A method for preventing the formation of platelet-rich clots or thrombus, and for deaggregating platelet-rich clots or thrombus, using hementin, a polypeptide derived from leech salivary glands. Hementin may be administered for this purpose in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient, with or without additional anticoagulants such as hirudin, hirudin analogues, or an inhibitor of factor Xa.

Thrombosis is the disease process which culminates in the formation of a blood clot (thrombus or embolism) which blocks (occludes) a blood vessel supplying blood to a vital organ, such as the heart or brain. Unless these thrombi are treated, the result can be death by heart attack (myocardial infarction), pulmonary embolism or stroke. In addition to these life threatening forms of thrombosis, there is a plethora of minor thrombotic events and conditions which are mainly due to inappropriate formation of clots in the vasculature. Examples of such events are deep vein thrombosis and, more seriously, the thrombosis caused by bacterial infection resulting in septic shock. The mechanism by which thrombosis occurs is very complex and not completely understood but is believed in some cases to be initiated by the exposure of a diseased part of the blood vessel wall (atheromatous lesion) to the normal healing process of blood clotting (haemostasis) which involves the accumulation at the site of injury of blood components such as platelets and fibrin deposits.
At some point, unless treatment is given, such a thrombus grows sufficiently large either to occlude the vessel in which it is formed or it breaks off and travels in the blood stream until it blocks a blood vessel of smaller diameter (this phenomenon being known as embolism).
At present treatment for thrombotic disease is largely confined to two well-known forms of therapy, as follows:
1. prevention of clot formation with anti-coagulants, and PA1 2. cleavage of a fibrin clot (by fibrinolysis or thrombolysis) by administration of a plasminogen activator such as tissue plasminogen activator (TPA) in order to activate the production of plasmin from plasminogen.
However, a material has not as yet been identified which can, in a therapeutically effective amount, specifically dissolve or deaggregate platelet aggregates, which often occlude blood vessels in the manner described above. (A therapeutically effective amount is an amount which would be acceptable to a patient, with acceptably low risk of adverse side effects, such as general proteolysis.)
The linkages between the platelets present in platelet aggregates generally comprise fibrinogen, but there is no direct correlation such that materials having fibrinogenolytic properties are necessarily capable of platelet aggregate deaggregation. Thrombolytic agents without the ability to deaggregate platelet aggregates have been identified and it is known that many fibrinogenolytic enzymes (although capable of dissolving fibrinogen) cannot deaggregate platelet aggregates. For example, plasminogen activators such as streptokinase or urokinase do not deaggregate platelet aggregates and neither do N-terminal fibrinogenases such as thrombin or fibrinogenases isolated from snake venom.
The differing roles, and hence modes of action, of hementin and plasminogen activators, in respectively breaking up fibrin clots and platelet aggregates, are illustrated in FIG. 1. Plasminogen activators promote the conversion of plasminogen to plasmin which acts on fibrin clots; in contrast hementin has been found to act on the fibrinogen linkages of the platelet aggregates so as to cause subsequent deaggregation of the aggregates by preferential cleavage.
Deaggregation of platelet aggregates was thought to be impossible by treatment of the aggregates with a specific enzyme (such as a fibrinogenase) in a therapeutically effective manner. TPA is known in excessively high concentrations (i.e. in substantial excess of a therapeutically effective amount) to promote deaggregation of platelet aggregates by proteolysis by plasmin of fibrinogen-crosslinked platelets. However, TPA does not selectively deaggregate platelet aggregates; furthermore it has an adverse effect on other clotting factors in the circulation system (such as Factor X) and can cause lysis of haemostatic plugs which arise in repair areas in the vasculature. It has been suggested that this non-specific action of plasminogen activators may be the cause of haemorrhaging which often occurs with such thrombolytic agents. The action of TPA is analogous to that of an unspecific protease and is not specific to the fibrinogen linkages of the platelet aggregates.
Another factor precluding the use of TPA to deaggregate platelet aggregates in vivo is that it would be necessary to administer an unacceptably high level to a patient for the administered TPA to have the desired therapeutic effect. Furthermore, TPA is inhibited by plasma and it would therefore be necessary to administer the TPA as a continuous perfusion for it to retain its deaggregating activity against platelet aggregates.
Various materials having activity in mammalian cardiovascular systems are known to be present in leech secretions; amongst these is hementin, a fibrinolytic enzyme derived from leeches of the order Rhynchobdellida, such as the leech species Haementeria ghilianii. Hementin, and the isolation thereof, is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,390,630.
The fibrinogenolytic activity of hementin is described by Malinconico S. M.; Katz J. B. and Budzynski A. Z. in "Fibrinogen degradation by hementin--a fibrinogenolytic anticoagulant from the salivary glands of the leech Haementeria ghilianii", in J. Lab. Clin. Med. 1984; 104(5) pp842-854. There is no hint or suggestion in either this article, or in the abovementioned U.S. Pat. No. 4,390,630, of hementin having the unique ability relative to other fibrinogenolytic enzymes, to deaggregate platelet aggregates.


A contactless flash EPROM cell array with poly 1 isolation blocks and process for its manufacture. The cell array includes poly 1 isolation blocks that are spaced-apart from a pair of drain lines of adjacent cells along a poly 2 word line in a manner that isolates the pair of drain lines from an adjacent pair. The poly 1 isolation blocks are separated from a silicon substrate by an insulating layer and from overlying word lines by an interpoly insulator. This insulating layer also separates floating gates from the substrate. To make the cell array, an insulating-layer/poly 1/interpoly insulator stacked structure is first produced. The stacked structure is masked and patterned to define parallel, spaced-apart poly 1 strips and first and second poly 1 lines that are located between adjacent pairs of the poly 1 strips. Source and drain lines are then formed. Silicon dioxide is grown over the source and drain lines, followed by the formation of poly 2 word lines. Finally, a stacked etch is performed using the word lines as a self-aligned mask to pattern the first and second poly 1 lines to define first and second floating gates and to pattern the poly 1 strips to define poly 1 isolation blocks.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to electrically programmable read only memory (EPROM) devices and, in particular, to a contactless flash EPROM cell array structure that includes polysilicon isolation blocks, and a process for its fabrication.
2. Description of the Related Art
An electrically programmable read only memory (EPROM) device is a non-volatile memory integrated circuit which is used to store binary data. Power can be removed from an EPROM without loss of data. That is, upon reapplying power, the originally stored binary data are retained.
In addition to its data retention capability, an EPROM can also be programmed to store new binary data. Reprogramming is accomplished by first exposing the EPROM to an ultraviolet (UV) light source in order to erase the old binary data. A UV-transparent lid on the packaged EPROM chip allows this erasure to occur. Following erasure, the new binary data are written into the EPROM by deactivating the chip select line in order to switch the EPROM's data outputs to inputs. The EPROM address inputs are then set to a starting value, the desired data are connected to the data inputs and the data are written into the data storage register identified by the address inputs. The address inputs are then incremented and the cycle is repeated for each storage register in the EPROM array.
In an EPROM read operation, the binary data stored in the data storage register identified at the address inputs are connected to the chip's data output buffers. If the EPROM's chip select signal is activated, then the binary data from the selected storage register are provided to the databus.
An electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM) device is a variation of the EPROM design wherein binary data are read, written and erased electrically. A single operation erases a selected data storage register. In the so-called "flash" EPROM device, all data storage registers in the memory array are electrically erased in a single operation.
A standard T-shaped flash EPROM cell array 10 is illustrated in FIGS. 1-3. The T-shaped EPROM cell array 10 includes a thin oxide 12 overlying P-type silicon substrate 14 between N+ drain regions 16 and N+ graded source regions 18, both of which are formed in P-type silicon substrate 14. A polysilicon (poly 1) floating gate 20 overlies thin oxide 12 and field oxide 22. Overlying poly 1 floating gate 20 is a layer of interpoly insulator 24, typically a composite layer of oxide-nitride-oxide (ONO). A polysilicon (poly 2) control gate 26 overlies insulating material 24. Metal bit line 28 is connected to N+ drain regions 16 by drain contacts 30. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, one drain contact 30 is shared by two EPROM cells of the array.
A conventional "contactless" flash EPROM cell is illustrated in FIGS. 4-8. As shown in FIG. 4, an EPROM cell within the array 40 does not share one contact between two cells, as is the case in the conventional flash EPROM cell. Rather, in a contactless flash EPROM, the N+ bit lines are contacted every 32, 48 or 64 cells.
As shown in FIGS. 4-6, and further described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,371,030 to Bergemont which is fully incorporated herein by reference, two adjacent cells within array 40 share the same graded source line S and are separated from other cells in the array along the same polysilicon (poly 2) word line 42 (not shown in FIG. 5) by field oxide (FOX) isolation strips 44. That is, as is best shown in FIG. 5, the separate drains D.sub.1 and D.sub.2 of adjacent cells share a common source S. Each column of shared-source cells is separated from adjacent shared-source cells (e.g. D.sub.1 '/D.sub.2 '-S' is separated from D.sub.1 /D.sub.2 -S and D.sub.1 "/D.sub.2 "-S" in FIG. 5) along the same poly 2 word line 42 by FOX isolation strips 44.
As further illustrated in FIGS. 4, 6 and 7, conventional contactless flash EPROM cell array 40 includes a polysilicon (poly 1) floating gate 46, interpoly insulator 48 (typically an ONO composite layer) and array field oxide regions 50.
Traditionally, increases in EPROM, EEPROM, flash EPROM and contactless flash EPROM cell array density have been accomplished by reducing the dimensions of the cell features produced by the photolithographic and etching procedures utilized in fabricating the cells. Unfortunately, conventional FOX fabrication processes, e.g. Local Oxidation of Silicon (LOCOS), result in FOX isolation strips that are wider, due to the lateral encroachment of oxide during the thermal LOCOS growth process, than the minimum geometry that can be produced by lithographic and etching processes.
Still needed in the art is a contactless flash EPROM cell array with isolation structures of the minimum geometry and processes for their fabrication.

