A method is provided in which PGN is end-modified in a process using a single solvent. The resulting end-modified PGN may be stably crosslinked using aliphatic polyisocyanates. Further provided are methods of producing energetic compositions comprising PGN which has been end-modified in a process using a single solvent. Such energetic compositions may be stably crosslinked using aliphatic polyisocyanates.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method for modifying poly(glycidyl nitrate) that allows the poly(glycidyl nitrate) to be stably cured through the use of aliphatic polyisocyanates. This invention further relates to the production of solid energetic compositions, such as propellants, explosives, pyrotechnics, and gas generants, comprising poly(glycidyl nitrate) binders.
2. State of the Art
Solid high energy compositions, such as propellants, explosives, pyrotechnics, and gasifiers, and the like, generally comprise solid particulates, such as fuel particles, oxidizer particles, or a combination of both, dispersed and immobilized in a cured binder matrix.
In recent years, energetic polymers have been developed and evaluated as potential replacements for inert polymeric binders in cast propellant systems, explosive compositions, and pyrotechnics. The substitution of an energetic polymer for an inert polymer in a conventional pressable or extrudable explosive composition generally increased the detonation pressure and detonation velocity of the explosive.
Poly(glycidyl nitrate) (also known as "PGN" and "polyGLYN") has been known and recognized for years as a possible energetic polymer suitable for use in propellants, explosives, pyrotechnics, gas generants, and the like. PGN binders are commonly synthesized by preparing a difunctional glycidyl nitrate polymer and curing the PGN with a polyfunctional isocyanate having a functionality of greater than about 2.3 to give urethane cross-linked polymers. Aromatic and aliphatic polyisocyanates have been selected as the curing agents.
Although glycidyl nitrate prepolymers have a satisfactory shelf life, it is known that aliphatic polyisocyanate cured PGN inherently de-cures when stored at room temperature for prolonged periods. If precautions are not taken, over time, current PGN can de-cure to the point of reverting to a pourable liquid. Accordingly, special care must be taken in the handling and storing of energetic compositions containing PGN cross-linked using aliphatic polyisocyanates. The special care required to avoid a de-curing problem has impeded the widespread use of PGN as a binders despite its attractive energetic properties.
One solution to this de-curing problem is the replacement of the terminal nitrate ester groups of PGN with hydroxyl groups. This solution was first put forth by N. C. Paul et al. An Improved polyGLYN Binder Through End Group Modification, ICI Explosives (1998). The article indicates the de-curing problem as being caused by the proximity of the terminal hydroxyl groups of the polymer to nitrate ester groups. The authors conclude that the de-curing problem is an inevitable consequence of the end group structure. To overcome this problem, the article describes a two-step process (illustrated below) that modifies the end groups by removing the adjacent nitrate esters and replacing the nitrate ester groups with hydroxyl groups by base catalyzed hydrolysis. In particular, the first step of the ICI process involves an epoxidation of the terminal hydroxyl group and the adjacent nitrate ester in the presence of KOH and EtOH, with dichloromethane acting as the solvent. The material is then isolated between the steps with removal of the solvent. The material is then redissolved in tetrahydrofuran (THF) in the presence of sulfuric acid and heated so as to open the epoxide ring thus providing a terminal hydroxide group in place of the original nitrate ester. Aging tests have shown that this technique is successful in preventing de-cure of the polymer.

However, the ICI process as described by Paul et al. has drawbacks in that it has two discreet process steps, causing additional expense and chemical waste in production. Accordingly, it would be an improvement in the art to generate the final product of the above-described ICI reaction using fewer chemical process steps and fewer solvents.

One pot procedure for poly (glycidyl nitrate) end modification


Configurable adder circuitry is provided on an integrated circuit that includes redundant circuitry. The integrated circuit may contain nonvolatile memory and logic circuitry that produces a redundancy control signal. During manufacturing, the integrated circuitry may be tested. If a defect is identified on the integrated circuit, the redundancy control signal may be used in switching redundant circuitry into place bypassing the defect. The integrated circuit may contain an array of logic regions. Each logic region may contain adders and multiplexer circuitry for selectively combining the multiplexers to form larger adders. The multiplexer circuitry in each logic region may be controlled by propagate signals from the adders and by static redundancy control signals.

This invention relates to integrated circuits, and more particularly, to configurable circuitry that may be used to implement adders.
Adders are used to perform binary addition in digital integrated circuits. For example, a five bit adder may be used to compute a binary sum of two five bit binary inputs.
Adders are widely used on integrated circuits such as programmable logic devices. Programmable logic device integrated circuits contain programmable logic that may be programmed to implement a desired custom logic design. In some device architectures, programmable logic is organized in regions. Each logic region may contain configurable adder circuits. When a logic designer desires to implement an adder that is larger than an individual adder circuit, the circuitry on the programmable logic device can be selectively configured to combine multiple adder circuits.
Programmable logic device integrated circuits may also contain redundant circuitry. Redundant circuitry may be used to repair a programmable logic device that contains a defect. Fuses may be used to control redundancy multiplexers. When a defective circuit is identified during manufacturing, the fuses may be used to configure the redundancy multiplexers so that the redundant circuitry is switched into use in place of the defective circuits.
Adders produce carry signals. When forming relatively large adders from smaller adder circuits, the carry signals from the smaller adder circuits must be routed appropriately. In programmable logic device integrated circuits with redundant circuitry, redundancy multiplexers are used to form part of the carry signal paths between adders. The redundancy multiplexers are used to route the carry signals appropriately when a defective portion of circuitry is being bypassed.
However, in programmable logic device integrated circuits arrangements in which redundancy multiplexers are used to form adder carry chains, the presence of the redundancy multiplexer circuitry can introduce undesirable carry propagation delays. These delays can limit adder performance, regardless of whether a particular device contains a circuit defect.
It would be desirable to be able to provide improved adder circuitry for integrated circuits such as programmable integrated circuits with redundancy circuitry.

Flexible adder circuits with fast carry chain circuitry


A business process simulation system for scheduling token arrival in a business process simulation is provided. The system includes a frequency module for receiving user input defining a frequency of token arrival; a duration module for receiving user input defining at least one repeatable valid duration of availability to receive tokens; an exemption module for receiving user input defining an exemption duration within the availability duration; and a timer module for receiving user input defining a recurring timer calendar for the business process simulation. The system also includes a token scheduling controller, wherein the token scheduling controller is adapted to process instructions corresponding to the user inputs and sending token scheduling instructions corresponding to the user-defined parameters to the business process simulation.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to business process modeling and simulation, and particularly to scheduling token arrival in the business process modeling and simulation.
2. Description of the Related Art
In Business Process Modeling, simulation plays a vital role in evaluating and comparing the different alternatives prior to deploying those processes in a runtime environment. For a business to base its decisions on business process simulation, it is crucial that the business process simulation engine provide realistic information and benchmarks.
Process simulations may be used to observe a process in action, to examine the statistics that it generates as it runs, and to perform analysis on the simulation results. Changes to a process or to other model elements (such as available resources) may also be simulated and quantified with a comparative analysis of the before and after simulation result.
Simulation enables organizations to observe how a process will perform in response to variations of inputs to the process, just as in a real-life work environment. Simulation also provides the ability to vary process input volume over time by adjusting resources and current allocations. Simulation output provides detailed information regarding resource utilization levels and the results of cost and cycle-time calculations.
Within a simulation, a token represents a unit of work that is received by a process and transferred between different activities in the process flow. By specifying token creation settings, the quantity and rate of inputs that the process handles in a simulation run are defined.
For a process simulation to run, the process must receive one or more inputs. In a simulation profile, inputs to the process and to activities within the process are represented by tokens. Some tokens represent the transfer of data between activities, while other tokens represent only a transfer of control.
Token creation settings for any input that is associated with data, whether it is an input to a process or an input to an activity, within a process may be defined. The rate at which tokens are created for an input are determined by setting a time trigger. The time trigger can be a regular interval, or it may be a variable interval defined by a distribution.
The number of tokens to generate at one time (number of tokens per bundle), and a one time cost per token may also be defined. In addition, each of these attributes can be set to a constant value or to a variable value defined as a distribution may also be defined.
For example, to create tokens that represent the arrival of customers at a restaurant, one could use a normal distribution to specify an arrival interval, where five minutes is the mean and three minutes is the standard deviation. A weighted distribution list could be used for the number of tokens per bundle, to represent how many customers are in each party. In this example, the weighted distribution list enables setting of probabilities for each size of party, based on past experience.
By default, the token creation settings for a process in a simulation profile are set to the values specified in the local simulation preferences, except for the total number of tokens to generate. This value is instead derived from the minimum number of inputs as specified in the process model. This is done to prevent a situation in which the process cannot start because it does not receive the minimum number of inputs (which could be the case if the token creation settings in the local simulation preferences are a lesser value than the minimum number). You can also customize the token creation settings by changing them from their default values in the simulation profile.
Business process simulation engines in the marketplace base their token arrivals on a simple timetable where the user specifies the start time, end time, and number of tokens. In this way, the burden is put on the end-user to explicitly specify a table of constant point-in-times and associate each point-in-time with a constant number of tokens. Effectively, the end-user would have to fill a table like the one shown in Table 1.
TABLE 1Start TimeEnd TimeApr. 28, 2005 @ 1200 AMApr. 28, 2005 @ 0600 AMPoint-In-TimeNumber of TokensApr. 28, 2005 @ 12:00 AM10Apr. 28, 2005 @ 01:23 AM7Apr. 28, 2005 @ 4:51 AM12
However, it will be appreciated that many realistic business simulations require that token arrivals are based on a recurring time calendar with each recurring time interval—potentially—having a distinct distribution. Therefore a need exists for a token scheduler operating with a recurring time calendar.

