A surgical instrument (1) for the removal of tissue comprises an outer tube (2) having an opening (22) for the removal of tissue, fashioned in a distal region, preferentially in the vicinity of the distal end of the outer tube (2). It further comprises an inner tube (3) disposed in the outer tube (2) and having a rigid proximal region for transferring forces or momenta acting on this proximal region to a distal region of the inner tube (3), preferentially to the distal end of the inner tube (3). The instrument further comprises a cutting tool (4) disposed at the distal region of the inner tube (3), preferentially at the distal end of the inner tube (3), for facilitating cutting of tissue which is subjected to the action of the cutting tool (4) in the vicinity of the opening (22) in the distal region of the outer tube (2), wherein the inner tube (3) has a flexible region (31) located between its rigid proximal region and the cutting tool (4). The inner tube (3) has a slit (5, 5a) in its wall in the flexible region (31) which, as viewed in the longitudinal direction of the inner tube (3) winds in a helical fashion about the longitudinal axis (L) of the inner tube (3) and meanders back and forth with respect to this helical line (52, 52a).

The invention concerns a surgical instrument for the removal of tissue, comprising an outer tube having an opening, for accepting tissue, in a distal region, preferentially in the vicinity of the distal end of the outer tube and with an inner tube disposed within the outer tube and having a rigid proximal region for transmitting forces or momenta acting on this proximal region to a distal region of the inner tube, preferentially to the distal end of the inner tube, and also with a cutting tool disposed at the distal region of the inner tube, preferentially on the distal end of the inner tube, for cutting tissue subjected to the influence of the cutting tool in the vicinity of the opening of the distal region of the outer tube, wherein the inner tube comprises a flexible region between its rigid proximal region and the cutting tool.
Instruments of the kind categorizing the invention are available in innumerable embodiments. Instruments, as used in the area of endoscopy and in particular in the area of arthroscopy typically have an outer tube having an opening in the distal region, frequently in the vicinity of the distal end of the outer tube, into which tissue can be accepted. An inner tube is disposed in the outer tube having a cutting tool disposed in a distal region, frequently at the distal end of the inner tube. The cutting tool can be directly formed onto the inner tube or can be a separately manufactured component which is connected to the inner tube e.g. by means of welding. The cutting tool can be used to separate out tissue at the location of use by rotating the inner tube relative to the outer tube. The removed tissue is then suctioned-off, together with rinsing liquid normally used in this type of operation, with the assistance of vacuum and passed through the inner tube.
With typical (linearly extending) instruments used in the art of endoscopy and in particular in the field of arthroscopy, it is however sometimes difficult or even impossible for the surgeon to move the cutting tool to the desired location (e.g. the lower side of the patella, the upper and lower regions of the femurcondyle or portions of the crescent-shaped menisci, in particular the front and back horns thereof) at which cutting of the tissue should be carried out. The term "tissue" herein refers to any kind of tissue, i.e. soft tissue, tissue of intermediate hardness (e.g. cartilage) or even very hard tissue (e.g. bone tissue). The term "cutting" accordingly refers to all conventional means of removal in this art, e.g. in particular cutting, milling etc.
In order to simplify advancement towards these locations which are not accessible or are at best accessible only with difficulty, other kinds of instruments are available which deviate from the typical linear shape, e.g. those in which the instrument is angled in the distal region. With the assistance of such instruments, it is easier to gain access to locations which are not accessible or are accessible only with great difficulty using the conventional linearly designed instruments.
It is immediately obvious that, when using such Instruments having a non-linear shape, the rigid proximal component of the inner tube must transfer the driving force or the driving momentum to the cutting tool disposed at the distal region, preferentially on the distal end. However, towards this end, one must pass through the non-linear transitional region between the proximal portion of the inner tube and the cutting tool. In other words, the Inner tube must transfer the driving force or the driving momentum past the non-linear transitional region to the cutting tool.
Towards this end, e.g. an instrument is described in EP-A-0,445,918 having a flexible transition region disposed between the rigid proximal region and the distal region. This flexible transitional region is configured in such a fashion that a plurality of discrete openings are provided at this location in such a fashion that the diameter of the inner tube is alternately reduced in the horizontal and vertical directions, each perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the inner tube, so that only bridge regions are present in these locations, wherein neighboring bridges are however connected to each other.
The mutually connected bridges guarantee the flexibility of the inner tube in the transitional region while nevertheless facilitating a transfer of forces or momenta to the distally disposed cutting tool. However, the forces or momenta which can be transferred with a flexible transitional region of this kind are somewhat limited. The limitation of the forces or momenta which can be transferred to the cutting tool is also the intended purpose of this design, since the bridges also serve as intended breaking locations. Should the forces or momenta acting on the cutting tool exceed a predetermined limiting value, the bridges break. One thereby prevents the introduction of extremely large forces or momenta onto the cutting tool which could fracture same, wherein individual broken pieces of the cutting tool could gain entrance to the location of the operation and into the tissue.
As already mentioned, the forces or momenta which are to be transferred are limited. Precisely for the case of alternating loads which, for example, occur during oscillating operation of such instruments (continuous change of the rotation direction of the inner tube relative to the outer tube), the bridges can be quickly broken. On the other hand, oscillating operation is an optional mode of operation for an instrument of this type which is extremely useful, since precisely for tissue having intermediate hardness and for hard tissue it is often not possible to predict which rotational direction is suitable for removal of the tissue. This depends in part on the geometrical configuration of the tissue to be removed and on the direction from which one gains entrance to the tissue to be removed. In some of such cases, one can effect removal of the tissue using oscillating operation of the instrument, which would be difficult or even impossible using operation in only one single rotational direction. However, this necessitates transmission of the alternating load from the proximal region of the inner tube to the cutting tool.
It is therefore the purpose of the invention to propose an instrument having an inner tube with a flexible region, which can also be used with non-linear instruments, wherein the flexible region of the inner tube should have a sufficient degree of alternating load strength to be able to withstand the alternating loads during oscillating operation. Moreover, the inner tube should be easy to manufacture, since it is also a purpose of the invention to propose a tube per se, having a flexible region with sufficient strength with respect to alternating loads for withstanding same. Clearly, the inner tube itself must also be sufficiently leak-tight in precisely this flexible region such that the suctioned off tissue portions cannot escape out of the inner tube.


