A spam filter system and method, for maintaining at least one database of permitted email addresses; automatically communicating with an email server, and selectively downloading and storing email not corresponding to entries in the database; automatically sending a challenge message in response to messages from non-permitted email addresses; if an appropriate response is received to the challenge message, adding the non-permitted email address to the database of permitted email addresses; and automatically restoring downloaded email messages from email addresses which become permitted.

Electronic messaging, particularly electronic mail ("e-mail") over the Internet, has became quite pervasive in society. Its ease of use, low cost, and integration with common office computer tools and business process work-flow make it a preferred method of communication for many individuals and organizations.
Unfortunately, as has occurred with more traditional forms of communication, such as a postal mail and telephone, e-mail recipients are being subjected to unsolicited mass mailings. With the explosion, particularly in the last few years, of Internet-based commerce, a wide and growing variety of electronic merchandisers are repeatedly sending unsolicited mail advertising their products and services, "phishing" for confidential information, pump-and-dump of small cap equities, transmission of an wanted or malicious software, other nefarious or unknown motivations. Most consumers who order products or otherwise transact with a merchant over the Internet expect to and, in fact, do regularly receive such solicitations from those merchants. However, electronic mailers are continually expanding their distribution lists to penetrate deeper into society in order to reach more people. In that regard, recipients who merely provide their e-mail addresses in response to requests for visitor information generated by various web sites, often later find that they have been included on electronic distribution lists. This occurs without the knowledge, let alone the assent, of the recipients. Moreover, as with postal direct-mail lists, an electronic mailer will often disseminate its distribution list, whether by sale, lease or otherwise, to another such mailer for its use, and so forth with subsequent mailers. Further, given the low cost of sending an e-mail message, automated processes which randomly generate e-mail addresses to existing domains, or derive e-mail addresses from various lists or databases, send massive floods of messages. Consequently, over time, e-mail recipients often find themselves increasingly barraged by unsolicited mail resulting from separate distribution lists maintained by a wide variety of mass mailers or spammers. Though certain avenues exist through which an individual might request that their name be removed from most e-mail lists from legally compliant entities, many sources of e-mail are not compliant, or use "loop-holes" in existing regulation.
Various proposals and systems have been implemented to generate "white lists" and "black lists" of individual senders, IP address, or domains. However, the normal e-mail protocols are susceptible to "spoofing", and therefore an analysis of the e-mail message may not properly reflect its origin. Likewise, spam may be sent from "zombie" machines, and thus exploit the infrastructure owned by others, who may be "white listed". Further, new domains are constantly being added, and thus a simple list-based filter generally precludes normal delivery of many messages that would be authorized by the recipient, and thus suffers from a very high false positive reject rate. Likewise, the spoofing of valid addresses raises the possibility, at least, of false negative rejections. This unsolicited mail usually increases over time. The sender can effectively block recipient requests or attempts to eliminate this unsolicited mail. For example, the sender can prevent a recipient of a message from identifying the sender of that message (such as by sending mail through a proxy server). This precludes that recipient from contacting the sender in an attempt to be excluded from a distribution list. Alternatively, the sender can ignore any request previously received from the recipient to be so excluded.
An individual can easily receive hundreds of pieces of unsolicited postal mail in less than a year. By contrast, given the extreme ease and insignificant cost through which e-distribution lists can be readily exchanged and e-mail messages disseminated across extremely large numbers of addresses, a single e-mail addressee included on several distribution lists can expect to receive a considerably large number of unsolicited messages over a much shorter period of time.
Furthermore, while many unsolicited e-mail messages are benign, such as offers for discount office or computer supplies or invitations to attend conferences of one type or another; others, such as pornographic, inflammatory and abusive material, are highly offensive to their recipients. All such unsolicited messages, whether e-mail or postal mail, collectively constitute so-called "junk" mail. To easily differentiate between the two, junk e-mail is commonly known, and will alternatively be referred to herein, as "spam".
Similar to the task of handling junk postal mail, an e-mail recipient may sift through his/her incoming mail to remove the spam. United States Patent Application 20040083270 (Heckerman, David; et al., Apr. 29, 2004) provides an intelligent, content-sensitive filtering process which responds to user feedback. See also, US 20040139160, 20040139165, 20040177110, 20040215977, expressly incorporated herein by reference. Simple (concrete) email filter classification systems are known. See, 20040193684, 20040199595, 20040210639, 20040205127, 20040205126, 20040210640 expressly incorporated herein by reference.
Drawbacks of many prior art systems and methods are that these systems either take time to setup and configure, or they do not allow the user sufficient flexibility to personalize the email filter.
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control methods and systems    20060080303 Method, apparatus, and computer program product for indexing, synchronizing and searching digital data    20060079255 Methods, systems, and computer program products for short message service (SMS) spam filtering using e-mail spam filtering resources    20060075052 Platform for Intelligent Email Distribution    20060075044 System and method for electronic contact list-based search and display    20060072144 Network scanner for global document creation, transmission and management    20060053203 Method for the filtering of messages in a communication network    20060047769 System, method and program to limit rate of transferring messages from suspected spammers    20060047766 Controlling transmission of email    20060041622 Spam filtering for mobile communication devices    20060036695 Timed delivery of alert notifications based on user set criteria    20060036693 Spam filtering with probabilistic secure hashes    20060031385 Reverse IP method 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messages    20050267944 Email manager    20050267928 Systems, apparatus and methods for managing networking devices    20050266832 Value-added electronic messaging services having web-based user accessible message center    20050262210 Email analysis using fuzzy matching of text    20050262203 Email system with conversation-centric user interface    20050256866 Search system and methods with integration of user annotations from a trust network    20050251861 System and method for preventing delivery of unsolicited and undesired electronic messages by key generation and comparison    20050251486 System and methods for protecting digital works using a watermark gateway    20050234910 Categorizing and snoozing conversations in a conversation-based email system    20050234850 Displaying conversations in a conversation-based