System and method for scheduling token arrival in a business process simulation

International Business Machines Corporation


In indicating devices of the invention, a slide member is disposed between two registering rectangular sheets forming a holding member and is guided for relative rectilinear movement in certain embodiments and for relative rotational movement in other embodiments, the position of the slide member relative to the holding member being adjustable according to differences in handicap and to indicate stroke holes on which strokes are to be given by one golfer to another golfer in a accordance with a particular order of handicap order numbers of a golf course. Certain embodiments are designed for use separately from a golf course score card while others include indicia to be usable as golf course score card and to more directly indicate stroke holes.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to golfer stroke-hole indicating devices and more particularly to devices which are usable easily and conveniently to provide accurate indications of holes of a golf course on which strokes may be given by one golfer to another. The devices of the invention are highly reliable and are readily and economically manufacturable.
2. Background of the Prior Art
A golf handicap system has been in use for many years which allows golfers to adjust for differences in abilities and equalize the chances of winning a match. This handicap system is an excellent system which has been developed to a highly sophisticated degree in the United States under the auspices of the United States Golf Association, and under regional and local associations, golf clubs and golf course managements. In the operation of the system, each golfer reports his scores to a handicap-determining body and is assigned a handicap based upon his prior performances in relation to the "par" score that an expert golfer would be expected to make on an 18 hole course in errorless play without flukes under ordinary weather conditions, allowing two strokes on each putting green. With the system, a golfer having an established handicap may compete on a fair basis with any other such golfer in the United States or for that matter, in many foreign countries in which the system has also been established.
In the operation of the system, two golfers having a handicaps of 10 and 15, for example, may be expected have a scores of 10 and 15 greater than par when both play to substantially the best of their respective abilities. Using the handicap system, competitions between the two golfers may be arranged on a medal play basis, based upon the total scores without regard to scores on particular holes. However, friendly competitions between two golfers are almost always arranged on a match play basis in which holes are played one-by-one, each being won, lost or halved. A golfer becomes the winner when he or she wins a number of holes which is in excess of those that he or she has lost and which is in excess of any remaining holes.
To equalize match play competitions, a system has been established to indicate the order of holes at which handicap strokes are to be given or received, the order being based upon the estimated relative difficulty of play of the holes. The most difficult hole of any particular course is No. 1 in the handicap order, the next most difficult hole is No. 2, and so on, the least difficult being the No. 18 handicap hole. Such handicap order numbers are different for different courses and are generally different for men and ladies. In a particular course, for example, the hole which is No. 1 in the handicap order for men may be No. 7 in the order of play, while the hole which is No. 1 in the handicap order for ladies may be No. 3 in the order of play.
In a match between a 10 handicap golfer and a 15 handicap golfer, the 10 handicap golfer is expected to give one stroke on each of the five holes having handicap order numbers of 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. If the No. 1 handicap hole is the No. 7 hole in the playing order, the 15 handicap golfer wins that hole if both have the same score thereon, the golfers halve the hole if the score of the 15 handicap golfer is one greater than that of the 10 handicap golfer and the 15 handicap golfer loses the hole only if his or her score is 2 strokes or more greater than that of the 10 handicap golfer.
The handicap order numbers are established by the management of each golf course and are typically printed on the score card of each course. In scoring a match between two golfers, a scorer is required to carefully study the score card to determine those holes having a handicap order number equal to or less than the number of strokes to be given by one golfer to another. Usually, the scorer circles the hole numbers of the stroke holes, or otherwise marks such holes. Then he or she may mark each hole on behalf of one golfer with a +, - or 0, according to whether that golfer wins, loses or halves the hole, after taking into account whether a stroke is given or received by that golfer on that hole.


A multipurpose staper includes a base, a sliding anvil assembly mounted on the base and move between a front side position and rear side position, a magazine and tie plate assembly pivoted to the base above the sliding anvil assembly, a press plate, a top cap pivoted to the base and depressed to force down the press plate, causing the press plate to drive a staple out of the magazine and tie plate assembly, enabling the driven staple to be forced into sheets of paper put on the front end of the base when the sliding anvil assembly is moved to the rear side position, or squeezed into a straight shape when the sliding anvil assembly is moved to the front side position, a front cap mounted on the top cap and moved between a first position to lock the press plate and a second position to unlock the press, and a rear cap pivoted to the top cap and integral with a pencil sharpener for sharpening a pencil.

The present invention relates to staplers, and more particularly to a multipurpose stapler which provides various functions for punching a hole on sheets of paper, sharpening a pencil, and squeezing staples into straight pins.
A variety of stationery including staplers, punches, pins, pencil sharpeners, etc., may be used for different purposes when preparing a paper work. It is inconvenient to carry a set of writing materials when one goes out of the office for business or to participate a conference or meeting. Furthermore, when various writing materials are used, much table space will be occupied by the writing materials prepared.
According to the present invention, the stapler is incorporated with punch means for punching a hole on sheets of paper, a pencil sharpener for sharpening a pencil, and a sliding anvil assembly for permitting stapes to be squeezed into a straight shape one by one for use as pins.

No.16 Alley 4, North Lane 72, Sec. 1, Yu Yuan Rd. Jui Ching Chury Da Tu Hsiang


Independent sense amplifier addressing provides separate column addresses to individual sense amplifier groups within a single bay during one column address cycle. A memory system determines whether the individual memory cells or bits of a column at a bay can be skipped. For each sense amplifier group having at least one memory cell (or bit) that needs to be programmed, the system determines for the first column address whether the memory cell can be skipped. If a bit or memory cell having a first column address from the sense amplifier group can be skipped, the system determines a next bit having a column address from the group that needs to be programmed. The system groups the next column address for programming during the first column address cycle. The system can program a different column address for different sense amplifier groups within the bay during a single column address cycle.

The present disclosure relates to technology for non-volatile storage.
Semiconductor memory has become more popular for use in various electronic devices. For example, non-volatile semiconductor memory is used in cellular telephones, digital cameras, personal digital assistants, mobile computing devices, non-mobile computing devices and other devices. When semiconductor memory is used in consumer electronic devices, it is desirable to minimize the amount of power used by the semiconductor memory in order to conserve the battery of the host electronic device. Additionally, consumers generally want the semiconductor memory to perform at sufficient speeds so that the memory does not slow down operation of the host electronic device.

Independent sense amplifier addressing and quota sharing in non-volatile memory


Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method and a device for cross-domain strong logically isolation and secure access control in the Internet of Things (IoT). The method includes the following. When one IoT gateway receives the identity authentication request, the IoT gateway sends the identity authentication request to all IoT gateways in the domain excluding that IoT gateway. When all IoT gateways in the domain receive the identity authentication request, all IoT gateways verify separately whether the identity authentication request is legal. After a certain IoT gateway obtains the identity authentication result, a distributed consensus procedure is initiated. The IoT gateways in the domain reach a consensus on the identity authentication result through a distributed consensus mechanism, and the identity authentication result is written and stored to a block of a blockchain.

Access control is an important research area in the field of cyberspace security. This technology is designed to prevent unauthorized access to any resource and ensure that computer systems are used legally. According to the definition of the International Telecommunication Union, the Internet of Things (IoT) mainly focuses on the interconnection between things and things, things and people, people and people.

Method and device for cross-domain strong logical isolation and secure access control in the internet of things


