A hydraulic pressure control device including a pump driven to generate hydraulic pressure; a first pressure regulation valve that regulates hydraulic pressure in a first passage coupled to a pump along with discharge of oil; a second pressure regulation valve that receives the hydraulic pressure in the first passage and regulates the hydraulic pressure to an engagement pressure to engage a lock-up clutch according to a first signal pressure to output the engagement pressure to a second passage that supplies the oil to an engagement chamber; and a third pressure regulation valve that receives the hydraulic pressure in the first passage or the engagement pressure output to the second passage and regulates the received pressure according to the first signal pressure or a second signal pressure that synchronizes with the first signal pressure to output the resulting pressure to a third passage that supplies the oil to the disengagement chamber.

The present invention relates to a hydraulic pressure control device, and more particularly to a hydraulic pressure control device that controls supply of a hydraulic pressure to a torque converter including a lock-up clutch that is engaged in accordance with a difference in oil pressure between an engagement oil chamber and a disengagement oil chamber.


A mobile communication device may include a cell search circuit configured to process a first block of signal waveform data to extract a first discrete parameter set, wherein the first discrete parameter set identifies one or more first potential cells present in the first block of signal waveform data, process the second block of signal waveform data to extract a second discrete parameter set, wherein the second discrete parameter set identifies one or more second potential cells present in the second block of signal waveform data, and compare the first discrete parameter set and the second discrete parameter set to identify one or more matching cells, and an RF transceiver configured to transmit or receive radio signals based on the identification of the one or more matching cells.

Mobile cell search procedures may rely on detection of synchronization sequences in downlink signals to both identify and obtain synchronization with proximate cells. For example, in a Long Term Evolution (LTE) context as specified by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) a mobile terminal may need to detect and identify Primary Synchronization Signal (PSS) and Secondary Synchronization Signal (SSS) sequences in downlink signals received from nearby cells. A mobile terminal may subsequently be able to obtain cell parameters such as cell identity (Physical Cell Identity, PCI), cyclic prefix length (CP, extended or normal), duplex mode (Time Division Duplexing, TDD, or Frequency Division Duplexing, FDD), and timing synchronization based on identification of such synchronization sequences. Mobile terminals may then proceed to utilize these cell parameters in essential mobility procedures, such as measurement reporting, network selection, cell selection and reselection, and handover.

Methods and communication devices for performing cell search and detection


A steering column (10) includes a support (24) through which a steering column member (12) extends connected with a mounting bracket (68). A locking mechanism (130) locks the support (24) in any one of a plurality of positions relative to the mounting bracket (68). The locking mechanism (130) has a locking shaft (200) extending through first and second cams (148, 132) and the mounting bracket (68). The first cam (148) is rotatable relative to the locking shaft (200) and the second cam (132) and has a first cam surface (150). The second cam (132) has a second cam surface (134) facing the first cam surface (150). A bearing (166) includes a flexible cage (168) and a plurality of bearing members (170) rotatable relative to the cage engaging the first and second cam surfaces (150, 134). The locking mechanism (130) clamps the support (24) to the mounting bracket (68) when the first cam (148) is in a first position relative to the second cam (132). The support (24) is movable relative to the mounting bracket (68) and the locking shaft (200) is prevented from moving relative to the mounting bracket when the first cam (148) is in a second position relative to the second cam (132).

A known steering column is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,394,767. U.S. Pat. No. 5,394,767 discloses an adjustable steering column having a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism includes a locking shaft with a stop member on one end of the locking shaft. The locking shaft extends through a bearing member engaging a mounting bracket. A spacing assembly is arranged between the stop member and the bearing member. The spacing assembly includes a rolling member engaging facing surfaces of the stop member and the bearing member. A lever is connected to a cage for displacing the rolling members along the facing surfaces of the stop member and the bearing member. The locking mechanism clamps the steering column in position when the lever is in a first position relative to the stop member and the bearing member. The locking shaft and steering column are movable relative to a mounting bracket when the lever is in a second position relative to the stop member and the bearing member.


Electronic apparatus and methods may include a hafnium tantalum oxynitride film on a substrate for use in a variety of electronic systems. The hafnium tantalum oxynitride film may be structured as one or more monolayers. The hafnium tantalum oxynitride film may be formed using atomic layer deposition. Metal electrodes may be disposed on a dielectric containing a hafnium tantalum oxynitride film.

The semiconductor device industry has a market-driven need to reduce the size of devices used in products such as processor chips, mobile telephones, and memory devices such as dynamic random access memories (DRAMs). Currently, the semiconductor industry relies on the ability to reduce or scale the dimensions of its basic devices. This includes scaling a dielectric layer in devices such as capacitors and silicon-based metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs), which have primarily been fabricated using silicon dioxide. Thermally-grown SiO2 provides an electrically and thermodynamically stable material, where the interface of the SiO2 layer with underlying silicon provides a high quality interface as well as desirable electrical isolation properties. However, increased scaling in microelectronic devices has made the use of SiO2 less useful because of its band gap behavior and the resulting possibility of shorting.


Distillers solubles are purified by a centrifugal separation to a degree above 50,000, which is the product of g.times.minute, or a filtration with addition of a filter aid. The clarified matter is purified by a molecular sieve treatment, ultrafiltration, reverse osmosis or an organic solvent precipitation. The clarified matter or purified matter thus obtained is pulverized by spray drying, lyophilic drying or air drying.. Said clarified matter, purified matter or pulverized matter is added to a fermentation medium or a feed as an available component.

In general, the distillers solubles are generally deformed as for example, distillation residues soluble or suspended in water and from which the rough parts of the particles have been removed, such residues being from stillage (residue of distillation) of whisky and so on, and they may be dried into dried solubles or concentrated or made into semisolid state and added to feed, thus having been broadly utilized.
Also, these distillers solubles have been known for their effects as a growth source of Actinomyces and other various microorganisms or as a growth promoting factor and thereby have been broadly used.
However, even such useful distillers solubles have large drawbacks in use. For example, in the case where the distillers solubles are used as growth source of microorganisms, as they are or in concentrated state, many suspended contaminants and lipid materials may contaminate the microorganisms cells or products; but the removing thereof is very difficult, so that they can not be possibly used for propagation of cells which are adapted for food, such as bakers yeast, starter and so on as they are. Also such distillers solubles have never been utilized for products which are difficult to purify. Moreover, the distillers solubles concentrated and formed into solid state have poor solubility, and in use they are inconvenient, so that they have been difficult to use as a general source of culture.
Heretofore, the distillers solubles sold in market generally are those produced by removing large solids from stillage of whisky or the like, and concentrated, and it has been believed that the distillers solubles themselves constitute an available component as a whole.

Method of purifying distillers solubles and use of the purified matter


A method and apparatus for inducing fibrillation in a patient's heart by delivering an alternating current stimulus to the heart from a DC-to DC converter. The hardware of a conventional implantable cardioverter/defibrillator (ICD) is utilized with a modification to the control algorithms. Particularly, when it is desired to induce fibrillation in a patient's heart, typically during ICD implant defibrillation threshold (DFT) testing, a command is delivered from an external instrument to the ICD to deliver the fibrillation shock. The DC-to-DC converter which is normally used to charge the ICD high voltage capacitors is activated and immediately thereafter a first pair the high voltage output switches of the output stage are closed for about 4 milliseconds. This delivers an initial pulse of one polarity. Following an interval of about 4 milliseconds, a second pair of the high voltage output switches are closed for 4 milliseconds delivering an opposite polarity pulse. The output current from the DC-to-DC converter is provided to the defibrillation electrodes and through the patient's heart. This stimulus of alternating polarity pulses is continued for a predetermined time of between about 30 milliseconds to 5 seconds. At that point all the output switches are opened and the converter is shut off. This stimulus delivered directly to the patient's heart induces fibrillation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to medical stimulators and more specifically to implantable cardioverters and defibrillators.
2. Description of the Prior Art
When implanting an implantable defibrillator, it is desirable to test the device's operability to ensure that it is capable of reliably defibrillating the heart. In order to accomplish this, it is necessary to first induce fibrillation in the patient's heart, and then determine whether the implantable defibrillator is capable of terminating the induced fibrillation. Typically, rapid pacing from the implanted defibrillator or an external pulse generator or an external 60 Hz low voltage transformer has been used in inducing fibrillation.
It would be desirable to improve the fibrillation induction function in an implantable defibrillator, to allow for a more fully automated testing regimen and to simplify the implantation procedure. However, incorporation of a true 60 Hz alternating current fibrillator into an implantable device poses substantial technical difficulties.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,129,392 to Bardy et al discloses an automatic fibrillator for inclusion in an implantable defibrillator. Fibrillation is induced using overdrive pacing. The effective refractory period of the patient's heart is measured during pacing. A fibrillation inducing pulse is delivered at a calculated time interval following an overdrive pacing pulse. This approach requires complex tinting calculations and may not be effective in all cases in inducing fibrillation.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,215,083 to Drane et al discloses an apparatus and method for fibrillation induction. At least a portion of a pulse train of "micro-shocks" delivered from the high voltage capacitors are synchronized to the patient's T-waves. The length of the series of trains and the micro-shock pulse widths are programmable parameters and the polarity of the shocks may be alternated within a train. This technique is also complex and may not be consistently effective.
Copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/568,044, filed Dec. 6, 1995, to Fain et al. and assigned to the assignee of the present application discloses a method and apparatus for inducing fibrillation in a patient's heart by delivering a direct current shock to the heart from a DC-to-DC converter. The hardware of a conventional implantable cardioverter/defibrillator (ICD) is utilized with a modification to the control algorithms. The DC-to-DC converter which is normally used to charge the ICD high voltage capacitors is activated and immediately thereafter or following a short period to allow the high voltage capacitors to charge, the high voltage output switches of the output stage are closed. This delivers the output current from the DC-to-DC converter to the defibrillation electrodes and through the patient's heart. This pulse or shock is continued for a predetermined time of between about 30 milliseconds to 5 seconds. At that point the output switches are opened and the converter is shut off. This DC stimulus delivered directly to the patient's heart induces fibrillation. A problem with this system is that the voltage available from the output of the DC-to-DC converter may not be sufficiently high to consistently induce fibrillation.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an improved method and apparatus for inducing fibrillation in a patient's heart.