email sysem    20050228899 Systems and methods for producing, managing, delivering, retrieving, and/or tracking permission based communications    20050223326 Browser-based spell checker    20050223076 Cooperative spam control    20050223067 Providing snippets relevant to a search query in a conversation-based email system    20050223066 Displaying conversation views in a conversation-based email system    20050223058 Identifying messages relevant to a search query in a conversation-based email system    20050223057 Processing messages in a conversation-based email system    20050222985 Email conversation management system    20050210258 Cryptographic puzzle cancellation service for deterring bulk electronic mail messages    20050210106 System and method for detecting and filtering unsolicited and undesired electronic messages    20050204159 System, method and computer program to block spam    20050203800 System and method for compounded marketing    20050198508 Method and system for transmission and processing of authenticated electronic mail    20050198175 Systems and methods for optimizing dynamic mailings    20050198061 Process and product for selectively processing data accesses    20050197767 Smart answering machine    20050193429 Integrated data traffic monitoring system    20050193076 Collecting, aggregating, and managing information relating to electronic messages    20050193073 (More) advanced spam detection features    20050190758 Security groups for VLANs    20050187868 Method and system for consensual referrals using multimedia description of real estate transaction    20050177385 Method and system for customizing views of information associated with a social network user    20050171954 Selective electronic messaging within an online social network for SPAM detection    20050144279 Transactional white-listing for electronic communications    20050131961 Data repository and method for promoting network storage of data    20050131905 Data repository and method for promoting network storage of data    20050131904 Data repository and method for promoting network storage of data    20050131903 Data repository and method for promoting network storage of data    20050120118 Novel network server for electronic mail filter benchmarking    20050114652 End-to-end encryption method and system for emails    20050114533 Electronic message forwarding    20050114516 Systems and methods for automatically updating electronic mail access lists    20050102511 Locked e-mail server with key server    20050101306 Method and system for the prevention of unwanted wireless telecommunications    20050097321 System and method for a subscription model trusted email database for use in antispam    20050097319 System and method for managing a trusted email datastore    20050097170 Community-based green list for antispam    20050091364 Method and system for on-demand allocation of a dynamic network of services    20050091321 Identifying undesired email messages having attachments    20050086224 SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COMPUTING A MEASURE OF SIMILARITY BETWEEN DOCUMENTS    20050086205 SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PERFORMING ELECTRONIC INFORMATION RETRIEVAL USING KEYWORDS    20050081059 Method and system for e-mail filtering    20050080864 Processing rules for digital messages    20050080860 Phonetic filtering of undesired email messages    20050076241 Degrees of separation for handling communications    20050076240 Degrees of separation for handling communications    20050076084 Dynamic message filtering    20050064850 E-mail filtering services and e-mail service enrollment techniques    20050060643 DOCUMENT SIMILARITY DETECTION AND CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM    20050060535 Methods and apparatus for monitoring local network traffic on local network segments and resolving detected security and network management problems occurring on those segments    20050060417 Automated electronic personal preference & proxy network    20050060295 Statistical classification of high-speed network data through content inspection    20050055404 E-mail server registry and method    20050055232 Personal information system and method    20050048998 Handportable cellular telephone adapted to receive messages and a method for processing messages    20050044160 Method and software product for identifying unsolicited emails    20050033810 Interceptor for non-subscribed bulk electronic messages    20050030589 Spam fax filter    20050022031 Advanced URL and IP features    20050022008 Origination/destination features and lists for spam prevention    20050021649 Prevention of outgoing spam    20050015455 SPAM processing system and methods including shared information among plural SPAM filters    20050015454 Obfuscation of spam filter    20050015452 Methods and systems for training content filters and resolving uncertainty in content filtering operations    20050015448 Systems and methods for automatically updating electronic mail access lists    20050015432 Deriving contact information from emails    20050010644 High performance electronic message delivery engine    20040267893 Fuzzy logic voting method and system 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No. 6,701,440 Method and system for protecting a computer using a remote e-mail scanning device    U.S. Pat. No. 6,654,787 Method and apparatus for filtering e-mail    U.S. Pat. No. 6,650,890 Value-added electronic messaging services and transparent implementation thereof using intermediate server    U.S. Pat. No. 6,615,348 Method and apparatus for an adapted digital signature    U.S. Pat. No. 6,546,416 Method and system for selectively blocking delivery of bulk electronic mail    U.S. Pat. No. 6,421,709 E-mail filter and method thereof    U.S. Pat. No. 7,013,152 Method and an arrangement in a network for determining a zone in which a communication unit is connected    U.S. Pat. No. 6,999,577 Multi-user call waiting    U.S. Pat. No. 6,985,756 Method, apparatus and article to remotely associate wireless communications devices with subscriber identities and/or proxy wireless communications devices    U.S. Pat. No. 6,957,062 Method, apparatus and article to remotely associate wireless communications devices with subscriber identities and/or proxy wireless communications devices    U.S. Pat. No. 6,944,774 Data flow control unit    U.S. Pat. No. 6,928,455 Method of and apparatus for controlling access to the internet in a computer system and computer readable medium storing a computer program    U.S. Pat. No. 6,732,157 Comprehensive anti-spam system, method, and computer program product for filtering unwanted e-mail messages    U.S. Pat. No. 6,587,549 Device for automatically processing incoming electronic mail (=e-mail)    U.S. Pat. No. 6,336,117 Content-indexing search system and method providing search results consistent with content filtering and blocking policies implemented in a blocking engine
The systems, methods and concepts disclosed in the above patents and patent applications may be used in conjunction with, or appropriate components substitute for and/or supplement the elements of the preferred embodiment of the invention disclosed herein-below, to the extent consistent therewith.
In light of the foregoing, there exists a need to provide a system and method that will enable the identification and classification of spam versus desired e-mail. Furthermore, there exists a need for a method of quickly and easily configuring and controlling the spam filter while still enabling the user to personalize the spam filter if they so desire, to further facilitate appropriately-restrictive filtering criteria while permitting appropriate and/or authorized e-mail to be delivered. Further there exists a need for a system and method of filtering spam that functions with minimal configuration while minimizing the false positive reject rate and protecting emails from desired senders from being lost.


