With a ring seal for apertures of multi-shell structures, especially of underground operations, by which a tubular sealing element after insertion into the ring aperture between shells of the structure and after introduction of a filler material into the sealing element with the required sealing pressure, which is applied to the bordering shell surfaces of the aperture, is provided, according to the invention, that the sealing element, consisting of at least one tubing with ends inserted into each other, upon insertion into the aperture with the excess of its periphery provided opposite the periphery of the aperture and through the shortening of the overlap of its ends in the aperture as well as the stretching of the sealing element is applied axially and radially.

The invention concerns a ring seal for apertures of multi-shell structures especially of underground operation.
The invention is related especially to ring seals in shaft and tunnel construction, as well as in sewer construction, where often a multi-shell structure is provided as an exterior construction of the underground cavity. The outside of the structure can thereby consist of the exposed rock wall or of a preliminary structure, for the most part realized with sprayed concrete. The interior shell of a structure of this kind, which forms the inner shell of the ring aperture, consists then, as a rule, of a static load-bearing structure in concrete or reinforced concrete, for which waterproof concrete (so-called WU-concrete) is a possibility. The ring seal concerned in this invention serves with the help of a hollow sealing element for the frontal sealing of the ring aperture, in order to stop the flow of either water or sludge from this aperture, or to fill up the circular space behind the frontal seal.
It is known how to construct the specific sealing element out of a self-enclosed ring with a circular cross-section as a so-called O-ring seal with an unending rubber tube, which has a filling from air or a fluid. O-ring seals of this kind are specially manufactured and designed for each individual case. They require a firm seat as the seal clamping fixture into which they are built. Such O-ring seals are technically expensive. Since they are applied to a specific ring aperture width and diameter, changes in the form of the ring have negative consequences of the sealing, possibly the ring aperture diameter and breadth differing from each other. Since one can seal only the concerned ring aperture with the ring seal designed for the individual installation case, but this is to be followed under the given relationships only with relatively great tolerances, a sufficient sealing of the ring aperture by using these O-ring seal causes considerable difficulty in some circumstances. In particular, differing internal diameters determined by the procedure, which might, for example, be made necessary by the thrusting technology or even by other reasons, can be sealed only with two sealing elements of the kind described, built in next to each other. Then, for reasons of space, there often result difficulties in the installation of these multiple sealing elements.
Beyond this, such sealing elements are not secure against leakage of their filling, which leads to the failure of the ring aperture seal, since the sealing pressure is lost. It is common to the described ring aperture seals that either they must be disposed of after the end of the work, or after the completion of the structure they form a so-called "soft spot" in the statics of the structure. With this it must also be considered that the known O-ring seals conditioned by the manner of construction resist only limited counter-pressures. With air-filled sealing elements the counter-pressures are, as a consequence of the air-pressure container regulation, limited to allowable values, which can easily be inadvertently surpassed in the finished structure underground.

Ring seal for apertures of multi-shelled structures, especially of underground operation


Described herein is use of a Caspase activator and an oncolytic virus in the preparation of an anti-tumor drug. As described, Caspase activator can enhance the anti-tumor effect of oncolytic virus, and the combination of Caspase activator and oncolytic virus produces a significant synergistic anti-tumor effect, and demonstrates an effective therapy for the treatment of tumors that are less sensitive to other pharmaceutical treatments.

Oncolytic virus is a class of replicatable viruses that infect and kill tumor cells. Some oncolytic viruses can selectively infect cancer cells over normal cells with little or no infection of normal cells. Some oncolytic viruses can infect cancer cells and normal cells, but exhibit greater or faster lethality against the cancer cells. Oncolytic virotherapy, is an innovative strategy for targeted tumor therapy, which utilizes a natural or genetically modified virus (or combination thereof) to infect tumor cells, in which the virus then replicates with the effect of dissolving and killing the tumor cells, preferably in a targeted way, and preferably with little or no damage to normal cells.
One example of an oncolytic virus is the M1 virus (Alphavirus M1), which belongs to Alphavirus sp., and is recognized as an effective anti-tumor drug. For example, Chinese patent application 201410425510.3 discloses that M1 virus can selectively kill tumor cells without affecting the survival of normal cells. Despite its proven efficacy, different tumors show different sensitivity to M1 virus. For certain tumors, M1 virus, when administered alone, does not exhibit a satisfactory oncolytic effect. According to the Chinese patent application No. 201410425510.3, incorporated herein by reference for its discussion of treatment of tumors with M1 virus and other viruses and for its discussion of different outcomes for different tumor types and treatment levels/methodologies, it is disclosed that M1 present different efficacy when treating different tumor types. When used for treating pancreatic cancer, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, prostate cancer and melanoma, it presents a most effective result. When used for treating colorectal cancer, liver cancer, bladder cancer and breast cancer, it is less effective than the previous mentioned type. When used for treating glioma, cervical cancer, lung cancer, it is even less effective. When used for treating gastric cancer, it presents a least effective result.
In a previous patent application (Chinese Patent application No. 201510990705.7), it is disclosed that chrysophanol and its derivatives can be used as anti-tumor synergists for M1 virus, and a combination of both could reduce the survival rate of tumor cells to 39.6%. However, there is still much progress to be made in developing therapeutic combinations that include an oncolytic virus. Disclosed herein is an anti-tumor synergist for oncolytic virus, which could produce an increased anti-tumor effect.

Use of IAP inhibitor and oncolytic virus in preparation of anti-tumor drug

Guangzhou Virotech Phamaceutical Co., Ltd.


For enabling variation of specification of a recording apparatus with simple construction, a control board fixedly mounted on the recording apparatus has an engine portion for controlling mechanical operation of the recording apparatus and a control portion for controlling the engine portion. Normally, an interface board is connected to the control board to perform recording operation on the basis of recording signal and so forth from a host system. By installing an optional interface board having a control portion in place of the interface board to control the engine portion of the control board, the specification of the apparatus can be varied.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a recording apparatus. More specifically, the invention relates to a construction of a control board for the recording apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Personal use of printers as one of typical recording apparatuses has been progressively increasing in recent years. Especially, ink-jet type printers are typical printers for personal use because of relatively compact size and low cost.
In conjunction with growing needs of the printer for personal use, personal computers employing the printers as information output devices have been widely spreading. Also, variation of kinds of information to be handled is increasing.
In this circumstance, a wide variety of specifications have been required for the printers. For instance, depending upon specifications of the personal computers as host systems for the printers, data format to be transferred from the computers are differentiated. Therefore, the printers are required to perform data processing according to the data format.
However, in the conventional printer, the specifications, such as manner of data processing, are fixed, and a difference of specification from the host system inherently requires changing the printer.
Furthermore, for the manufacture of the printer, load on CPU for processing data is differentiated depending upon the kind of characters to be output by the printer. Therefore, the printer manufacture is required to produce different specifications of printers for export to respective countries. This definitely causes inefficiency in manufacture and thus causes high cost.

Recording apparatus with exchangeable interface board


A heat sink includes: a base plate; and at least one fin secured to the base plate; wherein the base plate has at least one through hole that extends in a first direction parallel to a surface of the base plate, wherein the at least one fin has a projection inserted into the at least one through hole, and wherein, in a second direction that is parallel to the surface of the base plate and that is perpendicular to the first direction, both end surfaces of the projection are in contact with inner wall surfaces of the at least one through hole entirely in a third direction parallel to a thickness direction of the base plate.

A transmission device in which a board module is mounted has been known. The board module includes a circuit board, a heat-generating component mounted on the circuit board, and a heat sink attached to the heat-generating component. The heat sink is used to dissipate heat generated in the heat-generating component.
Various heat sinks have been proposed for improving heat dissipation performance.
However, it is difficult to obtain sufficient heat dissipation performance with a structure which is easy to manufacture. For example, there has been proposed a heat sink in which fins are secured to grooves formed in a base plate by crimping or soldering. However, it is difficult to obtain sufficient heat dissipation performance.
Examples of related art include Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication Nos. 2002-237555, 2011-86722, 9-321186, and 2005-203385.

Heat sink, board module, transmission device, and method of manufacturing the heat sink


An acoustic transducer is provided. The acoustic transducer includes a housing, a backing, a piezocomposite element adjacent the backing within the housing, and a diaphragm covering on an outward facing surface of the piezocomposite element.

This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art that may be related to various aspects of the present techniques, which are described and/or claimed below. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art. The following descriptions and examples are not admitted to be prior art by virtue of their inclusion in this section.
The present disclosure relates generally to acoustic transducers to send and receive acoustic signals. In particular, the present disclosure relates to acoustic transducers used in a very harsh downhole environment
Hydrocarbon fluids such as oil and natural gas are obtained from a subterranean geologic formation, referred to as a reservoir, by drilling a well that penetrates the hydrocarbon-bearing formation. In order to find and process these formations, various tools are used to analyze the subterranean strata. One technique is the use of acoustic transducers to send and receive acoustic signals. However, in the area of drilling and measurements, acoustic transducers have to exhibit high sensitivity and reliability in a very harsh downhole environment.