Contactless flash eprom using poly silicon isolation and process of making the same


An apparatus includes a first interface a second interface, a third interface and a converter. The first interface may be configured to exchange a high-voltage signal with a high-voltage battery of a vehicle. The second interface may be configured to receive a first low-voltage signal from a source external to the vehicle. The third interface may be configured to present a second low-voltage signal to a power rail of the vehicle. The converter may be configured to (i) generate the high-voltage signal by up-converting the first low-voltage signal while in an up-conversion mode to recharge the high-voltage battery of the vehicle and (ii) generate the second low-voltage signal on the power rail by down-converting the high-voltage signal received from the high-voltage battery while in a down-conversion mode.

Improvements in electronics for modern hybrid/electric automobiles result in high current demands. While the automobile is running, a limited amount of current is available. The amount of current is determined by the manufacturer to meet a maximum current that the automobile systems can consume. A small "extra" current capacity is commonly left in reserve. After-market high-power loads added to the automobile typically exceed the reserve current capacity of the power source. Furthermore, when the automobile is not running, conventional batteries typically cannot meet the steady-state current demands of the high-power loads. If the batteries can satisfy the loads, the batteries are usually drained in a short time. A conventional solution is to provide additional batteries to lengthen the battery-only time. However, the additional batteries consume a large amount of space and add significant weight to the automobile.
It would be desirable to implement an auxiliary power supply system for high power loads in a hybrid/electric vehicle.

Auxiliary power supply system for high power loads in a hybrid/electric vehicle


Stably-transformed human cell lines containing a human gamma interferon-responsive human HLA-DR.alpha. promoter operatively linked to a reporter gene are provided. Also provided are methods for using such transformed cell lines to screen for agonists and/or antagonists of human gamma interferon.

Gamma interferon (IFN-.gamma.) is a cytokine produced by activated helper T cells, one of the most characteristic activities of which is the upregulation of MHC class IIgene expression. Class II genes (HLA-DR, -DP and -DQ) of the human major histocompatibility complex encode polymorphic cell surface glycoproteins that are expressed in specific cells of the immune system, such as B lymphocytes, macrophages, monocytes and activated T lymphocytes.
The class IIgene products are essential for cellular interactions involved in the immune response, including antigen presentation to helper T cells. It has been shown that, in addition to other biological functions, IFN-.gamma. plays a modulatory role in antigen presentation by increasing the level of class IIgene transcription in class II-positive cells as well as inducing its expression in the otherwise class II-negative cells, which include epithelial cells, fibroblasts, endothelial cells and astrocytes [Taylor et al., Virus Res. 15:1 (1990)].
Abnormal levels or aberrant expression of class II gene products have been implicated in the onset of several autoimmune diseases such as experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis [Massa et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 84:4219 (1987)]. Interestingly, a neutralizing antibody to IFN-.gamma. has been shown to abrogate the effects of autoimmune disease in the (NZB.times.NZW) F1 mouse model system of systemic lupus erythematosus [Jacob et al., J. Exp. Med. 166:798 (1987)].
Induction of class IIgene expression by IFN-.gamma. is regulated in part at the transcriptional level [Basta et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 85:8618 (1988); Blanar et al., Proc. Nat). Acad. Sci. USA 85:4672 (1988)]. Functional studies have focused on identifying the cis-acting elements that are important for regulated class II gene expression.
Chimaeric DNA constructs containing 5' promoter deletions of the HLA-DR.alpha. gene linked to a reporter gene such as the bacterial chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) gene have been transiently transfected into several types of cells. From these studies, sequences that are important for IFN-.gamma.-induced expression in glioblastoma cells have been identified [Basta et al., J. Immunol. 138:1275 (1987); Basta et al., supra], as well as regions important for constitutive expression in lymphoblastoid cells and inducible expression in HeLa cells [Sherman et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 84:4254 (1987); Tsang et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 85:8598 (1988); Sherman et al., Mol. Cell. Biol. 9:50 (1989); Tsang et al., Mol. Cell. Biol. 10:711 (1990)].
Within the regions that have been identified as functionally important, highly-conserved sequences designated as X, Y, Z/W-boxes and an octamer (O) binding site have been noted [Miwa et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 84:4939 (1987); Dorn et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 84:6249 (1987); Sherman et al., Mol. Cell. Biol. 9:50 (1989); Tsang et al., Mol. Cell. Biol. 10:711 (1990)]. Mutational studies have suggested the functional importance of these elements.
For example, all four elements (X, Y, Z and O) are necessary for B cell specificity, whereas only the X, Y, and Z boxes are required for IFN-.gamma. inducibility. In addition, the Z box and sequences flanking the Z and X boxes appear to help in establishing low levels of expression in T cells and uninduced cells.
X-box binding is defective in cells from patients with the combined immunodeficiency syndrome, a hereditary disease characterized by the absence of class II expression in all tissues [Reith et al., Cell 53:897 (1988); Sherman et al., Mol. Cell. Biol. 9:50 (1989); Tsang et al., Mol. Cell. Biol. 10:711 (1990)].
The cloning of some of the DNA-binding proteins including those recognizing the X and Y boxes has been achieved, but their presence does not appear to correlate precisely with IFN-.gamma.-induced expression [Liou et al., Science 242:69 (1988); Celada et al., Mol. Cell. Biol. 9:3097 (1989); Reith et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86:4200 (1989)].
Because of its involvement in autoimmune disorders, there is impetus for the development of agents that can antagonize the effects of IFN-.gamma.. Yet, it has long been known that such interferon also has beneficial antiviral and antiproliferative activities that are useful in the treatment of neoplastic and viral diseases. For that reason, efforts are also being made to find agonists of IFN-.gamma..
The search for such agonists and antagonists would be facilitated by the development of a fast and effective in vitro screening system.