Apparatus and method for inducing fibrillation


The present invention relates to absorptive dressings which are highly absorbent and which retain moisture, said dressings comprising cross-linked cellulosic fibers wherein the cross-linker has been blended with the fibers after electrostatically charging the fibers, the retentive membrane being a layer of thermoplastic which has been laminated onto the dressing at its glass transition temperature, thereby giving the membrane selective moisture permeability properties.

The present invention relates to sheets of fibrous material, especially comprising cellulosic fibers, which are absorbent for aqueous liquids, and which are protected on at least one side by a membrane of permeable plastic.
There is great demand for materials which are capable of absorbing quantities of liquid, while remaining substantially solid, and which, before use, are compact. Examples of uses for such materials include kitchen rolls, sanitary pads, nappies, plasters and wound dressings in general.
Various materials are known which can be used for the above applications. Such materials include foamed plastics, absorbent paper and, more recently, sheets of cross-linked cellulosic fibers.
However, materials which are generally considered suitable do not necessarily fulfil all of the requirements for the application for which they are intended. For example, sanitary pads may be too bulky or too solid, and surgical dressings do not absorb, or do not absorb at a sufficient rate, a sufficient quantity of exudate from the wounds.
An added complication is that, for applications involving contact with the human or animal body, especially a wound, it is highly desirable that there be no toxic compounds present in the dressing which may affect the body in any way. This is a particular disadvantage of many plastics.
Materials which find general acceptance for most of the above-described applications comprise an interlinked, or cross-linked, disperse layer of a fibrous substance, such as cellulose, which has been so treated as to be able to absorb liquids. For example, EP-A-252650 discloses a material made of stiffened curled cellulosic fibers, while EP-A-7134 discloses a fibrous cellulosic sheet, the fibers being bibulous cellulosic fibers and/or sodium carboxymethyl cellulose fibers. These are cross-linked by wetting and applying heat and pressure.
One advantage of the cross-linked cellulosic fibers is their non-toxicity, provided that the cross-linker is a suitable non-toxic compound, such as carboxymethyl cellulose. These materials also have the advantage of being able to absorb up to about one hundred times their own weight in water.
A disadvantage of the cross-linked cellulosic materials arises through the various methods of production available for them. So far, no method for their production has been described which provides a highly absorbent matrix, the maximum being about 100.times. the mass of the matrix. This is essentially because of the difficulties involved in evenly distributing the cross-linker precursor throughout the fibers before effecting cross-linking. Two basic methods are known for the production of such matrices, the first of which is a dry process, and the second is a wet slurry process.
In the dry process, a layer of suitable cellulosic fibers is generated, such as by the air-felt process, followed by dredging a suitable powdered cross-linker onto the sheet and then compressing the whole, optionally after agitation, together with heating. It is generally necessary to use great pressure in order to effect any kind of satisfactory permeation of the cross-linker through the sheet, and the result is a very densely compressed sheet with variable concentrations of cross-linker throughout. These sheets tend to be least absorbent.
The alternative, wet process involves making a slurry of the cellulosic fibers and the cross-linker. This slurry is dried out and formed into a sheet, and then compressed and heated as before. This results in a more even distribution of the cross-linker throughout the material, but still does not form an optimal material with a particularly even density of cross-linker throughout, and also suffers from the drawback of being time consuming. The main problem is clumping with materials prepared from slurries, even where relatively low quantities of cross-linker are used.
Still further problems arise. While, for some applications, it is suitable to apply the material directly to the area where it is required to absorb liquid, this is, as a rule, undesirable for the treatment of wounds, as the fibers may irritate, or penetrate the wound, or both. In addition, exposed fibrous matrices, especially those containing wound exudates, can provide an ideal environment for the reproduction of bacteria.
To overcome such problems, articles comprising such materials generally further comprise protective membranes. In such instances, it is common to have an impervious membrane on the side of the material not intended for absorption, while a porous membrane is provided on the absorptive side. Well known examples of this type of application include nappies and sticking plasters.
Whilst it is relatively easy to provide a porous membrane to allow the cross passage of liquids, problems arise in preventing backflow of the liquids. In sticking plasters, for example, the porous membrane characteristically comprises an impervious plastics film with many small perforations, but this can allow backflow of the exudate which generally results in the plaster becoming embedded in the wound and, when the plaster is removed, reopening the wound, readily leading to the production of scar tissue.


