One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates loading classes into non-volatile memory. During the loading process, the system first loads class definitions into volatile memory, wherein the class definitions contain metadata for classes currently being loaded into non-volatile memory, as well as metadata for classes that are already loaded into non-volatile memory. Next, after the class definitions are loaded into volatile memory, the system loads method code for the classes into non-volatile memory. During this process, the system uses the class definitions to resolve linkages in the method code so that the method code is ready for execution in non-volatile memory.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the design of platform-independent virtual machines for smaller computing devices. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for loading class files into non-volatile memory.
2. Related Art
Dramatic advances in computer technology presently make it possible to integrate a significant amount of computing power onto "smart cards." Smart cards are presently used in a variety of applications that solve common security and identity needs. For example, smart cards have been integrated into credit cards, debit cards, corporate badges, and even cell phones.
New smart card designs can accommodate larger amounts of memory. For example, new smart card designs can accommodate up to 160 K bytes of read-only memory (ROM), 64 K bytes of electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), and 8 K bytes of random access memory (RAM). These larger amounts of memory make it possible to integrate more functionality into a smart card.
In particular, the additional memory can be used to implement a virtual machine, such as the JAVA™ virtual machine (JVM), in a smart card, and to allow the use of objects defined within an object-oriented programming system. (JAVA is a trademark of SUN Microsystems, Inc. of Santa Clara, Calif.) Integrating a virtual machine into a smart card enables the smart card to execute a large number of platform-independent applications. Moreover, the associated development environment for the virtual machine can simplify the process of developing applications for smart cards.
While it is possible to implement a virtual machine on one of these smart cards, the memory is still quite limited compared to a typical desktop computer system. This limited memory leads to many challenges in the implementing a virtual machine.
One problem is that there is very little space in RAM for executing platform-independent applications. When a larger computer system receives a platform-independent application, the platform-independent application is typically loaded into RAM before the associated methods are executed. However, because there is an extremely small amount of RAM in a smart card (about 8 K), it is often impossible or impractical to load an entire platform-independent application into RAM prior to execution.
In theory it is possible to execute a platform-independent application in non-volatile memory. However, the platform-independent application must first be translated from its received form, typically a Java ARchive (JAR) file or a Converted APplet (CAP) file, into a representation suitable for execution. During this translation process, a number of operations are performed, such as resolving symbolic references and verifying bytecodes. Unfortunately, existing techniques for performing this translation are not suited for computing devices with small amounts of RAM, such as smart cards.
Hence, what is needed is a method and an apparatus for efficiently loading platform-independent applications into non-volatile memory.

Method and apparatus for loading class files into non-volatile memory


An information processing apparatus to which an external device is attachable includes an initialization unit configured to, when the information processing apparatus is activated from a power-off state, execute initialization of the external device, and not to, when the information processing apparatus is returned from a power-saving state, execute the initialization of the external device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to information processing apparatuses, control methods therefor, and storage media.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, the starting time of an information processing apparatus has become longer and longer due to an increase in programs.
Under such circumstances, many information processing apparatuses employ a suspending function to shorten the starting time. The suspending function is a technique for increasing the speed of starting at the time of returning from a power-saving mode by continuing the supply of power to a memory during the power-saving mode to retain data (a suspended state) (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-284491).
However, when a change (installation, removal, addition, replacement, etc.) is made to optional units of an information processing apparatus while the information processing apparatus is in the suspended state, the change may not be detected, so that the information processing apparatus cannot operate normally.
The foregoing occurs because the optional units are not initialized at the time of resume processing returning from the suspended state and, therefore, the change made to the optional units during the suspended state cannot be reflected.

Information processing apparatus, control method therefor, and storage medium


Various implementations include approaches for training a surface detection classifier and detecting characteristics of a surface, along with related micromobility vehicles. Certain implementations include a method including: comparing: i) detected movement of a micromobility (MM) vehicle or a device located with a user at the MM vehicle while operating the MM vehicle, with ii) a surface detection classifier for the MM vehicle; and in response to detecting that the MM vehicle is traveling on a restricted surface type for a threshold period, performing at least one of: a) notifying an operator of the MM vehicle about the travel on the restricted surface type, b) outputting a warning at an interface connected with the MM vehicle or the device, c) limiting a speed of the MM vehicle, or d) disabling operation of the MM vehicle.

Micromobility (MM) vehicles such as scooters, tricycles, bicycles, and other multi-person and personal transport vehicles are becoming increasingly popular. For example, these MM vehicles are often utilized in urban environments where users desire efficient transportation over relatively short distances. However, some MM vehicle users have been known to direct these vehicles over unintended surfaces and routes, at times interfering with pedestrians and other travelers. These usage patterns have reduced the appeal of MM vehicles in many areas.

Surface detection for micromobility vehicles


Methods and computer programs for providing animation to online roulette game during game play include providing data for enabling an interface on a device used for playing the online roulette game. The interface renders a grid identifying bet entries and a roulette wheel on which a ball is provided to determine outcome of the roulette game. A number on the grid on which a bet has been placed, is identified. A number is randomly generated to determine outcome of the roulette game. The number corresponds with a specific one of the plurality of slots defined in the roulette wheel in which the ball is to land. Graphical animation is provided at the roulette wheel to provide visual indication of the outcome of the roulette game as the ball is caused to move around the roulette wheel toward the specific slot in the roulette wheel corresponding to the generated number.

1. Field of the Invention
The present embodiments relate to methods for providing an online game, and more particularly, methods, systems, and computer programs for providing cinematic animation to an online game.
2. Description of the Related Art
Online betting games have become very popular, including casino-style games, such as video slots, online poker, video poker, roulette, blackjack, etc. In order to attract players and to keep the players engaged for a long period of time, game developers try to provide interesting challenges, and unique variances to challenges within the game to make the game engaging, entertaining, interesting and challenging.
As more games are being developed, game developers are finding ways for keeping the players engaged. In some instances, more options to customize the game field, to personalize the game objects, to adjust the level of the game, etc., have been provided in order to attract and keep the players engaged. Increasing the options available to a player in the game improves players game play experience, which results in longer periods of engagement. Improving customer experience may result in increased betting and longer game play by the players, resulting in greater revenue to the game developers.
Players engaged in game play, especially in betting games, such as online pokers, roulette games, etc., sometime forget what they bet on and how much they bet. With games, such as roulette games, where players can place multiple bets on different numbers, it is hard for the players to keep track of the bet/wager location, the type and amount of bets/wagers placed, and what type of payoff can be expected if they win the bet.
It is in this context that embodiments of the invention arise.

Providing cinematic animation and visualized payoff in a roulette game


A system for processing large quantities of a reaction medium while maintaining the reaction medium in sheets. The system includes a reactor having a plurality of vertically-spaced downwardly-sloped trays over which the reaction medium flows while it is subjected to reaction conditions. The slope of the trays increases downwardly to accommodate for the increased viscosity of the reaction medium while the reaction medium flows downwardly through the reactor. An upper portion of the trays have a uni-directional configuration, while a lower portion of the trays have a bi-directional configuration. Further, the orientation of flow across the uni-directional trays is rotated by 90 degrees in at least one location as the reaction medium flows down the uni-directional trays.

In certain chemical processing schemes, it is desirable for chemical reactions to take place in a reaction medium flowing in one or more relatively thin sheets. In such a processing scheme, the reaction progresses over an extended period of time while the sheets of reaction medium are exposed to the requisite reaction conditions. This type of process is particularly advantageous where the chemical reaction produces a gaseous reaction by-product, and it is desirable to rapidly and completely disengage such by-product from the reaction medium. For example, if the chemical reaction producing the gaseous by-product is reversible, failure to adequately disengage the by-product could counteract the desired reaction. When the reaction medium flows in one or more relatively thin sheets, the gaseous reaction by-product can rapidly escape the reaction medium. Further, when the reaction medium flows in one or more relatively thin sheets, the low hydrostatic pressure on the bottom portion of the reaction medium minimizes boiling suppression that can be exhibited when reactions are executed using relatively deep reaction mediums.
Although carrying out chemical reactions in relatively thin sheets of a reaction medium has a number of advantages, this type of process also presents a number of challenges. For example, because thin sheets of reaction medium require large amounts of surface area on which to flow, very large and/or numerous reactors may be required to produce commercial quantities of the reaction product. Further, in many processes employing thin sheets of reaction medium, the viscosity of the reaction medium changes as the reaction progresses. Thus, the viscosity of the final product may be much greater or much less than the viscosity of the initial reaction medium. This changing viscosity of the reaction medium presents a number of design challenges because significant variations in the flow rate and/or depth of the reaction medium can be undesirable.
One example of a common commercial process where it is desirable to carry out a chemical reaction in one or more relatively thin sheets of reaction medium is in the "finishing" stage of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) production. During the PET finishing stage, polycondensation causes the degree of polymerization of the reaction medium to increase significantly and also produces ethylene glycol, acetaldehyde, and water as reaction by-products. Typically, the degree of polymerization of the reaction medium introduced into the finishing reactor/zone is 20-60 while the degree of polymerization of the reaction medium/product exiting the finishing reaction is 80-200. This increase in the degree of polymerization of the reaction medium during finishing causes the viscosity of the reaction medium to increase significantly. In addition, since the polycondensation reaction associated with PET finishing is reversible, it is desirable to disengage the ethylene glycol reaction by-product from the reaction medium as quickly and completely as possible.
Thus, there exists a need for a more efficient and economical reactor that facilitates the processing of large quantities of a reaction medium in relatively thin sheets for extended periods of time. Further, there exists a need for a more efficient and effective PET finishing reactor that facilitates the polycondensation of large quantities of reaction medium flowing in relatively uniform, thin sheets through the finishing reactor, while providing adequate residence time to achieve the requisite degree of polymerization.