Human gamma interferon antagonist/agonist screen


A tibial component for use in conjunction with a knee replacement surgery. An inferior surface of the tibial component may be concave to thereby improve bonding between the tibial component and a tibia. The tibial component may produce low stress in the cement mantle during in-vivo loading. A stem extending from the inferior surface of the tibial component may include an anterior curvature to facilitate the use of minimally evasive surgical techniques. The stem may further include medial-lateral wing portions with a posterior curvature to provide improved support.

1. The Field of the Present Disclosure
The present disclosure relates generally to prostheses and more particularly, but not necessarily entirely, to knee joint prostheses and to a method of installing knee joint prostheses during a knee replacement surgery.
2. Description of Related Art
Knee joint replacement surgery involves replacing a knee joint with an artificial knee joint, referred to sometimes herein as a "prosthesis" or "implant." Artificial knees may comprise a tibial component and a femoral component. To begin a knee joint replacement, a surgeon may make an incision on the front of the knee to allow access to the joint. Several different approaches may be utilized to make the incision. Once the knee joint is opened, the surgeon may prepare the end of the femur bone to receive the femoral component by making one or more cuts to the bone. A cutting guide may be utilized to ensure proper alignment. The femoral component may then be installed onto the end of the femur. The femoral component may replace the bottom surface of the femur bone and the groove where the patella sits.
Next, the surface of the tibia bone may be prepared for receiving the tibial component. In particular, the top of the tibia may be removed by the surgeon leaving a relatively flat surface. The tibial component may include a stem that is then inserted into the tibia. Bone cement may be utilized to secure the tibial component to the tibia. The tibial component may replace the top surface of the tibia bone. The tibial component may include a surface for receiving the femoral component. The surgeon may then close the incision.
Several shortcomings exist for the previously available tibial components. For example, the stem geometry for previously available tibial components have not been overly conducive to minimally invasive surgery (MIS). That is, previously available tibial components included stems that required extensive displacement of tissue during surgery in order to install the stems into the tibia bone. This extensive displacement of tissue led directly to increased patient recovery time.
Another shortcoming of previously available tibial components is that their design could lead to failure of the bond between the tibia component and the tibia. For example, some previously available tibial components included undercut cement grooves and channels that were utilized to anchor the components using bone cement. Disadvantageously, these grooves and channels produced non-uniform stress fields during in-vivo loading that loosened the tibial components from the tibia.
The prior art is thus characterized by several disadvantages that are addressed by the present disclosure. The present disclosure minimizes, and in some aspects eliminates, the above-mentioned failures, and other problems, by utilizing the methods and structural features described herein.
The features and advantages of the present disclosure will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by the practice of the present disclosure without undue experimentation. The features and advantages of the present disclosure may be realized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.


An anode material composed mainly of a difficultly graphatizable carbon or coke (easily graphatizable coke) consisting essentially of carbon, phosphorus and oxygen, and containing phosphorus in an amount of 0.2 to 9.0 wt %, is disclosed. The anode material exhibits a peak in a .sup.31 P solid NMR spectrum in a range of .+-.100 ppm based on orthophosphoric acid, and a peak in a 2p orbital spectrum of a phosphorus atom in XPS of not more than 135 eV. The anode material is prepared by adding phosphoric acid or phosphorus oxides to an organic material or a carbonic material. A non-aqueous liquid electrolyte cell is produced from the above anode material, an Li-containing cathode and a liquid electrolyte.

The electrical capacity of a carbonaceous material per unit weight is governed by lithium dosage, and hence it is desirable that lithium dosage of the carbonaceous material be as large as possible in order to increase the charging/discharging capacity of the cell. (Theoretically, one Li atom per six carbon atoms represents an upper limit.)
Up to now, a carbonaceous material obtained by carbonizing an organic material, as described in JP Patent KOKAI Publication No. 62-122066 (1986) or JP Patent KOKAI Publication No. 62-90863 (1987), has been known as the carbonaceous material employed for the anode for this type of the cell.
However, with the above described carbonaceous material, lithium dosage is insufficient and is of the order of about one half of the theoretical value.
The present invention has been proposed for further improving the carbonaceous material. It is an object of the present invention to provide an anode material having lithium dosage far exceeding that of the conventional carbonaceous material, and a method for producing such anode material.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a non-aqueous electrolyte dell having a large discharge capacity and superior in cycle life.

Anode material, method for producing it and non-aqueous electrolyte cell employing such anode materials


The present invention relates to a device (1) comprising an input for receiving an input; calculation means (P) for producing a response (OUTPUT) in response to the input (INPUT) and a secret key (A) by utilizing a first predetermined function (f), and an output (3) for feeding said response (OUTPUT) further. In order for an attacker not be able to find out the secret key, the device further comprises a memory (M) in which the key-specific number (RND) is stored, and means for retrieving the key-specific number (RND) from the memory (M) and for feeding it to the calculation means (P′) for carrying out predetermined calculation operations (f2) on the basis of the key-specific number (RND) when producing said response (OUTPUT).

The present invention relates primarily to authentication devices for authenticating for example a smart card or a similar device based on a secret key. The invention relates particularly to protecting a secret key against attempts by an attacker to find out the secret key. Secret keys are used in authentication operations for example with smart cards, each smart card having an individual secret key for confirming its identity. The present invention is not, however, restricted only to smart cards, but the solution of the invention can be utilized also in other situations requiring the protection of a secret key. However, the invention will be described below by way of example with reference primarily to smart cards.
Previously known is a smart card comprising a memory, for example an EEPROM memory, in which a secret key is stored. The secret key is typically composed of a bit string having a length of no less than 64 bits. The smart card also comprises a processor. To confirm its identity, the smart card communicates with an external authentication process, whereby the authentication process feeds to the smart card an input composed of a bit string. The processor of the smart card then retrieves from the memory a secret key, which was stored therein in advance, and the processor then performs a calculation in accordance with a predetermined function using in the calculation the bit string fed to the smart card and the secret key retrieved from the memory. The smart card feeds the result of the calculation, i.e. the response, from its output to the authentication process.
Since the authentication process is aware of the smart card's secret key and of the function the smart card's processor uses, it is able to perform the same calculation as the smart card. If the result of the calculation performed by the authentication process corresponds to the result obtained from the output of the smart card, the identity of the smart card is confirmed, since only one smart card containing said secret key exists, which thus produces said response in response to the input that was fed thereto.
A weakness related to the above known smart card is that there are ways for an attacker to find out the secret key stored in the smart card's memory. One such way is DPA (Differential Power Analysis), in which different inputs are fed to the smart card repeatedly (several thousand times), and the response obtained from the output of the smart card, the power consumed by the smart card during the calculation, and the radiation generated by the smart card during the calculation are simultaneously monitored. By keeping statistics of the input, power consumption, radiation, and response, the attacker can find out the secret key stored in the card's memory. If an attacker finds out the secret key, he is able to for example clone the smart card, i.e. make another smart card in which the same secret key is stored. Such cloning may cause significant harm, for example if said smart card is a person's identity card by which the person can be electronically identified.