A system and method of managing power of a multi-function USB device suspends the device in response to receipt of a request to suspend from a USB host; assigns respective device functions to indefinite, locked or unlocked states; allows the device to resume if there are data or requests for host attention pending at a given function that is in the unlocked state and assigning the given function to the locked state; and otherwise maintains the suspend even if there are data are pending at one or more functions that are in the locked state.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to universal serial bus (USB) devices and, more particularly, to USB devices that suspend and resume activities over the USB.
2. Background Information
Over the past 15 years, USB has emerged as the preferred, if not dominant, technology for interfacing personal computers (PCs) or other host systems with a wide variety of USB devices, such as, mass storage, smart phones, digital cameras, media players, modems, keyboards and the like. The devices of interest include multiple, independently controlled, functions, for example, a smart phone may include a camera, media player, and so forth. Users enjoy the convenience and simplicity of being able to attach the multi-function devices to the USB by, for example, plugging into USB ports on the PC or on hubs that, in turn, plug into the USB ports on the PC. Manufacturers and software developers also enjoy the benefits of having a single standard interface to support.
The USB generally operates under host control. The host utilizes class or custom function drivers that are associated with respective functions in the device to communicate with the functions and control transfers of data and requests for attention between the device functions and the host. The host operates in a known manner using the class or function drivers to, at various times as determined by the host, poll the device functions, as appropriate, and move pending data or requests from device hardware that is associated with the function to the host. The device functions determine that, for example, a data transfer to the host has occurred essentially by determining that the data moved from the hardware. The device function may also but not always receive a confirmation from the host. Similarly, the device function determines a data transfer or request from the host to the device has occurred when data are moved to hardware associated with the function.
If the host determines that the bus is essentially inactive, that is, the host determines that it has no data to move to the devices and that the devices have no data or requests to move to the host, the host may suspend one or more portions of the USB bus including the device. Prior to suspending, if the host wants to allow the device to request attention from the host, the host sends a standard command SET_FEATURE(RemoteWakeupEnable) to the device. If the host has no more work to be done, the host then similarly suspends. Later, when the host is ready to exchange is messages with the device, the host resumes one or more portions of the USB bus, including the device.
A given device noticing a suspended bus is required to suspend. Later, if the device needs attention, and if the host previously sent the SET_FEATURE(RemoteWakeupEnable) command, the device may send a "remote wakeup" signal to the host. However, the device is required to wait 3 milliseconds to confirm a suspend; and the host normally stops interrogating the device some time before it actually suspends the bus. If there are data pending to be moved, or written, to the host from one or more functions of the device and/or one or more functions require the attention of the host, the device may attempt to move the data and/or requests to the host during this interval after the host has initiated the suspend operation, but before the device recognizes the suspend. In this case, the device must suspend and then immediately request that the host resume its operations, to attempt to move the pending data and/or requests to the host.
A problem may arise if there are device functions that are not then supported by the host. If the host has never activated or has de-activated one or more of the class or function drivers for one or more functions of the multiple function device, the host will not respond to the device's attempts to move data or requests from the one or more functions. Consider, for example, a device that includes functions associated with push buttons or some other kind of independent behavior. The device function is not privy to whether or not there is an associated class or function driver active at the host. When, a device function autonomously discovers it requires attention from the host, for example, when one of the buttons is pushed, the function places a request for attention at an appropriate function endpoint at the device. If there is no associated class or function driver active on the host, however, the host will not become aware of and respond to the pending request. The request thus remains pending.
The device therefore cannot perform the transactions that prevent the device from suspending or remaining suspended. This creates a "deadlock" situation, in which the device responds to suspend requests by waking the host to handle the pending data and requests, the host again determines that the device has no data to transfer or no is pending requests for attention because there are no active host class or function drivers that allow the host to "see" the pending data or requests at the device, and the host again sends a suspend request, to which the device again responds by waking the host, and so forth. The device therefore remains in or continuously returns to a non-suspended mode, with the device operating at full power consumption, and also, repeatedly waking the host, which also must operate at full power consumption
It is important to note that for USB low-speed, full-speed and high-speed devices, the suspend resume indications over the bus are all device-level operations. There is no standard way for the host to indicate that it is not using a function of a multi-function device; nor is there a way for the host to indicate that it is only interested in wake-up events from a particular subset of functions on a multi-function device.


This invention relates to the synthesis of large pore composite molecular sieves and to the synthetic large pore composite molecular sieves so produced. The molecular sieves of the invention have the same general utilties of the comparable molecular sieves of the prior art but have been found to be superior catalysts and absorbents. This invention relates to a hydrothermal synthesis of large pore molecular sieves from nutrients, at least one of which contains an amorphous framework-structure, and which framework-structure is essentially retained in the synthetic molecular sieve. This invention stems from a discovery that the intrinsic porosity characteristics of a nutrient that possesses an amorphous cation oxide-framework can be substantially retained in the final molecular sieve containing product formed by a hydrothermal process by carefully controlling the conditions under which the hydrothermal process is conducted. For example, the invention contemplates retention of the particle size in a final molecular sieve-containing product that corresponds with that of an amorphous cation oxide-framework nutrient used in its manufacture. This invention drives the selection of process conditions to achieve one or more of macro and meso porosity ("large pore composite porosity") in the final molecular sieve product as a direct product of the hydrothermal reaction producing the molecular sieve. The invention allows the production of a molecular sieve that is in situ incorporated in the framework morphology of a solid cation oxide-framework used in the molecular sieve's manufacture.