Reactor with optimized internal tray design


The invention relates to the field of mobile communication systems. In particular, the invention discloses a method for handover decision making during an inter-radio access technology (RAT) handover. According to the method, the decision for inter-RAT handover may be taken by the serving network entity in a hierarchical manner beginning with a radio access network (RAN) entity and proceeding towards a core network (CN) entity. Further, the serving network entity may take the decision for the inter-RAT handover based on the information and knowledge of the target access system handover criteria and the ranking available in the network entity.

The radio access network (RAN), system architecture (SA) and the core terminal (CT) working groups of the third generation partnership project (3GPP) aim to develop an enhanced UTRAN (E-UTRAN) architecture for next generation wireless systems. The E-UTRAN system is required to co-exist with the current second (2G), third generation (3G) wireless systems and non-3GPP networks namely cdma2000 and WiMAX and in particular, support handovers between the existing systems and the newly evolved E-UTRAN system, specified in the 3GPP TR 23.882, 3GPP TS 23.401 and 3GPP TS 23.402.
The E-UTRAN system is an evolution of the 3GPP UTRAN system, in which the main entities are the user equipment (UE), the enhanced Node B (ENB), Mobility Management Entity (MME), serving gateway and PDN GW as shown in the FIG. 1. The ENB of the EUTRAN system is expected to have the features of the Node B and the radio network controller (RNC) of the legacy UTRAN system. MME of the System Architecture Evolution (SAE) manages and stores UE context (for idle state: UE/user identities, UE mobility state, user security parameters). It generates temporary identities and allocates them to UEs. It checks the authorization whether the UE may camp on the TA or on the PLMN. It also authenticates the user. Serving gateway of SAE terminates for idle state UEs the downlink data path and triggers/initiates paging when downlink data arrive for the UE. PDN GW is the user plane anchor for mobility between different access systems. It performs or supports handover between different access systems.
The GERAN consists of the Base Transceiver Station (BTS) and the Base Station Controller (BSC). The UTRAN consists of the Node B and the Radio Network Controller (RNC). The GPRS Core Network consists of the Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN) and the Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN) as shown in FIG. 1.
The integrated WLAN (I-WLAN) system specified in the 3GPP TS 23.234 specifications provides a system and method to integrate legacy UTRAN systems with WLAN systems. The I-WLAN system allows WLAN users to access 3GPP packet switched services.
The concept of a serving network entity taking a decision for the inter-RAT handover has been disclosed in the patent application US 2007/0218903. However, the patent application does not mention handover decision based on target access system handover criteria, information related to target access system ranking, and the capability to assess target access system signal measurement reports. Further, the patent application also does not explicitly mention that the decision of handover is being taken in a hierarchical manner.

System and method of handover decision for inter RAT handover


A method for controlling speakers in a mobile station comprises detecting a movement of the mobile station. The method also comprises differentially controlling sound output by the speakers based on the detected movement of the mobile station. The differentially controlling the sound output by the speakers based on the detected movement of the mobile station may comprise at least one of adjusting a sound volume and selecting a sound effect. The detecting the movement of the mobile station may comprise detecting a tilt of the mobile station.

Mobile stations may be equipped with stereo speakers for use in various applications. Such stereo speakers may operate in conjunction with a tilt sensor or position detecting sensor, to enhance three-dimensional (3D) game applications, for example.
However, even if various applications using a tilt sensor or a position detecting sensor are provided in a mobile station, a technique for controlling a stereo speaker by using the tilt sensor or the position detecting sensor is not provided. Thus, control of stereo speakers that operate in conjunction with a tilt sensor or position detecting sensor is needed.


By means of MPU6, which is the control means, at the time of production, a reference voltage from an external device is applied to detector means 2 to be detected and converted to a digital signal in A/D converter means 3 and stored in memory means 4; while, at the time of operation, such as printing or image recording, the voltage of a battery equipped in the apparatus itself is applied to detector means 2 to be detected and converted to another digital value by the A/D converter means 3 to be applied to comparing means 5; the digital value of the reference voltage, already stored in memory means 4 is also applied to comparing means 5, and is compared with the battery voltage also stored in memory means 4, thereby it is determined whether the battery voltage will comply with the voltage which is necessary for performing the operation, such as printing operation, of the apparatus. In this process, it is possible to check the battery voltage of a battery-operated apparatus without involving any error.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for detecting the battery voltage which decreases below the value of the reference voltage.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
In recent years, there have been increased number of apparatus driven by the battery. The same tendency is seen also in the field of office machines, and there are many types which are driven by the battery equipped in the own apparatus for the reason of small-sized and portable requirement. The battery voltage can be sometimes lowered to cause the apparatus not to perform the normal operations. Accordingly, it is also provided with some apparatus, which are equipped with a battery voltage detecting device for detecting whether the battery voltage is lowered below the reference voltage value, that is, the low battery condition, to prevent the above-mentioned disadvantage.
FIG.5 is the block diagram of a conventionally typical low battery detecting system in a recording apparatus. Hereinafter, it is described the operation sequence thereof:
(1) sampling the terminal voltage V.sub.battery of a battery 9 by the detector means 2 in timing of every printing operation; PA1 (2) converting the detected voltage V.sub.battery to a digital value X.sub.battery by the A/D converter means 3; PA1 (3) comparing means 5 compares X.sub.battery with a predetermined value X.sub.low ;and PA1 (4) based on the result above, a microprocessing unit determines whether the condition of the battery is low battery or not, whereby usually, when X.sub.battery is lower than X.sub.low, the low battery condition is decided.
In the foregoing description, the timing of every typing operation is referred to the timing of which the same load is periodically applied, such as during the paper feed operation at printing of a plurality of cut papers. Also, the predetermined value X.sub.low is in advance stored in a mask ROM or EEP-ROM in the apparatus, and, in such a ROM, a variety of data for controlling the printing operation, in addition to the threshold value of low battery, are stored.
Most of the recent recording apparatus are provided with functions such as high resolution printing or low noise drive, and requirements for the power supply system, particularly for safety thereof, have been becoming severe. Accordingly, the low battery detection is also required to be performed with relatively high accuracy.
However, there have been the problems relating to detection accuracy in the low battery detecting construction.
When the foregoing construction is equipped in the products of mass production, printers having dispersion in detection accuracy based on the ability tolerance of used components in every location ranging from "voltage observation" to "low battery analyzing system", to produce an undesired factor to decrease the low battery accuracy. Namely, even between the products of the same model, the products which correctly detect the voltage drop condition of a low battery are mixed with those which do not correctly detect the same condition.
In other words, there has been a fear of mis-recognition of low battery detection to perform printer operation regardless of the state of low electromotive force of the battery, and therefore the above-mentioned function could not be sufficiently achieved.
Such a mis-recognition of the low battery state caused by the detection error can lead to an erroneous operation control of products, which can connect with some of disadvantages. For example, in the case of a battery power driven printer, if a proper detection of the battery is not be performed, sometimes a sudden stop of the printing operation can occur halfway in the cut paper during printing.
In addition, for fine adjustment of the detection mechanism, usually a trimmer potentiometer (variable resistor) is used. This method requires a mechanical adjustment for every product, thereby involving a troublesome manual operation in production.
In summary, in view of production process, there has been until recently no way for the equipment of a high precision battery detection mechanism, which is indispensable for realizing a high performance printing, in a recording apparatus through an efficient method.