One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for providing help content related to a software application to a user. The technique involves receiving textual input related to a first software application from a first user and comprising help content and generating a first discussion element based on the textual input. The technique further involves receiving first contextual information associated with the first user and related to the first software application, associating the first contextual information with the first discussion element, and transmitting the first discussion element to a server machine for processing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to computer software, and, more specifically, to an approach for providing in-product questions, answers and tips relative to a software application.
2. Description of the Related Art
A wide variety of software applications are currently available to end-users, including computer-aided design (CAD) applications, computer graphics applications, animation applications, word processing applications, and computer programming applications, among others. Many of these software applications allow an end-user to interact with the software application via a graphical end-user interface (GUI). Conventional GUIs often provide the end-user with access to a set of tools that can be used to perform various operations within a workspace generated by the software application. For example, a CAD application could provide a set of drawing tools that could be used to create complex designs within a drawing workspace generated by the CAD application. In such a case, each tool in the set of tools would be represented within the GUI with an icon that the end-user could select in order to use the tool.
Despite advances in application designs that allow end-users to more easily operate complex applications, learning how to use such applications can still be problematic. More complex applications, for example, like the CAD application described above, often include thousands of commands or functions from which to choose and many ways for an end-user to combine these functions into workflows. Consequently, with unfamiliar aspects of complex applications, even expert end-users may require assistance.
In an effort to provide users with guidance regarding how to use unfamiliar aspects of a software application, the application may include a static database of preloaded help content which is infrequently updated by the application developer. However, if a specific issue encountered by a user is not addressed in the help database, the user must interrupt his or her workflow to seek outside resources for a solution.
Online support forums, which enable users to post questions and receive answers from others, are one type of outside resource available to users. However, online support forums can be difficult to navigate and lack conciseness, with relevant answers often being buried within lengthy "off-topic" discussions. Further, such forums are not optimized to enable users to resolve specific command-level issues. As a result, within a lengthy forum topic or "thread," a particular question may be asked and answered numerous times, since users are either unable or unwilling spend time navigating and searching the forum for previously resolved issues. Moreover, when using an online support forum, accurately formulating questions using proper terminology and necessary images and/or attachments can be difficult and cumbersome for users. These different factors oftentimes combine to discourage many users from posting questions and answers on support forums, due to the time and effort required to do so.
As the foregoing illustrates, there is a need in the art for a more effective way for users to submit questions and provide answers and tips to other users within the software community.


A method is disclosed for fabricating a two- or three-dimensional photonic bandgap structure (also termed a photonic crystal, photonic lattice, or photonic dielectric structure). The method uses microelectronic integrated circuit (IC) processes to fabricate the photonic bandgap structure directly upon a silicon substrate. One or more layers of arrayed elements used to form the structure are deposited and patterned, with chemical-mechanical polishing being used to planarize each layer for uniformity and a precise vertical tolerancing of the layer. The use of chemical-mechanical planarization allows the photonic bandgap structure to be formed over a large area with a layer uniformity of about two-percent. Air-gap photonic bandgap structures can also be formed by removing a spacer material separating the arrayed elements by selective etching. The method is useful for fabricating photonic bandgap structures including Fabry-Perot resonators and optical filters for use at wavelengths in the range of about 0.2-20 .mu.m.

Photonic bandgap structures are currently being investigated for electromagnetic (EM) wave applications. Such photonic bandgap structures have a two- or three-dimensional periodic array structure in which the propagation of EM waves is governed by band-structure types of dispersion relationships. These photonic bandgap structures provide electromagnetic analogs to electron-wave behavior in crystals, with electron-wave concepts such as reciprocal space, Brillouin zones, dispersion relations, Bloch wave functions, van Hove singularities and tunneling having electromagnetic counterparts in photonic bandgap structures. This will enable the development of many new and improved types of photonic bandgap devices, including devices in which optical modes, spontaneous emission, and zero-point fluctuations are greatly reduced or inhibited. Photonic bandgap structures can also be formed with local disturbances in the periodic array structure, thereby generating defect or cavity modes with frequencies within a forbidden bandgap, for use in forming high-Q resonators or filters.
Photonic bandgap structures can be formed for use in the microwave or millimeter-wave regions of the spectrum by conventional machining processes (e.g. drilling or milling processes) or by laser ablative machining. For applications in the micron to sub-micron wavelength ranges, there is a need for improved fabrication processes that overcome accuracy and reproducibility limitations of conventional machining and laser ablation. For forming such micron or sub-micron range photonic bandgap structures, microelectronic fabrication processes are to be preferred as suggested, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,335,240 to Ho et al.
However, variations in topography have been problematic when trying to form photonic bandgap structures using microelectronic fabrication processes heretofore. Successive deposition and patterning steps can result in an increasingly severe topography which builds up as each succeeding layer of a photonic bandgap structure is formed using conventional microelectronic deposition and patterning processes. This can limit the number of layers in a photonic bandgap structure formed by microelectronic processes or otherwise degrade performance of the completed structure due to variations in vertical dimensioning of the elements formed within different layers of the structure. What is needed is a method for fabricating a photonic bandgap structure that provides for each, and preferably every, layer of elements in the structure to be formed to precise vertical tolerances and that substantially eliminates any topographic buildup during formation of the structure.
An advantage of the fabrication method of the present invention is that a chemical-mechanical polishing step can be used to planarize each layer of a photonic bandgap structure, thereby providing a precise vertical tolerancing for the layer and eliminating any buildup of topographic variations across the layer.
Another advantage of the fabrication method of the present invention is that photonic bandgap structures can be formed with elements having critical dimensions in the range of several tens of microns down to a fraction of a micron (i.e. sub-micron).
A further advantage of the fabrication method of the present invention is that a photonic bandgap structure having a large area of several square centimeters or more can be formed with substantially uniform characteristics.
Yet another advantage is that microelectronics batch processing can be used to form a large of photonic bandgap structures with substantially identical characteristics.
Still another advantage is that the fabrication method of the present invention can be adapted to form either two- or three-dimensional photonic bandgap structures.
These and other advantages of the method of the present invention will become evident to those skilled in the art.

Use of chemical-mechanical polishing for fabricating photonic bandgap structures


A method of disintegrating pulp for use in cellulose acetate production includes: a primary disintegration step of disintegrating a pulp sheet into pulp pieces having an average area of not more than 45 cm2; and a secondary disintegration step of disintegrating the pulp pieces with an impact shock exerted by a jet mill (20). The jet mill (20) includes: a cylindrical casing (21) provided with an inlet (21d) and an outlet (21e); and a rotor (25) including a plurality of blades (25a) provided on its outer peripheral portion, the plurality of blades (25a) facing an inner peripheral surface of the casing (21).

