenges. In particular, for "open world"-type virtual spaces, a large volume of narrative material is needed to support rich and meaningful user interaction. Fully manual processes are prohibitively time-consuming, labor-intensive, and expensive. Authoring complexity may scale dramatically with many interacting characters and longer narratives.

Systems and methods for a procedural system for emergent narrative construction


An optical voltage reference for providing an alternative to a battery source. The optical reference apparatus provides a temperature stable, high precision, isolated voltage reference through the use of optical isolation techniques to eliminate current and impedance coupling errors. Pulse rate frequency modulation is employed to eliminate errors in the optical transmission link while phase-lock feedback is employed to stabilize the frequency to voltage transfer function.

Battery based voltage references are commonly used in instrumentation that requires a floating reference or offset voltage. Some instruments rely on a battery reference to establish a basis for absolute measurement accuracy. The voltage reference must have high ohmic and impedance isolation from the instrument ground to avoid errors or circuit damage that can occur from ground loops and loading effects.
Alternatives to batteries have been investigated. Solid state voltage sources are available but it is questionable if they can meet the isolation and stability specifications provided by batteries, specifically mercury cells. Solid state isolation methods are typically based on transformer or capacitor coupled technology. Although these methods provide suitable ohmic isolation, they introduce errors from leakage currents and from capacitive impedance coupling. These limitations often cause the designer to rely on battery reference techniques.
Since batteries have a limited service life, it is recognized that they are not the optimal solution. With batteries, high stability is maintained until cutoff is reached; at which point, the voltage output gradually decays. If the battery is not quickly replaced, offset errors are introduced. This can pose a problem since batteries are often embedded in the instrumentation and are inconvenient to monitor and replace. The disposal of used batteries presents an additional problem due to increased costs associated with disposal and potential environmental impacts. Mercury batteries, which are often used because of their high stability, are considered hazardous waste.
Advances in technology have made it possible to design solid-state voltage reference systems suitable to replace batteries. By using optical isolation techniques, it is possible to reduce errors from leakage currents and impedance coupling. Pulse rate frequency modulation is used to eliminate nonlinearities in the optical transmission link which occur from normal age-related intensity changes in the light source. The use of phase-locked loop feedback in the demodulation stage provides a highly stable frequency to voltage transfer function.
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an alternative to batteries which can deliver the isolation and stability inherent in batteries.
A further object of this invention is to provide a system which employs optical isolation techniques to reduce errors due to current leakages and impedance coupling.
A further object of this invention is to provide for a modulating technique to eliminate nonlinearities in the optical transmission.
Additional objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy


An example harvester that may include a weed seed devitalizer and a controller that automatically adapts or adjusts the weed seed devitalizer. The controller is to receive data from at least one sensor indicating forthcoming weed seeds and to output control signals controlling the weed seed devitalizer based on the data.

Weeds reduce crop yield by competing for water, sunlight and nutrients. Attempts to control weeds include the application of chemicals or tillage. Both attempts may be expensive and harmful. During harvesting, weeds and weed seed are separated from the grain being harvested. The weed seed is often discharged behind the harvester where it may promulgate the next growing season. Some harvesters are equipped with weed seed devitalizers that impair the ability of the discharged weed seed to promulgate.
Throughout the drawings, identical reference numbers designate similar, but not necessarily identical, elements. The figures are not necessarily to scale, and the size of some parts may be exaggerated to more clearly illustrate the example shown. Moreover, the drawings provide examples and/or implementations consistent with the description; however, the description is not limited to the examples and/or implementations provided in the drawings.


A hydraulic braking system including first and second braking circuits. The first and second braking circuits each include a wheel brake, a pressurized fluid source, and a hydraulic conduit connecting the wheel brake to the fluid source. Each of the hydraulic conduits includes a control valve that operates to selectively prevent fluid flow from the pressurized fluid source to the wheel brake. A connecting conduit connects the first and second braking circuits. A floating piston is disposed within the connecting conduit and is adapted to be displaced by the pressurized fluid provided by the pressurized fluid source in the first braking circuit when the control valve of the first braking circuit is closed. The displacement of the piston generates an additional volume of pressurized fluid in the hydraulic conduit of the second braking circuit that effectively augments the pressurized fluid provided by the second pressurized fluid source.

The ability to independently control the braking force at each of the vehicle's wheels enables operation of a vehicle brake system in various special modes of operation. One of these special modes of operation is traction control. During vehicle acceleration, a vehicle wheel may lose traction, and begin to spin. In the traction control mode of braking, the brake system is electronically actuated, without the driver stepping on the vehicle brake pedal, to individually brake the spinning wheel. When the wheel has slowed sufficiently to regain traction, the brake is released.
Another of these special modes of operation is vehicle stability control. Vehicle stability control systems use sensor inputs to calculate the driver's desired path and the vehicle's actual path. If there is a difference between the desired and actual paths, the brake system can be operated to correct vehicle direction by automatically applying/releasing individual wheel brakes.
In a typical braking system having an integrated traction control system and vehicle stability control capabilities, several braking circuits are provided to control the individual wheel brakes of the vehicle. Generally, two braking circuits are provided, with each circuit controlling the operation of two wheel brakes of the vehicle. While the configuration of the individual circuits may vary, each braking circuit typically includes isolation and supply solenoid valves that are used to either restrict or facilitate fluid flow from a shared master cylinder through an individual brake solenoid valve to apply fluid pressure to actuate each individual wheel brake within the braking circuit. A dump solenoid valve is generally also provided in conjunction with each individual brake solenoid valve to release the pressurized fluid from the individual wheel brakes and to allow the pressurized fluid to flow to an accumulator. A pressurized fluid source, such as a pump or high pressure accumulator, is generally located in each braking circuit to pump the fluid back through the system. Therefore, multiple pressurized fluid sources are used within the braking system, as a pressurized fluid source is provided within each individual braking circuit to control the fluid flow therein. The individual braking circuits may also include other fluid flow devices, such as attenuators, check valves, and/or restricted orifices, depending upon the system design.
It is known from the prior art to cross-connect the individual braking circuits to allow certain individual components present in each of the braking circuits to work in conjunction with the companion component in the other braking system. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,567,022 to Linkner, Jr. discloses an anti-lock braking system that cross connects the individual braking circuits using an elastomeric element to attenuate the pressure pulse energy dissipation provided by each of the attenuators in the individual braking circuits. The cross-connection of the braking circuits via the elastomeric element allows the attenuator action from one individual braking circuit to complement the attenuator action of the other individual braking circuit, which doubles the attenuator effectiveness and reduces noise within the anti-lock braking system. It is also known from the prior art to provide connection devices within a braking system to maintain fluid pressure balances within the braking system. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,890,364 to Linkner, Jr. et al. discloses a compensation piston arrangement that balances the fluid pressure in a dual chamber master cylinder that is divided such that each of the individual fluid chambers within the master cylinder provides fluid to an individual braking circuit within a vehicle braking system. The compensation piston operates to maintain generally equal fluid pressures within the master cylinder fluid chambers to compensate for minor normal differences between brake circuit fluid displacement.
Where each of the braking circuits are connected to a single chambered master cylinder, fluid is provided to each of the individual braking circuits from the master cylinder whenever operation of any of the individual wheel brakes in either braking circuit is required. This causes fluid to flow through each of the braking circuits, which in turn causes the pressurized fluid source in each of the braking circuits to operate to supply fluid pressure within the circuit. During certain braking operations, such as traction control or vehicle stability control operations, the control mechanisms of each braking circuit, i.e. the supply and isolation valves, allow fluid to flow to only one of the individual wheel brakes, which results generally in the utilization of only one of the individual braking circuits. Therefore, the output of the pressurized fluid source in the non-utilized braking circuit is not used, meaning the output of the pressurized fluid source does not supply fluid pressure to the wheel brakes within the braking circuit, and the pressurized fluid source operates only to supply fluid back to the master cylinder fluid reservoir.