This invention discloses a compact dispenser and applicator of stamps from self adhesive postage stamp rolls that is particularly well suited for typical postage stamp users. The dispenser comprises a mechanism assembly that slides into a compact housing assembly attached with an applicator roller. The mechanism assembly comprises a stamp roll holding chamber, s stamp conveyer platen with a separator edge at its end for separating stamps from the backing paper, a backing paper spooler with a connector strap to attach to the free end of the backing paper and a ratchet wheel for rotating the spooler. When the ratchet wheel is rotated with a finger, the ratchet wheel causes the spooler to rotate and to spool the backing paper, thereby causing the backing paper to retract over the stamp conveyer platen and the separator edge. The retracting backing paper experiences an abrupt change of direction, thereby causing the stamp to separate from the backing paper. The applicator roller attached to the housing assembly is used for deploying the stamp after moving the dispenser to appropriate location on the mail.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to postage stamp dispensers and particularly to portable dispensers of postage stamps that are available in the form a roll. More particularly, the present invention relates to portable dispensers of postage stamps that are available in the form of rolls of self adhesive pressure sensitive stamps.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Postage stamps of common denomination, such as a postage stamp necessary to send an ordinary letter by first class mail, are available, for convenience of storage and usage, in the form of rolls, each roll contains a large number of stamps. These postage stamp rolls are available in two types. One type has stamps with pre-glued back side requiring moistening prior to placement on the mail. The other and the more recently introduced type has stamps with self adhesive backside requiring separation from the backing paper prior to placement on the mail.
A variety of dispensers and applicators for use with the postage stamp rolls with the pre-glued backside are described in the prior art. The prior art dispensers and applicators that adequately perform are generally bulky, making them inappropriate for a typical postage stamp user and suitable only for large offices and mass mailing situations. The prior art dispensers that are appropriate for typical postage stamp users commonly comprise a small container with a slot which permit the stamps to be manually pulled out through the slot torn out, moistened and affixed to the mail. Although these prior art small dispensers were developed before the self adhesive postage stamp rolls became available, these dispensers can be used with such rolls. Use of these dispensers with self adhesive type postage stamp rolls involves manually drawing through the slot a post stamp with the backing paper attached, manually separating the stamp from the backing paper using a finger nail or some other sharp object, tearing the stamp from the rest of the roll, attaching the stamp to the mail, tearing the backing paper from the unused portion of the roll and disposing the torn backing paper in the trash. Hence, use of these prior art small dispensers with self adhesive postage stamp rolls is at least as tedious as using them with the pre-glued postage stamp rolls.
The object of the present invention is a compact and inexpensive dispenser and applicator of stamps from self adhesive postage stamp rolls that is particularly well suited for typical postage stamp users. The present invention provides a novel postage stamp dispenser and applicator specifically designed to retain a self adhesive postage stamp roll to dispense a postage stamp and separate it from the backing paper and the postage stamp roll, to apply the stamp to the mail, and to spool the backing paper in the stamp dispenser for disposal after the stamp roll is completely used up. The device of the present invention provides a means for retaining a roll of self adhesive postage stamps, associated therewith, a means for automatically dispensing the remaining stamps in series from this retaining means while simultaneously separating and spooling the backing paper inside the device. The device also includes a means for applying pressure to adhere the stamp separated from the backing paper to the mail while concurrently separating the stamp from the stamps still remaining in the dispenser.

Self adhesive postage stamp dispenser and applicator


Machine for grinding and bevelling ophthalmic lenses of the type comprising a carriage movable in translation and in oscillation in directions parallel to and perpendicular to a shaft carrying grinding wheels for edge trimming (4) and bevelling, and a follower (7) for measuring the distance between the plane tangent to the pole of the convex surface of the lens and the edge of the surface and for measuring the value which corresponds to the width of the edge surface (12) of the lens (3). The follower (7) has a surface (8) having a convex curvature identical to that of the grinding wheel and which comprises a matrix of detection elements which cooperate with the edge surface (12) of the lens. Each of the detection elements is connected to a corresponding portion of a sensor (14) to which it transmits a signal representing the passage of a part of the edge surface (12) of the lens in front of the corresponding detection element.

The present invention relates to automatic machines for grinding and bevelling lenses of eyeglasses.
The conventional machines for grinding and bevelling ophthalmic lenses comprise a U-shaped carriage mounted to be slidable and oscillable on a fixed horizontal shaft, a second horizontal shaft mounted to be rotatable perpendicularly between the branches of the U-shaped carriage and comprising two parts between which the lens to be machined is clamped, and a third horizontal rotatable shaft carrying the various grinding wheels for trimming and bevelling the edge surface of the lens blank.
When a blank of an optical lens having a thick edge has been shaped in the shape of the eyeglass frame, the edge surface of the lens has a cylindrical shape and a bevelling operation must be carried out by guiding the lens so as to form on its edge surface a V-section bevel between the edges of its periphery, this bevel being intended to be engaged in the groove of the bezel of the frame.
Effecting such a bevel with a manual control is extremely difficult. Use was made of the "free bevel" system in which the edge surface of the blank is fed into a V-section groove of a grinding wheel and the shaft carrying the lens is left free to move in translation during the grinding operation.
However, this system does not give a fully satisfactory result.
The document FR-A-2 456 304 describes a device for measuring the distance between a given point of the desired contour of an ophthalmic lens and the plane tangent to the pole of the convex surface of this lens. This device comprises an assembly having two followers or tracers one of which cooperates with the lens whereas the other cooperates with the template mounted on the carriage and movable in a direction parallel to the axis of the template and of the lens, one of the followers being in contact with the surface of the lens. As the lens rotates, the follower in contact with the surface of the lens delivers an indication by shifting a pointer in front of a graduated index.
In this device, the fact of contacting only a single point of the lens for a given angle of the latter requires effecting a correction calculation, owing to the fact that the grinding point is displaced differently in accordance with the diameter of the grinding wheel and the non-circular shapes of the frames.
The present invention relates to an automatic machine for grinding and bevelling ophthalmic lenses, of the type comprising a non-mechanical type sensor and in which this correction calculation is unnecessary.
A machine of this type is described and illustrated in the document EP-A-0 281 480 B1 in which a follower or tracer is in contact with the edge surface of the lens and its surface is formed by the adjacent edges of a plurality of movable or vibrating elements adapted to act on sensors responsive to their displacements. However design is not fully satisfactory in that, on one hand, its precision is sometimes insufficient and, on the other hand, there are risks of soiling of the articulation means of the movable elements.