In the production of cellulose acetate used for a cigarette filter tow or the like, first, pulp that is used as a raw material for producing the cellulose acetate is disintegrated. The term "disintegrate" herein means to crush the pulp into fine pieces. Pulp available for use in cellulose acetate production is, for example, wood pulp obtained from wood or linter pulp obtained from cotton linters. These available pulps are sheet-shaped. Such a pulp sheet is disintegrated to obtain a large number of pulp pieces, which are then subjected to a pretreatment in which acetic acid is added to the pulp pieces. Acetic acid that has been cooled down, acetic anhydride, and a sulfuric acid catalyst (mixed acid) are added to the pretreated pulp pieces, and the resulting mixture is subjected to acetylation by using a kneader or the like while performing temperature control by an external jacket or the like. After fully-trisubstituted cellulose acetate (primary cellulose acetate) is obtained by the acetylation, the obtained viscous cellulose acetate is charged into an ageing tank, and a neutralizer such as an aqueous solution of magnesium acetate is added thereto, such that the sulfuric acid is neutralized (fully or partly neutralized) by magnesium, and such that the acetic anhydride is quenched and hydrolyzed by water contained in the aqueous solution of magnesium acetate. Consequently, a cellulose acetate (secondary cellulose acetate) dope with a desirable degree of substitution is obtained. A large amount of water is added to the dope, or the dope is extruded into a large amount of water, such that the cellulose acetate is sedimented in the water. The cellulose acetate sediment is then subjected to solid-liquid separation, washed, and dried. As a result, a cellulose acetate product is obtained.
As described above, the reaction of the cellulose acetate is a solid-liquid reaction between the solid pulp and the liquid mixed acid. Therefore, in order to realize a uniform reaction, it is important for the pulp to be in a properly disintegrated state before undergoing the solid-liquid reaction.
A method adopted for disintegrating the pulp may be a wet disintegration method or a dry disintegration method. In a wet disintegration method, a pulp sheet is disintegrated while adding water or steam thereto (see Patent Literatures 1 and 2, for example). In Patent Literature 1, activation by steam and high-shear stirring in a reactor are performed. However, in this method, the reactor needs to be additionally installed, and also, a great loss of acetic anhydride is caused by water that enters the system. In Patent Literature 2, wood pulp with an α-cellulose content of 92 to 93% is utilized. The wood pulp is disaggregated in an aqueous solution of diluted acetic acid, and thereby slurry is formed. Then, the slurry is repeatedly subjected to dehydration and acetic acid substitution. That is, Patent Literature 2 adopts so-called slurry pretreatment. However, in this method, a large amount of water-containing acetic acid is produced as a byproduct. For this reason, a large amount of energy is required for concentrating and recovering acetic acid, which is unfavorable from economical and environmental viewpoints. Therefore, adopting not a wet disintegration method but a dry disintegration method is practical for disintegrating the pulp for use as a raw material for producing cellulose acetate.
In a dry disintegration method, a pulp sheet in a dry state is directly disintegrated (see Patent Literatures 3 and 4, for example). Patent Literature 3 discloses that pulp that has been roughly disintegrated by a disc refiner having pyramid teeth is more finely disintegrated by a disc refiner having linear teeth, and thereby favorable cellulose acetate is obtained. Patent Literature 4 discloses the use of a turbo mill that includes: a cylindrical outer casing with a liner attached to its inner wall; a plurality of discs that rotate about the center line of the outer casing at high speed; and a large number of blades mounted radially with respect to the center line such that each blade is positioned between adjoining discs. In Patent Literature 4, an object to be disintegrated is fed into the outer casing, and the fed object is exposed to three kinds of impact shocks that are caused by: hitting by the blades; collision with the liner; and high-frequency pressure oscillation generated as a result of the action of the high-speed rotating discs, the blades, and the liner. Consequently, the fed object is disintegrated.

Method of disintegrating pulp for use in cellulose acetate production and method of producing cellulose acetate


A method for cleaning the seat of a double seat valve, the double set valve having a deflection surface bordering the remaining area of a recess not delimiting a circumferential wall and opening out from the latter at a front and radially inside end of a second closing member facing a first closing member. The method rinses the seating when closing members are opened and generates a seat cleaning flow and urges a first cleaning flow through a deflection surface.

The invention relates to a method for cleaning the seat of a double seat valve, which has two serially arranged closing members that are moveable relative to each other, which prevent in the closed position of the double seat valve the overflow of fluids from one valve housing part of a valve housing into another, which delimit amongst each other a leakage cavity both in the closed as well as in the open position, which is connected with the area surrounding the double seat valve via a discharge bore, which is bordered by a tube shaft designed on the first closing member and leading out of the valve housing.
A seat-cleaning-capable double seat valve of the initially identified type for performing the method is known from WO 2007/054 134 A1 or the subsequent application US 2009/0044874 A1. In the case of this double seat valve, the dependently driven (relating to a perpendicular normal position) upper closing member, hereinafter referred to as the second closing member, on a second end section facing an independently driven, lower closing member, hereinafter referred to as the first closing member, has a recess with a cylindrical circumferential wall, which is flush with a cylindrical first seat surface, wherein the recess is dimensioned to receive, during the opening movement, a first end section and a radial first seal of the first closing member in a sealing manner, before the second closing member opens. The first closing member is thereby designed as a pusher piston with a radial first seal and the second closing member either as a pusher piston with a radially acting second seal or conically with an axially/radially acting second seal. The known double seat valve limits among other things the cleaning agent quantity during the respective seat cleaning. Its leakage outlet, which must also discharge these cleaning agent quantities into the area surrounding the double seat valve, is generally measured such that it complies with the requirements or respectively stipulations of the United States Food and Drug Administration of the USA (USFDA) in the "3-A Sanitary Standards for Double-Seat Mixproof Valves, Number 85-02 [1]," which require among other things that the most minimal passage cross-section of the leakage outlet is measured such that it at least corresponds with the passage cross-section of the largest tube conduit that can be connected to the double seat valve (requirement D14.2). Furthermore, in connection with the seat cleaning, additional requirements as per [1] are met, which indicate that the respectively closed seat region is not directly flowed against or pressurized in a pressure-increasing manner by the respectively generated seat cleaning flow (D220.127.116.11) and that the pressure in the closed seat region facing the leakage space must be equal to or less than the atmospheric pressure (D220.127.116.11).
The known double seat valve thus also fulfills other implicit requirements of the above standard as per [1], and namely those that no cleaning agent can pass through in the case of bigger seal defects or even the loss of one of the two seat seals in the course of the seat cleaning of the other closing member via the respective seal defect or respectively the seat region without seat seal. Under these conditions, the known double seat valve not only fulfills the requirement of limiting the cleaning agent quantity and avoiding a direct impact on the seat regions during the seat cleaning, but rather also the requirement of removing the seat cleaning flow to the greatest possible extent without swirling at first into the leakage cavity and from there into the surrounding area, without the respectively closed seat region being directly flowed against or pressurized in a pressure-increasing manner.
Direct impact is understood as all speed components from the respective seat cleaning flow perpendicularly directed at the walls bordering the seat region. It was namely shown that all direct impacts to this effect lead to a conversion of kinetic flow energy to static pressure. Depending on the angle of impact of the flow to the flowed-against wall or body surface, a branch flow with a so-called "branch flow line" results, wherein the latter divides the flow into two halves. The branch flow line itself flows towards the so-called "stagnation point" so that the speed is equal to zero at this point. The pressure increase resulting from this speed stoppage is also called "stagnation pressure". The pressure-increasing mechanisms shown above, if effective, generate a leakage flow over the respective restrictor gap and the defective or no longer present seat seal.
While the aforementioned double seat valve according to WO 2007/054 134 A1 or the subsequent application US 2009/0044874 A1 solves the requirements of the standard as per [1] solely with flow-mechanical means and modes of action on the components of the double seat valve bordering the leakage cavity, DE 10 2007 038 124 A1 or the subsequent application US 2009/0065077 A1 suggests fulfilling the said requirements of the standard as per [1] through a separate third member, a so-called flow barrier element, arranged between the two closing members of the double seat valve and relatively moveable with respect to both. During ventilation of the one closing member and during supplying of the leakage cavity with cleaning agent, this flow barrier element shadows the at least one sealing element and/or the closing member seat of the other closing member, which is located in its closed position, vis-à-vis a direct impact by the cleaning agent entering the leakage cavity. As shown in the description of the aforementioned document, "shadowing" is to be understood such that the sealing element of the respective closing member located in the closed position is not supplied directly and thus with a higher flow speed with the cleaning agent, wherein it is permitted that the cleaning agent is mainly pressure-less and arrives in the area of the closing member seat or of the sealing element of the closing member located in the closed position at a low flow speed so that stagnation pressure cannot form there. As shown in the description, the flow barrier element does not have to rest in a completely sealing manner on the housing side; rather, it is preferably distanced from the housing by a small gap. Furthermore, it can be seen in FIGS. 1, 4 to 7 and 12 to 15 of WO 2007/054 134 A1 or US 2009/0044874 A1 that the leakage outlet fulfills the requirement of the start as per [1] according to D14.2, namely that the most minimal passage cross-section of the leakage outlet corresponds at least with the passage cross-section of the largest tube conduit that can be connected to the double seat valve.
WO 98/41786 A1 (page 11, line 24 to page 12, line 9) or the subsequent application U.S. Pat. No. 6,178,986 B1 (column 6, row 58 to column 7, row 11) already describes but does not claim an independent third member that is relatively moveable with respect to the two closing members of a seat-cleaning-capable double seat valve and is guided in a sealed manner in the cylindrical seating for the first closing member. This known embodiment differs from the object of the post-published DE 10 2007 038 124 A1 or US 2009/0065077 A1 thus mainly through the interaction between the third member, the flow barrier element and the associated cylindrical seating for the first closing member. While the older solution here provides a sealing by means of a radially acting seal in sliding engagement, for the newer solution, the third member does not have to rest in a completely sealing manner on the housing side; rather, it is preferably distanced from the housing by a small radial gap.
The flow barrier element according to DE 10 2007 038 124 A1 or the subsequent application US 2009/0065077 A1 fulfills the aforementioned requirement D18.104.22.168 and, in the case of corresponding dimensioning of the leakage outlet, also the requirement D14.2 as per [1] through its "shadowing" effect in its embodiment sealed on the housing side or even potentially unsealed. The requirement D188.8.131.52 apparently remains unfulfilled because the flow barrier element now appears within the discussed seat-cleaning-capable double seat valve in a significantly modified embodiment, as shown in company document Pentair Südmo Operating Instructions, BAA D 365it Complete PMO, Version 1.01, Double-seat valve type D 365it Complete PMO type D620 [2], published in November 2011 (201111) at URL http://www.suedomo.de/resources/images/790.
The enhanced function of the known flow barrier element designed as an annular body is described in DE 10 2010 046 137 A1, which was published after the company document [2]. The annular body subdivides in the ventilation position of at least one of the closing members together with it the leakage space into a first leakage space section and a second leakage space section. The annular body is designed such that in particular in the respective seat cleaning position generated cleaning medium can pass through the annular body from the first leakage space section into the second leakage space section. This transfer takes place such that the pressure in the second leakage space section is reduced with respect to the pressure in the first leakage space section and the cleaning medium arrives at the leakage outlet from the second leakage space section. Thus, in addition to the function of the shadowing of the seal or respectively of the closing member seat of the closing member located in its closing position, the annular body also takes on the function of the restriction of the respective seat cleaning flow. But this restriction is only possible and sufficient if the annular body is always sufficiently sealed on the housing side and rests respectively in a sealing manner on the ventilated closing member in the necessary manner.
Through this embodiment, it is possible, as illustrated by pages 14 and 25 of the company document [2] and FIG. 1 of DE 10 2010 046 137 A1 with the first closing member and the tube shaft connected with it in mind, to reduce significantly the leakage outlet formed in the tube shaft with respect to the object of DE 10 2007 038 124 A1 or US 2009/0065077 A1 and thus in a manner deviating from clause D14.2 of the standard as per [1]. This deviating design of the double seat valve is possible due to exemption clause D188.8.131.52 of the standard as per [1], which says that a leakage outlet that is reduced with respect to D14.2 is permitted if data is made available with the differently designed double seat valve, which shows that the maximum pressure between the valve seats of the double seat valve is less than or equal to the maximum pressure in a connection line provided with an unreduced leakage outlet between a comparable block valve and bleed valve, called "block and bleed" in the standards as per [1].
The double seat valve according to the company document [2] or DE 10 2010 046 137 A1 has the noteworthy advantage that the valve housing can be designed one to two nominal widths smaller than the design with a leakage outlet that is not reduced in cross-section and thus considerably more cost-effectively because, in the open position of the double seat valve, in which the tube shaft penetrates the connection opening between the valve housing parts, the passage cross-section of the annular gap between the tube shaft and the connection opening, which must correspond with the passage cross-section of the largest tube conduit that can be connected to the valve housing, can be realized without the above nominal width enlargement.
The double seat valve according to the company document [2] or DE 10 2010 046 137 A1 has the big disadvantage that, for one, the third member in the form of a flow barrier element sealed on the housing side in connection with the other characteristics of its arrangement in the leakage cavity and inclusion in the closing member configuration causes a complicated and thus problem-prone constructive structure of the double seat valve. Moreover, this additional built-in part in the leakage cavity with additionally necessary sealing means, corners and dead spaces is generally difficult to clean in the passage and thus questionable for sanitary reasons in the proper range of use. A sufficient restriction of the respective seat cleaning flow is also only ensured when this seat cleaning flow passes the systematically provided restriction points in the flow barrier element and is not guided more or less unrestricted in the bypass in the form-fitting connection between the latter and the closing member located in its seat cleaning position.
Experts are thus looking for a solution for how to realize the exemption clause D126.96.36.199 and the clause D18.104.22.168 of the standard as per [1] without additional built-in parts in the leakage cavity of a seat-cleaning-capable double seat valve, and namely with solely flow-mechanical means and modes of action on the previously present components delimiting the leakage cavity.
The object of the invention is to suggest a method for cleaning the seat of a double seat valve and to further develop a double seat valve of the generic type for performing the method, which, even if the cross-sectional surface of the discharge bore is smaller than that of the largest tube conduit that can be connected to the double seat valve, ensure that the seat cleaning flow is guided to the greatest possible extent without swirling into and out of the leakage cavity, and reliably avoid a pressure-increasing, direct impact on the seat regions.