Floating piston for augmenting pressurized fluid flow during vehicle braking operations


A perfusion container for directly administering to patients a dose of an antineoplastic drug calculated according to a patient's parameter, wherein the first perfusion container comprises a solution of antineoplastic drug at a concentration and volume such that the amount of antineoplastic drug in the container is equal to the calculated dose for one patient but less than the calculated dose for a second patient, the calculated dose is provided to first patient within 5% variance by directly administering the full volume of the solution of antineoplastic drug from the first perfusion container, further the first perfusion container is accompanied by a second top-up perfusion container comprising a solution of antineoplastic drug at a concentration and volume such that the calculated dose is provided within 5% variance by directly administering the full volume of the solution of antineoplastic drug from the first perfusion container and the second top-up container to the second patient.

There are certain drawbacks associated with most of the commercially available parenteral dosage forms of antineoplastic drugs. For instance, the commercially available parenteral dosage forms are available as vial products having either lyophilized powder of drug or concentrated solutions which cannot be directly administered to a patient; rather they require manipulation.
Particularly, in case of lyophilized compositions, in addition to the requirement of reconstitution of the freeze dried powder, its manufacturing process is itself very complicated and expensive. Further, when the composition is in the form of a concentrated solution, there is an additional step of dilution prior to administration. These difficulties only multiply, when the dose of the drug is to be delivered in terms of the patient parameter, such as body surface area, renal clearance, in which cases the dose needs to be accurately calculated and dilution and/or reconstitutions need to be done taking care of the precision aspect of the dose of the drug. While attempting to deliver the accurate dose of the drug, surplus volume of reconstituted or diluted solution may be required or withdrawal of the volume may be required. These additional steps may provide a threat or risk of contamination or loss of sterility etc. or exposure of the cytotoxic drug to the involved personnel (workers, pharmacists, medical personnel, nurses). Since the patient parameter can vary over a very wide range, it becomes practically very difficult to cater to the precise dose of the drug.
Thus, given many potential hazards and errors associated with the use of the prior known products, there is therefore a need to provide a perfusion system for enabling hospitals or clinics to directly administer to patients in need thereof, a dose of an antineoplastic drug calculated according to a patient parameter, wherein the parameter varies over a range in the patient population. The present invention fulfills this need. The present invention provides a perfusion system comprising plurality of perfusion containers in different sets, each filled with an aqueous, ready-to-infuse perfusion solution of the antineoplastic drug and which enables hospitals or clinics to administer a dose of an antineoplastic drug calculated according to at least one patient parameter, to patients in need thereof, while avoiding any of the steps of manipulation, dilution, reconstitution, dispensing, sterilization, transfer, handling or compounding before intravenous administration.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


Shaping of a gimbal suspension element for a disk drive suspension using fewer process steps includes disposing an element, precursor assembly of a plastic film layer and a copper layer with an interlayer of a copper seed layer and a Monel alloy for etching, and etching the assembly with an etchant such as cupric chloride for both the alloy and the copper seed layer of the interlayer.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to disk drive suspensions, and more particularly to the manufacture of multilayer gimbal suspension elements for suspensions using fewer process steps through simultaneous etching of multiple layers heretofore etched separately.
2. Description of the Related Art
Some disk drive suspension wireless gimbal suspension elements convey electrical signals between the recording head and the associated external circuitry, and also provide a mechanical flexure function. There are two main configurations of these gimbal suspension elements. Both configurations are multilayer and typically comprise a stainless steel-polyimide-copper laminate. In one type, an initial laminate is progressively reduced to the gimbal suspension element, commonly referred to as the "subtractive" type, e.g. TSA and ILS. In the second type, generally referred to as the additive type, e.g. CIS, the laminate is built up using as the base a stainless steel foil and adding polyimide, and the adding to the polyimide metal conductive layers through sputtering or plating techniques.
The present processes for fabrication of these gimbal suspension elements involve process steps which expose the constituent materials to harsh chemicals and severe environments. The highly acidic or basic solutions used can degrade the bond interfaces between the assembled dissimilar materials. Highly accelerated stress tests have been developed to accelerate the impact of these environmental exposures upon the suspension components. The pressure cooker test subjects to 121° C., 2 Atm. pressure, and 100% relative humidity (RH) for 168 hours. Use adhesion promoting layers has been shown to perform effectively in these tests.
Etching of these adhesion promoting layers in processing must be carried out as a separate step since their solubility is different from the other laminate layers, such as the copper seed layer usually used. An etching of chromium adhesion layers can result in the presence of hexavalent chromium in the effluent, an environmentally hazardous and unacceptable course.

Multilayer gimbal suspension element manufacture with co-etchable layers


An extension is provided on an end of an article having internal passageways and having a directionally oriented microstructure by using the article end as a growth seed in a molten material compatible with material from which the article end is made. The extension is directionally solidified as integral with and as an extension of the article end and with a microstructure compatible with that of the article end.

This invention relates to growing an extension an end of an article having internal passageways and having a directionally oriented microstructure, and, more particularly, to such a method in which the end is used as a growth seed for the extension and article extended thereby.
The reported technology for growing directionally oriented structures from a molten bath of a selected material has evolved from simple shapes and members to complex shaped articles. A portion of such technology includes the generation in a complex shaped mold of directionally solidified alloy articles for use in the hot sections of gas turbine engines. The published literature well known to those skilled in such art has many examples of articles such as turbine blades and vanes provided in such a manner.
When an article, for example a turbomachinery or gas turbine engine blading member, is operated in an environment of airborne particles and particularly in the strenuous high temperature oxidizing and/or corrosive conditions experienced in the turbine section of a gas turbine engine, oxidation, hot corrosion, erosion, wear, low-cycle fatigue cracking and other damage can occur to such an article. Because the manufacture of such article is expensive, it is desirable economically to repair rather than to replace the article.
An example of a complex shaped blading member of the type referred to above is the turbomachinery blade described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,010,531--Andersen et al., patented Mar. 8, 1977 and assigned to the assignee of this invention. Such a blade includes a complex hollow interior communicating with an open tip for cooling purposes. The disclosure of such patent is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
Through the use of the above referred to reported technology, an article such as a blading member can be manufactured as a single crystal or with a directionally solidified microstructure of elongated grains. The combination of casting mold technology and casting procedures enables such manufacture. As is well known in the art of blading members, the characteristic crystal orientation in nickel-base superalloys frequently used for blading members is that the <001> crystallographic direction lies substantially parallel to the growth direction; designers of such blading members can utilize that characteristic crystal orientation to minimize the elastic modulus, and therefore reduce the likelihood of mechanical failure due to a mechanism such as thermal fatigue, along a specified direction relative to the configuration of an article such as a blading member.
When such a complex shaped article having a directionally oriented microstructure is damaged, either in operation or in a portion of its manufacturing procedure, the problem of its repair becomes more complicated and difficult. This problem of repair becomes particularly acute when a directionally oriented structure is intended to be maintained in the repaired portion, as is typically desired in directionally oriented articles such as airfoils, for example, blading members.