A mop head assembly includes an absorbent pad cleaning element releasably attached to a rigid head element by an attachment sheet permanently bonded to the upper surface of the pad element. The attachment sheet has a coating of a water-resistant contact adhesive for establishing a releasable connection between the pad element and the rigid head element. In preferred practice of the invention the attachment sheet has adhesive edge tabs that extend around peripheral edge areas of the rigid head element.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
This invention relates to a mop head assembly, and particularly to a mechanism for attaching a floor engageable cleaning member to a rigid head element carried by a mop handle. The invention is especially concerned with the attachment mechanism.
The conventional mop assembly comprises a rigid head element located at the lower end of an elongated handle, and a replaceable cleaning element attachable to the rigid head element by means of two or more screw-nut assemblies. Usually the cleaning element comprises a deformable porous sponge member having a rigid backing plate or sheet. The attachment screws extend between the backing plate and the rigid head element.
One problem with the use of attachment screws is that such screws can loosen as the mop head assembly is moved back and forth over the floor surface. Another difficulty is that the attachment force is concentrated at the screws; load forces shift back and forth at an angle to the screw axes so that the connections between the screws and the sponge backing plate can, over time, weaken or fail.
The present invention relates to a mop head assembly having an adhesive connection between the head element and the replaceable pad-type cleaning element. The adhesive connection is designed to avoid problems associated with the screw type connections used in the prior art. Also, the cleaning pad assembly can be a low cost disposable structure readily replaceable on a mop head after a single usage, so as to achieve a high degree of sanitation not possible with reusable constructions.
In one preferred form of the invention, the mop head assembly comprises a rigid head element having a flat lower surface and a cleaning element pad having a flexible attachment sheet permanently affixed to its upper surface. The attachment sheet has a coating of a contact adhesive thereon, whereby the cleaning element pad can be releasably attached to the lower surface of the rigid head element.
The adhesively-coated attachment sheet has edge tabs that can be extended upwardly along the peripheral edge of the rigid mop head element and onto the upper surface of said head element. The edge tabs enhance the adhesive attachment action of the attachment sheet. When it becomes necessary or desirable to remove the cleaning element pad from the rigid mop head element the attachment sheet can be torn or peeled away from the head element without undue effort. A new replacement cleaning element pad can be adhesively attached to the rigid head element quickly and easily.
Specific features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the attached drawings and description of an illustrative embodiment of the invention.
In summary, and in accordance with the above discussion, the foregoing objectives are achieved in the following embodiments.
1. A mop head assembly comprising:
a rigid head element having a flat lower surface, a peripheral edge, and an upper surface; PA1 a floor treatment pad having a flat upper surface; and an attachment sheet permanently affixed to the pad upper surface; PA1 said attachment sheet having edge tabs adapted to extend upwardly along at least the peripheral edge of said head element; and PA1 said attachment sheet and the associated tabs having a coating of contact adhesive thereon adapted to be adhesively attached to at least the lower surface and peripheral edge of the rigid head element. PA1 a rigid head element having a rectangular plan configuration defined by two longitudinal edges and two end edges; PA1 said head element having a flat lower surface spanning said longitudinal edges and said end edges; PA1 a floor treatment pad having the same plan configuration as said head element; PA1 said pad having a flat upper surface adapted to register with the lower surface of said head element; PA1 and an attachment sheet permanently affixed to the pad upper surface; PA1 said attachment sheet having two edge tabs adapted to extend upwardly along each longitudinal edge of the head element onto the head element upper surface, and a single edge tab adapted to extend upwardly along each end edge of the head element onto the head element upper surface; and PA1 said attachment sheet and the associated tabs having a coating of contact adhesive thereon adapted to be adhesively attached to engaged surfaces on the rigid head element. PA1 a head element connectable to a handle, and a floor engageable member releasably attachable to said head element; PA1 said floor engageable member having a flexible attachment sheet adapted to partially wrap around said head element; and PA1 said attachment sheet having a coating of contact adhesive thereon engageable with the head element.
2. The mop head assembly, as described in paragraph 1, wherein there are six tabs spaced around said pad.
3. The mop head assembly, as described in paragraph 1, wherein each said tab has a length that enables the tab to extend upwardly beyond the peripheral edge of said head element and onto the upper surface of said head element.
4. The mop head assembly, as described in paragraph 1, wherein said head element has a rectangular plan configuration defined by two longitudinal edges and two end edges; and said tabs comprising at least two tabs adapted to extend upwardly along each longitudinal edge of said head element.
5. The mop head assembly, as described in paragraph 4, wherein each tab has a length that enables the tab to extend an appreciable distance along the upper surface of said head element.
6. The mop head assembly, as described in paragraph 1, wherein said pad has a rigid backing sheet permanently affixed to said attachment sheet.
7. The mop head assembly, as described in paragraph 1, wherein said pad has its upper surface directly affixed to said attachment sheet.
8. The mop head assembly, as described in paragraph 1, wherein said attachment sheet is formed of a plastic material.
9. The mop head assembly, as described in paragraph 1, wherein said attachment sheet is formed of a relatively thin plastic sheet adapted to form a crease, whereby said plastic sheet is enabled to conform to an edge surface of the head element that is normal to the head element lower surface.
10. The mop head assembly, as described in paragraph 1, wherein said attachment sheet is formed of a relatively thin sheet material having the ability to conform to angularly related surfaces without forming gaps at the juncture between such surfaces, whereby the attachment sheet tabs are enabled to readily bend around corners formed between the edge of said head element and the adjoining head element surfaces.
11. A mop head assembly comprising:
12. The mop head assembly, as described in paragraph 11, wherein said pad has a rigid backing sheet permanently affixed to said attachment sheet.
13. The mop head assembly, as described in paragraph 12, wherein the upper surface of said pad is directly affixed to said attachment sheet.
14. A mop head assembly comprising:


A method for modifying a molecular sieve catalyst to reduce methane production during conversion of oxygenates to olefins. The molecular sieve catalyst comprises a separately synthesized framework comprising a material selected from the group consisting of silica, alumina, phosphate, and combinations thereof. The framework is contacted with a modifier, in the absence of a salt comprising a metal selected from the group consisting of manganese, zirconium, and hafnium, under conditions effective to modify the framework but insufficient to dealuminize or deironize the framework. The modifier comprises an oxygenated chelating agent comprising a parent compound which is readily removable from the framework by calcination to leave the modified molecular sieve catalyst. Also encompassed are the modified molecular sieve catalysts produced by the method, and a method of using the modified molecular sieve catalysts to reduce methane production during conversion of oxygenates to olefins.

Light olefins (defined as "ethylene, propylene, and butylene") serve as feeds for the production of numerous chemicals. Light olefins traditionally are produced by petroleum cracking. Because of the limited supply and/or the high cost of petroleum sources, the cost of producing olefins from petroleum sources has increased steadily.
Alternative feedstocks for the production of light olefins are oxygenates, such as alcohols, particularly methanol, dimethyl ether, and ethanol. Alcohols may be produced by fermentation, or from synthesis gas derived from natural gas, petroleum liquids, carbonaceous materials, including coal, recycled plastics, municipal wastes, or any organic material. Because of the wide variety of sources, alcohol, alcohol derivatives, and other oxygenates have promise as an economical, non-petroleum source for olefin production.
The catalysts used to promote the conversion of oxygenates to olefins are molecular sieve catalysts. Because ethylene and propylene (herein defined as "light olefins") are the most sought after products of such a reaction, research has focused on what catalysts are most selective to light olefins. Methods also are needed for reducing the production of unwanted by-products, such as methane.

Modification of molecular sieve catalyst for reduced methane production during conversion of oxygenates to olefins


The invention provides a variety of reagents for use in the diagnosis and management of breast cancer. The invention utilizes cDNA microarray technology to identify genes whose expression profile across a large group of tumor samples correlates with that of cytokeratin 5 and cytokeratin 17, markers for basal cells of the normal mammary lactation gland. The invention demonstrates that tumors that express cytokeratin 5/6 and/or 17 have a poor prognosis relative to tumors overall. The invention provides basal marker genes and their expression products and uses of these genes for diagnosis of breast cancer and for identification of therapies for breast cancer. In particular, the invention provides basal marker genes including cadherin3, matrix metalloproteinase 14, and cadherin EGF LAG seven-pass G-type receptor 2. The invention provides antibodies to the polypeptides expressed by these genes and methods of use thereof.

A major challenge of cancer treatment is to target specific therapies to distinct tumor types in order to maximize efficacy and minimize toxicity. A related challenge lies in the attempt to provide accurate diagnostic, prognostic, and predictive information. At present, tumors are described with the tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) system. This system, which uses the size of the tumor, the presence or absence of tumor in regional lymph nodes, and the presence or absence of distant metastases, to assign a stage to the tumor is described in the American Joint Committee on Cancer: AJCC Cancer Staging Manual. Philadelphia, Pa.: Lippincott-Raven Publishers, 5th ed., 1997, pp 171-180, and in Harris, J R: "Staging of breast carcinoma" in Harris, J. R., Hellman, S., Henderson, I. C., Kinne D. W. (eds.): Breast Diseases. Philadelphia, Lippincott, 1991. The assigned stage is used as a basis for selection of appropriate therapy and for prognostic purposes. In addition to the TNM parameters, morphologic appearance is used to further classify tumors and thereby aid in selection of appropriate therapy. However, this approach has serious limitations. Tumors with similar histopathologic appearance can exhibit significant variability in terms of clinical course and response to therapy. For example, some tumors are rapidly progressive while others are not. Some tumors respond readily to hormonal therapy or chemotherapy while others are resistant.
Assays for cell surface markers, e.g., using immunohistochemistry, have provided means for dividing certain tumor types into subclasses. For example, one factor considered in prognosis and in treatment decisions for breast cancer is the presence or absence of the estrogen receptor (ER) in tumor samples. ER-positive breast cancers typically respond much more readily to hormonal therapies such as tamoxifen, which acts as an anti-estrogen in breast tissue, than ER-negative tumors. Though useful, these analyses only in part predict the clinical behavior of breast tumors. There is phenotypic diversity present in breast cancers that current diagnostic tools fail to detect. Therefore, there exists a need for improved methods for classifying tumors.
Mutation or dysregulation of any of a large number of genes contributes to the development and progression of cancer as discussed in Hanahan, D. and Weinberg, R., The Hallmarks of Cancer, Cell, 100, 57-70, 2000. Genes that play a role in cancer can be divided into a number of broad classes including oncogenes, tumor suppressor genes, and genes that regulate apoptosis. Oncogenes such as ras typically encode proteins whose activities promote cell growth and/or division, a function that is necessary for normal physiological processes such as development, tissue regeneration, and wound healing. However, inappropriate activity or expression of oncogenes can lead to the uncontrolled cell proliferation that is a feature of cancer. Tumor suppressor genes such as Rb act as negative regulators of cell proliferation. Loss of their activity, e.g., due to mutations or decreased expression at the level of mRNA or protein, can lead to unrestrained cell division. A number of familial cancer syndromes and inherited susceptibility to cancer are believed to be caused by mutations in tumor suppressor genes. Apoptosis, or programmed cell death, plays important roles both in normal development and in surveillance to eliminate cells whose survival may be deleterious to the organism, e.g., cells that have acquired DNA damage. Many chemotherapeutic agents are believed to work by activating the endogenous apoptosis pathway in tumor cells.
Although a substantial number of genes have been implicated as playing important roles in cancer, the factors responsible for the phenotypic diversity of tumors remain largely unknown. In particular, understanding of the underlying differences in gene expression that may contribute to tumor phenotype is limited. Understanding the differences in gene expression between normal and cancerous tissue and between different tumors of the same tissue type is of significant diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic utility. There is therefore a need for the identification of genes exhibiting differential expression between tumors. In particular, there is a need for the identification of additional genes and proteins that can be used to classify tumors, especially genes and proteins that can provide diagnostic, prognostic, and/or predictive information in cancer. There is also a need for antibodies and other reagents for the detection and measurement of such genes and proteins.
Most of the commonly used chemotherapeutic agents act relatively nonselectively. Rather than specifically killing tumor cells, these agents target any dividing cell, resulting in a variety of adverse effects. In addition, current therapeutic strategies are of limited efficacy, and the mortality rate of breast cancer remains high. There is therefore a need for the identification of additional genes and proteins that can be used as targets for the treatment of cancer. There is also a need for antibodies and other reagents that can modulate, regulate, or interact with these genes and proteins to provide new method of treatment for cancer.