The definition of molecular sieve, according to Szostak, "Molecular Sieves, Principles Of Synthesis And Identification," 1989, Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, N.Y., at page 3, is --
"A molecular sieve framework is based on an extensive three-dimensional network of oxygen ions containing generally tetrahedral-type sites. In addition to the Si.sup.+4 and Al.sup.+3 that compositionally define the zeolite molecular sieves, other cations also can occupy these sites. These cations need not be isoelectronic with Si.sup.+4 and Al.sup.+3, but must have the ability to occupy framework sites. Cations presently known to occupy these sites within molecular sieve structures are --
The term molecular sieve encompasses the variety of structures within the classification set forth in FIG. 1.1 of Szostak, supra, page 2, which classification is incorporated by reference. Molecular sieves come in two varieties, zeolitic molecular sieves ("ZMS") and non-zeolitic molecular sieves ("NZMS"). Szostak (page 4) treats aluminosilicates generally to be ZMS provided there is at least one aluminum ion per unit cell based on the bulk composition of the sample. The remaining structures are recognized to be NZMS. According to this characterization, the ZSM-5 structure is considered a ZMS at silica/alumina less than 190 and NZMS above 190. This same convention holds when ZMS's contain trace amounts of other elements in the framework ion positions. (See Szostak, page 5, who considers a crystalline structure a ZMS if the number of other cations in the framework, other than aluminum and silicon, averages less than one per unit cell, all others being a NZMS.)
Zeolitic molecular sieves are typically made from a source of silica that is reacted with a source of aluminum, in the presence of materials that insure significantly alkaline conditions, water and .sup.-- OH. The mix of the reactants may be called the reaction's nutrients. Many of the reactions are conducted in the presence of an organic template or crystal-directing agent, which induces a specific zeolite structure that can not be formed in the absence of the organic template. Most of the organic templates are bases, and many introduce hydroxyl ions to the reaction system. The reaction involves a liquid gel phase ("soup") in which rearrangements and transitions occurs, such that a redistribution occurs between the alumina and silica nutrients, and structural molecular identities corresponding to specific zeolites or other molecular sieves are formed. It is known that zeolites are not often formed above 350.degree. C., though descriptions of higher temperature formation of certain molecular sieves has been mentioned in the literature (see Szostak, supra, page 52). Lower temperatures than about 100.degree. C. require extensive crystallization time. As Szostak, supra, page 54, points out --
When the desired crystal structure is obtained, the molecular sieve is brought to ambient temperatures and the crystallization process is arrested. The product of the reaction is isolated typically as a loose powder. The crystals that are formed in the powder are so assembled in the structure as to form special micro pores and micro pore openings of a kind that distinguishes the structure. The resulting crystals are an assemblage of individual units the growth of which may be small, medium or large, depending on the conditions employed in the traditional method. The crystals may then, in the usual case, be formed into composite structures that allow their use as, e.g., absorbents and catalysts.
A number of references describe processes for making ZMS by reacting an amorphous precursor in the presence of a small amount of water to form a dense interbonded mass. The amount of water is selected to be less than that which is used in the aforementioned traditional method but large enough to interbond the ZMS particles into dense masses.
For example, Haden et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,065,064, convert to a ZMS, a dehydrated kaolin clay having a SiO.sub.2 /Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 mol ratio of about 2, in the presence of a "concentrated aqueous solution of NaOH." The H.sub.2 O to Na.sub.2 O mol ratio in the mixture is within the range of 4.5-11.5 "and being present in an amount such that the Na.sub.2 O/SiO.sub.2 mol ratio in the mixture is about 0.5. " According to Haden et al.:
According to the patentee, the object of the process is to form the ZMS into a "compact mass or masses" which is defined as a "dense or substantially nonporous mass." The patentee states,
Miller, U.S. Pat. No. 5,558,851, patented Sep. 24, 1996, relates to shaped zeolite structures wherein the reactants, in making the structures, are formed into a water-wet thick paste and crystallized after forming into a shaped structure. According to Miller's process, and as practiced by Haden et al., crystallization occurs without the presence of an "external liquid phase.".sup.1 Needless to say, Miller's process transforms the reactants into the typical hydrothennally induced liquid phase reaction. According to Miller, the zeolites in the shaped structures contain "very small crystallites." Miller's use of low amounts of alkali metal should be expected to generate smaller crystallites (See Szostak, supra, page 73). As is the case with Haden et al., supra, Miller interbonds the ZMS particles so as to form the dense mass structure described by Haden et al. FNT .sup.1 Compare with the "in the absence of an aqueous liquid phase external to and in contact with the mass" description of Haden et al., supra.
According to Miller's example 16 (specifically at column 21, lines 1-20), a mixture of TPAOH, NaOH and water were combined with a mixture of silica and sodium aluminate, and the combination was mixed for 3 hours. A paste was formed of the combination by the addition of more water. Miller then combined the technique of Haden et al., supra, by the addition of kaolin clay, and he reduced the volatiles level to 53 weight percent by continued mixing at 60.degree. C. Miller then air-dried the mixture to form a powder of 48 weight percent volatiles. According to Miller, "[t]he molar ratio of H.sub.2 O/SiO.sub.2 at this point was about 2.5. " It is assumed that the powder was an aggregation of pasted particles that no longer exhibit the particulateness and porosity of the silica. Miller placed the powder into a Teflon bottle and the bottle was placed "in a stainless steel pressure vessel and heated at 140.degree. C. and autogenous pressure for two days." According to Miller, the "resulting product was washed with water, dried overnight in a vacuum oven at 120.degree. C., and calcined in air for three hours at 593.degree. C." Miller states that "X-ray diffraction analysis showed the product to be nearly 100% ZSM-5. The average crystallite size by SEM was about 0.1 micron."
Ramesh B. Borade and Abraham Clearfield, ("Borade and Clearfield"),.sup.2 make a zeolite Beta in a 24 hour synthesis at 170.degree. C. from an extremely dense system in which the weight ratio of solid, measured as sodium aluminate and silica, to liquid, measured as tetraethylammoniumn hydroxide and water, mixtures is 1:1.8. They found that the product has comparable catalytic properties to samples prepared by previous methods. According to the detail description of Borade and Clearfield, the amount of the aforementioned liquid component "is just sufficient to wet all the solid particles and in some cases (especially at Si/Al ratio<10) the reaction mixture is in the form of small lumps." According to the authors, the process uses "a much smaller proportion of TEAOH and shorter reaction time as compared to the usually synthetic methods." Lowering the proportion of TEAOH allows the decrease in the amount of water content. "This change increases the weight ratio of solid to liquid in the systems from 1:9.1 to 1:1.8. The mole ratios of SiO.sub.2 /TEAOH increased from 0.53 to 6 and H.sub.2 O/SiO.sub.2 decreased from 23 to 6.1. " FNT .sup.2 "Synthesis of zeolite Beta from dense system containing a minimum of template," Catalysis Letters, 26 (1994) 285-289.
The procedure employed by Borade and Clearfield is as follows: "Sodium aluminate, TEAOCH and water were mixed and stirred for about 15 minutes. Then, this solution was added to a highly reactive fumed silica and stirred with a spatula for about 15 minutes. Initially, the mixture appears to be a dry powder. As stirring continued for about 2 hours the mixture turned into a very dense and thick solid (solid: liquid .sup..about. 1:2), which was transferred into a stainless-steel autoclave and heated at 443K and autogenous pressure for 24 hours. The pH of the initial reaction mixture was in the range 13.2-13.8 and after crystallization it was in the range 11.4-12.0. After synthesis samples were dried at 120.degree. C. and then calcined at 540.degree. C. for about 15 hours." According to the authors, "[T]he marked reduction in the use of TEAOH in the present method (2.5 versus 10-28 moles of TEAOH with reference to 1 mole of Al.sup.2 O.sub.3), shorter crystallization time (24 hours versus 4-10 days) and increased productivity (per batch) should lead to a lower synthesis cost of zeolite Beta. The product obtained also has comparable catalytic properties at least with reference to the cracking of hexane."
The methods of Haden et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,065,064, Miller, U.S. Pat. No.5,558,851, and Borade and Clearfield, take a common approach to making ZMS, by reducing the amount of gelation of SiO.sub.2. This is accomplished by the use of smaller amounts of water than has been used in the traditional process for making ZMS. As a result, Borade and Clearfield produce a very dense and thick solid, Miller produces a paste that forms a dense and thick solid, and Haden et al. produce a dense or substantially nonporous mass.
In effect, these authors have developed a process that depends on surface gelation of the silica particles for ZMS formation. Surface gelation occurs at the particle interior and exterior surfaces. It allows the particles to become glued to each other by interfacial wetting of one viscid exterior surface by another. It also affects the interior pores by filling or collapsing pores thereby reducing the particle's pore volume.
Surface gelation allows Haden et al. and Miller to make shaped ZMS structures. However, such surface gelation as pointed out by Haden et al. results in a relatively nonporous structure, meaning that the macro and meso pores.sup.3 of the silica are eliminated by the gelation and bonding that occur in their processes. FNT .sup.3 As used herein, "macro pores" means above 500 angstroms (over 50 nanometers); "meso pores" means 20 to 500 angstroms (2-50 nanometers); and "micro pores" means less than 20 angstroms (under 2 nanometers). Also, in the terms describing the invention of this application, the terms "large pore" and "large pores," encompass structures that contain macro and/or meso pores.
It is well known that molecular sieves are made from cation-oxide containing materials, such as silica and alumina, which prior to hydrothermal conversion contain macro and meso pores and a geometric framework that surrounds and formns such pores. In the thermal conversion of these porous materials, the framework is degraded and the framework becomes part of a viscid (gelatinous) soup, no longer capable of providing the macro and meso pore network. The typical product of the typical hydrothermal conversion is a powdery precipitate.
Haden et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,065,064, Miller, U.S. Pat. No. 5,558,851, and Borade and Clearfield, operate a "non-soup" hydrothermal process designed to create an amount of surface gelation that essentially eliminates the porosity inherent in the precursor cation-oxide containing framework materials in order to form a paste and achieve increased density.
There is described in the heterogeneous catalyst art a number of processes for forming a catalyst. One method is characterized as an impregnation of the catalyst support with liquid reagents that deposit in the pores of the support. It is commonly known as an impregnation process. The amount of liquid reagent deposited on the support leaves an apparent incipient wet film. Those ingredients invariably react on the surface of the support to form the catalyst. The support is not changed by virtue of such treatment, and retains its original porosity. In most cases, the support is not thought to react with the liquid reagents. (See Stiles and Koch, Catalyst Manufacture, Second Edition, 1995, published by Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y. 10016.)
There is no process known in the art that causes conversion of conventional molecular sieve forming nutrients that retains macro and meso porosity characteristics of a geometric framework cation-oxide containing nutrient. It would be desirable to produce molecular sieves that possess a framework morphology characteristic of at least one of cation oxide containing nutrients in the reaction. It would be desirable to have a reaction of the typical nutrients in the formation of a molecular sieve that retains the framework morphology characteristic of at least one cation oxide containing nutrients in the reaction.

Method for making molecular sieves and novel molecular sieve compositions


A food package including a tray and a sleeve surrounding the tray where the tray includes a rigid cover member secured thereto. The rigid cover member includes a first top surface and a second top surface elevated above the first top surface. The sleeve includes a front panel having an opening formed therein. The front panel of the sleeve is disposed adjacent the first top surface of the rigid cover member and the second top surface is received in the opening formed in the front panel so as to effectively retain the tray within the sleeve.

This invention relates to a food package including a tray with a rigid cover member having a raised top surface for securing the tray within the food package.
Food packaging for fresh items, such as, for example, meat and pastry products, among other things, may be provided in various ways. One such way, as disclosed in my commonly owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/819,889, filed Mar. 18, 1997, is to provide a tray for holding the fresh item and a sleeve disposed about the tray. As can be appreciated, the tray maintains the freshness of the item contained therein, preferably by having a plastic film sealed thereto, and the sleeve provides an attractive facing and sufficient labeling space.
However, there are several aspects of such a food packaging which may be improved so as to increase overall quality and customer satisfaction. For example, it is often advantageous to be able to remove the tray from the sleeve and then reinsert the tray within the sleeve, repeatedly if desired, for storage purposes, for example. In this case, it is essential that a means be provided for easily securing the tray to the sleeve and for easily unsecuring the tray from the sleeve as well. Another area for improvement for food packaging containing fresh items, is to provide a means for viewing or visually inspecting the item contained within the tray prior to opening or purchasing the item.
What is needed, therefore, is a food package which provides a sleeve disposed about a tray where the tray can be conveniently retained within the sleeve while also providing for viewing or visual inspection of the item contained within the tray prior to opening or purchasing of the food package.

Food package including a tray with cover member having a raised top surface


A transmit power amplifier of a wireless terminal is controlled by determining a power supply voltage applied to the transmit power amplifier, determining a power supply current provided to the transmit power amplifier, determining a relationship of the determined power supply current and the determined power supply voltage, and controlling the power supply voltage responsive to the determined relationship of the power supply current and the power supply voltage. For example, determining a relationship of the determined power supply current and the determined power supply voltage may include determining whether the power supply current meets a predetermined criterion, e.g., a predetermined current range, associated with the determined power supply voltage. The invention may be embodied as apparatus, methods, and computer program products.

The present invention relates to wireless terminals and operation thereof, and more particularly, to transmit power amplifiers and operations thereof.
Transmitters in wireless terminals, such cellular handsets, often are designed based on an assumption that the power amplifier of the transmitter drives an approximately 50 ohm antenna impedance. However, antennas for such devices are increasingly being adapted for use over multiple bands and being integrated into the handset housing, which may cause significant divergence of antenna impedance from the 50 ohm assumption under a wide array of operating conditions. For example, in some newer antenna designs, voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) may be nominally better than 3:1, but can go to 6:1 or worse when a user simply places a hand or other object near the antenna. The amount of power that can be transmitted through an antenna is affected by impedance matching between the amplifier and the antenna impedance, and poor impedance matching between the transmit power amplifier and the antenna can negatively affect the ability to maintain a call.
Some wireless terminals use closed-loop techniques to control a bias of the transmit power amplifier. Some conventional terminals directly sense the output of the power amplifier using, for example, a diode or other detector coupled to the radio frequency (RF) output of the power amplifier, and adjust the bias voltage and/or the signal input to the power amplifier responsive to the detected output. Such techniques, while effective, may require relatively complex and costly circuitry. Other closed loop techniques involve regulating power supply current provided to the amplifier. For example, a cellular handset may include circuitry that measures the power supply current to the power amplifier and adjusts the bias voltage applied to the power amplifier to maintain a substantially constant power supply current to the power amplifier. Such a technique can be relatively easily and inexpensively implemented, and may work well when the antenna impedance is relatively constant.