Method for providing an extension on an end of an article having internal passageways


Apparatus and method for abatement of effluent from multi-component metal oxides deposited by CVD processes using metal source reagent liquid solutions which comprise at least one metal coordination complex including a metal to which is coordinatively bound at least one ligand in a stable complex and a suitable solvent medium for that metal coordination complex e.g., a metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) process for forming barium strontium titanate (BST) thin films on substrates. The effluent is sorptively treated to remove precursor species and MOCVD process by-products from the effluent. An endpoint detector such as a quartz microbalance detector may be employed to detect incipient breakthrough conditions in the sorptive treatment unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for abatement of effluent from any CVD process using a metal source reagent liquid solution comprising at least one metal coordination complex including a metal to which is coordinatively bound at least one ligand in a stable complex and a solvent for that metal coordination complex e.g., abatement of effluent from a multi-component metal oxide chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process used for forming barium strontium titanate (BST) thin films on substrates.
2. Description of the Related Art
BST is an important material in the semiconductor manufacturing industry for fabrication of thin film dielectric microelectronic devices. Such fabrication typically is carried out by chemical vapor deposition (CVD), in which precursors (source reagents) for the respective barium, strontium and titanium components of the product film are volatilized for use in the deposition process.
The source reagents for the BST film formation process may be provided to the CVD reactor by a liquid delivery process, in which the metalorganic precursors for the barium, strontium and titanium components are dissolved in a suitable solvent medium such as n-butyl acetate or tetrahydrofuran. The liquid solution containing precursors and corresponding solvent (separate solutions of different precursors can also be used) is pumped into a vaporizer comprising a hot zone maintained at low pressure. In the vaporizer, the liquid solution is vaporized at high rate (xe2x80x9cflash vaporizedxe2x80x9d) under controlled temperature, pressure, and flow conditions. The vaporizer is advantageously flushed with solvent immediately before and after deposition to prevent accumulation of solid species that could cause clogging in the process equipment and associated piping, valves and fittings.
In the vaporizer, or downstream therefrom, the precursor vapor is combined with a carrier gas (e.g., argon or nitrogen) and an oxidizer (e.g., oxygen or nitrous oxide). The combined precursor vapor mixture then is flowed to the CVD deposition chamber.
The CVD deposition chamber is typically operated at low pressure, e.g., on the order of 100 millitorr, by deployment of a dry pump or wet pump on the discharge of the system. In such chamber, the precursors are decomposed on the heated substrate by a thermal reaction of the combined gases, organic vapors, and metalorganic precursors, resulting in the deposition of a thin perovskite film of BST material on the wafer substrate. After chemical deposition, the wafer coated with the BST film is transferred to a separate chamber for annealing.
The effluent from the CVD deposition chamber in the CVD BST process comprises organic species, metals, unreacted precursor, precursor decomposition species and other thermal reaction products deriving from the CVD operation.
Currently, there is no effective abatement scheme commercially available for the effluent of such CVD BST process.
The foregoing issues are not unique to the CVD BST process. They also apply to other multi-component metal oxides deposited by CVD processes using metal source reagent liquid solutions which comprise at least one metal coordination complex including a metal to which is coordinatively bound at least one ligand in a stable complex and a suitable solvent medium for that metal coordination complex. These include the multi-component metal oxide CVD processes using ligand exchange resistant metal-organic precursor solutions described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,820,664 issued Oct. 13, 1998 to Gardiner et al. and assigned to Advanced Technology Materials, Inc., Danbury, Conn.
The present invention relates to abatement of effluent produced by multi-component metal oxides deposited by CVD processes using metal source reagent liquid solutions which comprise at least one metal coordination complex including a metal to which is coordinatively bound at least one ligand in a stable complex and a suitable solvent medium for that metal coordination complex e.g., CVD of BST.
In one aspect, the invention relates to a method for abatement of effluent from a CVD process for depositing a multi-component metal oxide film on a substrate, in which the effluent is flowed through a sorbent bed having sorptive affinity for contaminant species (precursor species and CVD process by-products) in the effluent.
In a specific embodiment, effluent from the CVD process is flowed in sequence through a metals trap, a motive fluid driver, and a sorbent bed having sorptive affinity for contaminant species in the effluent.
The method may further comprise monitoring the effluent discharged from the sorbent bed, to detect breakthrough of a selected contaminant component.
The invention relates in another aspect to an apparatus for abatement of effluent from a CVD process for depositing multi-component metal oxide on a substrate from a precursor composition, wherein the apparatus comprises a sorbent bed having sorptive affinity for contaminants in the effluent. Such sorbent bed may be part of an effluent flow circuit including a metals trap, a motive fluid driver, and a sorbent bed having sorptive affinity for contaminants in the effluent, optionally equipped with an endpoint detector for detecting the endpoint of sorption of the sorbent bed.
The apparatus described above may further include a semiconductor manufacturing facility whose operation comprises the CVD process.
Other aspects, features and embodiments of the invention will be more fully apparent from the ensuing disclosure and appended claims.

Abatement of effluent from chemical vapor deposition processes using ligand exchange resistant metal-organic precursor solutions


An apparatus for investigating a subsurface volume may include an acoustic transducer disposed in an enclosure and generating acoustical signals, an electronics assembly disposed in the enclosure and controlling the acoustic transducer, and a lens assembly. The lens assembly may be disposed in the enclosure and next to the acoustic transducer. The lens assembly may be formed of a plurality of cells. Each cell may be formed as a column oriented transverse to a direction of travel of the acoustical signals. Each cell may have a hub, a plurality of spokes radiating from the hub, and a plurality of fingers circumferentially distributed around the hub. The hub, spokes, and fingers may be oriented to cause the acoustic waves to travel at a different speed in each of three orthogonal directions. A related method uses the apparatus in a wellbore.