An input torque control system is provided with a primary pulley, a secondary pulley, a V belt wound between these pulleys, a step motor to change a pressure difference between the primary pulley pressure and the secondary pulley pressure to change a gear ratio of the transmission, a memory unit to store pulley information immediately before a vehicle stop, and a torque restricting section. When an initialization operation of the step motor is started without pulley information stored in the memory unit, an output torque of the engine is restricted, and the restriction is removed after the initialization operation is finished.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an input torque control system of belt-type continuously variable transmission for vehicle to control an input torque inputted in a belt-type continuously variable transmission.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A continuously variable transmission suitable for a vehicle includes a V belt-type continuously variable transmission using a V belt. Generally, in the continuously variable transmission a hydraulic pressure (hereinafter referred to as a primary pulley pressure) is supplied to a cylinder chamber of a primary pulley thereof. The primary pulley pressure is generated by regulating a line pressure as an original pressure with a shift control valve, and is increased or reduced with the shift control valve to change a groove width of the primary pulley. As a result a diameter ratio of the primary pulley to a secondary pulley is changed, thereby to continuously control a gear ratio of a vehicle such as an automobile.
The shift control valve is, for example, connected near the middle of a shift link which constitutes a mechanical feedback mechanism, and one end of the shift link is connected to a movable flange of the primary pulley while the other end is connected to a step motor of a shift actuator.
An initialization operation of the step motor is performed as needed while a vehicle is stopped, for example when an engine is started so that an occurrence of a mismatch between a command value to the step motor and an operating position of the step motor to make the shift control valve travel at a position corresponding to a desired shift command value is prevented.
According to an example of an initialization operation of the step motor in the related apparatus as described above, after the step motor is moved to a hardware limit position in one direction when an ignition switch is on, the step motor is moved back to a reference position in the other direction, and then when the initialization operation of the step motor is finished, the command value to the step motor is initialized as a reference position. Thereby, it is aimed to make a command value to the step motor to correspond to a motor operating position with high accuracy, so that an accurate shift control is performed.
In this apparatus, when the initialization operation of the step motor is performed, it is necessary to actuate the step motor from the present position thereof to the hardware limit position in one direction, and therefore, a continuously variable transmission is provided with a transmission controller having a memory unit therein capable of storing a present operating position of the step motor, a pulley ratio and the like as pulley information. Moreover, the memory unit is equipped with a backup power supply to input data, and when a power supply (ignition switch) of a vehicle is turned off, the memory unit stores the pulley information with power supplied from the backup power supply.
An example of such an apparatus is shown in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 08-178063.

Input torque control system of belt-type continuously variable transmission for vehicle


The present invention provides a multi-layered object having a hard coat layer capable of improving anti-staining property, anti-staining durability, scratch resistance, abrasion resistance and the like. A multi-layered object comprising a hard coat layer and a light transmitting layer, wherein the hard coat layer is formed from a composition for hard coat comprising: an active energy ray-curable silicone-acrylic copolymer (A); and an active energy ray-curable polyfunctional compound (B), and wherein the active energy ray-curable silicone-acrylic copolymer (A) contains: a polysiloxane block (a-1), an acrylic block (a-2) containing an active energy ray-curable double bond group and a fluoroalkyl group-containing acrylic block (a-3).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a multi-layered object having a hard coat layer, and a method for producing the multi-layered object. More specifically, the present invention relates to various multi-layered objects required to have anti-staining property, anti-staining durability, scratch resistance, abrasion resistance and the like, and having a hard coat layer which has these various properties on the surface thereof; and relates to a method for producing the multi-layered objects.
In particular, the present invention relates to a method for forming a hard coat layer having anti-staining property, anti-staining durability, scratch resistance, and abrasion resistance, on the surface of each of the following, without deteriorating the optical property and the recording properties: information recording media; optical lenses; optical filters; anti-reflective films; various display elements such as liquid crystal displays, CRT displays, plasma displays and EL displays; and the like, and relates to an article having the hard coat layer formed thereon.
2. Disclosure of the Related Art
Usually protective layers (hard coat layers) are provided on the surfaces of the following various articles required to have scratch resistance and abrasion resistance: information recording media such as CD (Compact Disc) and DVD (Digital Versatile Disc); optical lenses; optical filters; anti-reflective films; and various display elements such as liquid crystal displays, CRT displays, plasma displays and EL displays.
In these various articles, in the course of the use by users, the surface thereof frequently undergoes stain adhesion due to fingerprint, sebum, sweat and cosmetics. Once adhesion of such stains occurs, such stains can hardly be removed; in particular, in information recording media and optical lenses used for the recording and reproduction thereof, such stains result in significant failure in recording and reproduction of information signals to cause a serious problem.
In particular, information recording media such as BD (Blu-ray Disc) said to be next-generation DVD are undergoing adoption of shorter wavelength of recording/reproduction laser light, and high-density recording with objective lenses having high numerical apertures; along with such development, the light transmitting substrate (light transmitting layer) comes to be thinner and accordingly there occurs a possibility that minute scratches, stains and the like on the light incident-side surface cause crucial failure in recording/reproduction in a more severe manner than in conventional information recording media. From these reasons, it is strongly demanded to provide, on the light incident-side surface of the information recording media, a hard coat layer having anti-staining property, anti-staining durability, scratch resistance and abrasion resistance, without deteriorating the recording/reproduction properties.
As a method of improving the anti-staining property of a hard coat layer, there has been proposed a method of improving the anti-staining property (water repellency and oil repellency) of the surface of an information recording medium by applying silicone oil or a fluoropolymer to the surface of the hard coat layer. However, in this method, the hard coat layer is formed by applying an anti-staining agent onto the surface of the information recording medium, and hence this method offers a drawback that the anti-staining agent is dissipated in the course of the use by a user and consequently the effect of the anti-staining property is hardly maintained, that is, the hard coat layer is poor in anti-staining durability.
On the other hand, there is a method of improving the anti-staining property by incorporating an additive such as silicone oil or a fluoropolymer into the hard coat layer. However, these additives are the substances generally referred to as soft segment and have a property to impart flexibility to a resin, and hence the addition of these additives offers a drawback to degrade the mechanical strength of the hard coat layer such as the surface hardness as a function of the hard coat layer.
For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-047040 (Patent Document 1) describes an optical recording medium characterized in that a coating layer made of an anti-staining agent is formed on the reading side surface on which incident is the laser light conducting at least recording or reproduction of the information signal (claim 1). However, the anti-staining agent described in Patent Document 1 includes an alkoxysilane compound having a perfluoro polyether group or a fluoroalkyl group, and is different from the composition for the hard coat layer according to the present invention.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-367229 (Patent Document 2) describes an optical information recording medium in which at least a reflective film, a recording film and a protective film are provided on one surface of the substrate of the optical information recording medium, and the protective film is formed as a surface layer on the one surface of the substrate, wherein a hard coat resin layer is formed as an outer layer of at least one selected from the substrate and the protective film, and a chemical adsorption film made of organic silane molecules is formed as an outer layer of the hard coat resin layer so as to be bonded to the hard coat layer through a covalent bond (claim 1). The hard coat layer of Patent Document 2 is, as described therein, a so-called double layered hard coat layer in which the chemical adsorption film formed by covalent bonds is further provided on the surface of the hard coat resin layer, and is significantly different in constitution from the hard coat layer of the present invention.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-107572 (Patent Document 3) describes a hard coat surface treatment method wherein a hard coat surface formed by curing an organic hard coat material containing an energy ray curable compound is subjected to a plasma treatment in an atmosphere into which introduced is a gas of a fluorinated hydrocarbon containing fluorine atoms in the molecule (claim 1). Patent Document 3 describes that according to this method, there is provided a hard coat surface treatment method in which the medium surface is imparted with water repellency and oil repellency by means of a low cost and simple process; however, this method requires a specific large scale apparatus in order to conduct the plasma treatment under a specific atmosphere, and hence is insufficient as a simple and low cost process.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-277478 (Patent Document 4) describes an epoxy resin composition that includes: an epoxy resin having in one molecule at least two cyclic aliphatic epoxy groups, at least one perfluoroalkyl group having 6 to 12 carbon atoms and at least one alkylsiloxane group; and a cationic polymerization catalyst, wherein the cyclic aliphatic epoxy group and the perfluoroalkyl group are present in the branched chains of the epoxy resin, and the alkylsiloxane group is present in the main chain of the epoxy resin (claim 1). Patent Document 4 is concerned with a composition that is applied to a liquid jet recording head, and the layer formed from the composition has anti-staining property, but is insufficient for a hard coat layer that also has the mechanical strength such as the surface hardness required in information recording media, various display elements or the like.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-206829 (Patent Document 5) describes a fluorine-containing curable coating liquid containing a fluorine-containing compound having a film formability and a polymerizable double bond, and a fluorine-containing (meth)acrylic acid ester having no film formability (claim 1). Similarly to Patent Document 4, the layer formed from the coating liquid of Patent Document 5 has anti-staining property, but is insufficient for a hard coat layer that also has the mechanical strength such as the surface hardness required in information recording media, various display elements or the like. As a technique to improve the surface hardness, it is possible to provide a hard coat layer and to form thereon a fluorine-containing curable coating film; however, this method suffers from a trouble that the fluorine-containing curable coating film is dissipated in the course of the use by a user to lead to poor anti-staining durability.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-43648 (Patent Document 6) describes a curable resin composition for a coating material including: (a) a silicone-acrylic block copolymer obtained by polymerizing at least one kind of acrylic monomer having a cross-linkable functional group or a mixture composed of said acrylic monomer and another ethylenically unsaturated monomer in the presence of a silicone macro initiator that includes a plurality of polysiloxane chains having both terminals linked with a 2,2′-azobisnitrile group; (b) a film forming resin having a functional group capable of cross-linking with the same curing agent as for the cross-linkable functional group of the (a) component, or having a functional group that mutually reacts with the functional group of the (a) component; and (c) a curing agent that reacts at least with the (b) component (claim 1). However, the composition described in Patent Document 6 is different from the composition applied to the present invention, and is insufficient for the hard coat layer having anti-staining property, anti-staining durability, scratch resistance and abrasion resistance, without impairing the optical properties and the recording properties as required for information recording media and various display elements.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-363495 (Patent Document 7) describes a coating composition including: (a) a fluorine/silicone-acrylic block copolymer obtained by polymerizing a monomer mixture A including a fluorine-containing unsaturated monomer (a-1) and an acrylic monomer (a-2) having a reactive functional group, in the presence of a silicone macro initiator that includes a plurality of polysiloxane chains having both terminals linked with a 2,2′-azobisnitrile group; (b) a fluorine-containing copolymer obtained by polymerizing a monomer mixture B including a fluorine-containing unsaturated monomer (b-1) and an acrylic monomer (b-2) having a reactive functional group; and (c) a curing agent (claim 1). However, the composition described in Patent Document 7 is different from the composition applied to the present invention, and is insufficient for the hard coat layer having anti-staining property, anti-staining durability, scratch resistance and abrasion resistance, without impairing the optical properties and the recording properties as required for information recording media and various display elements.