The invention relates to crystalline eravacycline bis-hydrochloride and to a process for its preparation. Furthermore, the invention relates to the use of crystalline eravacycline bis-hydrochloride for the preparation of pharmaceutical compositions. The invention further relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising an effective amount of crystalline eravacycline bis-hydrochloride. The pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention can be used as medicaments, in particular for treatment and/or prevention of bacterial infections e.g. caused by Gram negative pathogens or Gram positive pathogens, in particular caused by multidrug resistant Gram negative pathogens. The pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention can thus be used as medicaments for e.g. the treatment of complicated intra-abdominal and urinary tract infection.

Eravacycline is a tetracycline antibiotic chemically designated (4S,4aS,5aR,12aS)-4-(Dimethylamino)-7-fluoro-3,10,12,12a-tetrahydroxy-1,11-dioxo-9-[2-(-pyrrolidin-1-yl)acetamido]-1,4,4a,5,5a,6,11,12a-octahydrotetracene-2-carboxamide and can be represented by the following chemical structure according to formula (I).

Eravacycline possesses antibacterial activity against Gram negative pathogens and Gram positive pathogens, in particular against multidrug resistant (MDR) Gram negative pathogens and is currently undergoing phase III clinical trials in patients suffering from complicated intra-abdominal infections (cIAI) and urinary tract infections (cUTI).
WO 2010/017470 A1 discloses eravacycline as compound 34. Eravacycline is described to be prepared according to a process, which is described in more detail only for related compounds. The last step of this process involves column chromatography with diluted hydrochloric acid/acetonitrile, followed by freeze drying.
WO 2012/021829 A1 discloses pharmaceutically acceptable acid and base addition salts of eravacycline in general and a general process for preparing the same involving reacting eravacycline free base with the corresponding acids and bases, respectively. On page 15, lines 3 to 6, a lyophilized powder containing an eravacycline salt and mannitol is disclosed.
Xiao et. al. "Fluorocyclines. 1. 7-Fluoro-9-pyrrolidinoacetamido-6-demethyl-6-deoxytetracycline: A Potent, Broad Spectrum Antibacterial Agent" J. Med. Chem. 2012, 55, 597-605 synthesized eravacycline following the procedure for compounds 17e and 17i on page 603. After preparative reverse phase HPLC, compounds 17e and 17i were both obtained as bis-hydrochloride salts in form of yellow solids.
Ronn et al. "Process R&D of Eravacycline: The First Fully Synthetic Fluorocycline in Clinical Development" Org. Process Res. Dev. 2013, 17, 838-845 describe a process yielding eravacycline bis-hydrochloride as the final product. The last step involves precipitation of eravacycline bis-hydrochloride salt by adding ethyl acetate as an antisolvent to a solution of eravacycline bis-hydrochloride in an ethanol/methanol mixture. The authors describe in some detail the difficulties during preparation of the bis-hydrochloride salt of eravacycline. According to Ronn et al. "partial addition of ethyl acetate led to a mixture containing suspended salt and a gummy form of the salt at the bottom of the reactor. At this stage, additional ethanol was added, and the mixture was aged with vigorous stirring until the gummy material also became a suspended solid." In addition, after drying under vacuum the solid contained "higher than acceptable levels of ethanol". "The ethanol was then displaced by water by placing a tray containing the solids obtained in a vacuum oven at reduced pressure ( . . . ) in the presence of an open vessel of water." At the end eravacycline bis-hydrochloride salt containing about 4 to 6% residual moisture was obtained. The authors conclude that there is a need for additional improvements to the procedure along with an isolation step suitable for large scale manufacturing.
It is noteworthy that eravacycline or its salts are nowhere described as being a crystalline solid and that the preparation methods used for the preparation of eravacycline are processes like lyophilization, preparative column chromatography and precipitation, which typically yield amorphous material.
The cumbersome process of Ronn et al. points towards problems in obtaining eravacycline bis-hydrochloride in a suitable solid state, problems with scaleability of the available production process as well as problems with the isolation and drying steps of eravacycline.
In addition, amorphous solids can show low chemical stability, low physical stability, hygroscopicity, poor isolation and powder properties, etc. Such properties are drawbacks for the use as an active pharmaceutical ingredients.
Thus, there is a need in pharmaceutical development for solid forms of an active pharmaceutical ingredient which demonstrate a favorable profile of relevant properties for formulation as a pharmaceutical composition, such as high chemical and physical stability, improved properties upon moisture contact, low(er) hygroscopicity and improved powder properties.