Downhole acoustic logging tools, which are used to investigate subsurface features, can include one or more acoustic transmitters or sources and a number of acoustic receivers. These tools may also include a transceiver that can function as a transmitter and a receiver. In either case, the transmitters emit acoustic energy into the subsurface environment surrounding the wellbore. The acoustic signals are reflected by interfaces associated with the wellbore, well structures, and/or the formation. The reflected acoustic signals are detected by the receivers in the logging tool and processed to provide estimates of one or more properties of the wellbore, well structures, and/or the formation. The present disclosure provides acoustic sensors that utilize a metamaterial lens to manipulate such acoustic waves.

Acoustic hyperlens for thru-casing ultrasonic sensor


A method and apparatus for controlling RF plasma attributes is disclosed. Some embodiments of the disclosure provide RF sensors within processing chambers operable at high temperatures. Some embodiments provide methods of measuring RF plasma attributes using RF sensors within a processing chamber to provide feedback control for an RF generator.

In semiconductor manufacturing, direct information during substrate processing can be vital to the performance of certain processes. Unfortunately, most vendor supplied systems include RF sensors outside of the chamber. Further, these sensors may or may not be properly calibrated against known reactive loads or the phase between the voltage and current may not be characterized correctly. Accordingly, there is a lack of direct RF voltage, current, and phase information during deposition process. Similarly, there is lack of ability to control these factors.
Further, there are no two sets of sensors that are placed upstream and downstream of the wafer where they are cross triggered so that the propagation delay between the two can be used to derive wafer coupled power.
Accordingly, there is a need for methods and apparatus to provide direct information regarding RF voltage, current, and phase. Similarly, there is a need for methods and apparatus to control RF voltage, current, and phase during processing.

Methods and apparatus for controlling RF parameters at multiple frequencies


A mechanical bearing having an outer ring and an inner ring, centered on a same bearing axis, the outer ring being arranged radially around the inner ring, and a cage, arranged coaxially between the inner ring and the outer ring and housing cylindrical rollers, with this cage being formed by several disjointed tubular portion which, in the assembled state of the bearing, are separated from each other by a non-zero gap. The cage is formed by at least three disjointed tubular portions that do not cooperate mechanically with each other in assembled state of the bearing.

In a known manner, a mechanical bearing comprises an outer ring and an inner ring which are centred on the same axis and a cage which is arranged coaxially between the inner ring and the outer ring. This cage is a single-piece tubular part that houses rolling elements, which are maintained in relation to one another in order to prevent them from colliding with each other.
The invention relates more particularly to high-speed mechanical bearings such as the bearings used in the sungear of a planetary gearset. Indeed, at a high rotating speed, the rolling elements housed in the cage undergo a substantial centrifugal force. These centrifugal forces are not equivalent across the entire periphery of the cage and generate high stresses at certain zones of the cage. As such, only certain portions of the cage are particularly solicited by the centrifugal forces. The stresses generated in these portions result however from a global deformation of the cage, which implies poor guiding in rotation of the rolling elements.
In practice, the deformation of the cage linked to the centrifugal forces is limited by using a more resistant material and more substantial sections in the most solicited zones. However, these localised reinforcements increase the mass of the cage and therefore generate more substantial centrifugal forces.
In order to overcome these disadvantages, the cage of certain bearings is replaced by a set of independent inserts which are arranged between each pair of rolling elements of the mechanical bearing. These inserts effectively make it possible to maintain the rolling elements separated and overcome the problem of deformation of the cage due to the centrifugal effects. However, this solution is not suited for high-speed mechanical bearings as the rolling elements are not sufficiently maintained and have, therefore, a random kinematics. More precisely, the rolling elements tend to pivot, at high speed, around an axis of rotation other than their main axis of rotation. This parasite movement of rotation implies a misaligning of the rolling elements which is detrimental to the capacity for guiding in rotation of the mechanical bearing.
Moreover, DE-A-10 2012 202 104 discloses a cage of a mechanical bearing which is carried out in two portioned adapted to be assembled to one another. In this document, the cage is segmented into two portions in order to facilitate the method of manufacture and allow for mass production. Indeed, segmenting the cage into two portions makes it possible to use the injection moulding technique to manufacture the two portions of the cage. As such, in the assembled configuration in the bearing, the two portions of the cage are assembled with each other so well that the forces that are applied on a portion of the cage are transmitted to the other portion and the cage is deformed.
Likewise, JP-A-2013-036510 discloses a cage of a mechanical bearing which is segmented into several portions, which facilitates the manufacture of the cage. The various portions of the cage are placed side by side in an abutting manner in the assembled configuration of the bearing so well that there is a transmission of the forces from one portion to the other and a globalised deformation of the cage.
Finally, JP-A-2009 228 682 discloses a bearing wherein the rolling elements are cylindrical rollers maintained by a cage segmented into two semi-circular portions. The two ends of each segment of the cage are provided with a housing in order to partially receive a roller. In the assembled configuration of the bearing, the two segments of the cage are therefore separated at their ends by two rollers. The rollers inserted between the two segments then transmit the forces from one segment to the other, i.e. the two segments cooperate mechanically with each other. The centrifugal forces that are applied on one segment of the cage are therefore transmitted to the other segment, which results in a globalised deformation of the cage.
It is these disadvantages that the invention intends more particularly to overcome by proposing a mechanical bearing that makes it possible to reduce the deformation of the cage linked to the centrifugal forces at high speed, while still retaining good capacities for guiding in rotation.


A method of optimizing inter-site delay is disclosed for a cardiac rhythm management device that includes a dual chamber pacemaker, especially designed for treating congestive heart failure by pacing a plurality of sites. A microcontroller is operative to adjust the pacing mode and inter-site delay of the pacemaker so as to achieve optimum hemodynamic performance. Atrial cycle lengths measured during transient (immediate) time intervals following a change in the mode inter-site delay are signal processed and a determination can then be made as to which particular configuration yields the optimum performance. Performance is optimized when the patient is at rest and when the patient exercises so that a rate-adapted dynamic value of the optimum performance can be applied.

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/619,391, filed on Jan. 3, 2007, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,668,595, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/018,124, filed on Dec. 21, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,177,688, which is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/545,536, filed Apr. 7, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,194,305, the specifications of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Cardiac rhythm management system with optimization of cardiac performance using heart rate


A novel process for making compounds of Formula I, ##STR1## wherein X is a leaving group selected from the group Br, Cl, TsO, MsO, and TfO and R is a 1,2-diol, from a compound of Formula II: ##STR2## is described.