Multi-layered object comprising hard coat layer and light transmitting layer, and method for producing the same


Provided is a photothermographic material comprising, on a support, at least a non-photosensitive layer, and an image forming layer comprising at least a photosensitive silver halide, a non-photosensitive organic silver salt, a reducing agent, and a binder, wherein a content of the binder in the image forming layer is from approximately 55.6% to approximately 47.6% by mass ratio. A photothermographic material capable of rapid thermal development and having excellent film quality is provided.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a photothermographic material.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, decreasing the amount of processing liquid waste in the field of films for medical imaging has been desired from the viewpoints of protecting the environment and economy of space. Technology is therefore required for photosensitive thermal developing image recording materials which can be imagewise exposed effectively by laser image setters or laser imagers and thermally developed to obtain clear black-toned images of high resolution and sharpness, for use in medical diagnostic applications. An image forming system using photosensitive thermal developing image recording materials does not require liquid processing chemicals and can therefore be supplied to customers as a simpler and environmentally friendly system.
While similar requirements also exist in the field of general image forming materials, images for medical imaging in particular require high image quality excellent in sharpness and granularity because fine depiction is required, and further require blue-black image tone from the viewpoint of easy diagnosis. Various kinds of hard copy systems utilizing dyes or pigments, such as ink jet printers and electrophotographic systems, have been marketed as general image forming systems, but they are not satisfactory as output systems for medical images.
Photothermographic materials utilizing organic silver salts are described in many documents. Photothermographic materials generally have an image forming layer including a catalytically active amount of a photocatalyst (for example, silver halide), a reducing agent, a reducible silver salt (for example, an organic silver salt), and if necessary, a toner for controlling the color tone of developed silver images, dispersed in a binder. Photothermographic materials form black silver images by being heated to a high temperature (for example, 80° C. or higher) after imagewise exposure to cause an oxidation-reduction reaction between a silver halide or a reducible silver salt (functioning as an oxidizing agent) and a reducing agent. The oxidation-reduction reaction is accelerated by the catalytic action of a latent image on the silver halide generated by exposure. As a result, a black silver image is formed on the exposed region. The Fuji Medical Dry Imager FM-DPL is an example of a medical image forming system that has been made commercially available.
A photothermographic material containing a photosensitive silver halide and a non-photosensitive organic silver salt is a material having high sensitivity, and is extremely favorable as an image recording material for laser output as described above, and it is expected that application thereof to this field will increase more and more in the future. In view of the expanding use in such fields of application and higher processing volumes, further increases in image recording speeds and developing speeds are desired. Improvement in performance of thermal developing processing, by shortening the time for processing, is a topic routinely demanded but it is particularly required in the medical field, in order to rapidly obtain photographed images and provide them to diagnosticians for rapid diagnosis.
As means for increasing the image forming speed, a method of increasing the sensitivity of a photosensitive material, to shorten the time for imagewise exposure, and a method of increasing the developing activity, to promote the thermal developing speed (increase of apparent sensitivity), can be mentioned. For improving the sensitivity of the photosensitive material, improvement of the photosensitive site of the silver halide is a direct method, and a sensitizing method is described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 9-43765, the shape of silver halide grains is described in JP-A No. 2001-272743, and improvement for the silver halide composition is described in JP-A No. 9-146216. On the other hand, as a method of increasing the thermal developing speed, reducing agents are disclosed in JP-A No. 2001-188314, organic silver salts reduced by reducing agents are disclosed in JP-A No. 2000-72711, and use of development accelerators is described in JP-A Nos. 2002-156727 and 2001-264929. All patents, published patent applications, foreign applications, and non-patent literature listed in this specification are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
An image forming layer is a direct element for forming images, and it is extremely important to consider compositions for use in the image forming layer as a method of improving the image forming speed. However, since such compositions are present in admixtures in the image forming layer, a conflicting phenomenon tends to occur whereby the storage stability deteriorates when the sensitivity or development activity is improved, whereas the sensitivity and the development activity are lowered when the storage stability is improved. It is extremely difficult to attain the performances described above simultaneously.
As described above, photothermographic materials are prepared in a well balanced manner so as to leverage the advantages of the respective compositions as much as possible and it is difficult to improve the image forming speed by merely changing or adding a single composition. Further, when a composition is changed or added, other compositions contained in the photothermographic material have also to be re-considered. A method of processing the photothermographic material rapidly without offsetting the features of respective compositions has been strongly demanded daily.


A method includes displaying a first graphical representation on a screen. The first graphical representation includes a box-and-whisker plot of a dataset. The method also includes receiving a first interaction indication indicating a graphical user interaction by a user at a first interaction location on the first graphical representation. In response to the received first interactive indication, the method includes displaying a second graphical representation on the screen based on the first interaction indication, the second graphical representation including a density plot of the dataset having a respective scale equal to a corresponding scale of the box-and-whisker plot. The method also includes receiving a second interaction indication indicating the graphical user interaction by the user at a second interaction location on the second graphical representation, and in response, displaying an updated second graphical representation of the dataset on the screen based on the second interaction indication.

A box-and-whisker plot is commonly used in print form to show distributions of data in a compact manner so one distribution can be compared to another. The plot is composed of a line or box with an indication of the median and second and third quartiles. The ends of the line generally represent the first and fourth quartiles. Electronic forms of a box-and-whisker plot typically follow the same format as print versions. However, the electronic form allows the opportunity to increase compactness while simultaneously increasing the amount of information the plot communicates to the user.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Interactive display of data distributions


An illustrated view of an exemplary ball pod for holding and transporting balls, such as tennis balls, baseballs, etc. is presented. The ball pod is useful for allowing easy access to the balls and refreshments while playing or practicing a game. The ball pod is easy to transport the balls from one location to another location and is efficient in use and accessibility. Furthermore, the ball pod is useful for securely holding refreshments for the player in order to refresh or hydrate the player during the game or the practice. The ball pod may also hold other items such as various player's garments (warm-up tops, bottoms, etc.), towels, personal items (smart phones, keys, wallet), etc. The ball pod has further uses such as, but not limited to, poolside holding refreshments, personal items, towels, street clothes), bar-b-que (holding utensils, condiments, aprons, towels, items to be grilled etc. and can further operate as a mini prep area when equipped with accessory trays), hotel rooms (holding refreshments, such as champagne, ice, gifts, etc.), gyms, (basketball courtside, weight training/fitness training, coaching equipment, refreshments, etc.), field sports (holding coaches equipment, personal items, etc.), beaches (holding towels, personal items, etc.), etc.

A ball is a round object (usually spherical but can sometimes be ovoid) with various uses. It is used in ball games, where the play of the game follows the state of the ball as it is hit, kicked or thrown by players. Balls can also be used for simpler activities, such as catch or juggling. Balls made from hard-wearing materials are used in engineering applications to provide very low friction bearings, known as ball bearings. Black-powder weapons use stone and metal balls as projectiles.
Although many types of balls are today made from rubber, this form was unknown outside the Americas until after the voyages of Columbus. The Spanish were the first Europeans to see the bouncing rubber balls (although solid and not inflated) which were employed most notably in the Mesoamerican ballgame. Balls used in various sports in other parts of the world prior to Columbus were made from other materials such as animal bladders or skins, stuffed with various materials.
As balls are one of the most familiar spherical objects to humans, the word "ball" may be used to refer to or describe spherical or near-spherical objects.
Often times when playing sports using balls and other equipment, more than one ball is necessary to play or practice the sport. Currently, holders or carriers for balls, especially in tennis, the carrier is a bag, backpack, etc. These carriers are useful for transporting the balls and equipment, but do not hold a great number of balls, normally under five (5). Further, when accessing the balls while playing, the carrier requires being opened and then reaching in to "feel" for a ball. Also, the carriers are laying on the ground or a bench and are not able to hold refreshments and the like for the player.
Accordingly, there is a need for a device to hold balls, in particular tennis balls, that allow for easy access and recovery of the balls at a height more efficient for a player needing a ball to continue play. Furthermore, the device should also have a hold for such things as canned beverages and the like.
When the pod is used in the sport of tennis, there is also a need to hold additional equipment and personal items that the player may need. Often players keep a towel to wipe their racket's grip and themselves of the sweat generated from hard play. The towels are many times found near them in the back-court on the less hygienic ground. This device can offer a place to manage towels and keep them off the dirty, potentially germ ridden court surface.
For non-tournament play, players are often coming to the court directly from work or home and have personal items like smart phones, car keys, wallets and purses they need to put somewhere while playing. Having a place to put these items in closer proximity and control of the player would be a welcome addition.
In addition to tennis, there are many places where a sport or leisure activity is enjoyed and the participant or supervisor of the activity needs a place to store professional tools for the activity as well as the aforementioned towels and personal items during the play of the sport or during a transition from street clothes to the activity specific apparel. Examples include, but not limited to, swimming pools, gyms, court sports, weightlifting, barbeques, honeymoons, etc.
The inventor has a previously allowed and granted patent related to the instant application. The U.S. Pat. No. 10,220,288 is drawn to a "A stand for tennis balls and a towel provides a portable free-standing tripod-like structure for conveniently positioning such items as tennis balls and a towel upon a tennis court surface during a game of tennis. The stand provides a hinged construction which enables compact folding for storage when not in use." This U.S. Patent is improved upon in the instant application.