Machines for grinding and bevelling opthalmic lenses


Based on the information of an object OB, a modifier volume MV for that object is set, the set modifier volume MV being then used to change an attribute. A gap region GR is then provided between the object OB and the modifier volume MV. The gap length GL of the gap region GR is changed depending on the distance H between the object OB and a projection plane PP (GL being increased as H increases). A modifier volume is drawn after a background and a plurality of model objects have been drawn. Thus, the shadow of a first model object is drawn to fall on a second model object while preventing the self-shadow of the first model object from falling on the first model object itself.

The present invention relates to an image generating method, a program and an information storage medium.
Conventionally, there is known an image generating method for generating an image visible from a virtual camera (or a given viewpoint) in an object space that is a virtual three-dimensional space. It is highly popular as a method by which a so-called virtual reality can be experienced. If it is assumed that a fight game can be enjoyed by an image generating system, a player uses a game controller (or control section) to cause a player's character (or object) to fight against an enemy character which is controlled by another player or a computer.
In such an image generating method, it is desirable that a model object such as character or the like can be generated to have its realistic shadow. There is known one shadow generating technique which uses a modifier volume (which in a narrow sense, is a shadow volume).
However, it has been found that the technique using such a modifier volume may draw the self-shadow of a character to fall onto the character itself. If any other shading has already been done against that character and when such a self-shadow is drawn to fall on the character itself, the quality of a generated image will be degraded.

Image generation of shadows utilizing a modifier volume gap region


An information record apparatus includes: a down-convert device for down-converting a first content information having a first reproduction quality (HD) into a second content information having a second reproduction quality (SD) which is lower quality than the first reproduction quality; a scramble device for generating scramble information by scrambling the first content information, on the basis of a predetermined scramble key; and a first record device for recording the second content information and the scramble information into a first record medium.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an information record apparatus and method, as well as an information reproduction apparatus and method, such as a DVD recorder or a DVD player. The present invention further relates to a computer program product to make a computer function as such an information record apparatus and the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
At present, terrestrial digital broadcasting, BS digital broadcasting, and the like have been already begun, so that audio-visual environment presenting a high quality digital broadcasting becomes more popular even at home. In such a kind of digital broadcasting, it is possible to enjoy content information having quality of high vision broadcasting (hereinafter referred to as HD (High Definition)) or HDTV, superior to content information having quality of so-called standard broadcasting (hereinafter referred to as SD (Standard Definition)) or SDTV.
On the other hand, since the content information broadcasted by such a kind of digital broadcasting is digital data, the copying of the content information does not tend to deteriorate the image quality. Thereby, the copying is easy. For this reason, the copying of the digital data (or the content information of the digital broadcasting) makes a problem in protecting the copyright. In order to protect the copyright, various approaches for protecting the copyright is on their development, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 2000-324443, 2000-298926 and Hei 9-171658, for example. Particularly, CPPM (Content Protection for Prerecorded Media) or CPRM (Content Protection for Recording Media) employed in a record medium such as the DVD or the like for protecting the copyright is a technology for preventing an illegal or unauthorized copying, in which the copyright of the content may be appropriately protected by putting a "copy once limitation" on the content information.

Scrambling content information in a first recording medium when downgrading the quality of content information for storage on a second recording medium


An unfolded book, placed upon a copy machine, can have its two exposed pages reproduced without a shadow between the two pages using this invention. A bar formed in the shape of a "T" is placed, with the "T" upside down, and with the shaft of the "T" resting along the crease of the book between the two pages. Slidable stop plates at each end of the bar can be used to snuggle the book with the bar. Variations in the shape of the arms of the "T" and in the shape of the terminations of the arms are presented.

The present invention is an accessory for a copy machine. When a bound volume, such as a book is copied, splayed open upon the copy machine to expose the print, the center area at the binding creates a shadow on the copy. A decisive manner of obviating such defect has not been offered before. The present invention does solve the problem.


Disclosed herein is a process for the production of an arylene thioether copolymer (C), wherein an alkali metal sulfide is caused to act on a poly(arylene thioether) (A) having predominant recurring units of the formula [I]: ##STR1## wherein R denotes an alkyl group having 1-6 carbon atoms, and 1 stands for 0 or an integer of 1-4, in a water-containing polar organic solvent so as to depolymerize the poly(arylene thioether) (A), thereby preparing a prepolymer (B) having an alkali thiolate group on at least one terminal thereof and the resultant prepolymer (B) is then subjected to a polymerization reaction with at least one dihalogen-substituted aromatic compound.