Wireless terminals, methods and computer program products with transmit power amplifier input power regulation


A system and method for improving stereoscopic images produced by a projecting device containing a single chip DMD, seen through an eye-switching device, such as a pair of liquid crystal (LC) shutter glasses. The system and method are used with a video projector designed to be used with a multiple-color, color switching device, such as a color wheel. The color wheel includes at least three critical color segments. The color wheel may also physically include or be electronically re-defined to include at least one non-critical segment. A color sequencing firmware resident in the video projector is used to align a non-critical segment in front of the projector's main light source during the eye-switching device's unstable transition phase. If the non-critical segment is transmissive, the firmware controls the DMD so that light is discontinued. If the non-critical segment is non-transmissive, the light is physically blocked. If the non-critical segment is electronically defined, the firmware directly controls the DMD to discontinue the transmission of light for at least the duration of the eye-switching device's unstable transition phase.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to systems and methods for synchronizing a 3D video projector.
2. Description of the Related Art
Two dimensional video projectors have been widely available for many decades. Recently, three dimensional (3D) stereoscopic video projectors have been developed that produce flickerless 3D stereoscopic images in part by increasing the video projector's operating frequency from approximately 60 frames per second (FPS) to approximately 85 FPS and beyond. This higher frame rate is important because rates below 85 FPS can give the impression of excessive flickering to the viewer.
As shown in FIG. 1, in order to view the images from a 3D stereoscopic video projector 12 connected to an image source 11, special optical devices may be used and/or special eyewear may be worn by the viewer, such as a pair of liquid crystal (LC) shutter-based glasses 13. Such glasses 13 include shutters 14A, 14B that cover the user's eyes and alternately transition between clear and opaque via a shutter control signal, generally referred to as 22. A video signal 20 is delivered from the image source 11 to the video projector 12 which then controls the production and delivery of the images 18, 19 synchronously with the shutters 14A, 14B so that only the left eye is presented a left eye image 18 and the right eye is presented a right eye image 19.
As shown in FIG. 2, other 3D stereoscopic video projector systems are found in the prior art that utilize a polarization flipping device 16 to alternate the polarization of light exiting the video projector 12. An example of a polarization flipping device is one sold by Real D, Inc. of Beverly Hills, Calif. under the trademark Z SCREEN. The video projector 12 is connected to an image source 11, and projects an image (designated 18, 19) through a polarization flipping device 16 and onto a polarization preserving screen (not shown) which is watched by a viewer wearing passive polarized eyewear 17. The image source 11 sends a flipping device control signal 22′ to control the flipping device 16.
Recently, semiconductors, called digital light processors or digital micro-mirror devices (DMDs) (Texas Instruments, Inc. sells a digital light processor under the trademark DLP) have been developed to manipulate light digitally. DMDs act as light switches consisting of up to and beyond 1.3 million microscopic mirrors, each of which is able to tilt back and forth up to 5,000 times per second. In 3D stereoscopic video projector systems the movement of the DMD is coordinated with the projector's light source, and with the video or graphic signals transferred to an eye-switching device to produce seamless images to the viewer. Today, 3D video projectors with three DMDs are relatively common with a single DMD being assigned to one of three critical colors. Unfortunately, such 3D video projectors are relatively expensive.
Another type of 3D video projector utilizes a single DMD. While 3D video projectors with a single DMD are less expensive than 3D video projectors with three DMDs, they also employ a color wheel divided into several color segments which filter the white light from the projector's light source into specific colors which are passed in succession onto the single DMD. A color sequencing firmware, (hereinafter referred to as firmware) is also employed to control the operation of the single DMD.
3D video projector systems used with LC shutter glasses 13 must use an eye-switching signal 22 to synchronize the eyewear's shutters 14A, 14B. This eye-switching signal 13 is typically generated externally from the video projector, for instance at the image source 11 as shown in FIG. 1. Thus when used with single DMD projectors, the eye-switching signal 22 is indirectly synchronized with the projector's color wheel. As the color wheel spins during operation, the eye-shutters on the glasses 13 quickly alternate to create transparent and opaque periods. Unfortunately, the transition between the transparent and opaque periods is not instantaneous which reduces the overall quality of the image seen by the viewer. For example, when the transition period occurs during the Red color segment, some of the time normally required to complete a full Red duty cycle may be lost, causing the Red color in the image to appear weak. It is especially problematic when presenting human faces which appear noticeably pale or lifeless. This transition either between transparent and opaque periods or between opaque and transparent periods shall be referred to as the "unstable transition phase". While adjustments could be made to the video projector to move the problem from one color segment to another, the problem, heretofore, has not been resolved.

System and method for synchronizing a 3D video projector


A display device includes a flexible substrate including a first surface and a second surface facing the first surface; a TFT array layer provided on the first surface; a display element layer provided on the TFT array layer; a first heat releasing layer provided on the second surface; a first protective layer provided on the same side as the second surface; a second heat releasing layer provided on the display element layer; and a second protective layer provided on the display element layer. The second heat releasing layer has a light transmittance of 90% or higher.

A display device is often produced to include a glass substrate. The glass substrate is heavy and is easily broken when being subjected to an impact. Recently, a so-called flexible display device including a flexible substrate formed of, for example, a resin, which is lightweight and is not easily broken, is a target of attention. The flexible display device is required to be durable against bending. For example, Japanese Patent No. 5791673 discloses a display device that is improved in the durability against repeated bending and is bendable at a larger angle.


An apparatus and method for partial replacement of a metatarsophalangeal joint defined by a proximal face of a phalanx and a distal face of a metatarsal. The apparatus and method include a joint surface element and an elongated fusing element. The elongated fusing element has an end configured for tool engagement. The joint surface element has a generally concave surface configured to serve as the proximal face of the phalanx and a socket configured to engage the end of the elongated fusing element. The elongated fusing element fuses an interphalangeal joint when the apparatus is surgically implanted to prevent the deterioration of the interphalangeal joint.

Prosthetic implant devices are well known for the purpose of completely or partially replacing existing skeletal joints in the human body. In the human foot, the metatarsophalangeal joint between the first metatarsal and the first phalanx, in what is commonly known as the hallux or great toe is the site of frequent occurrences of arthritic deterioration. As a result, much attention has been directed to full or partial replacement of the joint.
One technique known for partial replacement of the joint uses silicone based materials attached to the phalanx. When such material is in contact with the metatarsal head, however, these types of implants eventually break down, reducing their effectiveness and potentially damaging surrounding tissues. Likewise, attempts at full joint replacement using silicone material have produced results which are less than desirable.
Metal implant devices, typically of titanium, have been adopted as preferable substitutions for flexible silicone materials. Joint replacement may be full or partial (hemi). Where the metatarsal head remains intact, manageable results have been achieved by providing a metal implant device fixed to the phalanx head of the joint. It is generally not acceptable to replace both sides of the joint with metal implants, a procedure which frequently results in either joint discomfort or progressive dislocation of the joint, or both.
Hemi joint replacement is the preferred surgical procedure in cases where the metatarsophalangeal joint has deteriorated, while the metatarsal head remains intact. This procedure is generally indicated where the patient experiences painful arthritis or hallux valgus. A typical example of a hemi-implant for replacing a phalanx in the hallux is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,326,366 issued to Pascarella et al., entitled "Biomechanical Great Toe Implant".
Other joint replacement techniques involve full replacement of the joint, for example, as taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,458,648 to Berman et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,314,486 issued to Zang et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,699,292 issued to Ogilvie et al.
A known difficulty with using hemi implants in the metatarsophalangeal joint, however, is that hemi implants may cause deterioration of the nearby interphalangeal joint. For this reason, many surgeons will not use a hemi implant to partially replace the metatarsophalangeal joint.
A further solution to the problem, particularly useful in arthritic joints, is fusion of the distal phalanx and proximal phalanx, in conjunction with a hemi implant. By fusing the distal and proximal phalanxes as taught herein, a solid lever arm is created, thereby improving articulation between the first metatarsophalangeal joint and the proximal phalanx.

Apparatus and method for replacement of a metatarsophalangeal joint with interphalangeal fusion


The Soda Blasting Apparatus (1) disclosed and claimed herein introduces pressure into a pressure vessel (10). The blasting medium (70) is metered from the pressure vessel interior (13) by a pressure differential introduced by a venture (500) positioned at the pressure vessel interior (13) proximal the pressure vessel bottom (12) and in pressure communication with a pass through pipe (400). The pass through pipe (400) receives pressure proximal the pass through pipe top (440). The venturi (500) has a venturi aperture (590) having a venturi aperture ID D6 (585). The venturi aperture ID D6 (585) is less than the pass through pipe ID D7 (410). The venturi aperture (590) is in pressure communication with the pass through pipe aperture (410). The venturi pressure Pb (575) is less than the pass through pipe pressure Pa (480) as a result of the venturi effect between the pass through pipe (400) and the venturi (500). At the venturi outer surface, at least one venturi groove (530) is formed from the venturi top (510) to the venturi bottom (520). The venturi (500) is received into a medium outlet (600) which is fixed by pipe and thread means at the pressure vessel bottom (12) and which has a medium outlet ID D5 (650). The venturi diameter OD D3 (570) is approximately three thousandths inches less than the medium outlet ID D5 (650). The venturi (500) is in pressure communication with the medium outlet (600) and medium out elbow (700) which is in pressure communications with a hose and nozzle for the delivery of blasting medium to a surface.