The invention relates to the production and use of an agent for use in polymers as an antiblock agent. Pumice with very low amounts of crystalline silica is processed from pumice stone to produce a fine ground pumice with a narrow particle size range. When incorporated into a polyolefin film, the fine ground pumice acts as an antiblock agent while not significantly contributing to haze.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an agent for use in polymers as an antiblock agent. The invention further relates to a polymer composition containing an antiblock agent and a polymer film containing the antiblock agent.
2. Description of the Related Art
Various minerals have in the past been used to give antiblock properties to polyolefin films. The first large application for the use of polymeric films was in the food wrap industries, and for enclosing various materials in a transparent film for retail sales. Polyvinylchloride (PVC) resins were the first large volume materials used in these markets. PVC has a natural non-tacky property when produced as a film and does not require a material to provide an antiblock function. Such PVC films are still the material of choice for fresh food wrap, e.g., meat wrap, today. When polyethylene was developed, it was found to have more strength than and similar clarity to PVC when produced in a film. Polyethylene has, however, inherent tack. To address this problem and accelerate the use of polyethylene in packaging films and other thin-walled uses, e.g., bags, it was found that an antiblock or anti-tack agent (a mineral) would mechanically break up the film's natural smoothness, and thus reduce the ability of the film to stick to itself, i.e., the mineral agent acts as an antiblock agent.
Polyolefin films were originally made from low density polyethylene (LDPE) and high density polyethylene (HDPE) resins. As technology advanced, linear-low density polyethylene (LLDPE) was introduced for use in producing films. LLDPE has a higher strength than the prior materials, enabling thinner films to be produced for use in the same applications as LDPE. More recently, metallocene catalyst polyethylene resin systems have been developed for clearer films and more elastomeric properties than the prior polyethylene resins.
Polypropylene resins are also now used for films which require a very high degree of strength. Polypropylene has good clarity when produced as a film, but requires the use of expensive synthetic silica as an antiblock agent.
In the initial work with antiblock agents for polyethylene films, it was discovered that calcined diatomaceous earth of fine particle size (3.5 to 12 microns) worked very well as an antiblock agent. Calcined diatomaceous earth has continued to be used for this purpose for the last 35 to 40 years. Calcined diatomaceous earth contains a minimum of 63% crystalline silica and has irregularly shaped particles. The high levels of the crystalline silica in calcined diatomaceous earth have prompted a reduction of its use as an antiblock agent in polyolefin films from nearly 100% of the market to approximately 15-20% today, for reasons discussed in greater detail below.
Calcium carbonate has also been used as an antiblock agent for polyethylene films. Calcium carbonate has the advantage of being inexpensive. Calcium carbonate has the disadvantages of requiring an amount for effective antiblocking that is two to three times more than most other antiblock agents, which decreases the transparency of the resultant film. Films incorporating calcium carbonate as an antiblock agent vary in transparency from merely hazy to completely opaque. Calcium carbonate is therefore typically used as an antiblock agent for polyolefin films where clarity is not an issue, and opaque or colored films are acceptable. Calcium carbonate has irregularly shaped particles.
Microcrystalline silica has also been used as an antiblock agent. Silica had been used as an antiblock agent up until it was discovered that crystalline silica presents severe health hazards as a carcinogen. Microcrystalline silica has irregularly shaped particles and contains up to 98% crystalline silica. This ground sand or quartz also has high hardness which causes extreme metal wear in the equipment used to process the material.
In 1996, the World Health Organization--International Agency For Research on Cancer (IARC) issued a report (Silica and Some Silicates, IARC Monographs On The Evaluation Of The Carcinogenic Risk Of Chemicals To Humans, Vol. 42, 1997) identifying crystalline silica in respirable form as a Class 2A "probable human carcinogen." In late 1996, IARC announced the impending official change in that classification to Class 1, "human carcinogen." The designation of respirable crystalline silica as a human carcinogen presented severe problems with the use and incorporation of crystalline silica and crystalline silica-containing products, e.g., minerals, as antiblock agents in polyolefin films. Because Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards now severely restrict the amount of exposure that one can have to respirable crystalline silica, the use of antiblock agents which have high levels of respirable crystalline silica has been understandably greatly reduced.
Talc has also been used as an antiblock agent in polyolefin films. Talc has the benefit of requiring less material than calcium carbonate for the same level of antiblocking, and produces considerably less haze in the resultant film than calcium carbonate. However, the use of talc as an antiblock agent in polyolefin films requires special handling equipment to be able to process the talc for use as an antiblock agent, which increases overall costs. Talc has particles with a plate-shaped structure. Despite these failings, talc is now the most widely used mineral antiblock agent for LDPE and LLDPE films.