Aminopeptidases are a group of metalloenzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis of the NH.sub.2 -terminal peptide bonds in polypeptides. A number of effective inhibitors have been reported for aminopeptidases (A. B. Shenvi, Biochemistry 1986, 25, 1286). A number of .alpha.-aminoboronic acids (i.e. DuP 714) and their derivatives have been reported as effective inhibitors for aminopeptidases by acting as "transition-state analogues." ##STR3##
DuP 714 and its derivatives were first prepared (Wityak et al, J. Org. Chem. 1995, 60, 3717) using procedures developed by Matteson et al (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1981, 103, 5241). The Matteson protocol is used to prepare .alpha.-amino or .alpha.-amido-boronic acids by assymetric homologation of ethylene glycol benzylboronate.
Wityak et al incorporated this technique using pinanediol 1-(3-bromopropyl)boronate (A) as the starting material to make an .alpha.-amino-boronic acid (C), which was used in the synthesis of DuP 714. Homologation occurred upon assymetric addition of (dichloromethyl)lithium to produce (B) and the chloride was displaced by nitrogen upon addition of lithiohexamethyldisilazane (KHDMS). This process uses expensive raw materials, low temperatures, and unfortunately requires difficult isolation and purification steps. ##STR4##
Hoffmann et al (Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl. 1986, 25(2), 189-190) described the assymetric synthesis of .alpha.-(-chloro-(E)-crotylboronate esters via allyl rearrangement. Contacting pinacol 1-(3'-(S)-trimethylsiloxy)-butenylboronate (D) with thionyl chloride in petroleum ether formed pinacol .alpha.-chloro-(E)-crotylboronate (E) in 75% yield. Unfortunately, pinacol E cannot easily be manipulated to form a compound useful for the synthesis of DuP 714. ##STR5##
It is therefore desirable to find less expensive and simpler synthetic procedures for production of .alpha.-chloroboronic acids and their corresponding .alpha.-aminoboronic acids, which can be used as intermediates to form compounds such as DuP 714. Such procedures preferably should use readily available and inexpensive raw materials.

Method for preparing .alpha.-chloroboronic acids from mannitol


A rack for dispensing material from a spool rotatingly mounted on a rod, the rack including: vertical left and right side members; structure to join the left and right side members; slots defined in the left and right side members to accept ends of the rod so as to support the rod in the rack; and the left and right side members being symmetrical such that the left and right side members are interchangeable.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to wire or tubing spool racks generally and, more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a novel wire or tubing spool rack which has symmetrical side members such that the side members are interchangeable.
2. Background Art
Wire or tubing spool racks hold one or more horizontal rods extending between side members, each rod having rotatingly mounted thereon one or more spools of wire or tubing. Material is dispensed from a spool by pulling the free end of the material until a desired length of the material has been dispensed. Originally, one side of the rack had a downwardly sloped slot defined therein and the other side had an opposing hole defined therein. This arrangement permitted a person to lift the rod up and out of the slot and slide the spool(s) off the rod. This procedure was reversed to refill the rod. An improvement on this arrangement was to provide slots on both side members to that the user had the option of removing the rod up and out at either end of the rod. Either of these arrangements meant that there were "left" and "right" side members to the rack, which could result in warranty claims when two "lefts" or two "rights" were furnished to the customer.
A further disadvantage of conventional wire or tubing spool racks is that the slots formed therein are arranged such that the rods may be inadvertently pulled out of the racks when wire or tubing is being pulled from a spool.
Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a wire or tubing spool rack that has identical "left" and "right" side members such that the side members are interchangeable.
It is an further object of the invention to provide a wire or tubing spool rack that minimizes the possibility that rods therein may be inadvertently pulled from the rack when wire or tubing is dispensed therefrom.
It is an additional object of the invention to provide such a wire or tubing spool rack that is economically constructed.
Other objects of the present invention, as well as particular features, elements, and advantages thereof, will be elucidated in, or be apparent from, the following description and the accompanying drawing figures.

Wire or tubing spool rack with interchangeable slide members


A method for producing a laminated material, which comprises providing a raw material roll containing a support layer, drawing out a support layer in a web form from the raw material roll, transferring a silver-based thin film layer on an inner face of the inside of the support layer including a zone to be heat-sealed by the high frequency induction heating for the formation of a container, prior to or after the transferring step, laminating a heat-sealable inner layer on the inside of the support layer, printing the design of the container on the outside of the support layer in a long web form, and forming one or more thermoplastic layers of the same type or different types, at the same time or sequentially, on the outside and the inside of the printed support layer in a web form. The method allows a sealing zone to be formed so as to have an antibacterial atmosphere.

A laminated material in a web-form used for packaging containers comprising a support layer and a thermoplastic inner layer in which a carbon black conductive layer is laminated between the support layer and the thermoplastic innermost layer at zones to be heat-sealed by high-frequency induction heating for the formation of a container is known (for example, as described in JP-B No. 63-222). In the laminated material, a support layer, a thermoplastic innermost layer and a carbon black conductive layer as an intermediate layer therebetween are constituted.
A packaging machine in which an attaching device for attaching an aluminum foil tape for high-frequency induction heating to a portion of a laminated material in a web-form to be heat-sealed is disposed to conduct high-frequency induction heating the aluminum foil tape by high-frequency coils of a heater is described, for example, in JP No. 2694286.
When the laminated materials in the web-form used for packaging containers are piled, and the heat-sealable innermost layer is melted to form a zone to be sealed, liquid foodstuffs to be filled and packaged or the like might be left on the sealing zone and vicinity thereof, and the residue is likely to be polluted by bacteria or the like from the outside. The sealing zone and vicinity thereof should be formed so as to have an antibacterial atmosphere or formed with an antibacterial material.
Packaging paper containers for liquid foodstuffs are classified into aseptic packaging storable at a normal temperature and chilled packaging put under chilled distribution such as milk containers. Respective packaging laminated materials are generally produced as aseptic packaging and chilled packaging separately, and filled and packaged with liquid foodstuffs by separate sealing methods by means of separate filling and packaging machines.
However, even for different packaging systems of aseptic packaging and chilled packaging, efficient running/employment/operation of the whole packaging system are allowed through diversion or transfer of parts of different packaging systems and, further, this contributes to the saving of energy and materials and the reduction of production cost.