Methods of classifying, diagnosing, stratifying and treating cancer patients and their tumors

Board of Trustees of Leland Stanford Junior University


A biologically active conjugate is disclosed comprising a biopolymer and a therapeutic agent joined by a disulfide bond. The conjugate, when formulated in a pharmaceutical composition with a suitable carrier, has improved in vivo stability and activity, and can be targeted to a variety of cells, tissues and organs.

Biopolymers are biocompatible polymers that are useful for a wide variety of biomedical applications, such as for surgical aids, to prevent or reduce the formation of surgical adhesions, and for drug delivery applications. Many biopolymers are naturally occurring substances found in the body, and therefore do not have any unacceptable toxic or injurious effects on biological function. An example of such a biopolymer is hyaluronic acid ("HA"), a naturally occurring mucopolysaccharide found, for example, in synovial fluid, in vitreous humor, in blood vessel walls and the umbilical cord, and in other connective tissues. Hyaluronic acid consists of alternating N-acetyl-D-glucosamine and D-glucuronic acid residues joined by alternating β 1-3 glucuronidic and β 1-4 glucosaminidic bonds, so that the repeating unit is -(1→4)-β-D-GlcA-(1→3)-β-D-GlcNAc-. In water, hyaluronic acid dissolves to form a highly viscous fluid. The molecular weight of hyaluronic acid isolated from natural sources generally falls within the range of 5×104 up to 1×107 daltons.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,582,865, to Balazs et al. states, inter alia, that cross-linked gels of HA can slow the release of a low molecular weight substance that is dispersed therein but not covalently attached to the gel macromolecular matrix. See, also, U.S. Pat. No. 4,636,524, which contains a disclosure of related technology. Both of these patents describe HA compositions in which the HA is crosslinked by reaction with divinyl sulfone, and the use of the crosslinked HA compositions in drug delivery applications.
R. V. Sparer et al., 1983, Chapter 6, pages 107-119, in T. J. Roseman et al., Controlled Release Delivery Systems, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, describes sustained release of chloramphenicol covalently attached to hyaluronic acid by an ester linkage, either directly or in an ester complex including an alanine bridge as an intermediate linking group. The HA is modified by attaching cysteine residues to the HA via amide bonds, and then the cysteine-modified HA is crosslinked by forming disulfide bonds between the attached cysteine residues. Similarly, I. Danishefsky et al., 1971, in Carbohydrate Res., Vol. 16, pages 199-205, describe the modification of a mucopolysaccharide by converting the carboxyl groups of the mucopolysaccharide into substituted amides by reacting the mucopolysaccharide with an amino acid ester in the presence of 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide hydrochloride ("EDC") in aqueous solution. See, also, U.S. Pat. No. 4,937,270 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,760,220 which describe the modification of hyaluronic acid by reaction of the carboxyl groups of the biopolymer with a nucleophile to produce a water insoluble amide, and the use of those compositions for controlled release drug delivery.
A series of patents assigned to VivoRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc., describe compositions for the in vivo delivery of insoluble pharmaceutically active agents. Delivery of the drug substances is achieved, for instance, by encasing the active agent in a polymeric shell formed from a biocompatible polymer. The biocompatible polymer may be protein, lipid, DNA molecule or polysacharide, and the pharmaceutically active agent may be a therapeutic protein such as taxol. The polymer contains covalently attached sulfhydryl groups or disulfide linkages which can be crosslinked to form disulfide bonds. The polymeric shell is formed using ultrasonic irradiation techniques. These compositions are described as being less toxic, being more soluble, and having improved targeting as compared to prior art compositions. Relevant VivoRx patents include U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,498,421; 5,439,686; 5,362,478; 5,635,207; 5,560,933; 5,635,207 and 5,639,473.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,496,872 relates to biocompatible and biodegradable crosslinkable polymers having reactive thiol groups. The reactive thiol groups can be crosslinked to form disulfide linkages between adjacent molecules, resulting in a three dimensional network. These polymers can be used for binding tissues or binding tissues with implanted biomaterials.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,932,552 describes a keratin hydrogel having biomedical applications. The hydrogel is formed from crosslinked keratin bound by disulfide linkages. Among the biomedical applications described in the patent are uses of the hydrogels for cell scaffolding in tissue repair.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,354,853 and 5,451,661 describe, respectively, the preparation of phospholipid-saccharide conjugates, and lipids conjugated to biologically active agents such as peptides, proteins and nucleic acids. These conjugates are described as being particularly useful in drug delivery applications.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,902,795, to Toole et al., discloses hyaluronic acid oligosaccharides, having between one and sixteen repeating units, which are used to treat tumors in mammals. The patent states that the oligosaccharides act to reduce the level of membrane-associated hyaluronan-binding proteins, which are expressed on the surface of certain tumor cells during cell migration. The treatment is believed to reduce the incidence of tumor metastasis in the mammals.
A. Burnkop-Schnurch et al., J. Controlled Release, 2000, 66, 39, describes the synthesis of carboxymethyl cellulose ("CMC") and polycarbophil modified with L-cysteine using carbodiimide chemistry. The polymers are reacted with the cysteine to form an amide bond between the primary amino group of the amino acid and the carboxylic acid of the polymer. The thiolated polymers were allowed to oxidize to form disulfide bridges. The dissolution of these tablets, both with and without drugs, was analyzed. The tablets were found to have improved stability and viscoelasticity.
Copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/430,857, now abandoned, relates to surfaces that have been modified by the attachment of hyaluronic acid. The surface can be part of a medical device, such as a stent or a surgical tubing. The surface is modified to include a reactive amino group that reacts with a derivatized hyaluronic acid. The modified devices and instruments are hydrophilic, and have anti-fouling and anti-platelet adhesion characteristics, thereby producing a reduction in risks associated with thrombosis.
The conjugated biopolymers of this invention represent a significant improvement over drug delivery vehicles of the prior art due, in part, to the site-specific reaction between the biopolymer and the therapeutic agent which increases the stability and activity of the therapeutic agent upon delivery to the desired site within a subject.

Biologically active conjugate of a biopolymer and therapeutic agent


Compositions and methods for preventing and treating disease are provided. The compositions are extracts of black tea that include a mixture of theaflavin-3-gallate and theaflavin-3′-gallate.

Epidemiological studies have suggested that tea may have a protective role in disease, including certain human cancers. Catechin polyphenols isolated from green tea have been shown to inhibit proliferation of cultured mammalian cells including colon carcinoma, lung carcinoma, breast carcinoma, melanoma, and leukemic cells (Lea, M. A. et al. 1993. Cancer Lett. 68:231-236; Valcic, S. et al. 1996. Anticancer Drugs 7:461-468). It has been reported that a major green tea catechin polyphenol, (−)epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), inhibits growth of human tumor cells, including Caco-2 colorectal cancer cells, Hs578T breast cancer cells, and SV40-transformed W138 cells, but has little or no inhibitory effect on the growth of their normal counterparts (Chen, Z. P. et al. 1998. Cancer Lett. 129:173-179).
Black tea extracts have also been shown to be potent in inhibiting tumorigenesis in several animal model systems, including skin (Javed, S. et al. 1998. Biomed. Environ. Sci. 11:30-7-313), lung (Yang, G. Y. et al. 1997. Carcinogenesis 18:2361-2365), colon (Weisburger, J. H. et al. 1998. Carcinogenesis 19:229-232), esophagus (Morse, M. A. et al. 1997. Nutr. Cancer 29:7-12), and mammary gland (Rogers, A. E. et al. 1998. Carcinogenesis 19:1269-1273). The major black tea polyphenols have been characterized to be theaflavin (TF-1), theaflavin-3-gallate and theaflavin-3′-gallate mixture (TF-2), and theaflavin-3,3′-digallate (TF-3). These theaflavin polyphenols are fermentation products derived from green tea polyphenols and are responsible for the characteristic color, fragrance and taste of black tea.
The biological effects of each individual black tea polyphenol have not been well-studied in terms of their molecular mechanisms. TF-3 has been shown to be as potent as EGCG from green tea inhibiting the growth of human A431 carcinoma cells and in reducing autophosphorylation of EGF and PDGF receptors (Liang, Y. C. et al. 1999. Carcinogenesis 20:733-736). There are no reports of the activity of any other black tea polyphenols.

Black tea extract for prevention of disease


The present invention relates to: a catalyst activation method for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis; a catalyst regeneration method for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis; and a method for producing a liquid or solid hydrocarbon by using the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis reaction. The temperatures required for a metal carbide producing and activating reaction is markedly lower than existing catalyst activation temperatures, and the catalyst can be activated under conditions that are the same as Fischer-Tropsch synthesis reaction conditions, and thus there is no need for separate reduction equipment in the reactor, and a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis catalyst which has been used for a long time can be regenerated within the reactor without the catalyst being isolated or extracted from the reactor.