Arylene thioether polymers have heretofore been prepared mainly by a process wherein a dihalogen-substituted aromatic compound is reacted with an alkali metal sulfide in a polar organic solvent (for example, Japanese Patent Publication Nos. 3368/1970 and 25589/1978, and U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,919,177 and 4,645,826).
This reaction is represented by the following reaction formula: ##STR2## wherein Ar means an aromatic residue, M denotes an alkali metal, and X is a halogen atom.
In this preparation process, phenols and amines are formed as by-products due to the reaction of the dihalogen-substituted aromatic compound and alkali metal sulfide at an elevated temperature, and they have an undesirable effect on the polymerization degree and melt stability of the resulting polymer.
When various kinds of dihalogen-substituted aromatic compounds are separately used in the preparation process, they can be divided broadly into the following three groups by relatively evaluating them with respect to stability and reactivity in the polymerization reaction system and solubility in the polymerization solvent.
Group (G1): Standard compounds medium all in reactivity, stability and solubility, which may include, for example, those represented by the following formula: ##STR3## wherein X means a halogen atom, R denotes an alkyl group having 1-6 carbon atoms, and 1 stands for 0 or an integer of 1-4.
Group (G2): Compounds higher in reactivity compared to those of Group (G1) but unstable in the polymerization reaction system, which may include, for example, those represented by the following formulae: ##STR4## wherein X means a halogen atom.
Group (G3): Compounds poor in solubility in the polymerization solvent, which may include, for example, those represented by the following formula: ##STR5##
When copolymerization between a dihalogen-substituted aromatic compound in Group (G1) and a dihalogen-substituted aromatic compound in Group (G2) or (G3) other than that of Group (G1) was attempted in accordance with the prior art process, it was difficult to obtain any copolymer high in polymerization degree, uniform in composition and/or good in melt stability.
As that reason, there can be mentioned the fact that the dihalogen-substituted aromatic compound of Group (G1) requires to conduct a polymerization reaction at a relatively high temperature for obtaining a polymer of high polymerization degree, while the dihalogen-substituted aromatic compound of Group (G2) is unstable and tends to decompose at such a high temperature and hence, requires to conduct a polymerization reaction at a relatively low temperature for obtaining a polymer of high polymerization degree. In addition, they are substantially different in reactivity from each other, so that any copolymers uniform in composition can not be obtained therefrom.
Besides, in the copolymerization reaction between the dihalogen-substituted aromatic compounds of Group (G1) and (G3), a homopolymer of the dihalogen-substituted aromatic compound of Group (G3) or a copolymer containing such a compound in a great amount tends to precipitate from the polymerization solvent in the initial stage of the reaction, so that any copolymers uniform in composition can not be obtained therefrom.
With a view toward improving the above-mentioned problems in the copolymerization of ##STR6## of Group (G1) with ##STR7## of Group (G2) or ##STR8## of Group (G2), the present inventors previously proposed a production process of block copolymers by forming respective prepolymers in advance and reacting these prepolymers with each other (Japanese Patent Application Nos. 248083/1989 and 342968/1989). However, it is desirable to obtain copolymers improved further in respect of polymerization degree and melt stability.
As another production process of arylene thioether polymers, there has been proposed a process in which a dihalogen-substituted aromatic compound is reacted with an aromatic dithiol or an alkali metal salt thereof (alkali thiolate) (Japanese Patent Publication Nos. I9713/1970 and 4398/1971, and Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 197634/1986, 200127/1986, 529/1987, 530/1987, 91530/1987 and 20530/1987). This reaction is represented by the following two reaction formulae: ##STR9##
According to this production process, the reactivity is good. However, the aromatic dithiol and alkali thiolate of raw materials are easy to be oxidized, so that the process is accompanied by problems of difficulty in purifying and handling them, increase in production cost and difficulty in industrial practice.

Production process of arylene thioether copolymer


A probe for measuring oxygen, temperature, and pressure having a housing, made of a thermally conductive material; an oxygen sensor within the housing, a temperature sensor disposed within the housing adjacent to the thermally conductive material, comprising a fiber Bragg grating, a pressure sensor disposed within the housing, comprising a fiber Bragg grating.