Blasting equipment is well known in the prior art. Devices and apparatuses pertaining to blasting equipment are seen in the following patents: U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,230,185; 5,083,402 and 5,081,799 to Kirschner et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,431,594 to Shank, Jr.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,588,901 to Rubey, III et al; U.S. Pat. No. 5,099,619 to Rose; U.S. Pat. No. 6,347,984 to Groman; U.S. Pat. No. 6.083,001 to Deardon et al; U.S. Pat. No. 4,878,320 to Woodson; U.S. Pat. No. 5,556,325 to Shank, Jr.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,054,249 to Rankin.
The patents referred to herein are provided herewith in an Information Disclosure Statement in accordance with 37 CFR 1.97.


A web-fed rotary printing unit having a plurality of printing mechanisms is provided. Each printing mechanism includes a form cylinder (1, 5, 16-18, 27-30), a transfer cylinder (2, 6, 3, 7, 12-15, 22-25) and an impression cylinder (3, 7, 11, 26). The component costs associated with the drive motors can be reduced by providing a drive motor (4, 8, 9, 21, 41, 42, 55) that has a drive connection to the other cylinders via the impression cylinder.

Web-fed rotary printing units having a plurality of printing mechanisms are known. Each printing mechanism generally includes a form cylinder, a transfer cylinder and an impression cylinder. In such printing units, each printing mechanism includes at least one dedicated drive motor. Accordingly, for example, a printing unit including four printing mechanisms includes a plurality of drive motors.


A developing device includes a casing configured to accommodate developer, a developing roller, a seal member, at least portion of which is disposed between the developing roller and the casing, and which includes a fabric member including a plurality of first fibers extending in a first direction, and a heat radiation member configured to contact end surfaces of the first fibers of the seal member and radiate heat of the seal member.

There has been know a developing device which includes a casing configured to accommodate toner, a developing roller disposed to face an opening formed in the casing, and a seal member disposed between end portions of the developing roller and the casing (for example, JP-A-2009-63635).
Incidentally, in the above-described developing device, the rotating developing roller comes into sliding contact with the seal member, whereby a sliding contact portion thereof is heated due to friction. Therefore, when a rotational speed of the developing roller is increased in order to increase a printing speed, the sliding contact portion becomes to have a high temperature and toner melts in the sliding contact portion, and thus there is a concern that toner leakage may occur.

Developing device, process cartridge and image forming apparatus


Disclosed are computers and methods employing a mechanism for eliminating a race condition between a hypervisor-performed emulation process and a concurrent translation table entry invalidation. Specifically, on a host machine, a hypervisor controls any guest operating systems. In doing so, the hypervisor emulates an instruction by performing a translation operation to acquire a physical address from a virtual address and, if applicable, further from an effective address using translation table(s) (e.g., page tables and, if applicable, segment tables); accesses the physical address; and completes the instruction. During emulation, flagged address table(s) are used to eliminate the race condition. For example, upon receiving an invalidate translation instruction associated with a virtual address, a determination is made as to whether or not the virtual address appears in a flagged virtual address table and, if so, additional action is taken to prevent an error in the translation.

The computers and methods disclosed herein relate to hypervisor-controlled virtualization and, more particularly, to computers and methods that employ a mechanism for eliminating a race condition between a hypervisor-performed emulation process requiring a translation operation using one or more different types of translation tables (e.g., page tables and, if applicable, segment tables), and a concurrent translation table entry invalidation.
Virtualization refers to a state where multiple operating systems, including hypervisor and one or more guest operating systems, are concurrently executed by one or more processor(s) on the same computer, referred to herein as a host machine. A hypervisor is a host operating system that supports such virtualization. Specifically, the hypervisor controls execution of the guest operating system(s) by the processor(s) of the host machine in order to ensure that the guest operating system(s) can function without disruption.
With such virtualization, there are many scenarios in which the hypervisor must emulate instructions for a given guest operating system. Such instructions can include, for example, instructions that require access to data stored in memory (referred to herein as storage access instructions). To emulate a storage access instruction, the hypervisor typically manually translates (in software) a virtual address associated with the instruction into a physical address. To do this, the hypervisor performs a page table walk (also referred to herein as a page table search), during which one or more page tables are searched using a virtual address associated with the storage access instruction as a search key in order to acquire an actual physical address. Those skilled in the art will recognize that, depending upon the type of memory management being used, the virtual address may be specified in the storage access instruction or, alternatively, an effective address may be specified. If an effective address is specified, the hypervisor must first manually translate (in software) the effective address into the virtual address by performing a segment table walk (also referred to herein as a segment table search), during which one or more segment tables are searched using the effective address associated with the storage access instruction as a search key in order to acquire the virtual address. In any case, once the virtual address is acquired, it can be translated into the actual physical address, as discussed above. For purposes of this disclosure, it should be understood that page tables and segment tables are different types of "translation tables". Once the actual physical address is acquired, the hypervisor can access the physical address and complete the instruction, thereby completing the emulation process.
However, from the time this emulation process begins until the time that it is completed (i.e., until the physical address is accessed and the instruction is completed), there is a possibility that a required translation table entry (e.g., a required page table entry or, if applicable, a required segment table entry) used for the translation could be invalidated by any one of the multiple operating systems such that the physical address acquired and used to complete the instruction is no longer accurate. The condition of having to complete an emulation process before an invalidation of a required translation table entry is referred to herein as a race condition and, because the inability to complete the emulation process before translation table entry invalidation occurs can disrupt guest operating system operations, there is a need in the art for a mechanism that eliminates such race conditions.

Mechanisms for eliminating a race condition between a hypervisor-performed emulation process requiring a translation operation and a concurrent translation table entry invalidation


New methods for the treatment of human disease are provided. IGFBP-3 is administered together with a co-administered agent to subjects having disease, thereby alleviating the symptoms of the disease, under conditions where administration of IGFBP-3 alone at the maximum practicable dose has no measurable beneficial effect on the disease condition.