Nephylene syenite is also used as an antiblock agent in polyolefin films, despite its relative scarcity. Nephylene syenite includes no appreciable amount of quartz or crystalline silica, but has a very high hardness and is, consequently, extremely abrasive on processing and handling equipment. Nephylene syenite has a refractive index near that of polyethylene, which makes it very useful despite its relative scarcity. Currently, nephylene syenite is used in approximately ten percent of polyolefin film production applications.
Polymer producers add antiblock agents to the polymer in two different ways, near the end of the production chain. The most common way is to add the mineral and other additives "neat," i.e., mixing the antiblock agent in the appropriate percentage directly into the molten polymer as it is being produced.
A second method for adding antiblock to a polymer is to add a concentrate of the agent into the polymer. A concentrate is normally a blend of the antiblock agent and some polymer. Usually the concentrate ranges from 10% to 75% (by weight) antiblock agent, with the balance being polymer and other additives, if any. To prepare the concentrate, antiblock agent is added to an amount of the polymer so as to obtain the desired concentration of antiblock agent in polymer. The polymer is then extruded, cooled, and pelletized or granulated to form a concentrate.
Antiblock agents generally function in two ways. Antiblock agents may be present as a dusting on the surface of a film to prevent contact of the film to itself or other surfaces, thus preventing mutual adhesion. Examples of the use of an antiblock agent in such a manner include talc on surgical gloves. A second way of using an antiblock agent with a film is by intimately dispersing the agent in the polymer before the polymer is formed into the film. The antiblock agent particles extend beyond the outer surface of the polymer, thereby disturbing the planarity of the polymer film surface, thus preventing the surfaces of the film from fully contacting itself or another surface.
The amount that a polymer film blocks, i.e., that it adheres to itself or another surface, is quantifiable. One method of quantifying the blocking characteristics of a film is by measuring the coefficient of friction of the surface of the film using a standardized method. One such method is ASTM D 1894-95, Standard Test Method for Static and Kinetic Coefficients of Friction of Plastic Film and Sheeting, incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. Another method of quantifying the blocking characteristics of a film is by directly measuring the blocking load of a film. One such method is ASTM D 3354-89, Standard Test Method for Blocking Load of Plastic Film by Parallel Plate Method, incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
In the past, pumice has been used as a filler in polymers. Typically, filler weight percentages in a bulk polymer are very high, resulting in extreme haze or opacity of the resultant polymer. For example, filler weight percentages range from about 10% to about 50%. Pumice is added to polymer matrices as a filler for a number of reasons, among them being to improve impact strength, tear strength, tensile strength, and increase stiffness. Furthermore, when used as a filler, pumice typically has a particle size of 200 microns or greater. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,536,773 (Yamada et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 5,492,741 (Akao et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 5,358,785 (Akao et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 5,262,288 (Kohyama et al.), and U.S. Pat. No. 4,124,550 (Kobayashi et al.) describe the use of pumice in polymers as a filler or as a light-shielding additive.
In contrast, minerals and other agents used as antiblock agents in polymer films are typically used in extremely small amounts, e.g., less than or equal to 1% of the polymer bulk material by weight.
Pumice has also in the past been used as an abrasive product, e.g., in abrasive soaps, etc., and polishing compounds. Pumice used in these applications is typically very coarse, includes particles over a very wide range of sizes, is used in extremely high concentrations or weight percentages, and varies considerably in both color (although it is typically yellow) and refractive index.
The composition of minerals, such as pumice, may be determined using a number of techniques. The composition of the mineral may be determined using an inductively coupled plasma (ICP) device, or by more conventional X-ray diffraction techniques. Thus, the level of crystallinity of a mineral, e.g., pumice, may be investigated and determined.
The clarity of a polyolefin film is extremely important in many applications. For example, in the food packaging industry, polyolefin films having high clarity are extremely desirable, so that the contents of a package may be readily inspected without disrupting the seal provided by the film around the product. The clarity of a film is typically quantified in terms of the amount of haze, measured using standard methods. One such method is ASTM D 1003-95, Standard Test Method for Haze and Luminous Transmittance of Transparent Plastics, incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
Accordingly, there remains a need for an antiblock agent which achieves high clarity when incorporated into polymer, e.g., polyolefin, films, while being economically feasible, readily available, which produces very low haze when incorporated into a film, which does not present the health and safety concerns of prior antiblock agents, and yet provides antiblock properties superior to prior antiblock agents.