The present invention is an improved drum mechanism for use in combination with an automatic photographic processing system which includes a housing, a bi-directional motor that has a shaft and that is mounted on the housing, a control unit for controlling the bi-directional motor and a drain tray that is mounted on the housing. The automatic photographic processing system also includes a fluid injector unit for injecting fluids into said improved drum mechanism that is electrically coupled to the control unit and that is mounted on the housing. The improved drum mechanism includes an elongated, cylinder-shaped member which is adapted to receiver photographic print materials and which is fluidly coupled to the fluid injector unit and a drum mounting that includes a set of four rollers, one of which is mechanically coupled to the shaft of the bi-directional motor and which is mechanically coupled to the elongated, cylinder-shaped member, and that is mechanically coupled to the housing adjacent to the drain tray so that when the elongated, cylinder-shaped member is placed on the set of four rollers it can be bi-directionally rotated by the bi-directional motor. The improved drum mechanism has a draining apparatus which is a slot which travels longitudinally along the sidewall of the elongated cylinder-shaped member and which may be disposed parallelly above the drain tray.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a drum for use in combination with an automatic photographic processing system and more particularly to a slotted drum which allows a single bi-directional motor to perform the functions of agitation, retention and fluid drainage.
2. Description of the Prior Art
U.S. Pat. No. 4,035,818, entitled Color Print or Film Processor, issued to Roger A. King on July 12, 1977, teaches an automatic photographic developing apparatus in which the photographic developing apparatus in which the photographic material to be developed is placed in a cylindrical drum. The drum is laid on its side on a set of rollers, one of which causes it to rotate. A plurality of containers for various photographic liquids are provided with valve arrangements by which their contents are delivered either in total or in measured increments to the rotating drum. The drum is mounted in a cradle so that it can be tilted to drain liquids from it. Specific details are given of the drum, its driving and cradle tilting components, the liquid dispensing and metering components, and the program control apparatus whereby the photographic materials may be treated with selected solutions in selected orders for predetermined intervals.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,727,535, entitled Photographic Processing Apparatus, issued to Robert G. H. Streeter on Apr. 17, 1973, teaches an apparatus for processing photographic materials such as film or paper prints which include an elongated horizontal housing having a top wall provided with an access opening sealed by a lid, a horizontal cylindrical drum mounted in the housing for rotation on its longitudinal axis, a solution tray pivotally mounted in the housing below and drum for movement between an operative position and a dumping position for discharging spent solution, and a distribution pipe for supplying treatment solution to the tray. The drum is provided with an opening in its periphery having two parallel rims extending along the longitudinal axis of the drum and a scooping lip mounted on one of the said rims. The sheets of photographic material are placed in the drum through the opening and the sheets are secured inside the drum by adjustable bars detachably fixed on the inside periphery of the drum. The drum is then continuously rotated about its horizontal axis and a predetermined amount of treatment solution fed into the tray. As the drum rotates the scooping lip scoops up the solution into the drum so that the photographic sheets are continuously brought into contact with the solution. The tray is then tilted to discharge the solution and a succession of treatment solutions are fed into the tray in the foregoing manner until the photographic sheets are processed.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,682,080, entitled Apparatus for Developing Photographic Films, issued to Werner Merz on Aug. 8, 1972, teaches an apparatus for developing photographic films which includes one or more drums which have spaced opposite ends that are mounted for rotation in a housing and a supply supplies liquid developer to the interior of these drums. Raising arrangement utilizing eccentric cams or the like is provided for alternately raising or lowering one end of each drum at predetermined time intervals and through a predetermined distance to thereby cause longitudinally traveling waves of the developer in the drums.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,703,860, entitled Apparatus for Photographic Processing, issued to Peter R. S. Wilkinson on Nov. 28, 1972, teaches a drum photographic processor which is adapted to rotate horizontally but to be tilted to evacuate processing solution while still being rotated. The direction of rotation may be changed as well as the degree of tilting. A longitudinal slot within the drum serves to engage a leading edge of photographic film being processed and to assist in the desired flow of processing solution. Various devices to cause automatic evacuation of processing solution or tilting the drum are described.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,982,259, entitled Photographic Material Processing Module, issued to Edward Van Baerle on Sept. 21, 1976, teaches a photographic material processing module which is usable alone for all the processing procedure, or with like modules in side-by-side relation, each module performing one or more of the processing steps. Exposed photographic material is mounted in a cylindrical container having at one end a cover provided with an opening for receiving and discharging processing liquids. The module has a mechanical arrangement for rotating the container a few revolutions in one direction followed by a few revolutions in the opposite direction, and, in preferred form, a mechanism for simultaneously reciprocating the container axially, such movements providing optimum shear relation between processing liquid and photographic material for streak-free processing. A liquid supplying system is provided for feeding measured amounts of processing liquid at proper temperature into the container, and for elevating one end of the container to discharge the processing liquid at the conclusion of a timed processing step. Finally, the module has a transport device for moving the container from the module to an adjacent module at the conclusion of the processing step or steps performed in that module.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,035,818; 3,727,535; 3,682,080; 3,703,860; and 3,982,259 all teach photographic film processing systems which have mechanisms for tilting the drums containing the photographic film in order to drain the processing liquid from the drums. These mechanisms are relatively mechanically complex compared to a single bi-directional motor.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,709,138, entitled Photographic Print Processing Apparatus, issued to Leonard E. Brasher on Jan. 9, 1973, teaches a photographic print processing apparatus which includes a rotatable drum into which may be introduced a quantity of photographic print processing fluid. A device is provided for controllably introducing the processing fluid into the drum and for controllably introducing water or other appropriate fluid for the washing of photographic printing papers at appropriate stages during the development process. The apparatus may be powered manually or may be provided with a motor drive mechanism to achieve selective rotation of the drum during processing. The drum may be rotated in one direction for processing and may be rotated in the opposite direction for expelling the processing fluid from the drum into a reservoir provided to contain the expelled fluid. Selective directional rotation of the drum may be achieved by the reversible electric motor that may be actuated by mercury switches positioned on an actuating lever which switches are selectively actuated to energize the motor depending upon relative positioning of the lever as the lever is actuated for control purposes.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,054,902, entitled Apparatus for Developing Photographic Prints, issued to Dennis C. Rebek on Oct. 18, 1977, teaches an apparatus for developing photographic prints which is housed in a cabinet and which includes a developing tank, a removable hood for covering the developing tank, a removable hood for covering the developing tank against the entrance of light, a print holding fixture mounted for rotation relative to the developing tank, and a plurality of containers of compartments for storing developing reagents and rinse water. The print holding fixture includes mounting units which are adapted to contact only the opposite outer edge portions of a print and hold it in a plano-arcuate shape with the image or exposed side facing inwardly. The cabinet includes a chamber which jackets or surrounds a major portion of the developing tank and holds warm water for tempering developing reagents and rinse water container in the developing tank. The developing reagent and rinse water containers or compartments are connected to the developing tank by individual conduits including intermediate portions which are located in the lower portion of the chamber and mounted in a coiled fashion so that the warm water tempers the developing reagents and the rinse water prior to their introduction into the developing tank. The apparatus also includes control valves for selectively admitting each reagent and the rinse water into the developing tank and a drain valve for draining the developing tank so that, after installation of a print or prints on the holding fixture, the entire development process can be performed in a lighted room.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,288,403, entitled Photographic Developing Apparatus, issued to William F. Garland on Dec. 17, 1918 teaches a system for developing photographic prints. U.S. Pat. No. 3,981,488, entitled Carrier for Processing Photographic Materials and Apparatus for Rotating the Carrier, issued to Simon Ratowsky on Sept. 21, 1978, teaches an apparatus for axially rotating and vertically oscillating a horizontally disposed cylindrical carrier for processing photographic material, the carrier having a ring projecting longitudinally from at least one end thereof, to form an internal trackway.
In all of the above described photographic film processing systems there are mechanisms for tilting the drums in order to drain the processing liquid from them. These mechanisms require many moving parts such as levers, gears, pulleys or cams which must be machined within close tolerances. Furthermore their drum geometry require large volume of the processing liquids in order to contact the photographic paper.

Drum for an automatic photographic processing system


A power operated, draw bar mounted hitch for connection to the tongue of a farm implement has a fixed draw pin and a bottom hammer strap that engages under the tongue and raises the tongue onto the draw bar, where it is captured in place between the bottom hammer strap and a top hammer strap mounted on the draw bar. The hitch has an automatic self locking feature that automatically locks the hitch when it reaches the engaged position.

With very large agricultural implements, pulled by large, very powerful tractors, hitching the implements to a tractor can be quite difficult. Where the implement tongue needs to be lifted into the hitch, the high tongue weight makes it necessary to lift the tongue with a jack. Driving a draw pin into a slightly misaligned draw bar and tongue also requires the application of considerable force.
while various hitches have been proposed for use in conjunction with three point hitches which allow movement of the hitch into line with the tongue, these are complex devices and unsuited to drawing a large implements with high draft forces.
The present invention is therefore concerned with an novel tractor hitch for use with large, heavy implements and high powered tractors.


A method for metallurgically bonding a cylinder liner 22 within a clinder block 14 of an automotive engine includes coating the outer surface of the liner 22 with a low melting point molten metal coating material 24, such as a zinc, as well as cylinder walls of the block 14 and then allowing the coatings to solidify. The block 14 and liner 22 are then heated to an elevated temperature and the liner 22 press-fit into the block 14. This causes the coating materials to alloy with the liner and block metal as well as one another, forming a metallurgical bond between the block 14 and liner 22 when cooled.

1. Technical Field
The subject invention relates generally to cylinder blocks for internal combustion engines, and more particularly to such cylinder blocks having cylinder liners which are metallurgically bonded to the block.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Aluminum cylinder blocks for internal combustion engines are typically provided with cylinder liners made of cast iron or other suitable material for providing a high wear-resistant surface to the cylinder walls of the cylinder block. In order to prevent the liners from moving and rendering the engine inoperable, it is important that the cylinder liners be securely joined to the cylinder block.
One common method for joining the liners to the block is to form a mechanical interference or interlock between the liner and the block. One method involves pressing the liners into the engine block with an interference fit, relying on the friction between the liner and the block to hold the liner in place. Another method is to cast the cylinder block around the cylinder liners to form such a mechanical interlock or interference. Although these types of liners have enjoyed some commercial success, they are deficient in that mechanically joined liners tend to loosen over time due to the continuous thermal cycling of the engine and the different co-efficiency of expansion of the liner and cylinder block materials. An example of such a liner is disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 3,069,209 to Bauer, granted Dec. 18, 1962.
Another method for joining the liner to the cylinder block is to metallurgically bond the liner to the block. The methods known thus far involve coating the outer surfaces of preformed liners with a low melting point metal material and then positioning these coated liners in a mold and casting the cylinder block around the coated liners, which causes the coating to melt an alloy with the block and liner material to form a metallurgical bond between the liners and the block. Examples of such cast-in-place methods are disclosed in the U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,710,136 to Angle et al, granted Apr. 23, 1929; 3,165,983, granted Jan. 19, 1965 and 3,276,082 granted Oct. 4, 1966, both to Thomas, and 5,005,469, granted Apr. 9, 1991 to Ohta. With all of these cast-in-place lining methods, special care must be taken to properly position the liners within the casting mold prior to casting.
Thus, the methods available in today's technology are either inadequate, in the case of mechanical bonded liners, or require special fixturing, in the case of cast-in place metallurgically bonded liners, in order to properly locate these liners within the resultant cast cylinder block.

Method for metallurgically bonding pressed-in cylinder liners to a cylinder block


A process for the management of data of an analysis device, which data serve for the operation of a further analysis device which is designed so as to be equivalent to the first analysis device, is disclosed. The analysis device newly creates or modifies data on an internal memory medium of the analysis device and the first analysis device, during its operation, continuously stores the newly created or modified data in a redundant manner in a non-volatile removable storage medium, with the removable storage medium being independent of the internal memory medium.