In 1923, Fischer and Tropsch, German chemists, developed a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis method (F-T synthesis method), and this method has enabled the production of liquid hydrocarbon from coal, natural gas, biomass and the like by way of syngas. A process producing liquid hydrocarbon from coal is referred to as a coal-to-liquid (CTL) process, a process producing from natural gas is referred to as a gas-to-liquid (GTL) process, and a process producing from biomass is referred to as a biomass-to-liquid (BTL) process, and recently, similar processes are collectively referred to as XTL ("X" resource-to-liquid) processes.
These processes first convert each resource material (coal, natural gas, biomass and the like) into syngas using methods such as gasification and reforming, and the composition of the syngas suited for XTL processes for producing liquid fuel preferably has a hydrogen to carbon monoxide ratio of approximately 2 as shown in the following Reaction Formula 1.CO+2H2+—[CH2]—n→—[CH2]—n+1+H2O  [Reaction Formula 1]
The ratio of hydrogen exceeding 2 is not preferable since it increases the selectivity on methane, and consequently, the selectivity on C5+ (hydrocarbon having 5 or more carbon atoms) relatively decreases. In Reaction Formula 1, olefins and oxygenates (molecules including oxygen atoms such as alcohols, aldehydes, carboxylic acids and ketones) are also produced as byproducts in addition to hydrocarbon having linear chains as shown above.
One of the main purposes of XTL processes is to obtain liquid fuels, and therefore, the latest trend is to decrease selectivity on methane and to produce linear hydrocarbon, in particular, C5+ linear hydrocarbon with high selectivity by optimizing a selection of reaction catalyst, a syngas ratio, a temperature, a pressure and the like. Herein, cobalt-series catalysts are normally used as the reaction catalyst, and such metal catalysts are used by being uniformly dispersed and supported on the surface of a support such as alumina, silica and titania. For the improvement of catalyst performances, noble metals such as Ru, Pt and Re may be used as a co-catalyst.
Such catalysts are normally used by being supported by a support such as alumina (—Al2O3, a-Al2O3 and the like), silica (SiO2), titania (TiO2) and magnesia (MgO). However, the use of silica materials having mesoporous structures such as SBA-15 and MCM-41, and carbon-based materials having mesoporous structures such as CMK-3 and carbon nanotubes has also been expanded recently. An incipient wetness method, an impregnation method and the like are normally used for such supports. For example, a target mass ratio of the catalyst material is supported in the pores of the support while repeatedly performing processes of dissolving a cobalt salt of acid (Co(NO3)2.H2O and the like), i.e., a catalyst precursor, and a salt such as Pt, Ru and Re used as a co-catalyst in proper solvents to prepare a mixed solution of the precursor, and impregnating the mixed solution of the precursor in the pores of the support, followed by drying. After that, the dried catalyst goes through a calcination process under air or inert gas atmosphere, and catalyst particles having a form in which cobalt oxide crystals are supported in the support are obtained.
A Fischer-Tropsch catalyst shows activity in a reduced metal state, and therefore, a syngas needs to be supplied in a pure metal state after sufficient reduction processes before reaction.
In a laboratory-scale experiment for developing catalysts, an in situ reduction method, in which the temperature is raised up to a reduction temperature while flowing a reducing gas with a calcinated catalyst to be filled into a reactor, is normally used. However, commercial reactors often employ other methods since reduction temperatures are generally much higher than reaction temperatures, and separate reducing gas injection equipment is required for an in situ reduction method.
In commercial processes, reduction is carried out by supplying reducing gas (a mixture of hydrogen and an inert gas where the hydrogen content is approximately 5 to 10%) with an additional catalyst reduction equipment. Cobalt metals in a reduced state violently react with oxygen in air and are oxidized again. Therefore, a proper treatment is necessary to not expose cobalt metals to air, or to minimize the degree of oxidation when exposed. Such a treatment is referred to as passivation, and by an intentional mild oxidation of the surface only through the supply of a mixed gas (normally consisting of oxygen and an inert gas) with a low concentration of oxygen, the activity of a catalyst can be minimally degraded when exposed to air during its transfer.
However, the passivation method has several problems. First, the degree of proper passivation is very difficult to identify. The degree of oxidation treatment required for minimizing violent oxidation during the air exposure is different for each catalyst. In addition, there are problems that initial activity is not satisfactory since oxidation has been partially progressed before use, and activity is generally low compared to an in situ reduction method.
In order to solve such problems, S. Hammache et al. (S. Hammache, J. G. Goodwin, Jr., R. Oukaci, Catalysis Today, 2002, 71, 361-367) designed a passivation method using CO gas or (CO+H2) gas. However, the method has a problem in that the activity of a catalyst is degraded due to the production of graphitic carbon on the surface of the catalyst, and additionally, the method further requires a heating equipment capable of being operated at high temperatures in a reactor since the reduction process includes treating the catalyst with hydrogen gas for 10 hours at a high temperature of 350° C. when activating a carbide compound catalyst.
In addition, F. Huber et al. (F. Huber, H. Venvik, Catalysis Letters, 2006, 3-4, 211-220) proposed an encapsulation method using organic materials, a carbon layer coating method, a method of passivating metal catalysts through oxygen and N2O treatments. However, for activating, the method also requires reduction conditions of heating for 16 hours at a high temperature of 350° C. while supplying hydrogen gas.
Furthermore, various passivation methods carried out through the production of carbide and carbon have also been proposed in prior documents. WO 03/002252 discloses a method for transferring or activating a catalyst by passivating the activated catalyst using a method of coating the surface of a metal precursor material supported in a support with carbon by adding a certain amount (5 to 20%) of short-chained hydrocarbon (methane, ethane, etc.) together with hydrogen gas, or introducing a syngas, in order to produce a carbide form of a metal catalyst in a hydrogen reduction process.
Metal catalysts having a carbide form are known to have increased activity after activation, and the activity is known to be further improved when a metal carbide form is formed in certain parts of an activated metal catalyst. However, WO 03/002252 discloses that hydrogen reduction treatment at a high temperature of 350° C. or greater is necessary to activate the catalyst passivated in a metal carbide form, thus requiring an additional activation equipment in addition to the reaction equipment.
Meanwhile, even when an ex situ reduction method is used, a method without passivation by oxygen, that is, a method of introducing a catalyst directly into a reactor without being exposed to oxygen at all may be considered. However, the method also has problems. The catalyst reduction equipment and the reactor need to be relatively close, and the equipment may become larger since gas supply equipment, power, a heater and the like required for reduction all need to be included in a reactor system. In addition, there is a new challenging task on how to transfer solid particles from a catalyst reduction equipment to a reactor.
In order to solve these problems, Sasol Limited and Shell Oil Company and the like have devised methods in which, by coating a reduced catalyst with wax or inserting the reduced catalyst inside a wax material, the transfer of the catalyst becomes simple while capable of blocking its contact with air. However, because wax materials are solid at room temperature they need to be liquidified by heating in order to coat or insert catalyst particles, thus making the process complicated.
Meanwhile, an activated metal catalyst produces water and hydrocarbon compounds having various chain lengths by being reacted with a syngas. Performances of metal catalysts in a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis reaction are determined by the distribution of metal catalyst active sites and the degree of activation (degree of reduction), the interaction between catalysts and supports, the content of impurities in a syngas, and the degree of inactivation due to reaction products (wax and water) in the reaction, and performances of Fischer-Tropsch catalysts are determined by catalyst preparation methods, the choice of support/metal material and the presence of co-catalysts.
In the transformation of carbon monoxide, the performance of a cobalt catalyst is one of the most important factors in evaluating the economic feasibility of XTL processes. Particularly, hydrogenation reaction conversion ratio (CO conversion ratio) of carbon monoxide, which is a carbon source supplied by a syngas, and selectivity (C5+ selectivity) of a linear hydrocarbon product having 5 or more carbon chains capable of being used as liquid fuels are important factors in evaluating catalyst performances. However, in addition to these, the degree of catalyst deactivation due to long-time operations greatly affects the choice of industrial catalysts in real processes. The main reasons for the deactivation of a cobalt metal catalysts in low temperature Fischer-Tropsch reactions carried out at 200 to 250° C. and 15 to 25 bar include the degradation of catalyst active sites due to catalyst poison such as sulfur and nitrogen compounds included in a syngas, the oxidation of cobalt metals, the formation of compounds between cobalt metals and supports, the degradation of active sites due to the sintering of small cobalt metal crystals, the recrystallization of atomic structures in cobalt metal surface, and the carbon deposition on active sites of cobalt, etc. Among these reasons, the main reasons for catalyst deactivation in real commercial plants include, along with the oxidation of the catalyst, the degradation of catalyst active sites due to long-chained wax products, and the blockage of catalyst pores, the degradation of active sites due to carbon deposition, the degradation of active sites due to the sintering of cobalt particles, and friction due to the collision of catalysts.
In real processes, the causes of catalyst deactivation such as sintering of cobalt particles, carbon deposition, and catalyst friction may be suppressed by changing reaction conditions of Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. For example, the sintering of cobalt particles occurs due to a sudden temperature increase in a catalyst unit in a circumstance where heat is not controlled, and cobalt particles supported in a support at a low Fischer-Tropsch reaction temperature condition of 210 to 230° C. almost do not experience sintering, therefore, catalyst deactivation due to sintering may be prevented when the heat generated from an exothermic reaction is effectively removed. Additionally, the degradation of catalyst activation due to carbon deposition may be diminished when a syngas with a H2/CO ratio of 2 is used as a reactant at proper reaction temperatures and pressures, since catalyst deactivation due to carbon deposition occurs when the ratio of carbon monoxide is high in the syngas, or the reaction is carried out at high temperatures and high pressures. In addition, activity degradation due to catalyst attrition may be diminished when a fixed-bed reactor or a slurry bubble column reactor having no catalyst damages due to impellers is used.
However, the degradation of active sites due to the wax produced by a reaction, and the degradation of catalyst activation due to the blockage of catalyst pores occur due to products. Therefore, the catalyst activity is gradually degraded reversibly according to the duration of reactions unless the reaction is stopped.
Accordingly, in the catalyst of which activity is degraded due to a long-time Fischer-Tropsch synthesis reaction, wax remaining on the catalyst surface blocks the active sites of the catalyst and is impregnated inside the pores. Therefore, reactivation is required to remove the wax and regenerate the active sites.
As existing reactivation methods of removing wax on a catalyst surface, US Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0259963 discloses a method for regenerating a catalyst including separating a catalyst present on slurry from the slurry for reactivation, de-waxing for removing wax, oxidizing the catalyst to an oxide form from a cobalt metal state, and reducing the catalyst again, thereby reactivating catalyst. In addition, US Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0081562 discloses a method for reactivating a catalyst including injecting a wax-coated catalyst into a pumpable liquid suspension, reactivating the catalyst by putting into contact with a high-temperature gas flow of 600 to 1050° C. for approximately 0.01 to 10 seconds, and separating the reactivated catalyst from the gas flow. US Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0124706 discloses a method including heat-treating a cobalt catalyst deactivated due to a long-term use several times for 4 hours at 300° C. under the atmosphere formed with 7 volume % of hydrogen and 93 volume % of vapor, and reactivating the catalyst to have 95% activity with respect to the initial catalyst activity through a carbon monoxide hydrogenation reaction.
However, the existing catalyst reactivation methods are inconvenient in that a catalyst needs to be reinjected after going through a process of extracting the catalyst inside a reactor out of the reactor and washing the catalyst when a fixed-bed reactor is used. When the reactivation is carried out inside a reactor to avoid such inconvenience, the temperature conditions of a reactivation reaction carried out by oxide formation and hydrogen are higher than Fischer-Tropsch synthesis reaction conditions, and consequently, the sintering of a cobalt metal catalyst may be induced. In addition, there are disadvantages in that the reactivation process including extraction and washing, oxidation, and reduction is rather complicated, and additional equipment needs to be installed around the reaction equipment.
Meanwhile, when a catalyst is regenerated in a fluidized-bed reactor, external equipment for separating the catalyst and fluidized liquid needs to be installed. Even when reactivation is carried out inside a reactor, the loss of fluidized liquid may occur when a reactivation temperature is above the boiling point of the fluidized liquid (350° C. or higher). In addition, there is a disadvantage in that, for the catalyst regeneration, costs for equipment for catalyst separation, regenerated gas supply, and heating additionally occur.
Existing catalyst regeneration methods have been developed with steps of catalyst separation, catalyst washing, catalyst oxidation, and catalyst reduction. Methods for simultaneously carrying out oxidation and reduction for simplifying the regeneration method, or for regenerating a catalyst inside a reactor without catalyst separation and washing have been proposed. However, only the number of steps in the process for catalyst regeneration decreases, and all the proposed methods commonly require a high-temperature heating of 300° C. or higher for final catalyst regeneration.