Method for cleaning the seat of a double seat valve and double seat valve for performing the method


A foldable organic light emitting diode (OLED) display panel and an OLED display screen having the fordable OLED display panel are provided. The foldable OLED display panel is provided with an effective display area and a non-display area. The effective display area has a folding region, a first display area and a second display area. The first display area and the second display area are disposed adjacent two lateral sides of the folding region, respectively. The foldable OLED display panel has a first spacer, a second spacer, and an encapsulation layer having a first organic layer and a first inorganic layer. The first organic layer is coated within the folding region and restricted to the folding region by the first spacer and the second spacer. The first inorganic layer is disposed on the first organic layer and completely covers the effective display area.

An organic light emitting diode (OLED) device has a characteristic of flexible display and is considered as a new generation of display technology. In mobile devices, especially in the field of smart phones, the OLED device has broad application prospects. With the development of display technology, display products with static bending function or dynamic bending function have become the development targets that have attracted much attention.
A thin film encapsulation structure of an OLED device is formed by a first inorganic encapsulation layer, an organic encapsulation layer, and a second inorganic encapsulation layer. It is characterized that the first inorganic encapsulation layer directly covers a pixel definition layer (PDL), so that the surface of the first inorganic encapsulation layer may be uneven due to the shape of the pixel definition layer, and thus there is a risk of cracks during bending the panel.
It is therefore necessary to provide a foldable organic light emitting diode display panel and an organic light emitting diode display screen to solve the problems existing in the conventional technology as described above.

Foldable organic light emitting diode display panel and organic light emitting diode display screen

WUHAN CHINA STAR OPTOELECTRONICS SEMICONDUCTOR DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


Systems and methods for processing a high-lactose aqueous fluid (HLAF), such as permeate from ultrafiltration of whey fluid, are described. The preferred process includes concentrating HLAF containing from about 1 to about 35% solids, wherein at least 50% of the solids are lactose, to form a concentrated HLAF containing from about 45 to about 65% solids; further concentrating the HLAF to form a highly concentrated HLAF containing from about 70 to about 80% solids; cooling the highly concentrated HLAF with a gaseous fluid to create a cooling, concentrating, crystallizing cascade to further concentrate the HLAF to form a partially crystallized HLAF containing from about 78 to about 88% solids; and drying the partially crystallized HLAF in an air-lift dryer to form a product rich in crystalline alpha-lactose monohydrate. An air-lift dryer having diverging sidewalls and methods of using same are also disclosed.