Method for producing packaging laminated material


A system for permitting remotely located applications to obtain information about vehicle conditions and responsively perform programmatic actions based upon the vehicle conditions. The system can include a vehicle response server and a vehicle response agent. The vehicle response server can manage communications between one or more vehicles and at least one application remotely located from the vehicles. The application can automatically execute at least one context-dependent programmatic action based upon an event occurrence triggered by vehicle sensor input. The vehicle response agent, which resides within the vehicle can receive an activation context that specifies conditions for the event occurrence. The vehicle response agent can then monitor the vehicle for the event occurrence and, when appropriate, wirelessly convey an indication of the event occurrence to the vehicle response server. The indication can result in the automatic execution of the at least one context-dependent programmatic action.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the fields of computer software and networking and, more particularly, to a technique through which applications can obtain contextual vehicle information.
2. Description of the Related Art
Most vehicles include a multitude of sensors that produce output, which can be presented to a vehicle driver to inform the driver of a condition pertaining to the vehicle. Sensors can indicate, for example, fuel level, oil pressure, engine temperature, vehicle speed, battery charge, and the like. Other vehicle sensors, such as a thermometer, a compass, and a Global Positioning System (GPS), can indicate an environmental state surrounding the vehicle.
Many remote applications would benefit from receiving vehicle input, and being able to take programmatic actions responsive to this input. For example, a gas station application may want to present a coupon to a customer low on gas when approaching an associated gas station. In another example, a parent may want to monitor the fluid levels and warning indicators on a parent-owned vehicle used by a teenager.
Conventional technologies, however, have failed to overcome difficulties associated with remote applications utilizing contextual information from vehicles. One technical difficulty relates to communications between several mobile vehicles and several remote applications hosted at a fixed location. While wireless communications are possible with a vehicle using methodologies such as those used for mobile telephony and vehicle GPS, these methodologies generally require either a constant communication connection or periodic status polling/status response messages to be conveyed between each vehicle and each remote application. Such communication methodologies are designed for point-to-point information exchanges and do not provide easily scalable solutions capable of being ported to vehicle/application communications. That is, when the number of remote applications and the number of vehicles grow, communications complexity and cost can grow geometrically.
One sociological difficulty in permitting remote applications to obtain contextual vehicle information pertains to driver privacy and safety. Vehicle contextual information can be used to track a driver's location, habits, and routines to an extent that makes many drivers extremely uncomfortable. Further, companies providing access to the vehicle contextual information can have liability and customer relation concerns when using unsecured information conveyance techniques. What is needed is a scalable, cost efficient, and secure technology for permitting remotely located applications to obtain contextual vehicle information.

Obtaining contextual vehicle information


This invention relates to a composition comprising a recombinant or genetically engineered Rhabdovirus that expresses a Fusion Protein, such as the F protein of the Paramyxovirus SV5 strain. This recombinant Rhabdovirus may express other non-Rhabdovirus attachment proteins and/or an enhancer protein. The invention also relates to methods of making recombinant Rhabdoviruses which express an F Protein. These recombinant compositions can be used for purposes of research, as well as for diagnostic and therapeutic compositions for treatment of diseases.