Methods and systems for resource load balancing of teleconference and video conference sessions are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method for resource load balancing of a teleconference session including a plurality of participant devices may include assigning each of the plurality of participant devices into one of a plurality of groups of participant devices based on at least one first heuristic, designating a leader device for each group of participant devices, based on at least one second heuristic to coordinate the teleconference session communications, and coordinating the teleconference session communications of each leader device to facilitate the teleconference session among the plurality of participant devices.

Field
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to conferencing, and specifically, to methods and systems for resource load balancing in a conferencing session.
Description of the Related Art
Conventional methods for teleconferencing and video conferencing rely on either a central manager or peer-to-peer configuration. In a central manager configuration, all participant devices connect to a conference server or host central server that manages all media mixing and signal transmission between the participant devices. However, with the central configuration, if the host server goes offline, the conference session is ended. In addition, the host server takes on the entire processing load of conference data from the participant devices (limiting scalability) and must synchronize all participant devices. Furthermore, synchronization becomes more difficult as more participant devices are added.
In a peer-to-peer configuration, all participant devices are interconnected to one another. Each participant device may essentially maintain separate one on one connections to the other participant devices. However, similar to the central manager configuration, the peer-to-peer configuration is also not very scalable, as each participant device has to handle multiple concurrent connections.
What is needed is a method and system that efficiently manages data communication resource loads of participant devices in a conference session as well as provides system redundancy.

Method and system for resource load balancing in a conferencing session


An adapter cable includes a first adapter, a second adapter, and a wire. The first adapter includes a sensor, a light source, and a processor. The sensor generates a detecting signal when sensing that the first adapter is picked up. The processor is connected between the sensor and the light source. The processor turns on the light source when receiving the detecting signal output from the sensor. The wire is connected between the first adapter and the second adapter.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to adapter cables and, particularly, to an adapter cable having a light source for lighting.
2. Description of Related Art
Adapter cables generally include two adapters and a wire connected between the two adapters. When the adapter cable is used to connect between two ports of two electrical devices in a dark environment, it is hard to find the ports.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide an adapter cable, which can overcome the limitations described.

Adapter cable having light source for lighting


A storage device according to the invention has flexible architecture and free scalability. It includes an address input and a data input. It also includes an address and data evaluation unit, which is formed in such a way that it controls a controllable switching means, wherein in operation the address and data evaluation unit depends on the signals of said address and data inputs. Finally, a read/write line for a read/write signal is provided, which can be applied to a local probe data storage unit via the controllable switching means.

In P. Vettiger et al., "The 'Millipede'—More than one thousand tips for future AFM data storage," IBM Journal of Research and Development, vol. 44, pp. 323-340, May 2000 an atomic force microscope (AFM)-based data storage concept is envisioned that shows ultrahigh density, terabit capacity, small form factor, and high data rate. Ultrahigh storage density can be achieved by applying a thermo-mechanical technique for storing and reading back data in very thin polymer films by means of a local probe. With this technique, 30-40 nm-sized bit indentations of similar pitch size can be made by a single tip of a cantilever in a thin (50 nm) polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) layer, resulting in a data storage density of 400-500 Gb/in2 (62.0-77.5 Gb/cm2). High data rates can be achieved by parallel operation of probes of a large two-dimensional (2D) AFM array that have been batch-fabricated by silicon surface-micromachining techniques. The very large scale integration (VLSI) of the micro/nanomechanical devices, e.g. cantilevers and tips, on a single chip leads to a 2D array of e.g. 32×32 (1024) AFM cantilevers with integrated write/read storage functionality. Time-multiplexed electronics control the write/read storage cycles for parallel operation of the Millipede array chip. Initial areal densities of 100-200 Gb/in2 (15.5-31.0 Gb/cm2) have been achieved with the 32×32 array chip. The data storage material can be polymers or other media, and not excluding magnetics.
Until now, no architecture of a local probe based storage is known which allows free scalability and a random addressing scheme.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Storage device having flexible architecture and free scalability

International Business Machines Corporation


Electronic messages, such as emails, often ask questions, ask that a task be done, or assign a task. The responsive messages often forget to answer the questions and the responders often forget to calendar tasks. Advances in natural language processing provide computers the ability to notice the questions and task requests/assignments. Automated analysis of the messages can detect and highlight questions, can provide for draft responses addressing every question, and can provide for getting tasks calendared.