As cheesemaking has developed over the years it has become an activity accomplished in larger and larger processing plants, which benefit from efficiencies of scale. As a result, it has become more cost effective for the owners of these plants to process the by-products of cheesemaking. In particular, whey has been shown to have value to cheesemakers due to the value of non-casein proteins, which remain in whey after cheesemaking. These proteins are generally recovered as whey protein concentrates (WPC) or whey protein isolates (WPI) through further processing of the whey. Whey protein concentrates and isolates are typically produced through a series of process steps, which typically include ultrafiltration, evaporation, and drying. A significant demand for such products has developed in the food industry.
Secondary products of this recovery process include a fluid generally referred to as "permeate." The term permeate is generally used to refer to a HLAF which passes through, or permeates through, membrane filters used in ultrafiltration of whey. Typically, about 15% to 30% of the total solids in whey are recovered as the whey protein concentrate/whey protein isolate (WPC/WPI) during traditional ultrafiltration or any of the other known processes for isolating whey proteins. Permeate, therefore, generally contains about 70 to about 85% of the total solids in the whey. These figures vary depending upon the process used to generate the WPC/WPI, but it will be appreciated that, in each case, a larger percentage of the solids is recovered with the permeate than is recovered with the protein fraction isolated as WPC/WPI.
Permeate is an aqueous fluid predominantly containing lactose, along with some low molecular weight proteins, non-protein nitrogen components, minerals, vitamins, and other constituents. The removal of casein and non-casein proteins from milk, however, generally makes the remaining solids in permeate more difficult to dry than might be the case if these proteins were retained in the aqueous fluid. Such proteins are generally considered to be a "drying aid". Since virtually all of the casein and the majority of the non-casein proteins have been removed at this stage of milk processing, permeate is difficult to dry in a cost effective manner. It is this challenge that is addressed by the present invention.
In commercial operations, permeate is often concentrated by a series of steps including reverse osmosis and/or evaporation, which take the fluid to a total solids concentration of about 60%. This concentrated fluid is then crystallized and centrifuged to separate a portion of the lactose that can be further refined, dried, and sold as a commodity product. The remaining "delactosed permeate" (DLP) is generally viewed as a zero-value by-product, even though it generally contains from about 30 to about 35% of the original whey solids from which first the whey protein concentrate/isolate and then the lactose were isolated. The DLP is generally used as a feed supplement for animals. The cost of shipping DLP is generally about the same as its value for animal feed, which is why it is generally considered to be a zero-value by-product.
In the past, many processing plants regarded DLP as a waste product and disposed of it as best they could. Today, with the increase in size of cheese plants and with the general increase in environmental regulations, waste disposal of DLP is not a viable option. If further value could be drawn from the DLP through more cost-effective processing, however, it is believed that the cheese processing industry would embrace such improved processing techniques.
It will be appreciated that the value of the lactose and other milk constituents remaining in the DLP would have value only if they could be recovered in a form that can be used for purposes other than a low-value, liquid feed supplement. The challenge the industry has faced has been that none of the processes presently available to the industry provide an efficient way to recover all of the lactose and other milk constituents remaining in the DLP in a form conducive to marketing these constituents as food ingredients or high-value feed products.
It will be appreciated that there is significant value in dried, high-lactose products; therefore, a new process that can better enable the dairy industry to produce useful high-lactose products from permeates and other HLAFs and new systems for utilizing this process will provide a desired advance over the prior art methods and systems for isolating lactose and other milk constituents from HLAFs.

Process for drying high-lactose aqueous fluids


A method for installing a vehicle window assembly in a vehicle includes selecting a vehicle interior accessory member from the group including a storage system, a lighting system, an instrument display system, an electrical power system, a temperature controlled air system, a system control panel, a window panel shade system, an interior trim component, a hand grip, and a sun visor assembly, forming the window assembly by securing the selected vehicle interior accessory to a predetermined area of the inner surface of a window panel, and installing the vehicle window assembly over or within a window opening of the vehicle after securing the interior accessory to the window panel such that the interior accessory is accessible to an occupant of the vehicle from the vehicle interior after installation.

The instant invention relates generally to vehicle accessories, and particularly to vehicle accessories attached to glass and a method for attaching such accessories to glass.
Generally speaking, vehicle interior accessories have been attached to a panel which, in turn, has been attached to some portion of the vehicle. Examples include the accessories mounted in the dashboard or instrument panel area and overhead consoles bolted to an interior roof panel. Other than the rear view mirror, accessories have not been attached to the windshield/windscreen or overhead moon roof/sun roof because there was a concern for visual impairment and because the attachment techniques often required drilling a hole through the glass to keep the accessory from falling off. As a result, overhead consoles, visors, grab handles, and the like have always been fastened to the roof cross members, pillars, interior dash and headliner panels, or specially provided members to support the accessory. These types of assemblies require additional time and expense to install in the vehicle and have not been well adapted to installation as a module or unit.
Additionally, with the current trend of producing more glass area in vehicles, space for storage or other accessories decreases at the expense of glass. Currently, there is no viable means for providing additional space for accessories or storage in the areas occupied by glass.
It is a purpose of this invention to provide a window panel assembly which can be installed in the vehicle from the vehicle exterior as a modular unit which includes one or more accessories or accessory mounting members pre-attached thereto so that the accessories are appropriately placed in or on the vehicle at the time the window panel is installed. Such an assembly is preferably shipped to the vehicle assembler as a preassembled unit, resulting in a decrease in assembly time and fewer man hours to complete the assembly which translates into a financial savings to the manufacturer.
Generally, the invention includes a window assembly having a window or transparent panel configured to close a window opening in a passenger compartment of the vehicle. The panel includes opposing surfaces. Deposited or attached to one surface of the panel in a predetermined geometric pattern is an opaque layer of material. Attached to one surface of the window panel in an area generally covered or concealed by the opaque layer are one or more accessories or accessory mounting members configured to be located on the vehicle when the panel is attached to the vehicle.
A number of attachment methods and mechanisms are provided such that the accessories may either be detachable or permanently fixed to the panel. A range of accessory options can be preassembled by the panel manufacturer and provided to the vehicle assembler as modules which can then be quickly and easily installed on the vehicle from the vehicle""s exterior.
According to one form of the invention, a vehicle window panel assembly is provided, including a window panel having opposing surfaces and a geometric shape configured to fit in a window opening. An opaque layer or coating covers a predetermined area of the inner surface of the window panel. Attached to the window panel in an area generally concealed by the opaque layer is an interior accessory member configured to be attached to the inner surface of the window panel. An adhesive bonds the accessory member to the inner surface of the window panel concealed by the opaque layer.
In another form of the invention, a modular window panel assembly configured to close an overhead window opening of a vehicle is provided, including a window panel having inner and outer surfaces and of a shape configured to fit within the overhead window opening of the vehicle. An attachment member is provided which is bonded to the inner surface of the window panel. An interior accessory of the vehicle is interconnected to the inner surface of the window panel by the attachment member.
According to another form of the invention, a window panel is provided to close an opening in the vehicle. The window panel is preferably formed from a sheet of transparent material having interior and exterior surfaces terminating in a peripheral edge. At least a portion of the interior surface receives an opaque coating to conceal portions of the interior surface and provide a cosmetically appealing finish. Attached to the interior surface of the window panel having the opaque coating is an accessory preferably including at least one of a storage compartment; an overhead island, peninsula, centerline, or peripheral storage compartment; power strip; assist handle, sun visor, or shade; and retractable sunshade. The accessory is preferably fastened to the window panel by one of several attachment members, including at least one of a hook-and-loop fastener assembly, DUAL LOCK(trademark) tape, bonded stud fastener, an adhesive, a double-sided adhesive tape, and a polymeric bead.
According to still another form of the invention, a sun visor assembly is provided which includes at least one mounting member configured to be bonded directly to the upper, inner surface of a windshield. The attachment point is preferably near the upper edge of the windshield in an area containing an opaque coating so the attachment point is concealed from the exterior of the vehicle. The mounting member is securely bonded to the opaque coating by an adhesive capable of withstanding substantial static and dynamic forces commonly associated with visor assemblies over a range of environmental conditions.
The advantages offered by this invention are numerous, including reduced assembly time by the automobile manufacturer by being able to precisely locate the accessories on the window panel which translates into a greater production rate. Additional advantages include a wide range of options using substantially uniform or universal attachment procedures, and the ability to support accessories on a window panel without using fasteners extending through the window resulting in a significant reduction in window breakage. Further, use of the invention allows the inclusion of larger window or sun/moon roof areas without sacrificing the inclusion of improved storage, instrument, grab handle, or sunshade or visor support areas. Additionally, this invention provides those added accessories in the areas occupied by the vehicle glass.