Growth factors are polypeptides which stimulate a wide variety of biological responses (e.g. DNA synthesis, cell division, expression of specific genes, etc.) in a defined population of target cells. A variety of growth factors have been identified, including the transforming growth factor beta family (TGF-βs), epidermal growth factor and transforming growth factor alpha (the TGF-αs), the platelet-derived growth factors (PDGFs), the fibroblast growth factor family (FGFs) and the insulin-like growth factor family (IGFs), which includes IGF-I and IGF-II. Many growth factors have been implicated in the pathogenesis of cancer.
IGF-I and IGF-II (the "IGFs") are related in amino acid sequence and structure, with each polypeptide having a molecular weight of approximately 7.5 kilodaltons (kDa). IGF-I mediates the major effects of growth hormone, and is thus the primary mediator of growth after birth. IGF-I has also been implicated in the actions of various other growth factors, since the treatment of cells with such growth factors leads to increased production of IGF-I. In contrast, IGF-II is believed to have a major role in fetal growth. Both IGF-I and IGF-II have insulin-like activities (hence their names), and are mitogenic (stimulate cell division).
IGF-I has been found to stimulate the growth of cells from a number of different types of cancer (Butler et al., 1998 Cancer Res. 58(14):3021-3027; Favoni R E, et al., 1998, Br. J. Cancer 77(12): 2138-2147). Additionally, IGF-I has additionally been found to exert anti-apoptotic effects on a number of different cell types, including tumor cells (Giuliano M, et al., 1998 Invest Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 39(8): 1300-1311; Zawada W M, et al., 1998, Brain Res. 786(1-2): 96-103; Kelley K W, et al., 1998, Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci. 840: 518-524; Toms S A, et al., 1998, J. Neurosurg. 88(5): 884-889; Xu F, et al., 1997, Br. J. Haematol. 97(2): 429-440). Prospective studies have implicated IGF-I as a risk factor for cancers of the prostate, breast, and colon, while IGFBP-3, the major circulatory binding protein for IGFs, appears to have a protective effect. A variety of other observations further support the idea that the relative balance of IGFBP-3 to other IGF-binding proteins (notably IGFBP-2) is somehow instrumental in the control of tumor cell growth, both in vitro and in vivo. Recent evidence also suggests that IGFBP-3 may play a central role in the growth and apoptosis of tumor cells in an IGF-independent manner.
Approximately half of the 1.3 million patients diagnosed with cancer each year in the U.S. have (or will be at risk for) systemic disease. Chemotherapy is the most common therapeutic approach for these patients. Most chemotherapeutic agents are effective primarily against dividing cells, and myelosuppression is often the dose-limiting toxicity. Chemical agents fall into several categories and have different mechanisms of action but, at effective doses, most have side-effects which seriously impact the patient's quality of life. doxorubicin (ADRIAMYCIN®), irinotecan (CPT-11), paclitaxel (TAXOL®), cisplatin, tamoxifen, methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil are popular agents used to treat a variety of cancers, sometimes in combination. In addition to myelosuppression, gastrointestinal effects, mucositis, alopecia, and (in the case of doxorubicin) cardiac toxicities are also observed with these agents.
Clearly, it would be of interest to find ways to make tumor cells selectively sensitive to these chemical agents. One approach might be to target the very properties that make cancer cells unique. Cancer cells generally evolve strategies for circumventing the normal cell cycle checkpoint controls that target cells for self-destruction after sustaining the kind of DNA damage typically inflicted by chemotherapeutic agents. If such functions could be even partially restored in tumor cells by pretreatment with a "sensitizing" agent, one would predict that such treatment would exert a selective effect on such cells.
Almost all IGF circulates in a non-covalently associated complex of IGF-I, insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 (IGFBP-3) and a larger protein subunit termed the acid labile subunit (ALS), such that very little free IGF-I is detectable. The ternary complex is composed of equimolar amounts of each of the three components. ALS has no direct IGF-binding activity and appears to bind only to the IGF/IGFBP-3 complex (Baxter et al., J. Biol. Chem. 264(20):11843-11848, 1989), although some reports suggest that IGFBP-3 can bind to rat ALS in the absence of IGF (Lee et al., Endocrinology 136:4982-4989, 1995). The ternary complex of IGF/IGFBP-3/ALS has a molecular weight of approximately 150 kDa and has a substantially increased half-life in circulation when compared to binary IGF/IGFBP-3 complex or IGF alone (Adams et al., Prog. Growth Factor Res. 6(2-4):347-356; presented October 1995, published 1996). This ternary complex is thought to act "as a reservoir and a buffer for IGF-I and IGF-II preventing rapid changes in the concentration of free IGF" (Blum et al. (1991), "Plasma IGFBP-3 Levels as Clinical Indicators" in MODERN CONCEPTS OF INSULIN-LIKE GROWTH FACTORS, pp. 381-393, E. M. Spencer, ed., Elsevier , New York). While there is essentially no excess (unbound) IGFBP-3 in circulation, a substantial excess of free ALS does exist (Baxter, J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 67:265-272, 1988).
How IGFBP-3 mediates its cellular effects is not well understood, although there is indirect evidence to suggest that it mediates some of the effects of p53, a well-characterized tumor suppressor (Ferry et al., (1999) Horm Metab Res 31(2-3):192-202). IGFBP-3 is mobilized to the nucleus of rapidly growing cells (Schedlich, et al., (1998) J. Biol. Chem. 273(29):18347-52; Jaques, et al., (1997) Endocrinology 138(4):1767-70). A useful step toward defining the functional interactions of IGFBP-3 would be to identify protein domains involved in the ability of IGFBP-3 to specifically bind a surprisingly large array of intracellular and extracellular targets. Known targets include: IGF-I, IGF-II, insulin (under some conditions), acid-labile subunit (ALS), plasminogen, fibrinogen, transferrin, lactoferrin, collagen Type Ia, prekallikrein, RXR-alpha, viral oncoproteins, heparin, specific proteases, cellular receptors, a number of intracellular targets identified in two-hybrid screens, and components of the nuclear localization transport machinery (Mohseni-Zadeh and Binoux (1997) Endocrinology 138(12):5645-8; Collett-Solberg, et al. (1998) J. Clin. Endocrinol Metab. 83(8):2843-8; Rajah, et al. (1995) Prog. Growth Factor Res. 6(2-4):273-84; Fowlkes and Serra (1996) J. Biol. Chem. 271:14676-14679; Campbell, et al. (1999) J. Biol Chem. 274(42):30215-21; Durham, et al. (1999) Horm Metab Res 31(2-3):216-25; Campbell, et al. (1998) Am J Physiol. 275(2Pt 1):E321-31). A better understanding of these binding interactions might allow the generation of IGFBP-3 variants lacking one or more of these functions. The activity of these and other variants in in vivo models may suggest novel therapeutic strategies based either on the variant proteins themselves, mimetics, or small organic molecules selected from combinatorial chemistry libraries created with the information gained from a study of these variants.
A recently described mutant in which residues 228-232 of IGFBP-3 have been substituted with the corresponding residues from IGFBP-1 (a closely related protein) shows impaired binding to ALS, RXR-alpha, and plasminogen (Campbell, et al. (1998) Am. J. Physiol. 275(2 Pt 1):E321-31; Firth, et al. (1998) J. Biol. Chem. 273:2631-2638). Specific proteolysis of IGFBP-3 under certain physiological conditions such as pregnancy and critical illness can lead to altered binding and release of its IGF ligand. The binary complex of IGFBP-3 with IGF-I or IGF-II (both growth factors bind IGFBP-3, with similar affinities) can extravasate across endothelial junctions to the intercellular milieu where IGFBP-3 can interact specifically with glycosaminoglycans, specific proteases, and cell-surface proteins.
It should be noted that, while IGFBP-3 is the most abundant of the IGF binding proteins ("IGFBPs"), at least five other distinct IGFBPs have been identified in various tissues and body fluids. Although these proteins bind IGFs, they originate from separate genes and have distinct amino acid sequences. Unlike IGFBP-3, other circulating IGFBPs are not saturated with IGFs. IGFBP-3 and IGFBP-5 are the only known IGFBPs which can form the 150 kDa ternary complex with IGF and ALS. The IGF and ALS binding domains of IGFBP-3 are thought to be in the N-terminal portion of the protein, as N-terminal fragments of the protein isolated from serum retain these binding activities. However, some of the other IGFBPs have also been suggested for use in combination with IGF-I as therapeutics.
In addition to its role as the major carrier protein for IGF in serum, IGFBP-3 has been recently shown to have a number of different activities. IGFBP-3 can bind to an as-yet unidentified molecule on the cell surface, where it can inhibit the activity of exogenously-added IGF-I (Karas et al., 1997, J. Biol. Chem. 272(26):16514-16520). Although the binding of IGFBP-3 to cell surfaces can be inhibited by heparin, the unidentified cell surface binding molecule is unlikely to be a heparin-like cell surface glycosaminoglycan, because enzymatic removal of heparin glycosaminoglycans has no effect on IGFBP-3 cell surface binding (Yang et al., 1996, Endocrinology 137(10):4363-4371). It is not clear if the cell surface binding molecule is the same or different than the IGFBP-3 receptor that was identified by Leal et al. (1997, J. Biol. Chem. 272(33):20572-20576), which is identical to the type V transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) receptor.
IGFBP-3, when used alone in in vitro assays, has also been reported to promote apoptosis. Interestingly, IGFBP-3 has been shown to promote apoptosis in cells with and without functional type 1 IGF receptors (Nickerson et al., 1997, Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm. 237(3):690-693; Rajah et al., 1997, J. Biol. Chem. 272(18):12181-12188). However, there are conflicting reports as to whether apoptosis is induced by full length IGFBP-3 or a proteolytic fragment of IGFBP-3 (Rajah et al., ibid; Zadeh et al., 1997, Endocrinology 138(7):3069-3072). More recently, a wealth of unpublished data gathered in a number of laboratories fails to support some of the claims made in the above publications. In in vivo models tested to date, infused IGFBP-3 protein alone has showed mixed results in limiting tumor growth.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,681,818 claims the administration of IGFBP-3 for controlling the growth of somatomedin dependent tumors in the treatment of cancer. U.S. Pat. No. 5,840,673 also describes the indirect intracellular modulation of IGFBP-3 levels as a method for controlling tumor growth. U.S. Pat. No. 6,015,786 discloses the use of IGFBP-3 complexed with mutant IGF for the treatment of IGF-dependent tumors. However, each of these patents discloses a direct in vivo effect of administered IGFBP-3 protein on tumor growth. None of these patents envisages a situation where IGFBP-3 has no effect on tumors on its own, yet sensitizes tumors to the action of other agents. Numerous publications (Williams, et al., Cancer Res 60(1):22-7, 2000; Perks, et al., J Cell Biochem 75(4):652-64, 1999; Maile et al., Endocrinology 140(9):4040-5, 1999; Gill, et al., J Biol Chem 272(41):25602-7, 1997) further demonstrate combined effects of IGF binding proteins, radiation and ceramide on cultured cells. However, it is difficult or impossible to extrapolate from tissue culture results to effectiveness in vivo. In one report (Portera et al, Growth Hormone & IGF Research 2000, Supplement A, S49-S50, 2000) IGFBP-3 combined with CPT-11 showed additive effects in a colon cancer model both in vivo and in vitro, but IGFBP-3 alone also showed effects on tumor growth in this model. At the present time, a widely held belief among skilled practitioners in the field is that IGFBP-3 alone may sometimes control tumor growth directly. No one has shown that systemically administered IGFBP-3 can sensitize tumor cells in animals to the action of co-administered agents, without inhibiting tumor growth when used on its own at similar doses.
Such a distinction is of considerable practical importance. Among other things, it means that many types of tumors that may appear to be recalcitrant to IGFBP-3 treatment when used singly, or to some other agent used on its own, may in fact be quite susceptible to the combination. Unless this fact is appreciated, even the testing of certain combinations of substances which, on their own, are known to have no effects on tumor growth, may never be undertaken.
IGF-I and IGFBP-3 may be purified from natural sources or produced by recombinant means. For instance, purification of IGF-I from human serum is well known in the art (Rinderknecht et al. (1976) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 73:2365-2369). Production of IGF-I by recombinant processes is shown in EP 0 128 733, published in December of 1984. IGFBP-3 may be purified from natural sources using a process such as that shown in Baxter et al. (1986, Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm. 139:1256-1261). Alternatively, IGFBP-3 may be synthesized by recombinantly as discussed in Sommer et al., pp. 715-728, MODERN CONCEPTS OF INSULIN-LIKE GROWTH FACTORS (E. M. Spencer, ed., Elsevier, New York, 1991). Recombinant IGFBP-3 binds IGF-I in a 1:1 molar ratio.
Topical administration of IGF-I/IGFBP-3 complex to rat and pig wounds is significantly more effective than administration of IGF-I alone (Id.). Subcutaneous administration of IGF-I/IGFBP-3 complex to hypophysectomized, ovariectomized, and normal rats, as well as intravenous administration to cynomolgus monkeys, "substantially prevents the hypoglycemic effects" of IGF-I administered alone (Id.).
The use of IGF/IGFBP-3 complex has been suggested for the treatment of a wide variety of disorders (see, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,187,151, 5,527,776, 5,407,913, 5,643,867, 5,681,818 and 5,723,441, as well as International Patent Applications Nos. WO 95/03817, WO 95/13823, and WO 96/02565. IGF-I/IGFBP-3 complex is also under development by Insmed Pharmaceuticals, Inc., as a treatment for several indications, including diabetes and recovery from hip fracture surgery.
For practitioners skilled in the art, the complex of IGF-I and IGFBP-3 is generally considered to be a different compound, and to have different biological effects, than IGFBP-3 alone.
While there are a large number of cytotoxic drugs available for the treatment of cancer, these drugs are generally associated with a variety of serious side effects, including alopecia, leukopenia, mucositis. Accordingly, there is a need in the art for cancer therapies that do not induce the serious side effects associated with conventional cytotoxic chemotherapy. One method for achieving this goal is to make target cells (such as tumor cells) selectively sensitive to cytotoxic drugs, thereby permitting the effective use of such drugs at lower doses not associated with serious side effects.
A number of reports claim IGFBP-3 alone can cause apoptosis in tumor cells in culture, and others have described additive effects of combining IGFBP-3 treatment with various chemical agents in tissue culture (cited above). However, it is unclear how these effects relate, if at all, to in vivo models.
The key assumption in all of the above examples is that the efficacy of combination treatments involving administration of IGFBP-3 and other agents is investigated only after IGFBP-3 has shown efficacy on its own. Given this state of thinking, which is established in the field at this time, it is therefore unlikely that effective combination regimens will be identified unless IGFBP-3 alone is shown to have efficacy in the first place. Synergistic effects with co-administered agents showing marginal efficacy themselves would be even harder to identify.
Herceptin, a humanized antibody used in the treatment of breast cancer, has exemplified the use of large proteinaceous molecules to extend the therapeutic efficacy of chemical agents (Pegram, et al. (1998) J. Clin. Oncol. 16(8):2659-71). However, this molecule was approved for clinical use based on its own efficacy on tumors and survival, when used alone. Additive effects have been observed when this molecule is administered in combination with chemical agents.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method for use of IGF-binding protein for selective sensitization of target cells in vivo