A vapor deposition source (60), a plurality of limiting plates (81) and a vapor deposition mask (70) are disposed in this order. A substrate spaced apart from the vapor deposition mask at a fixed interval is moved relative to the vapor deposition mask. Vapor deposition particles (91) discharged from vapor deposition source openings (61) of the vapor deposition source pass through between neighboring limiting plates, pass through mask openings (71) formed in the vapor deposition mask, and adhere to the substrate, whereby coating films (90) are formed. The limiting plates limit the incidence angle of the vapor deposition particles that enter the mask openings, as viewed in the relative movement direction of the substrate. In this way, an organic EL element can be formed on a large-sized substrate without increasing the pixel pitch or reducing the aperture ratio.

In recent years, flat panel displays are required to have a large size, high image quality and low power consumption. Under the circumstances, high-image quality organic EL displays, which can be driven at a low voltage, are attracting great attention. Full-color active matrix type organic EL displays, for example, are provided with a thin film-like organic EL element on a substrate having a TFT (thin film transistor). In the organic EL element, organic EL layers including red (R), green (G) and blue (B) light emitting layers are laminated between a pair of electrodes. The TFT is connected to one of the pair of electrodes. Then, voltage is applied across the pair of electrodes so as to cause each light emitting layer to emit light, whereby an image is displayed.
In order to manufacture an organic EL element, it is necessary to form light emitting layers made of organic light emitting materials that emit respective colors in a predetermined pattern.
Known methods for forming light emitting layers in a predetermined pattern are vacuum vapor deposition method, inkjet method and laser transfer method. For example, the vacuum vapor deposition method is often used for low molecular organic EL displays (OLEDs).
In the vacuum vapor deposition method, a mask (also called a "shadow mask") having a predetermined pattern of openings is used. The deposition surface of a substrate having the mask closely fixed thereto is disposed so as to oppose a vapor deposition source. Then, vapor deposition particles (film forming material) from the vapor deposition source are deposited onto the deposition surface through the openings of the mask, whereby a predetermined pattern of thin films is formed. Vapor deposition is performed for each color of the light emitting layers, which is referred to as "vapor deposition by color".
For example, Patent Documents 1 and 2 disclose a method for performing vapor deposition by color in which light emitting layers for respective colors are formed by sequentially moving a mask with respect to a substrate. With such a method, a mask having a size equal to that of a substrate is used, and the mask is fixed so as to cover the deposition surface of the substrate at the time of vapor deposition.

Manufacturing device and manufacturing method for organic EL element


There is disclosed a sample-cooling device for efficiently cooling a sample observed with a scanning probe microscope down to a cryogenic temperature. Cryogenic temperature provided by liquid nitrogen is transferred to a stage base plate from a liquid nitrogen vessel via a heat shield on the side of the cryogenic source, a first flexible conductor, and a heat shield on the sample side. The whole stage base plate is cooled to the liquid nitrogen temperature. Cryogenic temperature provided by liquid helium is transferred from a liquid helium vessel to a heat conductor on the sample side via a heat conductor on the side of the cryogenic source, a heat shield on the side of the cryogenic source, a second flexible heat conductor, and a heat shield on the sample side. The heat conductor on the sample side is cooled to the liquid helium temperature. The cryogenic temperature is then transferred to the sample via a probe electrode in contact with the heat conductor on the sample side. As a result, the sample is cooled by the cryogenic temperature provided by the liquid helium.

The scanning tunneling microscope is designed to obtain a sample image with atomic resolution from a tunneling current flowing between a probe tip and a sample. On the other hand, the atomic force microscope produces an image of a sample with atomic resolution from an atomic force exerted between a probe tip attached to the front end of a cantilever and the sample.
In this scanning probe microscope, the sample is often observed while maintained at cryogenic temperatures by a sample-cooling device. One major object of maintaining the sample at cryogenic temperatures is to reduce the effect of thermal vibrations of sample atoms, thereby enhancing the resolution of the atomic image. Another major object is to observe the physical characteristics of the sample at quite low temperatures.
The sample-cooling device is required to (1) be capable of cooling the sample down to cryogenic temperatures, (2) be capable of reaching cryogenic temperatures in a short time, and (3) consume only a small amount of refrigerant for the cooling per unit time.


Methods and apparatus for delivering physiologically active compounds to a target human or animal employ a supercritical fluid solution comprising a supercritical fluid solvent and a physiologically active solute. The supercritical fluid solution is passed into a subcritical region to evaporate the solvent and form a gas-borne dispersion of solute particles. The gas-borne dispersion of solute particles is administered directly to the target human or animal. The apparatus for delivering the physiologically active compound are of the hand-held type.

Various methods of drug administration are known in the art, including hypodermic delivery, oral delivery and nasal delivery. Hypodermic delivery of drugs is disadvantageous in that it can cause localized damage to arteries from repeated injections, create highly concentrated doses of drugs in tissues before the drugs are distributed by the circulatory system, and increase the probability of infection from hypodermic use. Oral administration of drugs is advantageous in patient convenience, and therefore increases the probability of patient compliance. Nasal and pulmonary drug delivery methods and apparatus are advantageous owing to low patient discomfort, rapid drug absorption, reduced degradation of drug compounds by the gastrointestinal system and reduced systemic side effects resulting from the drugs.
Conventional oral and nasal drug delivery methods and apparatus often employ aerosol formulations. For example, the Cook et al U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,044,126, 4,414,209 and 4,364,923 relate to the use of aerosol formulations for the adminstration of anti-inflammatory steroids. The Cook et al patents disclose a method for preparing the steroid in a crystalline form for use in the aerosol formulations. The Tom et al publication entitled "Particle Formation with Supercritical Fluids-A Review", Journal of Aerosol Science, Volume 22, No. 5, pages 555-584 (1991), discloses the use of supercritical solutions to form particles for use in aerosol formulations. The Smith U.S. Pat. No. 4,582,731 and the Sievers et al U.S. Pat. No. 4,970,093 further disclose the use of supercritical fluids for powder and film formation, but do not relate particularly to powders or films of medicaments or drugs. The use of supercritical fluid solutions to form precipitates of various metal salts was first disclosed by Hannay et al, Chem. News, 40,256 (1879).
It is also known to administer powdered medicaments orally or nasally. The Hallworth et al U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,206,758 and 4,353,365 disclose inhalation devices by which powdered medicaments can be orally or nasally inhaled by a patient through a nozzle. The Newell et al U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,627,432 and 4,811,731 disclose additional inhalation devices for administering medicaments in finely divided solid form or in fluid form.
Owing to the advantages of oral and nasal drug delivery as discussed above, a continuing need exists for additional methods and apparatus for successful oral and nasal drug delivery.

Methods and apparatus for drug delivery using supercritical solutions


The invention relates to ZrB.sub.2 /Cu composites, and more specifically to methods of making ZrB.sub.2 /Cu composite electrodes and methods of using ZrB.sub.2 /Cu composite electrodes. ZrB.sub.2 powder is contacted with a polymer and shaped to a desired form. The polymer is vaporized and the ZrB.sub.2 powder is sintered. The sintered ZrB.sub.2 is contacted with Cu and heated above the melting point of Cu which causes the Cu to infiltrate the ZrB.sub.2, forming the ZrB.sub.2 /Cu composite electrode.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the manufacture and use of zirconium diboride/copper (ZrB.sub.2 /Cu) composite electrodes. More specifically, the invention relates to a method of manufacturing ZrB.sub.2 /Cu composites which includes coating ZrB.sub.2 powder with a polymer, utilizing rapid prototyping or cold pressing to shape or process the polymer coated powder to a desired form, sintering the shaped form to vaporize the polymer and sinter the ZrB.sub.2 powder, and then infiltrating the sintered ZrB.sub.2 with copper. The manufacturing technique provides ZrB.sub.2 /Cu composite electrodes with minimum electrode wear rates to be used in electrode applications where minimum wear is advantageous, including electrical discharge machining electrodes.
2. Description of the Related Art
ZrB.sub.2 is a known intermetallic ceramic or cermet. However, due to its low thermal shock resistance and room temperature brittleness, ZrB.sub.2 is rarely used for industrial purposes.
ZrB.sub.2 /Cu composites are known but rarely, if ever, used in industry because of the difficulty involved in fabricating the composite. Generally, its use has been limited to research purposes. The ZrB.sub.2 /Cu composite was investigated for possible use as a high-strength refractory coating for space ships subject to laser bombardment as well as for protection upon re-entry into the earth's atmosphere.
The only known way to make parts out of ZrB.sub.2 /Cu, particularly of complex and varying topographies, would be to hot press a mixture of ZrB.sub.2 and Cu in a die that is the negative of the desired shape or to hot press a mixture and then machine it to the desired shape. Both of these processes involve significant shortcomings, including that they are very time and energy intensive and that the machining of a ZrB.sub.2 /Cu composite is known to be very difficult. Also, it is known that these techniques produce nonhomogeneous ZrB.sub.2 /Cu parts, leading to reduced performance of the parts.