Method for installing a vehicle window assembly


This invention detects a stall in a stepper motor by determining a motor winding current for each stepper pulse and determining if the winding current of a particular stepper pulse meets predetermined criteria. The motor winding current may be determined by measuring a voltage across an ON field effect transistor during a stepper pulse and calculating a winding current using an assumed ON field effect transistor resistance. The predetermined criteria may by a calculated motor winding current greater than a predetermined threshold, greater than prior pulse by more than a predetermined threshold or greater than a prior pulse by more than a predetermined factor.

Detection of the zero/home position of a stepper motor enables accurate position calibration. Detection of this zero/home position typically involves stepper motor stall detection.
The current method of stall detection measures the back-EMF voltage of a motor phase which is not active. The measurement of back-EMF voltage at low speed is difficult and not very accurate. Therefore there is need for a better manner of stepper motor stall detection.

Method of stall detection for stepper motor system


Novel methods of native chemical ligation are provided. The methods involve reacting a thioacid (e.g. a peptide thioacid) with an aziridinyl compound (e.g. an aziridinyl peptide) or glycosylamine under mild conditions without the use of protecting groups, and without requiring that a cysteine residue be present in the ligation product. Initial coupling of the thioacid and the aziridinyl compound yields a ligation product containing an aziridinyl ring. Optional subsequent opening of the aziridinyl ring (e.g. via a nucleophilic attack) produces a linearized and modified ligation product. Coupling of a peptide thioacid and glycosylamine yields a glycosylated peptide.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention is generally related to forming glycosylated ligation products. In a particular embodiment, a thioacid is reacted with a compound which includes a glycosamine.
2. Background of Invention
The process of native chemical ligation (NCL)1 involves the chemoselective coupling of unprotected thioesters (Group A) (Group B) via an intramolecular S- to N-acyl transfer to give products of the type A-Cys-B, wherein Cys represents the amino acid residue cysteine.
NCL was a significant achievement because it enabled the synthesis of large peptides and proteins ("protein semisynthesis") under very mild reaction conditions. A key feature of NCL is that it does not require the use of protecting groups and thus represents a particularly powerful approach to specifically modified proteins. The prototypical NCL process is characterized by the chemoselective coupling of "Group A", an unprotected peptide thioester peptide1-Xaa-SR) and a "Group B" amino functionalized compound bearing a branched side chain that includes a removable thiol auxiliary, e.g. an unprotected cysteinyl peptide (H-Cys-peptide2). The resulting ligation product is A-Cys-B, where Cys represents the amino acid residue cysteine. If the reactants are peptides, the ligation product has the general structure peptide1-Xaa-Cys-peptide2.
The rate-determining step for NCL has been shown to be transthioesterification of the peptide thioester by the Cys thiol.2 Unfortunately, since an N-terminal Cys residue is required,3 and since the frequency of occurrence of Cys in proteins (1.82%) is low, NCL-based strategies are rather limited, e.g. to ligation at peptide linkages Xaa-Cys, where Xaa is preferably an unhindered amino acid. It follows that the incorporation of post-translationally modified or unnatural amino acids at the ligation site is not generally feasible with NCL.
The lack of generality and coupling efficiency represent significant gaps in the existing NCL technology repertoire.
Shao et al. (Chemistry & Biology 1994 (1) 4:231-234) describe aziridine containing peptides. However, the peptides were synthesized by conventional methods using protecting groups.
Rotstein et al. (Nature Protocols 2010 (5) 11: 1813-22) describe the synthesis of peptides that contain an aziridine ring which can be modified by ring opening. However, the method employs aziridine aldehydes, and the peptides are all macrocyclic and the products do not have a natural peptide backbone.
Weiss et al., (PNAS 1996. 93:10945-10948) describe the synthesis of an azirdine-containing peptide. However, the peptide is an arginine mimic and the aziridine is present on a side chain of the peptide.
Assem et al., (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2010, 132, 10986-10987), describes chemoselective peptidomimetic ligation using thioacid peptides and aziridine templates. However, the peptide with the aziridine employs protecting groups, and the resulting peptides necessarily contain an SH group, unless removed by a step of desulfurization. Further, the linkage formed is not an alpha-peptide but a beta-peptide.
Galonic et al., (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2005, 127, 7359-7369), describe aziridine-2-carboxylic acid-containing peptides. However, the synthesis method employs conventional protecting groups, and the aziridine containing peptides were reacted with thiols while they were still protected and attached to the solid phase
The covalent union of the carbohydrate and peptide domains of glycoproteins remains a formidable challenge. Recent synthetic approaches to N-linked glycoprotein constructs have generally utilized the native chemical ligation of glycopeptide segments, which are prepared by incorporating the glycosylated amino acids during a solid phase peptide synthesis. Syntheses of N-glycopeptides arising from the coupling of a glycosylamine with an aspartic acid residue embedded in a peptide to give the N-glycosylated peptide have also been reported. Inherent limitations of these protocols necessitate the masking of free amino groups (N-terminus, Lys sidechains) in the peptide, restricting their application to the middle and early stages of a projected glycoprotein synthesis. An aspartylation procedure that circumvents this chemoselectivity issue would permit the introduction of the glycan moiety at a later stage in the synthesis, thus making it more convergent.
Wang et al., (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2011, 133, 1597-1602), describes the coupling of peptides containing a unique thioacid at the ω-aspartate carboxyl with glycosylamines to give N-linked glycopolypeptides. However, the reaction mechanism involves oxidation of the thioacid to give an active ester intermediate so that the N-terminal and sidechain amines must be protected.

Versatile native chemical ligation technologies


A power adapter includes an adapter body including a positioning structure and an insertion slot disposed at two opposite sides relative to an accommodation chamber therein and an electrical plug member for connection to an external power source, and an electrical module including a circuit board mounted in the accommodation chamber for converting inputted AC power supply into DC power supply, an adapter plate fixedly mounted on the circuit board at right angles and inserted into the positioning structure to electrically connect the electrical plug member to the circuit board and a power transmission device electrically connected to the circuit board and facing toward the insertion slot for DC power supply output.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to power adapter technology and more particularly, to a power adapter, which comprises an adapter body carrying an electrical plug member for power input, and an electrical module comprising a circuit board mounted in the adapter body, an adapter plate fixedly mounted at the circuit board at right angles and holding two metal conducting terminals in electrical connected between the electrical plug member and the circuit board and a power transmission device of power output.
2. Description of the Related Art
With fast development of the modern technology, many different kinds of electrical and electronic products have been created and widely used in our daily life, bringing comfort and convenience to people and improving the standard of living of the people. Mobile electrical and electronic products are operated by DC power supply. Because city power supply outputs simply provide AC power supply, power converter means must be used to convert AC power supply into DC power supply at a predetermined voltage level for use in mobile electrical and electronic products. Most electrical and electronic products have built therein a rechargeable battery that can be charged with city power supply through a power transformer.
Further, a power transformer has signal lines and/or power lines connected to a circuit board thereof for the transmission of signal, electric current and electric voltage. Conventional power transformers are capable of converting AC power supply into DC power supply, however, they have a complicated structure. Bonding or installation of signal lines and/or power lines consumes much labor and time. Any line misallocation and installation error will lead to failed products. Further, due to complicated arrangement of signal lines and power lines, conventional power adapters have a large size and high cost.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide simple, small-sized, low-cost means capable of converting AC power supply into DC power supply.