1. Field
Disclosed herein is an optical probe containing integrated oxygen, temperature, and pressure sensors. The probe is particularly suitable for determining the concentration of oxygen, particularly the partial pressure of oxygen, in an enclosed space, such as a fuel tank, cargo hold, passenger compartment, or other space in a vehicle, such as an aircraft, ship, boat, land vehicle, or other military, commercial, or aerospace vessel.
2. Description of Related Art
Since 1959, a number of aircraft fuel tanks have unexpectedly exploded. Typically, the explosions occurred when an unknown ignition source ignited the fuel/vapor mixture in the fuel tank. Fuel/vapor mixtures are created during consumption of fuel within the fuel tank by engines of the aircraft. The consumed fuel leaves a space within the tank which generally fills with atmospheric air containing oxygen. The presence of both a flammable gas and the fuel/vapor mixture within the space creates the potential for an explosion within the fuel tank upon ignition. The industry has responded with various methods and apparatuses, as discussed in Air Safety Week, Vol. 15 No. 16, Apr. 16, 2001, "Fatal Explosion Highlights Hazard of Flammable Vapors in Fuel Tanks." In addition, recent combat experience with fixed wing and rotary aircraft suggests that fuel tanks are susceptible to penetration by hostile fire, and in particular by shrapnel and small arms fire, which creates both an ingress for oxygen and a potential ignition source. Moreover, if lightning penetrates the wing or fuel tank of an aircraft as the result of a lightning strike, it can be a significant source of ignition, particularly in aircraft constructed using composite materials.
One method which reduces fuel/vapor combustion includes the elimination of combustible gases from the fuel tank. This method fills space within a fuel tank with an inert gas. The presence of the inert gas within the fuel tank deprives the fuel/vapor mixture of a flammable gas necessary for combustion. Nonetheless, the need to continuously fill the fuel tank with an inert gas and the attendant high costs associated therewith do not make this an attractive alternative for aircraft manufacturers.
A more efficient method in accordance with the prior art includes flooding the tank with inert gas when oxygen levels become high. This method requires continually measuring oxygen levels in a fuel tank. However, in order to accurately determine the oxygen concentration, either the temperature level of the oxygen sensor must be kept constant, or the temperature of the sensor must be measured in real time and taken into account in calculating the oxygen partial pressure from the sensor signal. Similar concerns arise with regard to the pressure in the vicinity of the oxygen sensor. However, temperatures and pressures within an enclosed space, such as fuel tanks in vehicles, can fluctuate over time depending on the outside temperature. In addition, spatial fluctuations in temperature and pressure within the fuel tank can occur. Moreover, these fluctuations can impact the ability of the monitoring and control electronics to accurately determine the oxygen level from the data obtained from the oxygen sensor.
Prior art attempts to address similar issues involved keeping the temperature of a gas sensor constant include heating the gas sensor with electric resistance heaters when the temperature is low. However, these methods are not suitable for use in fuel tanks, as electrical current applied to the electrical resistance heaters may potentially ignite the fuel/vapor mixture within the tank, again making this an unattractive option for aircraft manufacturers. Other attempts to provide fuel tank inerting systems and sensors include those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,634,598; 6,904,930; 6,925,852; and 7,231,809. An oxygen probe containing a temperature sensor has also been developed, but the absence of an integrated pressure sensor requires that the system use pressure information from the aircraft pilot tubes. Such a system provides pressure information that is representative of the pressure in the fuel tank, but is based on the pressure outside of the aircraft. Alternatively, a pressure sensor system built into the fuel tank at a fixed position can provide erroneous information when the aircraft is not level. As a result, the pressure measurement from such systems is not accurate information about the ullage pressure in the vicinity of the probe, where the oxygen level is actually being measured.
Therefore, a need exists for a method and apparatus which provides accurate information about the temperature and pressure environment in the vicinity of the oxygen sensor, and that does not require potential sources of ignition, particularly in a vehicle fuel tank.
In addition; some vehicles, such as commercial and military aircraft, contain areas, such as cargo holds, passenger compartments, and the like, that may, expectedly or unexpectedly, contain materials capable of supporting combustion. Such areas can be equipped with fire suppression systems, which often are manually operated from the flight deck when an indication of a fire is received, generally from an increase in temperature in the cargo hold. However, there is typically no access to the cargo hold from the flight deck, and even if the fire suppression system is effective, temperature in the cargo hold may remain elevated for a considerable period of time. As a result, with such a system there is limited ability of the flight crew to determine in the short term whether the fire suppression system has been successfully deployed and has been effective in controlling the fire. Accordingly, there remains a need for a monitoring system that can allow a more rapid and accurate determination of whether fire suppression and control systems have been effective.
Fire suppression in passenger compartments provides a particular challenge, requiring precise control of the type and amount of fire suppression gas introduced, so as to decrease oxygen available for combustion while maintaining sufficient oxygen for life support of the passengers. Accurate monitoring of oxygen concentration in such a space is essential.
One technique that might be suggested as suitable for fuel tank inerting or monitoring is the On Board Inert Gas Generating System (OBIGGS system). This system processes pressurized air through hollow fiber membranes to obtain a nitrogen enriched air, which can be used as an inerting gas. However, the implementation of this system is not optimal, because of the lack of an appropriate sensing/control system. As a result, attempts have been made to operate OBIGGS equipped aircraft with the system constantly operational (i.e., continuously supplying nitrogen to the ullage of the aircraft fuel tanks). Such an operation, however, incurs a significant fuel penalty. Accordingly, there remains a need in the art for a sensing/control system that allows an inerting system such as OBIGGS to be operated when necessary (i.e., when the oxygen partial pressure in the ullage of the fuel tank reaches a predetermined value) and to be idled when operation is not necessary, thereby increasing fuel economy. Such an idled mode includes heating of the system to prevent freezing of moisture in the system.
Accordingly, there remains a need in the art for a probe that provides accurate, localized information about oxygen concentration, pressure, and temperature, and that is capable of operating under the stringent environmental conditions found in, e.g., an aviation fuel tank. These conditions include operation under widely varying temperatures, operation under low temperatures, operation while exposed to the components of fuels, and particularly while exposed to the hydrocarbons in various aviation fuels, such as jet fuels, and operation under vibration.

Optical probe containing oxygen, temperature, and pressure sensors and monitoring and control systems containing the same


The present invention provides compositions and methods for detecting mutations associated with polycystic kidney disease in the cat.