Catalyst activation method for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis

Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology


An internal combustion engine that uses stratification of gasses for compressing air is disclosed. The engine uses a combustion chamber that delivers products of combustion into an elongated compression chamber to drive the products of combustion against resident air within the elongated compression chamber, and push the resident air into a compressed air chamber. After driving the resident air into the compressed air chamber, the products of combustion are used with work-producing devices. Air is then driven into the compression chamber by an air pump or low-pressure compressor to once again fill the compression chamber with fresh air. The air in the compressed air chamber is then delivered to the combustion chamber and used for combustion. Fuel is delivered to the combustion chamber by a fuel injector, and ignited by the heat of the compressed air and/or a glow plug, spark plug, or similar ignition device.

(a) Field of the Invention
This application relates to a system and mechanism for capturing the products of combustion to produce useful work. More particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a system that uses gas or air stratification to pressurize and mobilize gasses in order to distribute them to locations where the mobilized gasses are used to perform useful work.
(b) Discussion of Known Art
There are many known examples of internal combustion engines that use what is referred to as "charge stratification". Charge stratification as used in these engines typically refers to the provision of a relatively small, segregated, combustion chamber where combustion takes place. The use of this segregated combustion chamber allows combustion to be initiated in a confined space where a rich mixture can be created with less fuel than what is needed in the cylinder of traditional piston engines, where the combustion mixture is created between the piston and the valves of the engine, which creates a larger volume than what is used in the segregated chamber of stratified charge engines.
Another approach at using combustion gasses is found in U.S. Pat. No. 1,983,405 to Schmidt, which discloses the use of an explosion in an elongated combustion chamber to create propulsion forces, such as the forces used to propel aircraft.
Air stratification is often witnessed in large, vertically open areas, where temperature gradients are observed as strata or layers of air. These stratified layers of air demonstrate that mixing of air often does not occur without some mechanical assistance, such as with a fan.
Accordingly, the fact that air, or similar gasses, can be stratified has not been fully exploited for the purpose of creating an internal combustion engine.

Multi-cycle stratified internal combustion system


A substrate washing device includes a substrate holding mechanism 70 that holds a substrate W, a substrate rotating mechanism 72 that rotates the substrate W held by the substrate holding mechanism 70, and a two-fluid nozzle 46 that ejects a two-fluid jet toward a surface of the rotating substrate W. The two-fluid nozzle 46 is formed of a conductive material. Accordingly, the electrification amount of droplets ejected as the two-fluid jet from the two-fluid nozzle 46 can be suppressed.

As a method for washing a surface of a substrate in a noncontact manner, a washing method using a two-fluid jet (2FJ) has been conventionally known. In such 2FJ-washing, fine droplets (for example, pure water mist) included in high-speed gas (for example, CO2 gas) are ejected from a two-fluid nozzle toward a surface of a substrate so as to collide with the surface, and particles, etc. on the surface of the substrate are removed (washed away) by using shock waves caused by collision of the droplets with the surface of the substrate (for example, see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-294819).
In high speed 2FJ-washing, the flow rate of gas is high and the flow speed of gas is also high (200 m/sec or higher, and preferably, 250 m/sec or higher). For this reason, droplets being supplied to a surface of a substrate are likely to be electrified (compared to droplets in normal 2FJ-washing), because the gas and pure water or the droplets and the inner wall of a nozzle are brought into contact with each other at the time of ejection. Therefore, in high speed 2FJ-washing, the electrification amount of a surface of a substrate is likely to increase during the washing.
In conventional normal 2FJ-washing, CO2 gas is mixed in advance into pure water to be supplied to a 2FJ nozzle, the CO2 water is ionized to facilitate the flow of charges (electrons), so that the electrification amount of droplets is suppressed. However, in high speed 2FJ-washing, the electrification amount of droplets cannot be sufficiently suppressed by such a conventional method, and thus, adhesion of particles easily occurs due to an influence of electrification.
The present technology has been achieved in view of the aforementioned problems, and an object of the present technology is to provide a substrate washing device capable of inhibiting a surface of a substrate to be washed, from being electrified even during high speed 2FJ-washing.
A substrate washing device according to one embodiment includes a substrate holding mechanism that holds a substrate, a substrate rotating mechanism that rotates the substrate held by the substrate holding mechanism, and a two-fluid nozzle that ejects a two-fluid jet toward a surface of the rotating substrate, wherein the two-fluid nozzle is formed of a conductive material.
A substrate washing device according to another aspect includes a substrate holding mechanism that holds a substrate, a substrate rotating mechanism that rotates the substrate held by the substrate holding mechanism, a two-fluid nozzle that ejects a two-fluid jet toward a surface of the rotating substrate, and a specific-resistance adjusting mechanism that adjusts the specific resistance value of a washing liquid to be supplied to the two-fluid nozzle.


A micromechanical rotation-rate sensor includes a substrate, an anchoring device provided on the substrate, as well as a first spiral spring device and a second spiral spring device, the two spiral spring devices being provided next to one another in mirror symmetry along their greatest extension, and the two spiral spring devices together form one spiral spring apparatus. The sensor further includes a centrifugal mass connected to the anchoring device via the first spiral spring device connected to the centrifugal mass so that the centrifugal mass is elastically deflectable from its neutral position, about a rotational axis situated perpendicularly to a substrate surface, so that the centrifugal mass is capable of rotary oscillation. In addition, the first spiral spring device includes a bend at its anchoring region with the anchoring device.

A rotation-rate sensor is discussed in German patent document no. 199 45 859. This rotation-rate sensor, however, has a relatively low working frequency.
In the case of the rotation-rate sensor having a rotary oscillator produced using surface micromechanics, the rotary oscillator or the centrifugal mass is mechanically centrally connected to the substrate via an X-shaped spring at one point. A working frequency is established based on the X-shaped spring and the mass of the rotary oscillator. To increase the working frequency with respect to the rotation-rate sensor from the related art, the spring arms of the X-shaped spring would either need to be widened or shortened. Naturally, a combination of the two measures is also conceivable.
However, these measures may result in the problem that the oscillation amplitude would be decreased and the stretching of the spring material would be increased. The decrease in the oscillation amplitude disadvantageously decreases the sensor sensitivity. The increase in the stretching of the X-shaped spring material may result in the spring material breaking. In addition, the non-linearity of the spring stiffness increases over the deflection if the spring length is shortened while the oscillation amplitude remains constant.
For stable sensor operation, the non-linearity is to be kept as minimal as possible since there is otherwise the risk of non-linear collapse (two stable working points).