A typical area of application of such analysis devices or analyzers lies in the field of medicine/diagnostics where such devices are used, for example, for the analysis of body fluids, in particular for blood analysis.
Such analyzers are frequently used for the decentralized determination of point-of-care (POC) parameters, for example, of blood gases (O2, CO2, pH), electrolytes (K+, Na+, Ca++, Cl−), metabolites (glucose and lactate), haematocrit, haemoglobin parameters (tHb, SO2, etc.) and bilirubin. In most cases, human whole blood serves here as a sample material, but applications in veterinary medicine and the use of serum, plasma, urine and dialysate samples are possible as well.
Such analyzers comprise appropriate measuring elements and arithmetic units associated therewith such as, e.g., programmable microcomputers or also application-specific circuits which control the functions of the analyzers and, accordingly, form a control stage. Furthermore, the analyzers comprise memory units (e.g., a 2.5″ hard disk as a primary data storage device), which are also referred to as an internal memory medium. With the aid of those units, all settings (configuration data) as well as measuring results (measured data), user data and patient and subject data, respectively, (also those modifiable by a user) are usually stored internally. Possibly, some of these data can be exported upon request into other systems or onto other data storage devices and, respectively, can be imported from other systems or from other data storage devices. Standard protocols such as ASTM E 1394, 91 or POCT1-A or HL7 exist for data exchange with laboratory and hospital information systems or various server/client-based data and device management systems.
The problem of exchanging data in an electrochemical analysis device is also addressed in the German utility model specification DE 201 13 153 U1. In order to permit the exchange of data in an easy manner, a data reading and writing unit comprising an alternate semiconductor memory card is disclosed there as a solution. In the known case, the data reading and writing unit and the card replace an interface for the transmission of measured data and device parameters via a respective communication network to a central data processing station.
At this point, it should furthermore be mentioned that a process for backing up and restoring data in connection with a PC is disclosed in US 2006/0294420 A1. Such a data backup is usually executed in a time-controlled manner or is triggered manually. In this process, configuration data which are required for restoring the saved data are treated separately from the data to be saved in order to retrieve those configuration data more easily in case the data are restored.
Furthermore, at this point, US 2006/0148463 A1 should also be indicated in which the malfunction of a mobile phone is addressed, with the malfunction of the mobile phone having been caused mainly by incorrect or defective settings. In this context, their object is to restore original settings. Their object is achieved by a monitoring module which saves a plurality of original settings as soon as a SIM card is inserted in a mobile phone and restores the original settings if the settings of the mobile phone do not correspond to the original settings.
Neither the above-mentioned protocols nor the previously discussed disclosures in the patent and utility model literature solve the inherent problems of the data transfer in known analyzers. These data transfer methods, which have been used so far, exhibit in particular the following disadvantages:                Manual interventions are necessary (e.g., selecting the data, starting the backup application).        In case of necessity, a manual backup process normally implies a loss of data, since the data export is not performed immediately before the occurrence of an equipment failure.        Possibly, separate coding and decoding of backup data is necessary.        Solutions implemented in hardware (printer controller, disc controller, partially separate processors and interfaces to storage media) are normally expensive.

Process for the management of data of analysis devices, analysis device and system comprising analysis devices


A module filled with an organic porous ion exchanger is placed midway on a pipe for transporting high-purity water to be supplied to a point-of-use. As the organic porous ion exchanger is used an organic porous ion exchanger having a three-dimensional mesh structure with mesopores, having an average diameter of 1 μm to 1000 μm, in a wall between interconnected macropores and in which an ion exchange group is uniformly distributed and an ion exchange capacity is 0.5 mg equivalent weight/gram of dried porous body or greater.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for producing high-purity water to be used in the semiconductor manufacturing industry or the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, high-purity water (in the specification, the term "high-purity water" refers to highly pure water such as "pure water" and "ultra-pure water" for which no general definition exists) is produced by treating raw water such as river water, ground water, and industrial water through a pretreatment process to remove most of suspended and organic substances from the raw water and subsequently treating the pretreated water by a primary pure water producing device and a secondary pure water producing device (also referred to in the specification as a "subsystem"). The produced high-purity water is then supplied to a point-of-use such for example as wafer washing in the semiconductor manufacturing industry. The high-purity water is highly pure to such a degree that even a quantitative analysis of the impurities is difficult, but still contains some impurities. The influences of these minute amount of impurity compositions contained in the high-purity water on products such as semiconductor devices cannot be ignored in devices of high degree of integration (highly integrated devices), and, therefore, there is a strong demand for obtaining high-purity water having an even higher purity than the conventional high-purity water.
For example, the high-purity water produced in the subsystem is supplied to the point-of-use through pipes, but the pipes between the subsystem and the point-of-use in some cases are several hundreds of meters long in length. Because of this, impurities such as particulates (or particles) and metal ion compositions mix from the pipes into the high-purity water in a very small amount and sometimes adversely affects characteristics of devices. For example, metal pollution may adversely affect the electrical characteristics of the devices and particles may cause pattern defects, disconnection, and defects in dielectric strength. In addition, the compositions that are not removed in the high-purity water producing apparatus may also adversely affect characteristics of the devices, and when, for some reason, there is a leak from the high-purity water producing apparatus instantaneously or for a short period, the device characteristics may be adversely affected.
As a solution for such contamination, methods for further treating the high-purity water immediately before the point-of-use have been proposed. For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 4-78483 discloses a method for providing a column filled with ion exchange fiber immediately before the point-of-use. Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Sho 58-81483 discloses a method for providing an ultrafiltration membrane module immediately before the point-of-use. Each of these methods, however, has a disadvantage that because the primary target of the column filled with ion exchange fiber is ionic impurities, the removal performance for the particulates is not sufficient, and although the ultrafiltration membrane module can remove particulates, it cannot remove dissoluble impurities such as ions.
In addition, an ion adsorption module which is filled with an ion adsorption membrane is known as a module having both particulate and ionic impurity removal functions. Known configuration of the ion adsorption membrane to be used in such a module include a plate type and a spiral type which are created from a planar membrane, a tubular type, and a hollow fiber membrane (Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 8-89954). Suitable membrane configurations are determined and commercialized based on the objective of the use, etc. However, because these ion adsorption membranes are formed by introducing an ion exchange group or the like to an olefin-based porous membrane or the like through radical polymerization or radiation-induced polymerization, there are problems in that the introduction density of the ion exchange group or the like to be introduced is low and in that the section to be introduced is limited to a region proximate to the membrane surface. In other words, because the introduction density of the ion exchange group or the like is low, the ion adsorption capacity of the module as a whole is small and because the ion exchange group or the like is not uniformly distributed, the adsorbed ions tend to spread within the module in the direction of the flow, causing a longer ion exchange band which is a mixed region of the ion adsorbing section and non-adsorbing section within the module and greater tendency for a small amount of leakage to occur. Because of this, when the module is used as a module for the final treatment of high-purity water wherein impurities in the order of nanograms per liter (ng/L) or picograms per liter (pg/L) may be inimical, the purity of the treated water leaves much to be desired, and thus, there is disadvantage in that the module must be frequently replaced.


A method for removing tumor cells from tumor cell-contaminated stem cell products is disclosed. One embodiment of the method relies on an in-line filtration device that includes a tumor cell reduction filter means, preferably comprised of one or more tumor cell reduction filter pads. The tumor cell reduction filter means provides at least a ten-fold reduction in tumor cells while allowing for at least a 30% recovery of stem cells in a filtered stem cell product.

Hematopoietic cells are rare, pluripotent cells, having the capacity to give rise to all lineages of blood cells. Through a process referred to as commitment, self-renewing stem cells are transformed into progenitor cells which are the precursors of several different blood cell types, including erythroblasts, myeloblasts and monocyte/macrophages. Due to their self-renewing capacity, stem cells have a wide range of potential applications in transfusion medicine, and in particular, in the autologous support of cancer patients.
Procedures have been developed whereby stem cells can be obtained from a donor, stored and later transplanted into a patient experiencing an immunosuppressive condition, such as following high dose chemotherapy or total body radiation. In the past, stem cells were harvested from bone marrow in a costly and painful procedure which required hospitalization and general anesthesia. New developments in technology, however, now make it possible to derive stem cells and committed progenitor cells from peripheral blood. Collection of stem cell products (SC products), a term which includes both true stem cells and committed progenitor cells (i.e., CD 34.sup.+ cells are included), can thus be done on an outpatient basis, eliminating the need for hospitalization. In addition, stem cell products can also be derived from peripheral blood during elective surgeries.
Once collected, the SC products, whether from bone marrow or peripheral blood, can be stored for future use, one of the most significant of which is transplantation to enhance hematologic recovery following an immunosuppressive procedure such as chemotherapy.
There is, however, one significant drawback to the use of this very beneficial reinfusion procedure. Inevitably, when SC products are obtained from a cancer patient, a significant number of tumor cells will also be collected, thereby contaminating the SC product. Subsequently, when the SC product is reinfused into the patient, the tumor cells are also reintroduced, increasing the concentration of tumor cells in the patient's blood stream. While circulating tumor cells have not been directly linked to the relapse of a particular cancer, in the case of lymphoma, for example, reinfused cells have been traced to sites of disease relapse. In cases involving adenocarcinoma, it has been estimated that for a 50 kilogram adult, approximately 150,000 tumor cells can be reinfused during a single stem cell transplantation. Moreover, it has been shown that the tumor cells present in the SC product are viable and capable of in vitro clonogenic growth, thus suggesting that they could indeed contribute to post-reinfusion relapse. Ovarian cancer cells, testicular cancer cells, breast cancer cells, multiple myeloma cells, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma cells, chronic myelogenous leukemia cells, chronic lymplocytic leukemia cells, acute myeloid leukemia cells, and acute lymphocytic leukemia cells are known to be transplantable.
The extent of tumor cell contamination of SC products appears to vary greatly from patient to patient, and values within the range of 11 to 78 percent have been recorded. Therefore, as the reinfusion of circulating tumor cells may well circumvent the benefits provided by aggressive chemotherapy followed by stem cell transplantation, the development of techniques that effectively remove tumor cells from SC products will significantly further the widespread use of a very beneficial and valuable clinical procedure.
Methods currently used to separate the valuable stem cells from the undesired tumor cell-contaminated product rely on a positive selection technique that identifies stem cells and progenitor cells that express markers for the CD34.sup.+ antigen and remove them from the contaminated product. These methods are very labor intensive and require the use of specialized equipment, thus greatly increasing the cost of patient care and severely limiting the use of SC products in transplantation procedures.
An alternative to positive selection for removal of tumor cells from blood was provided by Gudemann et al., who described filtration with special leukocyte depletion membrane filters (which work by adsorbing charged particles) to remove urologic tumor cells from autologous blood during an intraoperative mechanical autotransfusion (IAT) procedure. (Gudemann, C., Wiesel, M. and Staehler, G., Intraoperative Autotransfusion In Urologic Cancer Surgery By Using Membrane Filters, XXIII.sup.rd Congress of the ISBT, abstracts in Vox Sang., 67 (S2), 22.) A disadvantage of the membrane filters used by Gudemann el al is that they do not selectively retain tumor cells. White blood cells, including stem cells, are also retained. Thus, tumor cells are not removed from stem cells.
The work of Miller et al also teaches that standard blood transfusion filters are ineffective at removing tumor cells from autologous blood. (Miller, G. V., Ramsden, C. W. and Primrose, J. N., Autologous transfusion: an alternative to transfusion with banked blood during surgeryfor cancer, B. J. Surg. 1991, Vol. 78, Jun., 713-715).
It is therefore desirable, based upon the valuable benefits achieved by the transplantation of previously obtained stem cell products, benefits that ultimately result in increased survival rates, to provide a low-cost, clinically effective method for the selective removal of tumor cells from tumor cell-contaminated stein cell products.