A method for encapsulating organic molecules, and in particular, biomolecules using sol-gel chemistry. A silica sol is prepared from an aqueous alkali metal silicate solution, such as a mixture of silicon dioxide and sodium or potassium oxide in water. The pH is adjusted to a suitably low value to stabilize the sol by minimizing the rate of siloxane condensation, thereby allowing storage stability of the sol prior to gelation. The organic molecules, generally in solution, is then added with the organic molecules being encapsulated in the sol matrix. After aging, either a thin film can be prepared or a gel can be formed with the encapsulated molecules. Depending upon the acid used, pH, and other processing conditions, the gelation time can be from one minute up to several days. In the method of the present invention, no alcohols are generated as by-products during the sol-gel and encapsulation steps. The organic molecules can be added at any desired pH value, where the pH value is generally chosen to achieve the desired reactivity of the organic molecules. The method of the present invention thereby presents a sufficiently mild encapsulation method to retain a significant portion of the activity of the biomolecules, compared with the activity of the biomolecules in free solution.

The invention relates generally to a sol-gel method for encapsulation of organic molecules and more particularly, to a sol-gel encapsulation method using an alkali metal silicate precursor.
Sensors using immobilized organic-based receptors are finding ever-increasing application in a wide variety of fields including clinical diagnostics, environmental monitoring, food and drinking water safety, affinity chromatography, enzyme reactors, and illicit drug monitoring. Important in the development of these sensors is immobilization and integration of biological molecules (biomolecules) and other organic molecules in the sensor platform and retention of the functionality of the molecules. Using biological molecules, numerous techniques such as physical adsorption, covalent attachment, entrapment in polymer and inorganic matrices, have been explored over the years to achieve a high yield, reproducible, robust immobilization technique that preserves the biological activity of the recognition molecule without adversely affecting the performance of the transduction component. No single method has emerged as the universal method of choice for each and every application and ongoing efforts strive to optimize these methods to render them adequate for specific applications. Silica host matrices, made by sol-gel process, have been studied as a platform for encapsulation of organic molecules and for biomolecules, such as proteins (including enzymes and antibodies), peptides, nucleic acids and cells. These sol-gel matrices have been chemically inert, hydrophilic, biocompatible, and inexpensive to produce. The matrices can also exhibit superior mechanical strength, enhanced thermal stability, and negligible swelling in solvents compared to organic polymers. The sol-gel matrix can also be tailored to act as a reservoir for water thereby significantly enhancing the ability to maintain the biological activity of entrapped enzymes, antibodies or cells. Biomolecules can find a more stable environment upon encapsulation in a silica host, because the polymeric framework grows around the biomolecule, creating a cage to protect the biomolecule from aggregation and unfolding. Other advantages of silica supports include biocompatibility and provision of resistance to microbial attack by serving as a nanofiltration material.
Sol-gel matrices offer another advantage in that their optical transparency makes them useful for transduction platforms that rely on transmission of light for detection, such as absorbance or fluorescence measurements. Sol-gel films can be made relatively fast and cast as thin layers on sensor surfaces. For silicon oxide/nitride based sensors, such as field-effect transistors or optical fibers, formation of sol-gel films results in minimum alteration in optical, chemical and physical properties of the base material. The hydrophilic nature of silica also allows uninterrupted transport of water and other molecules such as substrates and products of an enzymatic reaction.
In general, sol-gel matrices containing encapsulated organic molecules, and in particular, biomolecules, have been prepared by hydrolysis and condensation of an orthosilicate such as tetramethyl orthosilicate (TMOS) or tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS). First, TMOS is partially hydrolyzed in an acidic medium by addition of a controlled amount of water. Next, the biological species is introduced in a suitable buffer to facilitate gelation. The buffer pH is chosen so as to allow the final solution to be close to neutrality in order to avoid denaturation of proteins. However, use of TMOS (or TEOS) as starting material leads to generation of alcohol (e.g., methanol or ethanol), the presence of which in large quantities can be deleterious to biomolecules, such as proteins and cells. In low temperature aging typically used with encapsulation of biological species, the generation of alcohol proceeds for an extended period of time allowing the encapsulated species to denature over time.
Useful would be a method incorporating the advantages of silica sol-gel structures but that does not produce the deleterious alcohols as a by-product.
According to the present invention, a method is provided to encapsulate molecules by forming a silica sol from a solution of a silicon oxide and alkali metal oxide, such as potassium oxide or sodium oxide, in water, adjusting the pH to a pH value less than approximately 7 to stabilize the silica sol, forming a silica sol matrix solution, adding a solution containing an organic compound to be encapsulated to form a silica sol matrix encapsulating said organic compound, aging said silica sol matrix encapsulating said organic compound, and forming a material selected from the group selected of a thin film and a gel. The ratio of silicon oxide to alkali metal oxide is between approximately 1.5 and approximately 4. Adjustment of the pH to a value less than 7, and generally to a value between approximately 1 and 4, is performed by adding an acid, such as HCl, or by adding a hydrogen-containing ion-exchange compound, such as an acidic cation exchange resin. No alcohols are formed in the method of the present invention.
An important class of organic compounds to be encapsulated include biomolecules, such as peptides, proteins, including enzymes and antibodies, nucleic acids and cells, which require mild processing conditions to preserve the integrity and activity of the biomolecules. Other organic compound classes include, but are not limited to, polysaccharides, carbohydrates, and lipids. Results have shown that certain biomolecules retain greater than 50 percent of their activity compared with the activity of the biomolecules in free solution.
In one embodiment, a silica sol is formed from a solution of a SiO2 and Na2O in water, the pH is adjusted to a value of approximately 2 to stabilize the silica sol, forming a silica sol matrix solution, a solution containing a biomolecule to be encapsulated is added to form a silica sol matrix encapsulating the biomolecules, the silica sol matrix is aged and either a thin film or gel is formed.

Sol-gel method for encapsulating molecules


A multi-film junction structure includes an upper mold having a downwardly extending protrusion formed at a lower surface thereof to allow a recess to be defined in resin that is injected therearound. A first film is attached to a part of the lower surface of the upper mold and a side surface and lower surface of the protrusion, the first film having an extension extended from the lower surface of the protrusion by a predetermined length. A second film is attached to a remaining lower surface of the upper mold and an opposite side surface of the protrusion, the second film having a coupling portion located inside the extension of the first film, wherein the extension is bent upwardly. Additionally, a lower mold is provided having a recess facing the protrusion of the upper mold while being spaced apart from the protrusion, the lower mold defining an injection molding space together with the upper mold for allowing resin to be introduced and injection molded in the space.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a multi-film junction structure, and more particularly, to a multi-film junction structure for attaching films having different colors from one another to an injection molded article of a vehicle with high stability.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, a vehicle is provided, in a passenger compartment thereof, with a center fascia on which an audio system, air conditioner operating panel and navigation system are arranged. Films having different colors from one another are bonded to an outer surface of the center fascia for the sake of interior decoration.
FIG. 1 is a sectional view illustrating a conventional multi-film junction structure.
Conventionally, a center fascia of a vehicle is formed of a single injection molded panel, but provided, at a center portion and both side portions thereof, with different colors of films, respectively.
As shown in FIG. 1, the conventional multi-film injection structure comprises: a first injection molded part 30 having either side portion downwardly bent by a right angle to form a stepped portion 32, a flat plane portion 35 extending from the stepped portion 32, and a protrusion 37 protruded upward from the flat plane portion 35 at a distal end position of the flat plane portion 35; a first film 40 attached along the stepped portion 32 and flat plane portion 35 of the first injection molded part 30, the first film 40 being inserted through a lower portion of the protrusion 37 on the flat plane portion 35; a second injection molded part 50 having one end connected to the protrusion 37 of the first injection molded part 30; and a second film 60 attached along the end of the second injection molded part 50.
In the above described conventional multi-film junction structure, the first and second injection molded parts 30 and 50 are connected to each other to constitute a single injection molded panel suitable for forming a module housing of a center fascia. Accordingly, the first film 40 is a film arranged on the center portion of the center fascia, and the second film 60 is a film arranged on either side portion of the center fascia.
On the condition that the single panel, which is constituted by the first and second injection molded parts 30 and 50, refers to the module housing, the first and second films are interior decorative films forming an outer surface of the module housing, and a boundary is defined between the first film 40 and the second film 60.
Here, the first and second films have different colors from each other, and are attached to the module housing while defining a boundary therebetween, prior to injection molding the module housing. Specifically, prior to injection molding the module housing by use of a mold 25, the first and second films are arranged on an inner surface of the mold 25, and then, liquid-phase resin is injected into the mold 25 by use of an injector of an injection molding apparatus. With an injection pressure of the liquid-phase resin, thereby, the first and second films are attached to the module housing while defining a boundary therebetween.
The conventional multi-film junction structure having the above described configuration, however, has a problem in that the resin may be concentrated on the boundary of the first and second films, causing the boundary to be contaminated thereby. This results in an injection molding of defective module housings, and is problematic in the stability of junction between ends of the first and second films.