Manufacture and use of ZrB.sub.2 /CU composite electrodes


Devices and methods are provided for device-assisted interference management in heterogeneous wireless network environments. A mobile station (MS) assists a serving access point (AP) in assigning radio resources according to the interference management capabilities of the MS, the serving AP, and one or more neighboring interfering APs on the downlink, or alternatively, to one or more neighboring APs with interfering mobile stations on the uplink.

The realization of greater wireless capacity in today's communications environments may require the achievement of a consistently higher signal to interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) over a significant percentage of a cell's coverage area. Yet achievement of such a goal will require, in general, smaller cells or alternatively, operation in a smaller region of a cell when operating at a given transmission power level. Hence, the current network model of higher-power outdoor macro cells will need to be augmented by lower-power indoor and outdoor micro- and pico-cells. While such a move towards smaller cells will significantly increase the number of access points within a cellular system, will also lead to significant coverage overlap, both planned and unplanned, between cells.
Co-ordination of transmission and reception in today's cellular systems has been designed with the philosophy of "smart network, dumb user equipment," reflecting the telephone-centric mindset of a previous era. The "smart" network model is based on the premise that the network has a global view, and overall control, of everything that is occurring within the network. However, this assumption breaks down in a heterogeneous coverage environment as it is unlikely that a single, centralized network entity will have a global view and overall control. As an example, transmission and reception within a given cell is coordinated by the Access Point (AP) responsible for that cell. However, operation across cell boundaries may be un-coordinated due to different administrative domains or to difficulties encountered when communicating between APs. As a consequence, completely un-coordinated operation may ultimately result in unacceptable levels of interference that could negate the benefits of improved signal levels garnered through the use of smaller cells.

Access point for device-assisted interference management in heterogeneous wireless cellular systems


There is provided a printed board machining apparatus having fewer restrictions in terms of the length of printed boards to be machined, that can be readily controlled in positioning a sheet-like workpiece and that is capable of improving the machining efficiency. Plural sets of optical scanners and fθ lenses that compose laser condensing and positioning mechanisms are disposed apart in a width direction (X direction) orthogonal to a longitudinal direction (Y direction) of the sheet-like workpiece and two sheet-like workpieces are fixed on a machining table in parallel, and in the width direction to machine printed boards on the sheet-like workpieces The disposition of the fθ lenses allows the machining of the plurality of lengthy printed boards to be completed practically at the same time or at the same time without limiting the length of the printed boards to be machined.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a laser machining apparatus having a machining table for fixing a part of a sheet-like workpiece thereon and laser condensing and positioning means, such as an fθ lens, for positioning and condensing a laser beam to the sheet-like workpiece to machine the sheet-like workpiece on the machining table by relatively moving the machining table and the laser condensing and positioning means, and when the machining of the workpiece ends, to move the sheet-like workpiece in the longitudinal direction to repeatedly machine a next machining area thereof.
2. Description of Related Art
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a main part of a conventional laser machining apparatus for machining a sheet-like workpiece 2 while moving it in the longitudinal direction. The sheet-like workpiece 2 is fixed on the XY table 1 by means of a clamper not shown. The sheet-like workpiece 2 is fed from a supply roll not shown disposed on the right side in the figure and is taken up by a take-up roll not shown disposed on the left side in the figure. Printed boards 3, i.e., perspective merchandise, are disposed on the sheet-like workpiece 2 with a pitch of L2 in the Y direction, i.e., in the longitudinal direction (feed direction), of the sheet-like workpiece 2.
Two fθ lenses 4a and 4b for positioning and condensing a laser beam to the workpiece are disposed above the XY table 1. While the fθ lenses 4a and 4b are disposed so that their X-coordinates coincide each other, their interval L1 is adjustable. The sheet-like workpiece 2 is fixed to the XY table 1 such that the center thereof in the width direction coincides with the center axes O1 and O2 of the fθ lenses 4a and 4b.
Next, operations of the conventional laser machining apparatus will be explained. Preceding the machining, the interval L1 between the fθ lenses 4a and 4b is adjusted to an integer times of the pitch of the printed board 3 (one time of an equal pitch in the case shown in the figure).
Then, each area defined by the size of the respective fθ lenses 4a and 4b is drilled by the pulsating laser oscillated from a laser oscillator from the side of points A1 and A2 in FIG. 4 for example. When the machining of the area ends, the XY table 1 is moved in the X-direction to machine a next area to be machined. When the machining in the X-direction ends, the XY table 1 is moved in the Y-direction to machine another area to be machined. This operation is repeated until the machining of the whole printed board 3 ends. When the machining of the printed board 3 ends, the sheet-like workpiece 2 is released and is moved in the Y-direction to position a non-finished printed board 3 in correspondence with the fθ lenses 4a and 4b. This operation is repeated until the sheet-like workpiece 2 is totally taken up.
Because the machining is carried out at two spots on the XY table 1, machining efficiency may be improved in case of the laser machining apparatus described above.
By the way, the size (referred to 'length' hereinafter) in the Y-direction of the printed board 3 disposed on the sheet-like workpiece 2 may differ. Therefore, when the length of one printed board 3 exceeds a half of a moving stroke of the XY table 1, even if the machining of one printed board 3 may be completed, machining of the other printed board 3 cannot be completed. Thus, not only does it become difficult to position the sheet-like workpiece 2 when moving it, but the machining area must also be calculated again every time the sheet-like workpiece 2 is moved. Therefore, it becomes difficult to control the machining.


A system and method for dynamically formulating and delivering a video program that includes perishable information is provided. The system includes a video server that creates a video program using one or more recent video segments in combination with other video segments. The recent video segments are typically generated in a studio, whereas the other video segments are obtained from a variety of sources, including databases and live feeds. An audio system stores pre-recorded audio and is used to create audio for certain video segments. The video server enables an organization to deliver more customized video programs to more users and to update those video programs more frequently without requiring additional studio time or resources.

People constantly seek and rely upon information that is perishable by nature. Perhaps the most universal and oldest type of perishable data is weather information. Weather information is perishable since the weather conditions or even forecasts are highly dependent upon time. Because weather conditions can change abruptly without warning, people cannot rely upon stale weather information but instead must obtain current, fresh, or real-time weather information if they want to receive accurate information on the weather. Other types of perishable information include financial news, such as stock prices, and sports information, such as scores of games.
People can receive perishable information from more than one source. For centuries, the newspaper has been a mechanism by which people can receive important and timely news. Because of the need to print and physically distribute the newspaper, the newspaper is often at best a daily paper and mainly contains information of events that occurred during the previous day. In other words, depending the frequency of the newspaper, the newspaper has certain lag time in the news which means that the news has aged at least slightly. Radio and television are relatively more recent innovations and can deliver information closer to real-time. The Internet is perhaps the most recent network through which people can receive perishable information.
Between all of these methods of receiving information, the television is the preferred way of receiving news and other perishable information for many people. The television is preferred partly because it is highly passive activity that delivers the greatest amount of information. As opposed to much of the information on the Internet and within a newspaper, a consumer of information delivered through television can simply listen and watch a news program and other than listening and watching the consumer need not perform any other activity, such as reading or clicking through web pages. Television also offers both audio and video and therefore provides a greater amount of information in a comparable amount of time than someone can obtain from reading a newspaper, listening to the radio, or reading text from a web page.
Because many people prefer receiving their perishable information through television, people have come to expect the perishable information to be formatted in certain ways. For example, most television viewers are able to watch a local news program which has news on local events, local weather information, local sports scores, and other such localized information. Viewers also expect to be able to receive some type of national news program, such as those offered on the main networks. For weather information, viewers expect to receive local weather conditions and forecasts not only through the local news program, but also through other sources, predominately The Weather Channel®. The Weather Channel® provides national weather information to all viewers as well as local weather forecasts for a multitude of cities and regions across the country, as well as cities and regions throughout the world. In summary, viewers expect to be able to receive local video programs that contain local perishable information.
As bandwidth increases for Internet users, the Internet is able to deliver a greater amount of perishable information to consumers and deliver that information in multiple formats. In addition to text and images, a small but growing segment of information that is delivered over the Internet is in video format. In this manner, Internet users are able to watch video over the Internet and receive perishable information in a manner that approximates the way information is delivered through television. Because of expectations established through television the delivery of perishable information through the Internet preferably mirrors that of conventional television programming.
Because the Internet has such a wide reach across the world, delivering national and local perishable information to each locality is simply not feasible. Even within the United States, an inordinate amount of resources would be needed to provide video over the Internet which has local content specific for each city or region. The time within a studio is an extremely valuable resource. Any organization necessarily has a limited number of studios and time during which filming can be performed. In addition to the physical limitations, every organization also has a limited number of On-Camera Personnel (OCP). For instance, for an evening news program, a television network would only have a handful of qualified anchors for delivering the news. Also, for weather forecasts, a provider of weather information would have a relatively small number of On-Camera Meteorologists (OCM). Based on the available resources, the provider of perishable information can deliver only a maximum amount of video programs having localized perishable information for delivery to consumers. For example, The Weather Channel® spends approximately 4 hours each day within its several studios to formulate local forecast videos for a subset of its cities and regions. In addition to the costs associated with the studios and OCP, technology in the form of cameras, editors, and web servers forms another significant cost in providing video to consumers over the Internet.
Due to constraints on resources, consumers are not able to receive video programs that are specific to each city or region within the country, let alone for other countries. With regard to weather information, consumers are not able to download from the Internet a video program containing the local forecast for every city or region currently served by The Weather Channel®. While consumers can download a web page from the Internet from weather.com which shows local conditions and forecasts, the consumer cannot receive a corresponding video program from the Internet for every city or region. These same shortcomings are also associated with other types of perishable information, such as financial or sports news.