Method and apparatus for removing tumor cells from tumor cell-contaminated stem cell products


A method for reducing the fat content in a cooked ground meat patty. The patty is immersed in a potable, substantially non-fat immersion liquid which is maintained at a temperature effective to liquefy at least a portion of the fat contained therein. Pressure is applied to the immersed patty sufficient to exude at least a portion of the liquefied fat into the immersion liquid for its removal from the patty. The pressure on the immersed patty then is relieved to absorb thereinto a portion of the immersion liquid for replacing at least a portion of the fat removed.

The present invention is addressed to a method for reducing the fat content in a cooked ground meat patty or the like which keeps the patty hot and juicy, and is effective in killing bacteria and other microorganisms which might contaminate the patty and make it unfit for human consumption.
It has been recommended by many medical groups and the like that people restrict their intake of dietary fat, and especially of saturated fats, as a means of reducing their overall levels of serum cholesterol and, concomitantly, of their risk of heat disease. To reduce the consumption of dietary fat, it has been suggested that people substitute red meat products, which have been demonstrated to have a high percentage of saturated fats, with poultry or fish products which are relatively lower in saturated fats. However, either out of habit or a taste preference for red meat, many segments of the population have been slow to change their eating habits as suggested.
Indeed, notwithstanding the identified risks of a high fat diet, the so-called "fast food" hamburger chains have remained popular. These chains are known to offer convenience foods such hamburgers and the like which are both tasty and inexpensive, but which also contain a relatively high percentage of fat. As it would be unrealistic to assume that a majority of the population will cease to frequent these chains, a better solution would be for these restaurants to offer their customers palatable, low-fat alternatives to the standard high-fat fare. Such alternatives also would be appreciated by any "backyard" chef who wishes to offer his or her family meals which are both tasty and healthy.
In this regard, proposal have been made for methods of removing fat from ground meat products such as hamburgers. For example, Margolis, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,948,607 and 5,082,678, describe methods for removing fat from a ground meat patty such as a hamburger which entail the steps of cooking the patty to within a temperature which is sufficiently hot to liquefy the fat in the patty, and then applying pressure to the meat to force a portion of the liquefied fat from the patty. As a third step, a liquid flavoring solution may be injected into the pressed patty to purportedly achieve the flavor and juiciness of an untreated meat product.
Although methods such as those described in the Margolis citations would have been expected to be widely accepted, the fact remains that majority of people have failed to embrace any of the low-fat hamburgers or alternatives which heretofore have been offered, and have continued to dine on the high-fat varieties. Such failures might be explained by the vagaries of the palates of the consuming public, or to problems in the commercial implementation of the previous methods. In any event, it will be appreciated that a method for removing fat from ground meat products such as hamburgers and the like which preserves the flavor, juiciness, and texture of the meat would be widely accepted by those who enjoy such products.

Method for reducing the fat content in a cooked ground meat patty


The present disclosure provides methods, kits, and primers for analyzing AHASL genes of plants, including wheat. The methods, kits, and primers of the present disclosure can make use of forward AHASL primers designed without use of software or other assay-design technology and can be used in a real-time PCR assay to determine the zygosity of AHASL genes encoding AHAS enzymes providing tolerance to AHAS enzyme inhibitors.

Acetohydroxyacid synthase (AHAS; EC 126.96.36.199), also known as acetolactate synthase (ALS), is the first enzyme that catalyzes the biochemical synthesis of the branched-chain amino acids valine, leucine, and isoleucine (Singh B. K. (Ed) Plant amino acids. Marcel Dekker Inc. New York, N.Y. Pg 227-247). AHAS is the site of action of four structurally diverse herbicide families including the sulfonylureas (LaRossa R A and Falco S C, 1984 Trends Biotechnol. 2:158-161), the imidazolinones (Shaner et al., 1984 Plant Physiol. 76:545-546), the triazolopyrimidines (Subramanian and Gerwick, 1989, Inhibition of acetolactate synthase by triazolopyrimidines in (ed) Whitaker J R, Sonnet P E Biocatalysis in agricultural biotechnology. ACS Symposium Series, American Chemical Society. Washington, D.C. Pg 277-288), and the pyrimidinylbenzoates (Subramanian et al., 1990 Plant Physiol 94: 239-244.). By inhibiting AHAS activity, these families of herbicides prevent further growth and development of susceptible plants, including many weed species. Imidazolinone (IMI) and sulfonylurea (SU) herbicides are widely used in modern agriculture due to their effectiveness at very low application rates and relative non-toxicity in animals.
In plants, the AHAS enzyme is comprised of two subunits: a large subunit (catalytic role) and a small subunit (regulatory role) (Duggleby and Pang (2000) J. Biochem. Mol. Biol. 33:1-36). The AHAS large subunit (AHASL) can be encoded by a single gene, as in the case of Arabidopsis and rice, or by multiple gene family members, as in maize, canola, and cotton. Specific, single-nucleotide substitutions in the large subunit can confer upon the enzyme a degree of insensitivity to one or more classes of herbicides (Chang and Duggleby (1998) Biochem J. 333:765-777). By convention, modifications of the AHAS amino acid sequence are typically identified in reference to their position in the Arabidopsis thaliana AHAS sequence (EMBL Accession No. X51514) and denoted with (At).
Modifications of AHAS genes can result in herbicide tolerant phenotypes (Hattori, 1995; Warwick, 2008). Substitutions in genes encoding the AHAS large subunit, which are referred to herein as AHASL genes, are the molecular basis of herbicide tolerance in CLEARFIELD® crops, which have increased tolerance to imidazolinone herbicides. Because each of these substitutions results in a semi-dominant phenotype, one substitution in a heterozygous state may be sufficient to produce a level of herbicide tolerance that is acceptable for many crop productions systems. However, for particular herbicide applications, and in cases with crop plants having multiple AHASL genes such as wheat, combinations of substitutions are desired to achieve an increased level of tolerance to herbicides.
Triticum aestivum is a hexaploid wheat species having three genomes, i.e., termed a D genome, a B genome, and an A genome. Each genome contains an AHAS gene and the genes have been named to take into account genome of origin and evolutionary relatedness, for example the AHAS large subunit gene located on the D, B, and A genomes of Triticum aestivum are referred to as TaAHASL1D, TaAHASL1B, and TaAHASL1A, respectively.
Each of the genes exhibit significant expression based on herbicide response and biochemical data from variants in each of the three genes (Ascenzi et al. (2003) International Society of Plant Molecular Biologists Congress, Barcelona, Spain, Ref. No. S10-17). The coding sequences of all three genes share extensive homology at the nucleotide level (WO 03/014357). Through sequencing the AHASL genes from several varieties of Triticum aestivum, the molecular basis of herbicide tolerance in most imidazolinone (IMI)-tolerant lines was found to be a single base pair change that results in the amino acid substitution S653(At)N (S653N), indicating a serine to asparagine substitution at a position equivalent to the serine at amino acid 653 in Arabidopsis thaliana (WO 03/014356; WO 03/014357). The S653N substitution is due to a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the DNA sequence encoding the AHASL protein. The substitution has been identified in all three genomes and must be easily and quickly distinguished for accurate breeding and confirmation of commercial seed lots (Berard, 2009; Dong, 2009).
One goal of plant breeders is to introduce imidazolinone tolerance into existing wheat lines by inducing the S653N substitution in the existing lines or by crossing non-IMI-tolerant lines with IMI-tolerant lines followed by backcrossing and selection for imidazolinone tolerance. Another goal of plant breeders is to produce wheat plants with increased levels of imidazolinone tolerance, beyond the levels of tolerance seen in wheat plants possessing a single S653N substitution in a single wheat AHASL gene. Thus, it is desirable to breed wheat plants that possess combinations of S653N substitutions at two or more of the AHASL genes. In addition, it is also desirable to breed wheat plants that are homozygous for the substituted S653N allele at one or more of the AHASL genes. However, to develop the desired wheat plants, rapid methods for identifying the desired plants are needed. Existing methods of detecting wheat plants with imidazolinone tolerance are not highly efficient for use in the development of plants that possess more than a single S653N allele at a single AHASL gene.
Existing methods of identifying plants with enhanced imidazolinone tolerance include field or greenhouse herbicide spray tests and biochemical assays for AHAS activity. However, such methods are time consuming and generally not suited for distinguishing, among large numbers of individual plants, subtle increases in imidazolinone tolerance that may occur when a second S653N allele is introduced into a wheat plant.
Alternative methods for identifying desired plants include DNA-based methods. For example, the AHASL genes, or portions thereof, can be amplified from genomic DNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods and the resulting amplified AHSL gene or portion thereof can be sequenced to identify the substituted S653N allele and the particular AHASL gene that it is present in. However, such a DNA-sequencing-based method is not efficient for large numbers of samples. Another approach involves that use of radiolabelled or non-isotopically tagged, allele-specific oligonucleotides (ASOs) as probes for dot blots of genomic DNA or polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplified DNA (Connor et al. (1983) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 80:278-282; Orkin et al. (1983) J. Clin. Invest. 71:775-779; Brun et al. (1988) Nucl. Acids Res. 16:352; and Bugawan et al. (1988) Biotechnology 6:943-947. While such an approach is useful for distinguishing between two alleles at a single locus, this approach is not useful for the wheat AHASL genes, because three AHASL genes are nearly identical in the region surrounding the SNP that gives rise to the substituted S653(At)N AHASL protein. Thus, a set of six such oligonucleotide probes could not be developed that would be able to distinguish between the substituted and wild-type alleles at each of the three wheat AHASL genes.
One method that can be adapted for rapidly screening large numbers of individuals for the analysis of an SNP is the amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS) (Newton et al. (1989) Nucl. Acids Res. 17:2503-2516). This PCR-based method can be used to distinguish two alleles of a gene that differ by a single nucleotide and can also be used to distinguish heterozygotes from homozygotes for either allele by inspection of the PCR products after agarose gel electrophoresis and ethidium-bromide staining. The ARMS method is based on the premise that oligonucleotides with a mismatched 3′-residue will not function as primers in PCR under the appropriate conditions (Newton et al. (1989) Nucl. Acids Res. 17:2503-2516). An amplification-refractory mutation system (ARMS-PCR) using agarose-based gel detection methods may incorporate an internal nucleotide mismatch within an allele-specific (AS) primer to enhance the specificity of the assay. For example, the position of an internal mismatch was investigated in a multiple allelic system in a chicken population where the optimum primer had a mismatch 2 base pairs from the polymorphic nucleotide.
The usage of deliberate mismatches in quantitative PCR (qPCR) has been tested in the medical field. Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping is commonly performed to assess disease susceptibility and chimerism assessment. Development of one qPCR system has been attempted for monitoring chimerism. The SNP-specific qPCR assay was able to detect the positive template allele at 0.1%. The AS primers contained one to two intentional mismatches within 1-4 base pairs of the polymorphism of interest.
Mismatches in primers targeting a polymorphic region of a gene in a non-polyploid organism have been found to create a shift in the CT towards higher values during qPCR with SYBR-green detection (for example, the lim1 gene of Picea glauca.) This reduces assay sensitivity making this technique inadequate for pooled samples. The shift is less dramatic when the mismatch is located closer to the 3′ end of the primer. However, it is necessary to decrease the DNA concentration in order to avoid voluntary addition of mismatches.
While ARMS-PCR has proven useful for the analysis of a SNP at a single gene, whether this method, or any other PCR-based methods, can be used be used for the analysis of SNPs that gives rise to herbicide-tolerant substitutions in native AHAS genes in different genomes of the same species, for example, the S653N substitution in each of the three wheat AHASL genes has not been reported. Existing methods experience a lack of assay sensitivity which can make them undesirable for SNP detection, particularly for SNP detection in and analysis of highly homologous genes in the same species, for example, in species having multiple genomes.
Thus, there remains a need for a method which can more efficiently distinguish between wheat plants having wild-type AHASLs and wheat plants having variant AHASLs and the zygosity of the same.