People often receive email or electronic messages asking questions or requesting performance of tasks. For succinctness, the term "message" is used herein for emails, text messages, and other forms of electronic message sent to a person. Many messages ask simple questions that the recipient can answer. Meanwhile, the message sender is often waiting for a response before proceeding with their own task or project. The message can sit amongst a plethora of received messages with no indication that the particular message may be more important than other messages. Ideally, the recipient will eventually respond to the message. Even then, questions can go unanswered and task requests can go unanswered.
The current user interfaces and underlying technology are not well suited for surfacing high priority messages in a manner that brings the message to the recipient's attention. Nor are the interfaces and technology capable of helping the recipient provide detailed and high-quality responses. System and methods that help a message recipient focus on important messages and to answer those messages fully are required.
Natural Language Processing (NLP) is a technology whereby computers attempt to determine the meaning of a human's communication. Virtual assistants (e.g. Amazon Alexa, Google Home, etc.) record a person's speech and use NLP to attempt responding to the person's intent. Users of such virtual assistants are well aware of the device's shortcomings and the rapid pace at which the devices are improving.

Displaying and prioritizing electronic communications based on message content


In a voltage mode buck converter having a pair of switches connected in series by a phase node to be switched by a pair of drive signals generated from a first control signal, a phase resistor is connected between a multifunction pin and the phase node, and a controller generates a second control signal and a third control signal from the second drive signal to sense the voltage on the multifunction pin respectively to generate an over-current signal and a CCM mode switch signal to switch the converter between a CCM mode and a DCM mode.

A voltage mode buck converter is used to regulate the level of a direct current (DC) voltage and maintain the regulated voltage stably at a desired level, by switching a high side switch and a low side switch to generate voltage pulses through a low-pass filter including inductor and capacitor to generate a DC output voltage. An assortment of appliances has been specified in their consumed powers under stand-by modes in an energy saving (Green Power) program driven by some advanced countries. By analyzing the power consumptions specified in stand-by modes, it was clearly found that the switching loss of the power elements such as power MOSFET in a voltage mode buck converter takes the most percentage of the total power consumption. To reduce this power loss, it has been proposed an operational mode not at constant switching frequency, but depending on the loading when it is operated under a light load such as stand-by mode, which is referred to as discontinuous current mode (DCM). For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,568,044 issued to Bittner et al., a voltage regulator is proposed to operate in either pulse width modulation (PWM) or pulse frequency modulation (PFM) mode, by using a PFM control circuit to switch the voltage regulator to PFM mode in which the switching frequency of the high side switch varies whenever the output current is lower than a threshold.
In addition, a voltage mode buck converter is often operated under a heavy load in typical applications, and it is therefore required an over-current protection. Particularly, for those applications of power conversion from high voltage to low voltage and high speed switching, sensing the current flowing through the high side switch by conventional methods has been hard to precisely detect the over current. For example, for an input voltage of 12V, a desired output voltage of 1.2V, and a switching frequency of 500 kHz, the duty cycle will be 0.1, and the corresponding conductive period of the high side MOS will be as short as 200 ns. Owing to such short conductive period, the noise caused by inductor, capacitor and load variation would bring the over-current protection with abnormal detection.
Further, conventionally, the switching frequency of the high side and low side switches is regulated by sensing the output current of the converter, and the over-current protection is accomplished by sensing the current flowing through the high side switch. As a result, to simultaneously implementing the over-current protection and a function of switching the converter between continuous current mode (CCM) and DCM mode, at least two pins are required for a controller chip in the converter to sense the output current and high side current respectively. If the over-current protection and the mode switch function could be simultaneously accomplished by only one single pin, the controller chip will be further shrunken, and the cost will be reduced accordingly.

Controller in a voltage mode buck converter for implementing a mode-switch function and an over-current protection by a multifunction pin and method thereof


A method for planarizing a semiconductor substrate is provided. The method initiates with tracking a signal corresponding to a thickness of a conductive film disposed on the semiconductor substrate. Then, a second derivative is calculated from data representing the tracked signal. Next, the onset of planarization is identified based upon a change in the second derivative. A CMP system configured to identify a transition between stages of the CMP operation is also provided.