Systems and methods for formulating and delivering video having perishable information


A method for removing leukocytes from a leukocyte-containing blood product, include subjecting a leukocyte-containing blood product to a first stage leukocyte-removing treatment to remove at least 60% of all leukocytes contained in the leukocyte-containing blood product, thereby obtaining a leukocyte-depleted blood product, and passing the leukocyte-depleted blood product through a microfilter element to perform a second stage leukocyte-removing treatment, the microfilter element having a non-woven or a woven fabric including fibers having an average diameter of from 0.3 to 1.6 .mu.m. A filter system for removing leukocytes from a leukocyte-containing blood product, to includes a first filter element for the first stage and a second filter element for the second stage, wherein the first filter element communicates with the second filter element and is positioned upstream of the second filter element with respect to a direction in which a leukocyte-containing blood product is to be flowed. By the method and filter system of the present invention, leukocytes can effectively be removed from a leukocyte-containing blood product to a level of a leukocyte residual ratio of 10.sup.-4 or less and, in addition, a miniaturization of leukocyte-removing filters can be attained.

In recent years, in the field of blood transfusion, a leukocyte-free blood transfusion in which leukocytes are removed from a blood product before transfusion is increasingly employed. This is because it has become apparent that side effects of transfusion, such as headache, nausea, chills and non-hemolytic feverish reaction, and side effects more serious to a recipient, such as allosensitization, post-transfusion GVHD (graft versus host disease) and viral infection, are mainly caused by leukocytes contained in a blood product employed in transfusion.
It is known that the number of leukocytes injected into a recipient at one transfusion must be limited to about 100,000,000 or less in order to avoid relatively slight side effects, such as headache, nausea, chills and fever. For meeting this requirement, leukocytes must be removed from a blood product to a level of 10.sup.-1 to 10.sup.-2 or less in terms of a leukocyte residual ratio. With respect to allosensitization, it now attracts the greatest attention in the art of blood transfusion, and it is one of the side effects, prevention of which is most desired. For preventing this serious side effect, it is believed that the number of leukocytes injected into a recipient at one transfusion must be limited to 5,000,000 or less, preferably 1,000,000 or less. For meeting this requirement, leukocytes must be removed from a blood product to a level of 10.sup.-4 or less in terms of a leukocyte residual ratio. With respect to post-transfusion GVHD and viral infection, no generally accepted standards for leukocyte-removal have been established. However, it is expected that infection with a virus, which is believed to exist only in leukocytes, such as cytomegalo virus, adult T cell leukemia virus and post-transfusion GVHD, could be prevented by removing leukocytes to a level of 10.sup.-4 to 10.sup.-6 or less in terms of a leukocyte residual ratio. Further, it is also expected that the probability of infection with a virus, which is believed to exist in both leukocytes and plasma, such as HIV, can be decreased by removing leukocytes.
The methods for removing leukocytes from a blood product can generally be classified into two methods. One is a method in which leukocytes are separated by a centrifuge, taking advantage of a specific gravity difference therebetween. The other is a filtering method in which leukocytes are removed by a filter comprising a fiber material or a spongy structure as a filter medium. In particular, a filtering method in which leukocytes are adsorption-removed by a non-woven fabric is widely employed due to the advantages of high capability to remove leukocytes, ease in handling and low cost.
Most of the conventional leukocyte-removing filters comprising a non-woven fabric are composed of two functionally different filter elements, i.e., a prefilter for removing aggregates, which has an average fiber diameter of from about 3 to 30 .mu.m and a relatively large pore size, and a main filter as an essential element for removing leukocytes, which is comprised of fibers having an average diameter of from about 1.7 to 3 .mu.m. With respect to the above-mentioned prefilter, it is preferably comprised of a plurality of layers in which the average fiber diameters and the pore sizes of the layers are decreased in the direction from a blood inlet toward a blood outlet (Japanese Patent Application Publication Specification No. 2-13588 and WO 89/03717). Aggregates are formed by aggregation of denatured blood components comprising fibrinogen, fibrin, denatured protein, nucleic acid and/or fat globule, or by aggregation of cellular components, such as leukocytes and platelets. The aggregates are highly sticky, and their sizes have a very broad distribution, i.e., from several microns to 100 .mu.m, sometimes exceeding 1 mm. Accordingly, as in the case of separating particles with sieves, it is requisite to first capture and remove large aggregates with a filter having a large pore size, and then to remove smaller aggregates by the use of filters having stepwise decreasing pore sizes. Some of the leukocytes may rather secondarily be captured by a prefilter at its layer having the smallest pore size, which layer is to be utilized to remove small aggregates. However, the proportion of such captured leukocytes is extremely small. Essentially, the removal of leukocytes must be effected by the use of a main filter as described below.
Leukocytes as the principal matter to be removed according to the present invention have a diameter of from 5 to 20 .mu.m, and their sizes are much more uniform than those of aggregates. It is believed that the removal of leukocytes by a filter is due to the adsorption thereof onto the fibers contained in the filter. The present inventors previously found that the concentration of leukocytes passing through a fiber laminate decreases in exponential relationship with the thickness of the fiber laminate (Japanese Patent Application No. 1-296269). This suggests that leukocytes are adsorbed with a certain probability onto fibers at every contact of leukocytes with fibers around their crossover points during the flow of leukocytes through the fiber laminate in the direction of the thickness of the fiber laminate, and hence supports the above belief that the removal of leukocytes by a filter is due to the adsorption thereof onto the fibers.
The terminology "crossover point" used herein is defined below. That is, in a filter element comprised of a large number of fibers, the "crossover point" refers to points where at least two fibers are engaged with each other in a crossing relationship, points where at least two fibers are engaged with each other in a grade separation relationship with a minor spacing therebetween which is smaller than the diameter of each leukocyte, and points where at least two fibers are engaged with each other in an adjacent relationship with an inter-fiber spacing therebetween which is smaller than the diameter of each leukocyte.
Accordingly, the conventional investigations on a main filter as a member of a filter for removing leukocytes have been focused on increasing the above adsorption probability, i.e., decreasing an average fiber diameter, increasing a packing density, and the like.
On the other hand, in H. Prins; use of microfiber nonwovens in blood filtration, Session Applications 1-Filtration & Separation, Index 90 Congress, N.P.B.I., The Netherlands, it is described that among leukocytes, granulocytes are removed by adhesion and lymphocytes are removed by sieving mechanism so that it is necessary to employ functionally different filter elements, one being adapted for granulocytes and the other being adapted for lymphocytes. Further, it is described that a filter element having an average fiber diameter of 5 .mu.m was used for the removal of granulocytes while a filter element having an average fiber diameter of 2.5 .mu.m was used for the removal of lymphocytes. However, the filter disclosed in this reference is of a large size, and no contemplation appears in the reference with respect to improvement of the performance of the filter, e.g., removal of leukocytes to a level of 10.sup.-4 or less in terms of a final leukocyte residual ratio. Actually, the filter element having an average fiber diameter of 5 .mu.m corresponds to the above-mentioned prefilter. Although this filter element removes a portion of leukocytes, the primary function thereof is to remove small aggregates as described in the reference as well. On the other hand, the filter element having an average fiber diameter of 2.5 .mu.m which is used for removing lymphocytes, also removes a large proportion of granulocytes, and this filter element corresponds to the above-mentioned conventional main filter. Accordingly, no problem is posed even if both granulocytes and lymphocytes are removed by a filter element having an average fiber diameter of 2.5 .mu.m without the removing of granulocytes by a filter element having an average fiber diameter of 5 .mu.m. That is, the filter element having an average fiber diameter of 5 .mu.m is not considered as an element which is indispensable for the removal of leukocytes. Actually, in the reference, no contemplation is made with respect to the necessity to remove granulocytes by means of a filter element having an average fiber diameter of 5 .mu.m prior to the use of a filter element having an average fiber diameter of 2.5 .mu.m.
Moreover, the filter element having an average fiber diameter of 2.5 .mu.m corresponds to the conventional main filter as mentioned above, and hence a high leukocyte removal efficiency cannot be expected with respect to this type of filter element.
Illustratively stated, in the reference, there is neither intention to remove granulocytes by means of a filter element having an average fiber diameter of 5 .mu.m (which can be regarded as a prefilter in the reference) prior to the filtration by the use of a filter element having an average fiber diameter of 2.5 .mu.m (which can be regarded as a main filter in the reference), nor recognition of the necessity of the same.
Recently, in accordance with wider recognition of the importance of leukocyte-free blood transfusion, a filter for removing leukocytes which exhibits an improved leukocyte removal efficiency and has a smaller size and a smaller internal space volume, has been demanded in the art. Usually, a blood product remaining inside a filter after filtration operation to remove leukocytes is discarded together with the filter. Therefore, to minimize the waste of blood product, a filter having a small internal space volume is demanded. The terminology "internal space volume" used herein means the volume of the whole space inside a filter in which a filter element is placed, the whole space including the void portion of the filter element. With respect to the capability of removing leukocytes, even the most effective filter known in the art can remove leukocytes to a level of a leukocyte residual ratio of about 10.sup.-3 at the best, and further it cannot avoid the above-mentioned serious side effects. Generally, it is desired that the proportion of blood product discarded with a filter be limited to a level as low as 10-15% or less. For meeting this requirement, it is desired that the filter be of a small size such that it has an internal space volume as small as 35 ml or less per unit of whole blood or red cell product or as small as 20 ml or less per 5 units of platelet product. However, the conventional filters cannot simultaneously realize both high leukocyte removal efficiency and satisfactorily small internal space volume.
The measures for improving leukocyte removal efficiency which can readily be conceived by persons skilled in the art would be to increase the amount of main filter or to employ a filter element having a smaller average fiber diameter. For increasing the amount of main filter while keeping the internal space volume thereof at the above-mentioned value or less, it is necessary to increase the packing density of main filter in a container so as to suppress the internal space volume. Generally, the upper limit of the packing density is about 0.4 g/cm.sup.3. At a higher packing density, it is difficult to accomplish the packing in a container due to the repulsive force of non-woven fabric. To avoid this difficulty, heat pressing or the like may be performed for the non-woven fabric. However, this results in a collapse of the non-woven fabric into a film, which can no longer function as a filter. Therefore, for improving leukocyte removal efficiency, it is necessary to adopt a method in which the amount of main filter is increased while keeping the packing density at 0.4 g/cm.sup.3 or less, or a method in which a main filter having a smaller average fiber diameter is used (as a result of the studies of the present inventors, it has been found that in order to attain a leukocyte residual ratio of 10.sup.-4 or less while keeping the packing density at a value within the above-mentioned range, the average fiber diameter of non-woven fabric must be 1.6 .mu.m or less).
In either method, however, there has been a problem that the improvement of the capability of leukocyte removal is inevitably accompanied by an increase of a pressure loss in a main filter region during the passage of a blood product so that filtering speed is drastically lowered before the completion of filtration of a predetermined amount of blood.
As mentioned hereinbefore, according to the finding of the present inventors, the concentration of leukocytes passing a fiber laminate is decreased in an exponential relationship with the thickness of the fiber laminate in the passage of a blood product through the fiber laminate. Further, it has been found that the smaller the average fiber diameter and the higher the packing density, the greater the degree of this decrease. Accordingly, an increase in the capability of leukocyte removal with an internal space volume limited to within the above-mentioned range may be performed by employing fibers having a small average diameter or increasing a packing density in a main filter. However, these measures are inevitably accompanied by serious problems, as mentioned hereinbefore. That is, when these measures are actually adopted in order to improve a leukocyte residual ratio to 10.sup.-4 or less, the leukocyte-removing ability is improved but a pressure loss is increased in a main filter region during the passage of a blood product with the improvement of the capability of the main filter to remove leukocytes, so that filtering speed is drastically lowered before the completion of filtration of a predetermined amount of blood. With a view toward elucidating the reason for the problems, the present inventors have made intensive studies with respect to the factors increasing the pressure loss of a filter. As a result, it has unexpectedly been found that the major reason for the problems is a clogging of the filter with leukocytes.
Before the present invention, it has generally been believed that the pressure loss of a filter is essentially attributed to a viscous resistance of blood passing through the filter, and that the voids of the filter through which blood can flow are clogged with aggregates and thus an increase in pressure loss accompanying blood filtration occurs due to an increase in linear velocity of blood in the remaining unclogged portions. Further, it has been known since the time a flocculent fiber mass was used in a leukocyte-removing filter that blood flow rate is drastically lowered when fibers having a small average fiber diameter are employed and that the same occurs when packing density is increased. In such a case, however, blood flow rate is low from the initial stage of blood filtration. This is a phenomenon which is clearly different from the problem of flow rate being rapidly lowered from the middle of blood filtration as currently encountered by the present inventors. That is, the problem is attributed to a sharp increase in viscous resistance of blood which is caused by effecting a diameter minimization and a packing density increase for a flocculent fiber mass. This problem has been solved by the use of a non-woven fabric as a filter material, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication Specification No. 2-13587.
In fact, the degree of viscous resistance of blood has never become a problem with respect to the conventional leukocyte-removing filters comprised of a non-woven fabric, which filters can remove leukocytes to a level of a leukocyte residual ratio of about 10.sup.-3 or so. Problems relating to pressure loss or flow rate, if any, have been concerned with clogging of the filter with aggregates which increased during the storage of blood, especially in the case of filtration of old blood which has been stored for a prolonged period of time, which clogging causes a pressure loss increase and a filtration speed lowering from the middle of blood filtration. These problems have also been solved by employing a prefilter for removal of aggregates as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication Specification No. 2-13588, and such filters have conventionally been widely utilized in the art.