Methods and compositions for analyzing AHASL genes in wheat


A power conversion device includes a main circuit unit (direct-current main circuit) that converts direct-current power into alternating-current power, and a control unit that controls the direct-current main circuit. The direct-current main circuit includes a voltage detector (detector) that detects a capacitor voltage and a discharge circuit that discharges energy accumulated in a capacitor. The control unit includes a detection circuit that estimates a capacitor voltage during a normal operation based on a voltage transmitted from the voltage detector in a state where the main circuit unit is disconnected from a power supply and that detects a sign that a short circuit fault occurs in the capacitor, and a control circuit that outputs a control signal for controlling the discharge circuit to operate when the control circuit receives a detection signal from the detection circuit.

A power conversion device that includes a DC circuit unit includes a filter capacitor intended to smooth a DC voltage for stably controlling the device and to suppress a generated harmonic current. Generally, a film capacitor is used as this filter capacitor. This film capacitor generally contains flammable mineral oil or vegetable oil inside of a case. Because this oil has a possibility of ignition and the film is also flammable, it is necessary to provide a protection mechanism such as a fuse so as to prevent the ignition.
A conventional power conversion device is intended to improve safety and to make the device downsized and lightweight by adopting a filter capacitor provided with segment fuse mechanisms or the like. If a short circuit occurs between films due to an external factor such as an overvoltage or an internal factor such as a defect in the film itself, one of these segment fuse mechanisms is operated by a flowing short-circuit current, only a segment to which the short circuit occurs is separated from the other segments. The capacitor maintains to function by the remaining faultless segments and functions to prevent the rupture of a capacitor case and ignition (for example, Patent Literature 1 mentioned below).
Furthermore, Patent Literature 2 mentioned below proposes a protection device that includes detection means for detecting a short circuit that occurs in a capacitor provided in a DC main circuit of a power converter as means for preventing explosion resulting from a short circuit of the capacitor, that turns on a switch connected in parallel to this capacitor, and that prevents a short-circuit current from flowing to the fault capacitor.


The subject technology relates to arylquinoline compounds and their use for treating cancer or cancer metastasis. The compounds of the subject technology promote cells to secrete a pro-apoptotic tumor suppressor, i.e., prostate apoptosis response-4 (Par-4), which in turn promote apoptosis in cancer cells or metastatic cells.

Lung cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the world. The most common alterations in lung cancer include activating mutations in ras genes and inactivating mutations in the p53 gene. Lung tumor cells with p53 mutations or deletions often develop resistance to chemotherapy and radiation therapy, leading ultimately to the death of the patients. Notably, such p53-deficient cancer cells are susceptible to apoptosis by the proapoptotic tumor suppressor, Par-4.
Par-4 is a tumor suppressor protein that induces apoptosis in diverse cancer cells but not in normal cells. Par-4 is ubiquitously expressed in normal cells and tissues, but is sequestered by an intermediary filament protein, vimentin, and hence, circulating levels of Par-4 are generally low. If it were secreted by normal cells at appreciably higher levels than normal, certain cancer cells would be susceptible to its effects. Extracellular Par-4 binds a receptor GRP78, which appears only on the cancer cell surface, and induces apoptosis by caspase-dependent mechanisms. In contrast, normal cells express low to undetectable levels of basal or inducible cell-surface GRP78 and are resistant to apoptosis by extracellular Par-4.
Therefore, there is a need for compounds that are Par-4 secretagogues and promote the secretion of Par-4 which in turn promotes apoptosis in cancer cells and metastatic cells.

Arylquinoline and analog compounds and use thereof to treat cancer

University of Kentucky Research Foundation


Inhibitors of sex steroid activity, for example those having the general structure ##STR1## may be used as part of a pharmaceutical composition to provide antiestrogenic effects and/or to suppress estrogen synthesis. Such pharmaceutical compositions are useful for the treatment of breast cancer or other diseases whose progress is aided by activation of sex steroid receptors.