The present invention relates to semiconductor processing and more specifically to a method and apparatus for detecting the onset of planarization during chemical mechanical planarization operations.
A challenge for chemical mechanical planarization processes, especially with respect to copper interconnects, is to remove the copper overburden without causing excessive dishing of copper in the trenches. Similarly, a typical requirement is to have minimal erosion and oxide loss in areas that cannot withstand aggressive chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) due to the density of fine copper trenches and vias in the underlying oxide or low-K dielectric layer. FIGS. 1A and 1B are exemplary schematic diagrams illustrating erosion and dishing, respectively. Dishing occurs when a top surface of a copper trench/via line 104 recedes below or protrudes above the level of adjacent dielectric 102, as illustrated in FIG. 1B. Erosion is a localized thinning of dielectric 102 as illustrated in FIG. 1A. Erosion of the dielectric occurs from over polishing, which is generally necessary to make sure that all the metal is removed from the top of the dielectric (otherwise lines may be shorted together). Dishing occurs on a soft metal, e.g., copper. Through dishing, the thickness of the copper interconnects 104 may be reduced which increases the electrical resistance. In addition, the overall changes in the planarity caused by dishing and erosion can also lead to challenges in obtaining good focus across the die during subsequent lithographic steps. However, for typical CMP processes, the approach generally taken is a one-size fits all approach. That is, the process to achieve a planarized copper top surface and the process from the planarized copper top surface to the clearance of the copper are treated under the same hardware, consumable and process conditions. One shortcoming with this approach is that the conditions for planarizing the copper overburden and the conditions for clearing a planarized layer are different. Thus, a single set of processing parameters, or consumables, may not be optimal for both of these stages of the CMP process.
In view of the foregoing, there is a need for a method and apparatus to provide a reliable signal indicating a point where processing conditions may be adjusted at or sometime after the onset of planarization.

Method and apparatus for detecting planarization of metal films prior to clearing


A design is described for solar panel that allows for modular installation and efficient removal of panels irrespective of the panel's relative location in an array arrangement. A system is provided that includes a plurality of modular panels (such as solar power panels). These panels are rimmed by frames featuring one or more exterior-facing, grooved channels. A first channel—which may be used to mount the panel, and which replaces traditional railing installation systems—and a second channel that is configured to allow movement of one or more panel splices used to secure the panels together. Integrated electrical connection interfaces are provided on opposite side surfaces of the frames to couple with the electrical connection interfaces of adjacent panels to establish an electrical path between them. A spacer component may be inserted between panels to provide access to the electrical connection interfaces; support and rigidity to the joined panels; a grounding path between the panels; and, when combined with the panel splices, to align the panels to prevent damage to the electrical connection interfaces.

Recently, concerns over the long-term availability and pollutive effects of traditional energy sources like coal, natural gas, and nuclear power has led to increased interest and development of renewable energy sources. Even more recently, renewable energy sources, which include hydroelectric, wind, solar, geothermal and biomass have been introduced as supplements to traditional energy sources in major business and industry sectors. In some instances, solar powered energy sources have even become the primary energy source for some residences.
Typically, solar power generation for residential establishments involve installing large solar panels on rooftops. These solar panels absorb the solar radiation and convert the absorbed energy into electricity which can be used to power the residence. However, installation of these panels can be complex and/or difficult due to their size. Generally, a mounting system is first installed, and secured against specific locations (e.g., against rafters). A series of rails are then put in place in the mounting system (typically in a grid-like arrangement). The solar panels themselves are then securely affixed to the rails and, eventually, to neighboring panels via mechanical and/or electrical connectors.
However, the railing system presents additional expenditures due to materials and transport costs of the rails themselves. As a solution to this, solar panels were developed that were capable of being installed directly to mounting systems without the need for rails. In order to maintain the same stability and security, the solar panels are mechanically affixed to each other (typically in series), using a mechanical connectors, sometimes implemented as cylindrical rods or trapezoidal beams. Generally, these connectors consist of rigid, threaded connectors, often positioned in short tunnels within the interiors of frames of two neighboring rectangular panels. The connectors are inserted into a first panel, and then to a second panel on the opposite end of the splice. Initially, the connectors protrude into each panel insecurely. Subsequently, the connectors may be manually tightened to both panels—often in a user-intensive process—which increases the rigidity of the connection. However, according to such a solution, the connectors are generally very difficult to access while the panels are in position.
Thus, while obviating the requirement for rails, this solution presents significant problems of its own. Specifically, panel removal can become exceedingly difficult, particularly in the case of "middle" or non-end panels in a grid or panel array. Since there is generally only a small amount of space between neighboring panels, there is often insufficient clearance to completely disengage a splice from the panel to be removed. Moreover, specialized tools are commonly required to insert the splices or other connectors. As such, removal of a specific target panel may actually require the initial removal of several intervening panels in the same row or column (or other orientation). Naturally, this is both an inefficient and extremely time consuming process.
Another conventional solution has been proposed that positions the connectors along the exterior of the frame, with the connectors being capable of being moved along the perimeter in a single grooved channel. However, the channel is also used to affix each panel to mounting points of the mounting system. Thus, movement of the connectors is limited to the lengths of the frames between mounting points. The limited mobility can present problems during removal themselves.