A device comprising a router may be configured to couple to a gateway device and may be configured, upon being assigned a Wide Area Network (WAN) Internet Protocol (IP) address by the gateway device, to iteratively: (1) determine whether a LAN IP address of the device conflicts with the assigned WAN IP address; and (2) change the LAN IP address of the device if the LAN IP address of the device conflicts with the WAN IP address assigned by the network gateway.

A great many consumers purchase wireless routers for home use. Often, such consumers are technological neophytes and cannot successfully handle even relatively simple manual router configuration tasks. Even for technologically-sophisticated users, however, the present expectation is that even complex devices such as routers will install and work right out of the box, in the same manner as a common household appliance. Toward that end, many routers are configured with a Web-based user interface (UI) designed to guide the user, often using a wizard, through the installation process. However, in the event the router encounters an Internet Protocol (IP) address conflict, the consumer may not even be able to access the Web UI if the consumer cannot even access the router. Routers are typically sold configured with a default Local Area Network (LAN) IP address. Different manufacturers commonly ship routers pre-configured with different default LAN IP addresses. For example, if a router is pre-configured with a default LAN IP address and is assigned, during installation, a Wide Area Network (WAN) address that is in the same subnet as the LAN IP address, a conflict exists and the router may be effectively unusable until the IP address conflict is resolved.
Such conflict may occur, for example, when the consumer connects the router to the modem or other network gateway device and powers the router up before being instructed to do so by the router configuration wizard. Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) could then assign the router a LAN IP address that conflicts with the WAN IP address assigned by the modem, thereby preventing the consumer from accessing and using the router's Web UI. Understandably, this may result in confusion, frustration and may contribute to an unfavorable opinion on the user-friendliness of the manufacturer of the router.

Methods and devices configured for IP address conflict detection and resolution upon assignment of WAN IP address


A method for securing the communications between a publisher and a subscriber in an Internet of things networks. An example method includes receiving a challenge vector from a subscriber and determining a response vector using a physically unclonable function (PUF) for each challenge value in the challenge vector to generate a response value. The response vector it is sent to the subscriber.

A current view of the Internet is the connection of clients, such as personal computers, tablets, smart phones, servers, digital photo-frames, and many other types of devices, to publicly-accessible data-centers hosted in server farms. However, this view represents a small portion of the overall usage of the globally-connected network. A very large number of connected resources currently exist, but are not publicly accessible. Examples include corporate networks, private organizational control networks, and monitoring networks spanning the globe, often using peer-to-peer relays for anonymity.
It has been estimated that the internet of things (IoT) may bring Internet connectivity to more than 15 billion devices by 2020. For organizations, IoT devices may provide opportunities for monitoring, tracking, or controlling other devices and items, including further IoT devices, other home and industrial devices, items in manufacturing and food production chains, and the like. The emergence of IoT networks has served as a catalyst for profound change in the evolution of the Internet. In the future, the Internet is likely to evolve from a primarily human-oriented utility to an infrastructure where humans may eventually be minority actors in an interconnected world of devices.
The use of IoT devices and networks into home, industrial, automotive, and other usages, may result in a number of security issues. For example, IoT devices may not encrypt or otherwise secure data streams, and, thus, these data streams may be intercepted by the parties. Further, IoT devices may receive data streams from other IoT devices, and from other systems, which may allow the injection of false data into the data streams.
The same numbers are used throughout the disclosure and the figures to reference like components and features. Numbers in the 100 series refer to features originally found in FIG. 1; numbers in the 200 series refer to features originally found in FIG. 2; and so on.


A local coil assembly includes an RF coil disposed inside a cylindrical form and a pair of z-axis gradient coils wound around the outside of the cylindrical form. First and second pairs of gradient coils are mounted on opposite sides and extend radially outward from the cylindrical form. These pairs of gradient coils produce a gradient field perpendicular to the z-axis with minimal effect on the operation of the RF coil.

The field of the invention is magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and, in particular, gradient coils for use with MRI systems.
In MRI, a uniform polarizing magnetic filed B.sub.o is applied to an imaged object along the z-axis of a Cartesian coordinate system, the origin of which is approximately centered within the imaged object. The effect of the magnetic field B.sub.o is to align the object's nuclear spins along the z-axis.
In response to a radio frequency (RF) excitation signal of the proper frequency, oriented within the x-y plane, the nuclei precess about the z-axis at their Larmor frequencies according to the following equation: EQU F=.gamma.B.sub.o ( 1)
where F is the Larmor frequency, .gamma. is the gyromagnetic ratio which is constant and a property of the particular nuclei, and B.sub.o is the polarizing field strength.
Water, because of its relative abundance in biological tissue and the properties of its nuclei, in of principle concern in such imaging. The value of the gyromagnetic ratio .gamma. for water is 4.26 kHz/gauss and therefore, in a 1.5 Tesla polarizing magnetic field B.sub.o, the resonant or Larmor frequency is approximately 63.9 MHz.
In a typical imaging sequence, the RF excitation signal is centered at the Larmor frequency F and applied to the imaged object at the same time as a magnetic field gradient G.sub.z is applied. The gradient G.sub.z varies the strength of the magnetic field B.sub.o along the z-axis and, therefore, causes only the nuclei in a single slice through the object along an x-y plane to have the resonant frequency F and to be excited into resonance.
After the excitation of the nuclei in this slice, similar magnetic field gradients are applied along the x and y axes. The gradient along the x-axis, G.sub.x, causes the nuclei to precess at different frequencies, depending on their position along the x-axis, that is, G.sub.x spatially encodes the processing nuclei by frequency. The y-axis gradient, G.sub.y, is incremented through a series of values and encodes y position into the rate of change of phase of the precessing nuclei as a function of gradient amplitude, a process typically referred to as phase encoding.
A weak nuclear magnetic resonance signal generated by the precessing nuclei may be sensed by the RF antenna "coil" and recorded as an NMR signal. Typically, the NMR signal is detected along two perpendicular axes to produce a quadrature signal having a real and an "imaginary" part. From this quadrature NMR signal, a slice of image may be derived according to well-known reconstruction techniques. A basic overview NMR image reconstruction is contained in the book "Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Principles and Applications" by D. N. Kean and M. A. Smith.
The polarizing magnetic field B.sub.o, for field strengths above approximately 0.2 Tesla, is typically produced by superconducting coils arranged along the z-axis and around a bore tube. The field is adjusted to be highly homogeneous in a spherical volume centered within the bore tube.
Gradient coils, for impressing the magnetic gradients, G.sub.x, G.sub.y and G.sub.z, on the uniform magnetic field B.sub.o, are ordinarily affixed to the bore tube. Strong repulsive forces are generated between each gradient coil and, therefore, the gradient coils are typically firmly attached to the bore tube and restrained by laminated epoxy and glass fiber. The gradient coil restraints resist such forces and reduce the acoustic noise generated by the flexing of the gradient windings.
An RF coil is also affixed to the bore tube and may be a cage like antenna having end-loops interconnected by a series of linear segments spaced circumferential about the end-loop. Such coils are taught, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,694,255, 4,692,705 and 4,680,548, and are incorporated herein by reference.
The polarizing, gradient, and the RF coils are positioned on the outside of the bore tube so as not to interfere with placement of the patient in the bore tube for scanning. For maximum flexibility in medical applications, the bore tube is made large enough to permit the patient's entire body to be positioned within the bore tube taking into account expected variation in body dimensions between patients.
In order to practice certain pulse sequences it is desirable to greatly increase the strength and speed of the gradients G.sub.x, G.sub.y and G.sub.z. Gradient "speed" is the time required to change the magnitude of the gradient field between particular values. For most imaging techniques, higher gradient strength and response speed will decrease the time needed to acquire the NMR data required for an image. In particular, faster gradients reduce the time required to complete the MRI gradient pulse sequences and stronger gradients decrease the time needed to sample the received NMR signal by increasing the bandwidth of the NMR signal. Particularly in echo-planar imaging, where a single excitation produces a series of echoes, which are gradient encoded to generate image data, high gradient strength and speed is necessary to realize the full potential of rapid acquisition promised by this technique. Stronger gradients also increase the spatial resolution of the imaging process permitting smaller voxels to be discerned.
Also, for a number of specialized imaging techniques, higher gradient strength increases the "contrast" of the acquired data. This is true in flow and diffusion studies where the received NMR signal indicates the rate of flow of blood or other material, and in spectrographic studies, to measure the chemical shift between tissues caused by differing values of .gamma..
Both the response speed and the strength of the gradient field may be increased by increasing the power applied to the gradient coils. For a given geometry of gradient coil having a fixed inductance, the response time of the gradient coil, i.e., the amount of time required for the coil to reach a particular field strength, will depend on the applied current, and hence, on the available power. The power applied to the gradient coil is typically provided by dedicated gradient amplifiers. Therefore, increasing the maximum power that may be applied to a gradient coil is accomplished by increasing the power of each amplifier or by stacking additional amplifiers together.
There are practical limits to increasing gradient speed and strength by increasing the power applied to the gradient coil. The first limit is the cost of the gradient amplifiers. A factor of 5 to 50 increase in gradient power, over that required for conventional imaging, may be required, and the cost of the amplifiers needed to produce this power is prohibitive. The second limit is the power dissipation of the gradient coil. High gradient fields may require currents as high as 1000 amperes and such current levels create significant coil cooling problems. Cooling techniques such as circulating refrigerant among the gradient coil windings may be used, but add significantly to the cost of the MRI system.
In co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/743,550, filed on Aug. 12, 1991 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,185,576, and entitled "Local Gradient Coil" gradient speed is increased without a corresponding increase in gradient power by decreasing the size of a gradient coil. The local gradient coil described therein provides one axis of the gradient field without undue interference with the RF field produced by an associated local and, without unduly interfering with patient access and comfort. In many pulse sequences, however, it is desirable to provide two orthogonal high speed gradient magnetic fields.