This invention relates to novel inhibitors of sex steroid activity such as antiestrogen compounds having effective antagonistic capability while substantially lacking agonistic effects. More particularly, certain preferred embodiments of the invention relate to certain estradiol and diphenylethylene analogs which have high affinity for estrogen receptors but do not activate such receptors and/or which inhibit the production of sex steroids or their precursors.
During the treatment of certain sex steroid-dependent diseases, it is important to greatly reduce or, if possible, eliminate certain sex steroid-induced effects. For this purpose, it is desirable both to block receptor sites stimulated by sex steroids and also to reduce the amount of sex steroid available to act at these sites. For example, alternative or concurrent therapy to administration of antiestrogens could involve attempts to block the production of estrogens (e.g. by ovariectomy) such that less is available to activate receptor sites. However, prior art methods for blocking estrogen production insufficiently inhibit estrogen-induced functions. Indeed, it is possible that even in the total absence of sex steroid, some receptors may be activated. See Simard and Labrie, "Keoxifene shows pure antiestrogenic activity in pituitary gonadotrophs", Mol. Cell. Endocrinol. 39: 141-144, (1985), especially page 144.
Hence, antagonists of sex steroids may produce greater therapeutic results than therapy which only inhibits sex steroid production. Prior art antagonists, however, often have insufficient affinity for receptors, and some, although capable of binding the receptors, may themselves act as agonists and undesirably activate the very receptors they are intended to shield from activation.
There is, therefore, a need in the art for antiestrogens which effectively block estrogen receptors with minimal or no agonistic effect. In Wakeling and Bowler, "Steroidal Pure Antioestrogens", J. Endocrinol. 112:R7-R10 (1987), a steroid derivative is said to act as an antiestrogen but to exhibit some estrogen activity. The net effectiveness of a compound is effected by both its agonistic (undesirable) and antagonistic (desirable) activities.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,094,994, it is disclosed that the use of certain antiestrogens may inhibit certain human breast tumor cells.
H. Mouridsen et al., Cancer Treatm. Rev. 5: 131-141 (1978), discloses that Tamoxifen, an antiestrogen, is effective in remission of advanced breast cancer in about 30 percent of the women patients treated.
The combined use of the antiestrogen Tamoxifen and a luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonist, Buserelin, is also known for treatment of breast cancer. See, for instance, Klijn et al. J. Steroid Biochem. 420: no. 6B, 1381 (1984). The objective remission of such cancers, however, remains unacceptably low.
It has been found that certain 7.alpha.-substituted derivatives of estradiol, for example a 7.alpha.-(CH.sub.2).sub.10 CONMeBu substitution possess antiestrogenic activity (Bowler et al., 1985; Eur. Patent Application 0138504; Wakeling and Bowler, J. Steroid Biochem. 30: 141-147 (1988). See also U.S. Pat. No. 4,659,516. The substitution (CH.sub.2).sub.9 SOC.sub.5 H.sub.6 F.sub.5 has also been used on certain compounds (Wakeling et al., Cancer Res. 51: 3867-3873, 1991).
Certain --(CH.sub.2).sub.10 CONMeBu substituted compounds are also disclused in U.S. Pat. No. 4,732,912 (See e.g. example 5 and 16). See also EP Pat. No. 166 509, EP Pat No. 124 369, EP Pat. No. 160 508, EP Pat. No. 163 416, U.S. Pat. No. 4,760,061, U.S. Pat. No. 4,751,240 and Wakeling A. E. and Bowler, J., J. Endocrinol. 112: R7-R10 (1987).
Estradiol derivatives bearing a carboxyalkyl substituent at the 7.alpha.-position maintained their affinity for the estrogen receptor when linked via their carboxy group to agarose or polyacrylamide resin for affinity chromatography purification of the estrogen receptor (Bucourt et al., J. Biol. Chem. 253: 8221, 1978).
Some steroid derivatives, such as 16-methylene estradiol and 16-methylene estrone, have been described as inhibitors of 17.beta.-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity (Thomas et al., J. Biol. Chem. 258: 11500, 1983).
Certain nonsteroidal compounds which are stated to have antiandrogenic effect are described by Furr et al., J. Endocrinol. 113: R7-R9 (1987).
U.S. Pat. No. 4,659,695 relates to a method of treatment of prostate cancer for susceptible male animals including humans whose testicular hormonal secretions are blocked by surgical or chemical means, e.g., by use of an LHRH agonist, e.g., [D-Trp.sup.6, des-Gly-NH.sub.2.sup.10 ]LHRH ethylamide. The treatment includes administering an antiandrogen, e.g., flutamide in association with at least one inhibitor of sex steroid biosynthesis, e.g., aminoglutethimide and/or ketoconazole. See also PCT/U.S. 85/01454 (International Publication Number WO 86/01105) regarding combination therapy for treating hormonal-dependent cancers.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,472,382 relates to a method of treating prostate cancer using the combination of an antiandrogen and an LHRH agonist.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,386,080 relates to new amide derivatives, and more particularly to novel acylanilides, possessing antiandrogenic properties.
In French Patent 2528434 and in Jordan and Koch, "Regulation of Prolactin Synthesis in vitro by estrogenic and antiestrogenic derivatives of estradiol and Estrone", Endocrinology 124(4): 1717-1725 (1989), antiestrogenic effects are described for certain 11.beta.-substituted estradiol derivatives.
In U.S. Pat. No. 3,995,060, U.S. Pat. No. 4,161,540 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,139,638, it is disclosed that certain 4'-substituted and 3'-,4'-disubstituted anilides have antiandrogenic properties.
For a number of years, researchers have attempted to develop compounds which can efficiently inhibit androgen and/or estrogen formation without causing adverse effects to healthy tissues. More particularly, the inhibition of 17.beta.-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, which is involved in the biosynthesis of testosterone, androst-5-ene-3.beta.,17.beta.-diol and estradiol, has been studied by some workers. Some affinity-label inhibitors for human placental estradiol 17.beta.-dehydrogenase have been described (C. C. Chin and J. C. Warren, J. Biol. Chem. 250: 7682-7686, 1975; Y. M. Bhatnagar et al., J. Biol. Chem. 253: 811-815, 1978; C. C. Chin et al., J. Biol. Chem. 255: 3660-3664, 1980; J. L. Thomas and R. C. Strickler, J. Biol. Chem. 258: 1587-1590, 1983).
B. Tobias et al., J. Biol. Chem. 257: 2783-2786 (1982) and R. J. Auchus and D. F. Covey, Biochemistry 25: 7295-7300 (1986) disclose, respectively, the use of 17.beta.-propynyl-substituted progestins and propynyl-substituted 3-hydroxy-14,15-secoestra-1,3,5(10)-trien-17-one as inhibitors of the 17.beta.-estradiol dehydrogenase.
Thomas J. L. et al., J. Biol. Chem. 258: 11500 (1983) have described that 16-methylene estradiol and 16-methylene estrone are inhibitors of 17.beta.-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity.
Prior art methods have not been completely effective in inhibiting sex steroid synthesis while avoiding undesirable side effects.
Von Angerer et al. discuss other antiestrogens in "1-(aminoalkyl)-2-phenylindoles as Novel Pure Estrogen Antagonists", J. Med. Chem. 1990; 33: 2635-2640. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,094,994, where it is said that the use of certain antiestrogens inhibit certain human breast tumor cells. See also DE 3821148.
A. Saeed et al., J. Med. Chem. 33: 3210-3216, 1990; A. P. Sharma et al., J. Med. Chem. 33: 3216-3222 and 3222-3229 (1990) described the synthesis and biological activities of 2,3-diaryl-2H-1-benzopyrans analogs as antiestrogens having the following molecular structure: ##STR2##
N. Durani et al., J. Med. Chem. 32: 1700-1707 (1989) describe the synthesis and biological activities of benzofuran and triarylfuran analogues as antiestrogens.
The European counterpart of priority applications 07/377,010 and 07/265,150 was published on May 9, 1990 as European Application No 0367576. The European Search report for that case disclosed the following publications:
In E.P. Patent No 305 242, Nique et al relates to the synthesis and the use of 17-acyl steroids as drugs. The Search Report emphasized page 7, compound I'C.
In E.P. Patent No 280 618, Nique et al. relates to 7-substituted 19-nor-steroids for drugs. The Search Report emphasized Examples 2, 3, pages 22, 23 and the claims.
In D.E. Patent No 32 42 894 A1, Neef et al relates to 17.alpha.-substituted equilenin for inhibition of progesterone biosynthesis and control of the fertility.
In U.S. Pat. No 2,875,199, Cella, J. A. discuss 17-carboxylated estradiols for decreasing the serum concentration of cholesterol.
Blickenstaff et al. (Steroids, Vol. 46, No 4 et 5, pages 889-902) described the synthesis of 16 and 17-substituted estradiols suitable for coupling to vinblastine species.
Other Search Report References were previously discussed herein.

Anti-estrogenic compounds and compositions


The invention relates to a system and to a method for measuring at least one flow property of at least one fluid in a porous medium. The measurement system (1) comprises at least one cell (2), means (7) for injecting fluid(s) into the cell and X-ray radiography means (4, 5).

It is estimated today that, for all of the active oil reservoirs, 60%-65% of the oil in place remains trapped. Various mechanisms are responsible for this trapping, for example, geological heterogeneity generates non-homogeneous displacement of the oil at reservoir scale. However, even at local scale, the presence of an interfacial tension between water and oil leads to capillary trapping of the oil phase in the centre of the pores in the case of water-wet rocks. This trapping can represent up to 50% of the oil in place. Water-wet reservoirs constitute approximately half of the world's reservoirs.
Mobilizing the residual oil contained in the matrix under preferential water wettability conditions therefore is a real challenge. However, using surfactants injected in aqueous phase can lead to a significant capillary trapping decrease. Surfactants have the property of reducing considerably this tension or even of nearly cancelling it out. The use of surfactant additives has been successfully tested on sandstones in the 1980s and it is experiencing renewed interest. Surfactant enhanced oil (hydrocarbons) recovery methods represent a strong potential as they allow to untrap a significant amount of oil blocked in the pores of rocks.
To characterize capillary untrapping, it is necessary to perform measurements of relative fluid flow properties in the porous medium. Currently, the methods used require several weeks to obtain this fluid flow characterization. Indeed, it is currently necessary to prepare rock samples having a sufficient pore volume for the fluids produced and collected at the pore volume outlet to have a sufficient volume for characterizing the properties of the medium (typically several milliliters). Thus, typical sample sizes are of the order of 5 cm in diameter and 10 cm in length. The samples are then initially saturated with water, drained with oil and finally subjected to waterflooding so as to obtain the residual oil saturation. Injection of a volume of an ASP (Alkaline-Surfactant-Polymer) formulation and subsequently a final waterflooding sequence are then performed. At the end of the sequence, the residual oil saturation is deduced from the total volume of oil produced at the porous medium outlet.
Besides, in other technical fields, it may be interesting to rapidly characterize the flow of a fluid in a porous medium, notably a porous medium consisting of a polymer.
The invention relates to a system and to a method for measuring at least one flow property of at least one fluid in a porous medium. The measurement system comprises at least one cell, means for injecting fluid(s) into the cell and X-ray radiography means. Using X-ray radiography means in a cell into which a fluid can be injected allows measurements to be performed rapidly and in real time.