Method for removing leukocytes and a filter system for removing the same


Dry powders of .alpha.1-antitrypsin are administered pulmonarily to patients to treat, for example, certain types of emphysema. The dry powder compositions may comprise aggregates of fine particles, which aggregates are friable and break-up upon dispersion in a flowing gas stream. Typically, the dispersed powders are captured in a chamber and subsequently inhaled by a patient for pulmonary treatment of emphysema and other conditions.

Neutrophil elastase is a broad spectrum protease that is known to have access to the tissues of the lung. This protease is generally capable of degrading all major protein components of the alveolar interstitium. The unrestrained action of this protease, with its elastolytic properties can lead to the destruction of lung connective tissue and to the anatomic and functional derangements of pulmonary emphysema. Smith, et al., J. Clin. Invest. 84:1145-1154 (1989).
.alpha.1-antitrypsin (".alpha.1AT") is a protease inhibitor with inhibitory activity toward neutrophil elastase. A deficiency of .alpha.1-antitrypsin in the lower respiratory tract has been found to be central to the pathogenesis of emphysema due to the critical role of .alpha.1AT in protecting alveolar structures from neutrophil elastase. .alpha.1AT deficiency is a genetic disorder characterized by low plasma and lung levels of the inhibitor and the development of emphysema by the third to fourth decades.
In addition to genetic deficiencies in .alpha.1AT, it has been found that the lungs of cigarette smokers are burdened with neutrophils. In particular, significantly increased numbers of neutrophils have been found in cell suspensions isolated from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and from open lung biopsies of both normal and sarcoid cigarette smokers compared with non-smokers. Hunnighake and Crystal, Am. Rev. Respir. Dis. 128:833-838 (1983).
Treatment methods for .alpha.1AT deficiency, whether genetic or acquired, have primarily focused around augmentation therapy, providing an exogenous source of .alpha.1AT to patients suffering from such a deficiency. Intravenous administration has been previously employed in this augmentation therapy to provide an exogenous source of .alpha.1AT. However, in order to provide effective concentrations of the inhibitor in the tissue where it is needed, e.g., lung tissue, intravenous methods require administration of large amounts of .alpha.1AT, e.g., 4 to 5 grams/week. Further, this intravenous administration generally must be carried out in a hospital setting.
Successful results have been reported using aerosol administration of liquid .alpha.1AT formulations. Aerosol administration provides local delivery of the inhibitor to the effected tissue of the lower respiratory tract, thereby requiring lower dosages. See, Published European Patent Application No. 0 289 336, Smith et al., J. Clin. Invest. 84:1145-1154 (1989), Hubbard et al. J. Clin. Invest. 84:1349-1354 (1989), Hubbard, et al. Lung Suppl. 565-578 (1990).
Despite the improvements in .alpha.1AT augmentation therapy, problems still remain. In particular, previously reported liquid aerosol methods provide effective levels of .alpha.1AT in the lung tissue for only short periods, e.g., on the order of several hours, thereby requiring often repeated treatments at higher dosage levels, e.g., >200 mg/day. Thus, there is need for a method of administering .alpha.1AT to patients which will provide longer term benefits from a single treatment, thereby requiring lower and fewer doses. The present invention meets these and other needs.

Method and apparatus for pulmonary administration of dry powder .alpha.1-antitrypsin