The invention concerns a cryptographic method whereby a second entity (B) verifies by means of a public key, a proof provided by a first entity (A), which consists in the generation by the first entity (A) of a first random number r much higher than any first integer s included in a private key kept secret by the first entity (A). The first entity (A) generates a first element of proof resulting from a modulo n exponentiation of a first integer G included or not in said public key and whereof the exponent is the first random number r. In combination with the first element of proof, a so-called common number, is generated so that the second entity (B) and the first entity (A) should have knowledge of the common number. The first entity (A) generates an image y of said private key by linear combination of the first random number r and of at least a first private key integer s. At least a multiplicative coefficient of the linear combination is said common number. Any one entity generates a second element of proof Y equal to a power modulo n of a second integer G included or not in said public key and whereof the exponent is the image y of said common number, and sends the second element of proof Y to the first entity (B). The second entity (B) verifies whether the first element of proof is in conformity with a product modulo n of a power of the second element of proof Y whereof the exponent is a third integer e and of a power of a fourth integer v included in said public key whereof the exponent is said common number c.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to the technical field of cryptography, and more precisely to what is called public key cryptography. In this type of cryptography, a user owns a pair of keys for a given use. Said pair of keys consists of a private key that this user keeps secret and an associated public key that this user may communicate to other users. For example, in the case of a pair of keys dedicated to confidentiality, the public key is then used to encipher the data, whereas the secret key is used to decipher it, that is to say to re-establish this data in clear.
2. Related Art
Public key cryptography is very widely used insofar as, unlike secret key cryptography, it does not require the interlocutors to share the same secret in order to establish a security-protected communication. However, this advantage in terms of security is accompanied by a disadvantage in terms of performance, since public key cryptography methods, also called "public key schemes", are often one hundred or one thousand times slower than secret key cryptography methods, also called "secret key schemes". A very great challenge is therefore to find public key cryptography methods that can be rapidly executed so as to be able to use them in resource-limited environments, such as standard microprocessor cards, with or without contacts.
Most public key schemes existing at the present time rely on the difficulty of mathematical problems in the field of arithmetic (or "number theory"). Thus, the security of the RSA (Rivest, Shamir, Adleman) numerical signature and encryption scheme is based on the difficulty of the problem of factorizing integers: given a very large integer (having more than 500 bits) obtained privately by multiplying together two or more prime numbers of comparable size, no effective method exists at the present time for recovering these prime numbers.
Other public key schemes, such as the ElGamal digital signature or encryption scheme, rely for their security on the difficulty of what is called the "discrete logarithm problem". This problem may be expressed in its most general case as follows: let E be a set provided with an operation (i.e. with a function which, having two elements a and b, associates an element denoted "a.b" or "ab", and called the "product of a and b"), let g be an element of E, let r be a large integer and let y be the integer defined by: y=gr (that is to say the product g·g· . . . ·g, with g occurring r times); it is then unfeasible to recover r from g and y.
The invention relates more particularly to the technical field of entity authentication, also called "identification", and also that of the authentication of a message and of its digital signature by means of public key cryptographic techniques. In such methods, the authenticated entity, called the "prover" possesses a secret or private key and an associated public key. The prover uses the secret key to produce an authentication value. The authenticating entity, called the "verifier", needs only the public key of the prover to verify the authentication value.
The invention relates more particularly still to authentication methods called "zero-knowledge disclosure". This means that the authentication takes place using a protocol which, in a proven manner, reveals nothing about the secret key of the authenticated entity, this being so however many times it is used. From this type of scheme it is known how to deduce, using standard techniques, schemes for authenticating a message and a digital signature of this message.
The invention relates even more particularly to methods whose security relies both on the difficulty of the problem of factorizing integers and that of the discrete logarithm problem.
The invention is applicable in any system using public key cryptography to protect the security of their elements and/or their transactions, and more particularly in systems in which the number of calculations performed by the various parties constitutes, at least for one of them, a critical parameter, either because it does not have available a coprocessor specialized in cryptographic calculations, often called a "cryptoprocessor", so as to speed up the calculations, or because it is capable of carrying out a large number of calculations simultaneously, for example in the case of central server, or for any other reason.
A typical application is electronic payment, by bank card or by electronic purse. In the case of proximity payment, the payment terminal is in a public place, prompting the use of public key cryptography methods, so as not to store a master key. To reduce the overall costs of such a system, it may be desirable either for the card to be a standard microprocessor card, that is to say a card not provided with a cryptoprocessor, or for the security-protected microprocessor contained in the terminal itself to be of standard type, or for both of these. Depending on the case and on the cryptographic method adopted, the prior art known at the present time does achieve one or other of these objectives, but does not allow both to be easily achieved simultaneously, while complying with the constraints of the system. An example of such a constraint is that the payment shall be effected in less than one second, or even in less than 150 milliseconds in the case of a contactless transaction, or even in a few milliseconds in the case of a motorway tollgate.
One limitation of all the cryptographic methods known hitherto is that the number of calculations that each of the parties has to perform is fixed by the method itself and cannot be modified. In particular, it is not possible to vary the distribution of the calculations between the prover and a third party not necessarily in confidence, so as to adapt to such or such an environment. This prevents the same method from being able to be used in a variety of environments in which the constraints are different.

Cryptographic method for distributing load among several entities and devices therefor


A Blade Outer Air Seal (BOAS) includes a body manufactured of a metal alloy, the body includes a face opposite a forward interface and an aft interface, the face includes a cavity. A non-metallic insert within the cavity such that the insert is flush with the face.

The present application relates to a blade outer air seal (BOAS).
Gas turbine engines generally include fan, compressor, combustor and turbine sections along an engine axis of rotation. The fan, compressor, and turbine sections each include a series of stator and rotor blade assemblies. A rotor and an axially adjacent array of stator assemblies may be referred to as a stage. Each stator vane assembly increases efficiency through the direction of core gas flow into or out of the rotor assemblies.
An outer case includes a blade outer air seal (BOAS) assembly to provide an outer radial flow path boundary for the core gas flow. A multiple of BOAS segments are typically provided to accommodate thermal and dynamic variation typical in a high pressure turbine (HPT) section of the gas turbine engine. The BOAS segments are subjected to relatively high temperatures and receive a secondary cooling airflow for temperature control.

Hybrid blade outer air seal for gas turbine engine


A method of manufacturing a flexible electronics module includes mounting at least two functional components onto a flexible substrate, forming stretchable electrical interconnects configured to provide connection between the two functional components, and cutting shapes into the flexible substrate to increase an ability of the flexible substrate to stretch and flex, wherein the electrical interconnects to the functional components are placed to avoid the shapes.

Renewable energy resources, such as wind and solar, have become much more popular as people seek alternative energy sources. With the rise in demand, solar products have undergone considerable changes from the traditional, large area solar panels in rigid frames. Solar panels have become smaller, lighter and much more modular.
Some photovoltaic modules now reside on flexible, bendable substrates. Manufacturers that produce flexible solar modules include Unisolar, Global Solar and Konarka. These flexible solar substrates generally consist of thin, stainless steel foil or thin, polymer foil. In addition to photovoltaic modules, these substrates may also include sensors or other electronic modules and circuits. While these substrates have more flexibility and are more bendable than previous substrates, there is still room for improvement.
Some efforts have concentrated on bending more traditional substrates by selectively cutting or notching the substrates to allow them to conform to more three-dimensional shapes. Examples of this approach include U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/017,974, published as US Patent Publication No. 20090184954; and Ser. No. 12/253,390, Published as 20100096729. In the approach discussed in these publications, an electronics circuit and its components are laid out on a flexible circuit substrate. The process then cuts the flexible circuit substrate to allow it to be bent, shaped or molded into a three-dimensional device.
Similarly, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/563,945, "Shaped Active Matrix Displays," discusses a combination of the cutting for shaping and the lay out of the circuits to allow for perforations to be formed in the substrate, or for the substrate to take a particular shape, such as that of an alphabetic character.
The approach taken in these references, however, involves cutting or perforating the substrate for flexibility and shaping, it does not address stretchability.

Method of manufacturing a flexible electronics module