System and method for measuring a flow property of a fluid in a porous medium


A strap mounting mechanism for an optical viewing device, such as binoculars, has a lens barrel body and a cover member which closes an opening of the lens barrel on the eyepiece side. The lens barrel body is provided at a circumferential surface thereof adjacent to the cover member, with a through hole. The cover member is provided with a strap insertion opening and a strap guide wall integral therewith, which is fitted at its one end in the through hole and is connected at the other end to the strap insertion opening to define a strap passage in the lens barrel body.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a strap mounting mechanism for an optical viewing device, such as binoculars or a monocular.
2. Description of Related Art
In general, binoculars are provided with strap lugs (rings) through which a strap is inserted for carrying purposes. The lugs are usually in the form of projections provided on the outer surface of a lens barrel body of the binoculars. The obstructive projections mar the appearance of the binoculars and complicate the shape of the casting or molding (resin molding) die.

Strap mounting mechanism for an optical viewing device


The present invention provides environmentally safe foamed acidizing fluids for acidizing subterranean zones, additives for foaming and stabilizing foamed acidizing fluids and methods of acidizing subterranean zones. The foamed acidizing fluids are basically comprised of an aqueous acid solution, sufficient gas to form a foam and an effective amount of an additive for foaming and stabilizing the aqueous acid solution comprised of hydrolyzed keratin.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to foamed acidizing fluids, additives for foaming the acidizing fluids and methods of acidizing subterranean zones.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The treatments of subterranean hydrocarbon containing formations penetrated by well bores with aqueous acidizing fluids to stimulate the production of hydrocarbons therefrom are well known to those skilled in the art. One such acidizing treatment involves the introduction of an aqueous acidizing fluid into the subterranean formation under pressure so that the acidizing fluid flows through the pore spaces of the formation. The acidizing fluid reacts with acid soluble materials contained in the formation thereby increasing the size of the pore spaces and the permeability of the formation.
Another production stimulation treatment known as fracture-acidizing involves the formation of one or more fractures in the formation and the introduction of an aqueous acidizing fluid into the fractures to etch the fractures faces whereby flow channels are formed when the fractures close. The aqueous acidizing fluid also enlarges the pore spaces in the fracture faces and in the formation.
In carrying out acidizing and fracture-acidizing treatments in subterranean zones, the acidizing fluid utilized must often be lightweight to prevent excessive hydrostatic pressure from being exerted on the subterranean zone. As a result, a variety of lightweight acidizing fluids have heretofore been developed and used including foamed acidizing fluids. In addition to being lightweight, a foamed acidizing fluid contains compressed gas which improves the ability of the acidizing fluid to backflow out of a subterranean zone which has been acidized or fracture-acidized and recovered.
Foamed acidizing and fracture-acidizing fluids have heretofore included various surfactants which function to facilitate the foaming of the fluids and stabilize the foams formed when gases are mixed therewith. However, the heretofore used foaming and foam stabilizing surfactant additives have not met complete environmental requirements. That is, when the foaming and stabilizing surfactants find their way into water in the environment, they do not fully degrade which can result in interference with aquatic lifecycles.
Thus, there are needs for improved foamed acidizing fluids, improved acidizing fluid foaming and stabilizing additives which are harmless to the environment and improved methods of acidizing subterranean zones.
The present invention provides improved foamed acidizing fluids for acidizing or fracture-acidizing subterranean zones, improved acidizing fluid foaming and stabilizing additives which are harmless to the environment and improved methods of acidizing or fracture-acidizing subterranean zones which meet the needs described above and overcome the deficiencies of the prior art. The improved foamed acidizing fluids are basically comprised of an aqueous acid solution, sufficient gas to form a foam and an effective amount of an environmentally harmless additive for foaming and stabilizing the gelled aqueous acid solution comprised of hydrolyzed keratin.
The aqueous acid solution foaming and stabilizing additive of this invention which is harmless to the environment is hydrolyzed keratin. The additive is preferably dissolved in water to form an aqueous solution which is added to the aqueous acid solution to be foamed along with a gas for foaming the aqueous acid solution.
The methods of the present invention for acidizing or fracture-acidizing subterranean zones penetrated by well bores are basically comprised of the following steps. A foamed acidizing fluid is prepared comprised of an aqueous acid solution, sufficient gas to form a foam and an effective amount of an additive for foaming and stabilizing the gelled aqueous acid solution comprised of hydrolyzed keratin. Thereafter, the subterranean zone is contacted with the foamed acidizing fluid.

Foamed acidizing fluids, additives and methods of acidizing subterranean zones


A truck for examination of a vehicle body includes a moving module configured to move truck bases with a vehicle body fixed thereto, a sensor module configured to be moved by the moving module and to measure stop position distribution of the truck base that reaches a predetermined position, and a calibration module configured to adjust a position of the truck base based on the measured distribution. The examination truck may enhance reliability of measurement result of assembly precision in a system for measuring the assembly precision of the vehicle body in a vehicle body assembly line.

In an automobile assembly line, various components are coupled to a vehicle body B via a method such as welding, etc. as an automated process. In addition, a device for examining whether components are appropriately welded to a desired position as the result of assembly process is also automated.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional truck structure. Referring to FIG. 1, the conventional truck structure is configured in such a way that a truck base 16 is placed on a truck rail 10 and moves along the truck base 16 by a moving magnet 12 installed on the truck rail 10.
The truck base 16 moves up to a point in which a stopper 14 is installed, and examination is performed on a vehicle body B positioned on a fixed unit 91 on the truck base 16 stopped by the stopper 14.
However, a measurement robot for the examination repeats measurements at a predetermined position, and thus when dispersion is concentrated on a stop position of the aforementioned truck base, dispersion also accumulates with regard to values measured by the measurement robot, and thus accurate examination result is not achieved.

Device for calibrating position of truck and method thereof


A power management circuit for a battery operated electrical device that may include a number of switching circuits. The switching circuits are coupled between the battery and a corresponding one of various electronic sub-circuits. A battery monitoring circuit is arranged to monitor a voltage associated with the battery. Each switching circuit selectively couples a corresponding one of the electronic sub-circuits to the battery based on the battery voltage. In another example, the monitor circuit and the switching circuit functions are provided within the corresponding electronic sub-circuit. Battery power is conserved by selectively disabling (i.e., placing them in a sleep mode) the various electronic sub-circuits based on the battery voltage. The power management circuit may be arranged to select between charger circuits that have distinct charging characteristics, as well as to enable/disable various analog and digital electronics in the battery operated electrical device depending upon the monitored battery condition.

The present invention is related generally to power management in a battery powered electronic system. More specifically, the present invention is related to a power management system that is employed by a portable electronic system by selectively placing various electronic sub-circuits within the portable electronic system into a sleep mode based on the battery voltage.
Many portable electrical devices utilize a rechargeable battery to provide power to the electrical devices. These devices include computers, cellular telephones, pagers, radios, power tools, and the like. For improved service life and extended time between charges, these batteries and devices often include a control circuit (commonly called a power controller, a battery control circuit, a charge controller, and the like) to control the charging and/or the discharging of the battery. The control circuit controls the battery charge by a charger circuit, and controls the discharge of the battery by deactivating control circuit units to prevent drainage of the battery unit.
A battery charge circuit having a given charge characteristic may be most appropriate for charging a battery based on various criteria such as battery type, and charge storage capacity. For example, Lithium-Ion batteries and Lithium-Polymer batteries are often used in portable applications such as cellular telephones. Lithium batteries are sensitive to excessive voltages, which may result in damage to the battery and/or a possibly explosive condition. The battery charger and controller design for a Lithium-Ion battery should include a suitable safety circuit (i.e., a shunt regulator) to prevent overcharging the battery.
The present invention is directed at a power management circuit for a battery operated electrical device that may include a number of switching circuits. The switching circuits are coupled between the battery and a corresponding one of various electronic sub-circuits. A battery monitoring circuit is arranged to monitor a voltage associated with the battery. Each switching circuit selectively couples a corresponding one of the electronic sub-circuits to the battery based on the battery voltage. In another example, the monitor circuit and the switching circuit functions are provided within the corresponding electronic sub-circuit. Battery power is conserved by selectively disabling (i.e., placing them in a sleep mode) the various electronic sub-circuits based on the battery voltage. The power management circuit may be arranged to select between charger circuits that have distinct charging characteristics, as well as to enable/disable various analog and digital electronics in the battery operated electrical device depending upon the monitored battery condition.