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is a commonly inherited disorder in humans, with a frequency in the general population of 1 in 1000 (Dalgaard, Dan, Med Bull 4:128–133 (1957)). Approximately 85% of ADPKD cases are caused by mutations in the PKD1 gene (Consortium TEPKD: The Polycystic Kidney Disease 1 Gene encodes a 14 kb transcript and lies within a duplicated region on chromosome 16, Cell 77:881–894 (1994); Consortium TIPKD: Polycystic kidney disease: the complete structure of the PKD1 gene and its protein, Cell 81:289–298 (1995)), located on human chromosome 16p13.3; the remaining 15% are caused by mutations in the PKD2 gene, located on human chromosome 4q21–23 (Kimberling et al., Genomics 18:467–472 (1993); Peters et al., Nat Genet 5:359–362 (1993)). ADPKD is characterized by the formation of fluid-filled cysts in the kidneys and the average age of onset is 40 years, with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) occurring by age 60 in 50% of cases (Gabow, N, Engl J Med 329:332–342 (1993)). PKD significantly affects quality of life for an extended period of time (Dalgaard, Dan, Med Bull 4:128–133 (1957)); it is estimated that approximately 1 in 2,000 Americans is on kidney dialysis for approximately 10–15 years of their life. Hence, a majority of PKD cases lead to costly, invasive and chronic health care. Efforts to study PKD have been hampered by the lack of a reliable model system for the disease.
Companion animal species, such as the domestic cat, are effective models for several inherited diseases and should be used to develop better drug and gene therapies for PKD. Feline PKD is an inherited disease in Persian and Persian-related cats. As with humans, PKD in cats is characterized by renal as well as hepatic and pancreatic cysts (Eaton et al., Vet Pathol 34:117–126 (1997)) and has an autosomal dominant mode of inheritance (Biller et al., J Amer Vet Med Assoc 196:1288–1290 (1990)). Approximately 37% of Persian cats in the United States (Cooper, Feline Prac 28:20–21 (2000)), and 38% worldwide (DiBartola, Proceedings of the 18th Annual Veterinary Medical Forum of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine Seattle, 438–440 (2000)) are PKD affected. Only 20% of the cat population in the United States is represented by purebred cats, but of purebreds, Persians and Persian-derived breeds constitute approximately 80% of the cat fancy. This implies that approximately 6% of the cat population in the United States has PKD, making it the most prominent inherited feline disease, hence PKD is the most prominent inherited feline disease. Thus, the cat is an exceptional animal model for studies of PKD. However, methods for identifying cats who are carriers for PKD prior to development of disease have been limited.
Further investigation into the cause of PKD will be valuable for feline health as well as provide insights into human ADPKD. As with humans, cats have a wide range of disease progression and severity, thus other genetic and environmental factors could influence disease progression (Bogdanova et al., Hum. Genet. 95:645–650 (1995); Parfrey et al., Kidney Int. 61:1925–1934 (2002); Tahvanainen et al., J. Hepatol. 38:39–43 (2003); Magistroni et al., J. Nephrol. 16:110–115 (2003)). Currently, the disease is highly prevalent in the cat population, making the identification of severe, early-onset cases and mild, late-onset cases feasible. This could lead to the identification of genetic modifiers of the disease. As cats have similar clinical presentations, therapies that are under development for EGFR receptors could be tested for efficacy in the cat, prior to use in humans (Magistroni et al., J. Nephrol. 16:110–115 (2003); Torres et al., Kidney Int. 64:1573–1579 (2003); Sweeney et al., Kidney Int. 64:1310–1319 (2003); Dell et al., Kidney Int. 60:1240–1248 (2001); Davis et al., Semin. Nephrol. 21:430–440 (2001); Avner et al., Int. J. Dev. Biol. 43:457–461 (1999); Sweeney et al., Kidney Int. 56:406–413 (1999); Sommardahl et al., Pediatr. Nephrol. 11:728–733 (1997); Murcia et al., Pediatr. Nephrol. 12:721–726 (1998); Bagowski et al., EMBO J. 18:5567–5576 (1999)).
It is currently recommended that Persian and Persian-related cats be screened for PKD by ultrasound before they are bred (Cannon and Barr, Vet. Rec. 147:639–640, (2000)). Knowledge of the mode of inheritance, coupled with the accuracy and availability of ultrasonography, a non-invasive technique for diagnosis, has made the elimination of feline PKD possible (Barrs et al., Austral. Vet. J. 79:257–259 (2001)). Although breeders are advised not to breed positive cats, they are often bred for several unrelated reasons; 1) clinical signs have not yet appeared, which is generally when approximately 66% of the normal kidney function has been lost, 2) many breeders are still unaware of the disease and its prevalence in their cattery, 3) ultrasound is either unavailable or cost prohibitive for generalized screening, 4) breeding decisions are made prior to adequate accuracy of diagnosis as determined by ultrasound, and 5) the disease is highly prevalent, thus many catteries could lose approximately 50% of their breeding population, causing a large loss to the gene pool. With the identification of a causative mutation, a genetic test for feline PKD will provide breeders with an efficient and accurate means by which to selectively breed their cats and remove PKD from the population. The point mutation alters a restriction enzyme site, thus typing for PKD could be efficiently performed by RFLP analysis. Additionally, various other techniques for point mutation typing such as, denaturing high performance liquid chromatography (dHPLC), single-strand conformation change polymorphisms (SSCP) and various sequencing techniques could effective identify the PKD mutation. Since PKD has been found in random bred, Siamese and other cat breeds that have relationships with Persians, it will be important to monitor the progression of the disease in these breeds as well as in Persians worldwide.
Thus, there is a need in the art for compositions and methods for detecting genes associated with PKD and for identifying carriers of polycystic kidney disease. The present invention satisfies these and other needs.

Carrier tests for polycystic kidney disease in the cat


A method for simultaneous fabrication of an interlever metal contact and a fuse window reducing the number of masking steps required while providing a high yield for the fuse. A semiconductor substrate is provided having a device area with a first metal layer over an InterLevel Dielectric layer and a fuse area with a polysilicon fuse buried within the InterLevel Dielectric layer. A thick anti-reflective coating is formed on the first metal layer. The first metal layer and the anti-reflective coating are patterned to form a first metal line. An InterMetal Dielectric layer is formed over the InterLevel Dielectric layer and the first metal line. The InterMetal Dielectric layer, the InterLevel Dielectric layer, and the anti-reflective coating are patterned, simultaneously opening a via hole extending partially into the anti-reflective coating and a fuse window opening extending into the InterLevel Dielectric layer without exposing the fuse. An adhesion layer is formed over the InterMetal Dielectric layer. A Tungsten layer is blanket deposited on the adhesion layer and anisotropically etched, forming a W-plug in the via hole and a W-ring on the sidewalls of the fuse window opening. An upper metal layer is formed on the adhesion layer, the W-plug, and the W-ring and patterned to form an upper metal line. This etch also forms an upper metal ring on the inside wall of the W-ring. A passivation layer and a dielectric layer are formed and patterned to extend the fuse window opening through the passivation layer without exposing the fuse.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to fabrication of semiconductor devices and more particularly to the simultaneous fabrication of contacts between metal layers and fuse windows reducing masking steps.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Fuses have been employed in semiconductor circuits to allow programming of the operation thereof after one or more processing operations. In some semiconductor circuits, such as DRAMS, redundant circuitry is placed into the chip in a short circuit mode connected by fuses. Then, after testing, redundant bits are programmed to replace "faulty" bits. This programming is accomplished by blowing the fuses for the unwanted connections, typically with a laser.
Some semiconductor devices, such as DRAMS require fuses and interlayer metal contacts. The conventional approach to fabricating fuses and interlevel metal contacts on the same chip requires one mask for etching the via for the interlayer metal contact plus three masks to open the fuse window: (1) etching the interlevel dielectric and intermetal dielectric above the fuse; (2) etching the passivation layer; and (3) opening the polyimide. Multiple masking steps increase processing complexity, add additional alignment tolerances and increase processing time.
The inventors have determined that it would be desirable to simultaneously etch the via and the fuse window. However, the inventors have determined that in order to form a good contact between the lower metal layer (M1) and the upper level metal (M2) in the via, an overetch is required. This overetch reduces the thickness of the interlevel dielectric remaining over the fuse, causing a high rate of fuse failure during a subsequent etch of M2.
The importance of overcoming the various deficiencies noted above is evidenced by the extensive technological development directed to the subject, as documented by the relevant patent and technical literature. The closest and apparently more relevant technical developments in the patent literature can be gleaned by considering the following patents.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,472,901 (Kapoor) teaches a method for forming horizontal fuses in the same deposition step as contacts.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,753,539 (Okazaki) shows a method for forming fuse opening and contact opening using different opening diameters and microloading effects.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,618,750 (Fukuhara) discloses a method for forming fuse openings.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,760,453 (Chen) shows a method for forming a fuse window and an overlying moisture barrier.