A knife sharpener sharpens a wide range of knives and blades. The knife sharpener includes an angle guide associated with a first stage abrasive surface at an angle in the range of 12-18 degrees. A second stage is provided at an angle in the range of 17-23 degrees. A third stage is provided at an angle in the range of 19-25 degrees. The abrasive surface in the first and second stages is in the range of 240 to 400 grit while the abrasives in the third stage is in the range of 600 to 2000 grit.

For generations, knife sharpeners have been available to sharpen dull knives but without regard to the angle of the knife edge. Knives produced in factories were made largely by artisans who undertook to create a sharp edge without regard to the angle of the edge. Sharpness was the focus and it did not matter to the artisan what the angle was. That was true also after the factory knife was sold, used, and became dull. The owner sought to sharpen the edge somehow, with a tool file, on a sharpening stone, or perhaps with a sharpening "steel". The angle at which the edge facets were formed by the user was not recognized as important. Factory edge angles were not standardized by any of the large or small knife factories. They did not consider it of any importance, particularly since the user had no sense of the importance of the edge angle and had no means or ability to sharpen the edge at a specified or controlled angle. As a consequence, for generations knife sharpeners have been sold without specifying anything more than "the sharpener will create a sharp edge on your knife". In general both factory knives and sharpeners have been sold only on the expectation that the resulting knife will be sharp.
The consumer has had no expectations or concerns about the actual angle of the edge—only that it be sharp enough for the job at hand. Examination of the knives produced in Europe shows that the total edge angle varied from about 40 degrees to 60 degrees or larger. American manufacturers have followed the European practices. Asian knives made with smaller edge angles have not been readily available or popular in the United States, but that has begun to change recently.
The European designs of knife edges with their relatively large angles have evolved as a result of their diets and methods of food preparation. In general the European style knife is designed for butchering and to cut tough fibrous foods such as a wide variety of meats.
Knives manufactured in Japan and Asia are found to have edge angles of about 10 degrees to 20 degrees, most commonly about 15 degrees which they have found to be practical for cutting fish and other softer, less tough foods than those encountered in Europe.
The recent interest of the Asian style cutlery has presented new challenges for American knife sharpeners that historically have been designed exclusively for the larger angled European and American, style knives. The Asian knife customer commonly has not been willing to trust his knife to existing European or American sharpeners and he has continued largely to sharpen his Asian knives tediously by hand on sharpening stones.
As a consequence of the confusion created by the introduction of Asian style knives into America, several sharpeners have been offered to handle both Asian and European style knives.
These sharpeners are simply a physical combination of two sharpeners, one for the larger angle European knives and one for Asian style knives incorporated into a single housing. These commonly have one sharpening stage or section dedicated to European blades and another dedicated separate sharpening stage or section to sharpen Asian blades. Such sharpeners are consequently large, very expensive, and produce relatively weak knife edges particularly for the thinner low edge angle Asian blades.
A primary reason why Asian knives have not been popular in America is that American foods are generally more like the Europeans—tougher and more fibrous. It has been shown that lower angle Asian knives as sold commercially do not hold up as well when cutting tougher American foods. The thin 15 degree edge bends over in use and quickly becomes dull.
The attraction of the Asian edge to the American consumer is that it appears to be sharper than when cutting with the European knives. This is because the edge facets are set at a total included angle of only on average 30 degrees or so which will cut easier and in fact feel like a sharper wedge than the 40 degree wedge of the European edge.
Forty degree total angle edges are however stronger, do not fold over so fast and hold up longer when cutting the tougher American type foods. A recognition of the inherent weakness of the thirty degree edge has been a deterrent to wide acceptance of the Asian edges—in spite of the perception they cut with less effort.
These inventors have discovered unique simpler, more compact, less expensive designs for sharpeners that can handle both European and Asian style knives. In spite of their simplicity these new sharpeners create sharper and longer lasting edges for both classes of knives than, for example, any other commercially available manual sharpeners offered to sharpen both classes of knives. Further the new design disclosed here produces precision edges of a quality equal to new factory produced knives.

Knife sharpener for asian and european/american knives


Data rate and robustness of digital error protection is improved according to the method and device of the present invention to obviate the need for audio interpolation and consequently, to be useful in fields where audio interpolation cannot be done without complex encoding and decoding strategies. Digital information signals are transferred in the form of a plurality of a number of sequences of information symbols. Each information symbol has a uniform bit length and each sequence of information symbols occurs in a respective input channel. Check words are included in transmitted digital information signals and are encoded to allow correction of erroneous symbols caused on transmission.

Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method for transmitting a digital information signal in the form of a plurality of a sequences of information symbols, each symbol having a uniform bit length and each such sequence of symbols occurring in a respective input channel, check words being included in the transmitted signal as a result of encoding to enable correction of erroneous symbols caused by said transmitting, the method includes:
applying a first block of s symbols, one from each such input channel, in a first arranging state to a first error correcting encoder to generate p first check symbols. Additionally each symbol is delayed in said first block and each of the p first check symbols by a respective different delay time to provide a resulting second block of symbols in a second arranging state. The second block of symbols is applied to a second error correcting encoder to generate a q second check symbols, and the information symbols as well as the first and second check symbols are transmitted. PA1 a: after executing parts 61, 62 and starting from an initial said first data block for each of 0.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.m successive first data blocks first forming a C1 code word and next a C2 code word; PA1 b1: for each data symbol of an ultimate said first data block, except for its last data symbol, forming an associated C2 code word; PA1 b2: subtracting all symbols of a block of s rows and q columns of symbols so formed from data symbols correspondingly positioned in the initial q said first blocks of symbols; PA1 c: after executing parts b1, b2 and starting from an ultimate said first data block for each of 0.ltoreq.z=m-y.ltoreq.m successive first data blocks first forming a C2 code word and next a C1 code word; PA1 d: after generating of parts a and c, generating a diamond shape containing p.times.q check symbols either through q C1 code words or through p C2 code words; PA1 e: after executing part b1 and completing the q columns comprising exclusively check symbols including those of part b1, adding all symbols of those q columns to symbols correspondingly positioned in the initial q symbol columns, and subsequently suppressing said block of q check columns. This is a straight-forward encoding procedure. PA1 a: after executing parts 61, 62 and starting from an initial said first data block for each of 0.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.m successive first data blocks first forming a C1 code word and next a C2 code word; PA1 b1: for each data symbol of an ultimate said first data block, except for its last data symbol, forming an associated C2 code word; PA1 b2: subtracting all symbols of a block of s rows and q columns of symbols so formed from data symbols correspondingly positioned in the initial q said first blocks of symbols; PA1 c: after executing parts b1, b2 and starting from an ultimate said first data block for each of 0.ltoreq.z=m-y.ltoreq.m successive first data blocks first forming a C2 code word and next a C1 code word; PA1 d: after generating of parts a and c, generating a diamond shape containing p.times.q check symbols either through q C1 code words or through p C2 code words; PA1 e: after executing part b1 and completing the q columns comprising exclusively check symbols including those of part b1, adding all symbols of those q columns to symbols correspondingly positioned in the initial q symbol columns, and subsequently suppressing said block of q check columns. PA1 a: after executing parts b1, b2 and starting from an initial said first data block for each of 0.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.m successive first data blocks first forming a C1 code word and next a C2 code word; PA1 b1: for each data symbol of an ultimate said first data block, except for its last data symbol, forming an associated C2 code word, while of each C2 code word so formed that has a final data symbol at contiguous row to an initial data symbol of a subsequent C2 code word, superposing the check symbols of the former C2 code word on the check symbols of the latter C2 code word, during their being generated; PA1 b2: subtracting all symbols of a block of s rows and q columns so formed from data symbols positioned on the same rows, in that from a data symbol in column j are subtracted, the check symbols in columns j+m, j+2m, etcetera, until all check symbols on the row in question have been subtracted one; PA1 c: after executing parts b1, b2 and starting from an ultimate said first data block for each of 0.ltoreq.z=m-y.ltoreq.m successive first data blocks first forming a C2 code word and next a C1 code word; PA1 d: after generating of parts a and c, generating a diamond shape containing p.times.q check symbols either through q C1 code words or through p C2 code words; PA1 e: after executing part b1, and completing the q columns comprising exclusively check symbols including those of part b1, adding all symbols of those q columns to symbols correspondingly positioned in the initial q symbol columns s, in the same manner and in point b2, and subsequently suppressing said block of q check columns. Further advantageous aspects are recited in dependent Claims.
The invention also relates to a device for executing the method. Such method and device, and in particular a decoding strategy therefor, have been disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,477,903 (Ref I) to the present Assignee; a further particular decoding strategy has been disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,683,572 (Ref.II), again to the same Assignee as the present application. In particular, all codes used for the present invention are linear codes, so that the sum of two code words is again a code word. This also allows for explicitly or implicitly converting a code word of a systematic code into a code word of a non-systematic code and vice versa. Now, the references relate to the error protection of the well-known Compact Disc system for recording and transmitting high-quality audio signals. Various extensions of that system have been based on the above error protection technology. In most cases the digital error protection is sufficient to exactly reproduce the original digital input signal, whilst in case of reproduction of an audio signal, a last recourse can be found by masking uncorrectable errors through some kind of interpolation on the audio signal itself. Although the above system has been widely and successfully commercialized, a need for higher performance has been felt, in respect of attainable data rate as well as in respect of increased robustness against errors to be offered by the code itself.

Error correctable data transmission method and device based on semi-cyclic codes