This invention relates to a recombinant Rhabdovirus that expresses at least a fusion protein which facilitates fusion and entry of the recombinant Rhabdovirus into a cell target. This invention includes a recombinant Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (VSV) which expresses a fusion protein on the surface of the VSV particle. These recombinant Rhabdoviruses which express a fusion protein can be used to study function and specificity of proteins not naturally found on the Rhabdovirus being engineered, and as a method of targeting abnormal and diseased cells (e.g., virus infected cells or cancer cells) for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. This invention also discloses methods of producing recombinant Rhabdoviruses.
A. Using Viruses to Target Cells
Viruses have been engineered in the last decade to target cells, mainly for purposes of gene therapy. Gene therapy involves the delivery of a gene, often a diseased cell, and usually involves insertion of the gene into the genome of the host cell. Viruses from the families of Adenoviridae, Parvoviridae and Retroviridae have successfully been engineered not only to insert genes to cell genomes, but also to deliver the gene to specific cells or tissues.
To deliver viruses to specific cells, the virus must be able to infect that cell type. Viruses cannot typically infect all cells or even all organisms. The ability of a virus to infect a cell is based on the xe2x80x9ctropismxe2x80x9d the virus has for the host organism and the cells of that organism. For a virus to be able to infect a cell, the cell must have a receptor for a virus protein which allows the virus to recognize and bind to the cellular receptor, whereupon it enters the cell either via endocytosis, phagocytosis or macropinocytosis. Upon entry into the cell, the virus begins replicating. To infect cells for which the virus does not have a tissue tropism, the virus must be engineered to recognize and bind to a receptor on the cell or tissue of interest. Even then, a virus may still not be able to replicate, as it may require additional cellular factors not produced in that cell.
Gene therapy viral vectors typically do not kill or lyse the cells they target. Viral vectors used for gene therapy are engineered to deliver therapeutically effective DNAs with relative safety, like a drug (see for example, D. T. Curiel et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,547,932). Some of these vectors are capable of replicating upon infection, but only in the targeted cells (F. McCormick, U.S. Pat. No. 5,677,178). Other gene therapy vectors are engineered such that they are unable to replicate. Non-replicating gene therapy vectors are usually produced using helper plasmids (see for example, G. Natsoulis, U.S. Pat. No. 5,622,856; M. Mamounas, U.S. Pat. No. 5,646,034) or packaging cells that confer genetic elements missing in the virus genome.
Gene therapy vectors have also encountered problems with overcoming the wild-type tropisms natural to the viral vector being utilized. Pseudotype viruses were created to overcome this by engineering a virus genome to contain the DNA encoding an envelope protein from another virus, even from a different virus family or genus, that would be capable of infecting the tissue or cell target. In recent years, many gene therapy patents have been issued describing adenovirus vectors (M. Cotten et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,693,509); adeno-associated virus vectors (J. S. Lebkowski et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,589,377); retrovirus vectors (B. O. Palsson et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,616,487); vectors containing chimeric fusion glycoproteins (S. Kayman et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,643,756); vectors that contain an antibody to a virus coat protein (Cotten et al.); viruses have been engineered to allow study of human immunodeficiency type 1 (HIV-1) in monkeys, a species that normally cannot be infected by HIV-1, by creating hybrid viruses (J. Sodroski et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,654,195); and pseudotype retrovirus vectors which contain the G protein of Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (VSV) (J. C. Burns et al., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,512,421 and 5,670,354). Some of these gene therapy vectors use methods which attempt to overcome some aspects of the tropism related problems encountered, while maintaining the efficacy of the vector for use in gene therapy.
Virus delivery vehicles have also been created for transient gene therapy, wherein expression of the gene delivered to the cell is transient and not permanent (I. H. Maxwell et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,585,254). Vectors have been created that selectively express certain toxin-encoding genes, such as the gene for diphtheria toxin (U.S. Pat. No. 5,585,254.). Viral vectors also can be engineered to make the host cells they infect more immunogenic (U.S. Pat. No. 5,580,564).
B. Using Rhabdoviruses to Target Cells
Both Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (VSV) and Rabies Virus (RV) are members of the Rhabdoviridae family. VSV belongs to the Vesiculovirus genus, while RV belongs to the Lyssavirus genus. All members of the Rhabdovirus family possess lipid membrane envelopes which comprise the surface of the Rhabdovirus virion.
(1) Rabies Virus
A recent paper by T. Mebatsion et al. described the engineering of a Rabies Virus (RV) such that either the entire G protein was deleted or only a small portion of the G protein was expressed. This recombinant RV was further engineered such that either CD4 or CD4 and the CXCR4 co-receptor also were expressed on the envelope of the recombinant RV virion (T. Mebatsion et al., (1997) Cell 90: 941-951). Characterization of and experiments with these engineered RV pseudotype viruses demonstrated that a CD4/CXCR4 construct, which also contained the tail of the G protein, could infect cells expressing the HIV-1 envelope protein, gp120. A drawback of this viral system was that effective incorporation of the non-RV proteins (e.g., CD4 and CXCR4) only occurred when at least the tail of the G protein (a 44 amino acid cytoplasmic domain) was expressed on the virion in the form of a chimera fused to either CD4 (RV-CD4) or CXCR4 (RV-CXCR4). A recombinant RV expressing only the RV-CD4 and the truncated G protein chimera cDNA did not contain detectable amounts of CD4 in the virion. However, a recombinant RV expressing both RV-CD4 and RV-CXCR4 yielded a virus particle with both the CD4 and CXCR4 proteins in the virus envelope (T. Mebatsion et al., 1997). The authors"" conclusion was that CD4-derived proteins are incorporated only in the form of a complex with a heterologous xe2x80x9ccarrierxe2x80x9d protein. The carrier protein in the RV construct is the CXCR4 co-receptor.
(2) Vesicular Stomatitis Virus
CD4 also has been expressed in VSV particles along with all five VSV gene products: N, P, M, G and L (Schnell et al., (1996) Proc. Nat""l Acad. Sci. USA 93: 11359-11365). A more recent publication by Schnell et al., demonstrated that both CD4 and a co-receptor protein, such as CXCR4, can be expressed in virus particles even if the entire gene encoding the G protein is deleted (xcex94G) (Schnell et al., (1997) Cell 90: 849-857). This CD4/CXCR4 recombinant was produced by utilizing a complementing plasmid containing DNA encoding the G protein. The gene encoding CXCR4 was then placed downstream of the gene encoding CD4 in the xcex94G recombinant VSV. Levels of the xcex94G-CD4 virus were 25% of the levels reported for the CD4 construct which contained the G protein (Schnell et al., 1997). However, CD4 was incorporated in the recombinant virion with the same efficiency as other VSV proteins despite the absence of a G protein. When comparing the ability of the xcex94G-CD4 construct to infect HIV-1 infected Jurkat cells to the VSV xcex94G construct containing both CD4 and CXCR4 (xcex94G-CD4/CXCR4), the xcex94G-CD4 construct infected the cells at 10% the rate of the xcex94G-CD4/CXCR4 VSV recombinant. Moreover, the xcex94G-CD4/CXCR4 was able to reduce the number of HIV-1 positive cells. These constructs were demonstrated to be capable of entering and propagating in cells infected with HIV-1 or that express the HIV-1 envelope protein (Schnell et al., 1997).
Although VSV and RV are members of the same virus family, Rhabdoviridae, VSV can produce an infectious virus particle in the absence of any G protein. In contrast, the RV recombinants could only function if the non-RV proteins were presented as a chimera containing the G tail fused to the non-VSV protein (Mebatsion et al., 1997). The ability to express a non-VSV protein in the lipid envelope of the VSV virion by itself and not as a chimera allows for the greater likelihood that the non-VSV protein, such as CD4, will form the same three-dimensional conformation that is found on the cell surface.
(3) Recombinant VSV with a Non-VSV Coreceptor Protein
A drawback of using the recombinant Rhabdoviruses as described by Mebatsion et al. (1997) and Schnell et al. (1997) is that in both cases they require a co-receptor protein, such as CXCR4 (derived from human T lymphocytes) for efficient infection into HIV-1 infected cells. The Mebatsion et al. (1997) recombinant RV virus additionally requires the tail of the G protein.
(4) Viral Envelope Fusion Proteins
The penetration of an enveloped virus into a cell occurs as a consequence of fusion of the viral envelope with the plasma membrane or with an intracellular compartment such as the endosome or lysosome following endocytosis. The fusion (F) protein of the paramyxovirus simian virus 5 (SV5) mediates a fusion between the viral envelope and the cell membrane. It has been cloned and expressed in recombinant cells. Other virus envelope proteins, including the G protein of VSV, require acid pH for fusion activity in vitro, and, in contrast, the Paramyxovirus SV5 F protein is capable of causing cell fusion at neutral pH. The wild-type virus fuses to its target cell through the combined action of the F protein and the associated HN protein of paramyxovirus. Cells that are transformed to express both the F protein and the HN protein can fuse with adjacent cells to form syncytia. However, vesicles created in vitro and comprising the F protein will not fuse with a target cell unless either the viral HN protein is also present or some other antireceptor molecule such as a lectin (i.e., wheat germ agglutinin) is present. R. G. Paterson et al., (1985) Proc. Nat""l Acad. Sci. USA 82: 7520-7524.
The present invention relates to recombinant or genetically engineered Rhabdoviruses that express a heterologous xe2x80x9cF Proteinxe2x80x9d (as defined herein) to facilitate fusion of the lipid envelope of the recombinant virus to the cell membrane of a target cell. Such constructs overcome the limitations of systems known in the art that require specific co-receptors or exhibit specific target cell tropisms.
This invention relates to a recombinant Rhabdovirus comprising at least a heterologous F Protein or polypeptide fragment thereof that is effective to facilitate the fusion of the recombinant virus to a target cell membrane. A preferred embodiment of the invention uses the F protein of Paramyxovirus strain SV5 or a polypeptide fragment thereof as the F Protein as defined herein. The preferred recombinant Rhabdovirus can be Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (VSV) or Rabies Virus (RV). In the instance of Rabies Virus, the DNA encoding the Fusion Protein is preferably fused to a cDNA encoding a portion of the RV G protein, particularly the xe2x80x9ctailxe2x80x9d portion thereof.
The recombinant Rhabdoviruses contemplated by this invention may further express a second heterologous (i.e, another non-Rhabdovirus, non-RV or non-VSV protein). This heterologous protein may be used as an attachment protein or antireceptor to target the recombinant virus to a particular receptor present on the cell membrane of the target cell. Such heterologous attachment proteins preferably recognize and bind specifically to glycoproteins or proteins that are expressed on diseased or abnormal cells as part of the disease process. A preferred attachment protein is the CD4 protein, or derivatives thereof, that function to target a recombinant Rhabdovirus to cells infected with HIV that express GP120 proteins on their cell membranes. Other receptor proteins expressed on diseased or abnormal cells, to which corresponding attachment proteins may be expressed by an engineered Rhabdovirus according to the present invention, may result from conditions relating to a parasitic infection, a viral infection, a bacterial infection, neoplasia, pre-neoplasia, leukoplakia, polyps, dermatological conditions (e.g., cafxc3xa9 au lait spots) and benign tumors.
The present invention further relates to a method of producing a recombinant Rhabdovirus which expresses an F Protein or polypeptide fragment thereof effective to facilitate fusion of the Rhabdovirus to a cell membrane. The method includes the steps of: (A) inserting a cDNA encoding Rhabdovirus N, P, L and G proteins into a suitable cell; (B) inserting a polycistronic cDNA copy of the Rhabdovirus genome containing at least the 3xe2x80x2 and 5xe2x80x2 Rhabdovirus leader and trailer regions containing the cis acting signals for Rhabdovirus replication, the genes encoding the N, P, M, and L Rhabdovirus proteins and a gene encoding an F Protein or polypeptide fragment thereof into the suitable cell; (C) culturing the cell under conditions that permit production of the recombinant Rhabdovirus; and (D) isolating said recombinant Rhabdovirus.
The foregoing method may further comprise a means of expressing another non-Rhabdovirus protein or polypeptide fragment thereof. This additional heterologous protein will usually serve as an attachment protein and therefore should have the ability to recognize and bind to a receptor expressed on the cell membrane to which the engineered Rhabdovirus is to be targeted. One preferred embodiment of this method would be to express the F protein of paramyxovirus SV5 strain as the Fusion Protein of the engineered virus
Another aspect of the present invention relates to a method of producing a recombinant Rhabdovirus which expresses an F Protein or a polypeptide fragment thereof effective to facilitate fusion of the Rhabdovirus to a cell membrane. This method includes the steps of: (A) inserting into suitable cells a polycistronic cDNA comprising at least the 3xe2x80x2 and 5xe2x80x2 Rhabdovirus leader and trailer regions containing the cis acting signals for Rhabdovirus replication, the genes encoding the Rhabdovirus N, P, and L proteins and a gene encoding an F Protein or polypeptide fragment thereof; (B) infecting the cells with a minivirus comprising the cis acting signals for Rhabdovirus replication and genes encoding at least the Rhabdovirus G and M proteins; (C) culturing the cells under conditions to permit expression of the cDNA to produce the recombinant Rhabdovirus; and (D) isolating said recombinant Rhabdovirus.
Preferred recombinant Rhabdoviruses would be VSV and RV.
The method of targeting diseased cells either in vivo or in vitro with a recombinant Rhabdovirus expressing a fusion protein comprises the steps of contacting the target diseased or abnormal cell with the recombinant Rhabdovirus under conditions that would permit infection by the recombinant virus. This embodiment may require the additional expression of another non-Rhabdovirus protein on the surface of the virus particle to serve as an attachment protein or antireceptor. Said cell targeting by a recombinant Rhabdovirus may further consist of expression of a reporter protein or fluorescent protein upon infection of the targeted cell. The targeted cell may additionally be diseased or infected. One recombinant Rhabdovirus contemplated would be one which expresses the F protein of Paramyxovirus SV5 as mediating the step of fusion.
The recombinant Rhabdoviruses described above are further contemplated for treating a subject suffering from a viral, parasitic or bacterial infection comprising administering to a patient a therapeutically effective amount of the recombinant Rhabdovirus that expresses the fusion protein. This recombinant Rhabdovirus ideally would be able to recognize and differentiate the cells infected with a virus, bacteria or parasite from those that are uninfected. It would bind to a protein expressed on the cells which arises as a result of the infection. The non-Rhabdovirus (attachment) protein responsible for binding to the infected cells is operatively linked to the regulatory sequences of the recombinant Rhabdovirus genes. Said method is similarly contemplated for treating a subject suffering from a disease, wherein the non-Rhabdovirus protein expressed by the recombinant Rhabdovirus expressing a fusion protein is capable of recognizing and binding to the protein expressed on the surface of the diseased or abnormal cell. The diseased or abnormal cell or tissue contemplated for treatment includes neoplastic cells, pre-neoplastic cells, benign tumors, polyps, cafe au lait spots, leukoplakias, other skin moles or lesions or dermatologic conditions.
The invention also relates to a method of identifying Fusion Proteins as defined herein. Steps of this method include: (A) inserting suitable cells with a polycistronic first cDNA containing at least the 3xe2x80x2 and 5xe2x80x2 Rhabdovirus leader and trailer regions containing the cis acting signals for Rhabdovirus replication, the Rhabdovirus genes encoding the N, P, and L proteins, a gene encoding an F Protein candidate and a non-Rhabdovirus protein; (B) infecting the cells with a minivirus containing cis acting signals for Rhabdovirus replication and a second cDNA encoding a reporter protein; (C) culturing the cells under conditions to permit replication of the first and the minivirus to produce a recombinant Rhabdovirus; (D) isolating said recombinant Rhabdovirus; (E) bringing the isolated recombinant Rhabdovirus in contact with uninfected cells under conditions permitting infection by said recombinant Rhabdovirus; and (F) determining whether the reporter protein is expressed.