Method for simultaneous formation of contacts between metal layers and fuse windows in semiconductor manufacturing

Vanguard International Semiconductor Corporation


An illumination system has individual light emitting diodes (LEDs) that are optically coupled via reflective couplers to respective optical fibers. The respective optical fibers may then be bundled. The shape of the reflective coupler may be selected to increase the coupling efficiency between the LED and its optical fiber. The reflective coupler may be formed as an aperture through a sheet, having a first shape at the input side and a second shape, different form the first shape, at the second side. The reflective coupler may be formed as an aperture through a body, where at least a first portion of the interior surface of the aperture conforms to a two-dimensional (2-D) surface and at least a second portion of the interior surface conforms to a three-dimensional (3-D) surface.

Illumination systems are used in a variety of applications. Home and industrial applications often require light to be made available. Similarly, aircraft, marine, and automotive applications often require high intensity light beams for illumination. Traditional lighting systems have used electrically powered filament or arc lamps, which sometimes include focusing lenses and/or reflective surfaces to collect the emitted light and direct it as a light beam to the intended target.
In certain applications, however, it may be advantageous to remove the light source from an environment where electrical contacts are undesirable, that is subject to physical shock or damage, or where space is limited. In response to such needs, illumination systems have been developed that use light guides to guide the light from the light source to a desired illumination point. One current approach is to use a single, bright source or a cluster of light sources to illuminate the input end of a light guide, such as a large core plastic fiber. In another approach, the single fiber may be replaced by a bundle of fibers. These methods are generally inefficient, with approximately 70% of the generated light being lost in some cases. In multiple fiber systems, some of the loss is attributable to the dark spaces between fibers. In a single light guide approach, a light guide having a large enough diameter to capture the amount of light needed for bright lighting applications becomes thick and, therefore, loses flexibility.
Some illumination systems use lasers as light sources, to take advantage of the coherent light output and high coupling efficiency to light guides. Laser sources, however, are expensive and typically produce light at a single wavelength, which is less useful where the requirement is for broadband illumination.
There is, therefore, a need for an illumination system that can efficiently deliver high intensity illumination, at reasonable cost, using a remote light source.


The present invention is a compound and method for treating and preventing periodontal disease. The compound contains a gum tissue regeneration agent, such as coenzyme Q.sub.10, and a antimicrobial agent, such as melaleuca alternifolia extract oil, mixed into a solution medium. The compound is applied to the bristles of a brush. The brush then is used to introduce the compound into any pockets that may exist between and around the teeth and gums because of periodontal disease. Once introduced into pockets between the teeth and gums, the compound has a dual effect. First, the antimicrobial agent kills any bacteria in the pockets and prevents the growth of new bacteria in the pockets. Second, the gum tissue regeneration agent promotes growth of the gums against the teeth. As a result, the size of the pockets is reduced over time until the pockets are no longer abnormal and the damage from past periodontal disease is at least partially repaired.

1. Field of the Invention
In general, the present invention relates to topical treatments that are used in treating and preventing periodontal disease. More particularly, the present invention relates to compositions that are applied in pockets in between the tooth and gum to heal past damage caused by periodontal disease.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Periodontal disease accounts for more lost teeth in adults than any other cause. Periodontal disease begins with plaque bacteria in the mouth. As plaque bacteria digest food, the by-products given off by the bacteria irritate the gums. As a result, the gums often become red, tender, swollen and exhibit a tendency to bleed. If left untreated, the tissue that attaches the gums to the teeth is eventually destroyed by the irritants produced by the plaque bacteria. This causes the gums to begin to pull away from the teeth. As the gums pull away from the teeth, pockets are created that harbor yet more bacteria. The pockets therefore become ever larger as the cycle repeats. Eventually, the amount of gum loss is so large that the tooth is lost.
In treating gum disease, two approaches can be taken. The most common approach is to kill the plaque bacteria by practicing good dental hygiene. The prior art is replete with different toothpastes and mouth rinses that are designed to kill plaque bacteria during a dental hygiene regimen. Good dental hygiene using such prior art preparations will retard the spread of periodontal disease but will not actively repair the damage to the gums that has already occurred.
A second less common approach to treating periodontal disease is to strengthen the ability of the gum tissue to resist the encroachment of the plaque bacteria and the disease it causes. One composition used in this approach has been coenzyme Q.sub.10. Coenzyme Q.sub.10 has its chemical name 2,3-dimethoxy-5-methyl-6-decaprenyl-benzoquinone. Coenzyme Q.sub.10 can be produced in different ways but it is most commonly produced by cultivating a microorganism of genus Aureobasidium or Trichosporon in a culture medium containing a large quantity of p-hydroxy benzoic acid. Such a method of Coenzyme Q.sub.10 production is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,367,288 to Kaneko, entitled Method For Producing Coenzyme Q.sub.10.
As is discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,654,373 to Bertelli and the book The Miracle Nutrient Coenzyme Q.sub.10, by Bliznakov et al., coenzyme Q.sub.10 has the ability to generate regrowth of damaged gum tissue when topically applied to the gum tissue. The only problem associated with coenzyme Q.sub.10 is that it does not kill the plaque bacteria effecting the gums. Rather, the coenzyme Q.sub.10 only enhances the ability of the gum tissue to resist the adverse effects of the plaque bacteria.
A need therefore exists in the art for a treatment for periodontal disease that both actively kills plaque bacteria and actively promotes gum tissue regeneration. Such a composition would therefore both prevent the development of periodontal disease and promote the healing of damage caused by past periodontal disease. This need is provided for by the present invention as set forth in the below description and claims.

Composition for the treatment and prevention of periodontal disease