Recombinant Rhabdovirus containing a heterologous fusion protein

The University of Tennessee Research Corporation


A bistable electromagnetic valve is proposed, which is to be used in refrigerant circuits. The valve can be produced at particularly low outlay and at the same time is reliably leaktight. This is achieved, according to the invention, in that the valve chamber (7) is formed within a control coil (3) by a cylindrical tubular body (2) which extends at least beyond the pole pieces (5, 6) inserted into the cylindrical tubular body (2).

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a bistable electromagnetic valve characterized by a valve chamber (7) arranged within a control coil (3) and the outer wall of the valve chamber (7) that is formed within the control coil (3) by a cylindrical tubular body (2) which extends at least beyond the pole pieces (5,6) inserted into the cylindrical tubular body (2) wherein at least one end of the tubular body (2) forms a pipe connection (11, 20) for a fluid.
2. Description of the Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 C.F.R. 1.97 and 1.98
Prior art valves of this type are used, for example, in refrigerant circuits, such as are described in the publications DE 37 18 490 or BP 10 54 200.
In such valves, a bistable situation is achieved by permanent magnets being arranged outside the valve housing, next to the valve chamber or next to the pole pieces, so that the valve body has, at the pole pieces, two end positions in which it is held by these permanent magnets.
High requirements in terms of leaktightness and long-term stability are placed on such valves. Furthermore, as is customary, there is the requirement to produce such a valve as cost-effectively as possible.


The tandem photosensitive-member unit includes a plurality of photosensitive-member and a pair of side plates. The plurality of photosensitive-member holding units each extends in a first direction. The plurality of photosensitive-member holding units is arranged in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The pair of side plates each extends in the second direction. The pair of side plates is disposed at both ends of the arranged plurality of photosensitive-member holding units with respect to the first direction. The tandem photosensitive-member unit is configured to be detachably mounted as an integral unit in a main body of an image-forming device.

One type of tandem color laser printer well known in the art includes four photosensitive drums and developing rollers for the colors yellow, magenta, cyan, and black. In this type of tandem color laser printer, the developing rollers form toner images in each respective color on the photosensitive drums at substantially the same time. Subsequently, the toner images are transferred onto paper or an intermediate transfer belt, enabling color images to be formed at approximately the same speed as an image formed on a monochromatic laser printer.
One such tandem color laser printer proposed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2004/165910 (corresponding to Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2004-279551) includes developer cartridges each with developing rollers, and drum units each having a photosensitive drum such that the developing cartridges and drum units can be individually mounted in or removed from a main casing of the laser printer.
Another image-forming device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,738,590 (corresponding to Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2003-50531) has an image-forming unit in which are integrally assembled a plurality of image-bearing members, a plurality of developer units, a plurality of charging units, and at least one intermediate transfer member. This integrated assembly can be mounted in or removed from a main body of the image-forming device.

Tandem photosensitive-member unit for image-forming device