Solar panel mechanical connector and frame


A TFT array substrate, a manufacturing method thereof and a display apparatus. The TFT array substrate comprises: a substrate (10) having a gate electrode (12), a gate insulation layer (17), a semiconductor active layer (18), a data line, a source electrode (14)/a drain electrode (15), a pixel electrode (16) formed thereon. The data line being connected with the source electrode (14). The drain electrode (15) is connected with the pixel electrode (16), wherein a first insulation layer (19), a metal layer (20) and a second insulation layer (21) are sequentially formed between the source electrode (14)/a drain electrode (15) and the pixel electrode (16). The metal layer (20) is connected with the stable voltage signal line through a through-hole (23) of the metal layer lead, thus the influence of the coupling capacitance of the TFT array substrate to the voltage of the pixel electrode is reduced, and meanwhile, the aperture ratio of the pixel unit is increased.

With the development of technology and network, electronic display technology has been taken as a widely used technology. Currently, in addition to widely used liquid crystal display (LCD) apparatus, an electronic paper, which is a substitute for paper sheet read by people, has also been developed quickly.
Active driving modes of the LCD apparatus and the electronic paper display apparatus generally adopt an active matrix driving technology, such as a manner of driving by a thin film transistor (TFT) array substrate.
In the procedure of implementing the TFT array substrate, generally, a coupling capacitance may be generated between a pixel electrode and a source electrode. To reduce the coupling capacitance between the pixel electrode and the source electrode, an overlapping area between the pixel electrode and the source electrode is generally reduced by reducing an area of the pixel electrode; however, this also reduces an aperture ratio of the pixel unit at the same time, so that it would influence a contrast of the electronic display apparatus driven by the TFT array substrate.

TFT array substrate with metal layer between source electrode and pixel electrode


A method of improving certain vanadium oxide formulations is presented. The method concerns fluorine doping formulations having a nominal formula of LiV.sub.3 O.sub.8. Preferred average formulations are provided wherein the average oxidation state of the vanadium is at least 4.6. Herein preferred fluorine doped vanadium oxide materials, electrodes using such materials, and batteries including at least one electrode therein comprising such materials are provided.

The negative electrode (anode) of a high density lithium battery typically comprises one or more of a variety of any suitable lithium-containing substances such as: metallic lithium; lithium-metal alloys; lithium metal oxides; or, lithium carbon composites. The positive electrode (cathode) is typically a lithium vanadium oxide, of the nominal or base formula LiV.sub.3 O.sub.8. The electrodes may be coupled using a liquid electrolyte or a solid electrolyte such as a solid polymer electrolyte, or a combination of liquid and solid electrolytes. The electrolyte may specifically be a "plasticized" electrolyte in which a liquid electrolyte component is contained within a polymer electrolyte.
During discharge, lithium ions are electrochemically inserted into the lithium vanadium oxide structure by a process that is commonly referred to as intercalation. A reverse process occurs during charge. The vanadium ions of the host electrode structure are reduced and oxidized during discharge and charge, respectively. Conversely, the negative electrode is oxidized during discharge when lithium ions are released from the electrode into the electrolyte, and it is reduced during the reverse process on charge. Lithium ions, therefore, shuttle between the two electrodes during the electrochemical discharge and charge processes.
It is advantageous for batteries, such as lithium batteries, to have a high electrochemical "capacity" or energy storage capability. In lithium batteries, this can be achieved if the positive and negative electrodes can accommodate a significant amount of lithium. Furthermore, in order to have a good cycle life, the positive and negative electrodes should have the ability to accommodate and release lithium in a reversible manner, i.e., without significant "capacity fade". Thus, the structural integrity of the electrodes should be maintained during lithium insertion/extraction for numerous cycles.

Modified lithium vanadium oxide electrode materials products and methods


An occlusal splint arrangement, in particular for sleep apnea therapy includes a maxillary miniplast splint that can be arranged on the maxillary row of teeth and a mandibular miniplast splint that can be arranged on the mandibular row of teeth. The maxillary miniplast splint can be brought to bear against the mandibular miniplast splint. The arrangement includes at least one maxillary positioning guide and at least one mandibular positioning guide, wherein the relative position of the miniplast splints toward each other can be defined in the longitudinal direction and/or in the transverse direction by a form fit between the maxillary and the mandibular positioning guides. The maxillary and/or mandibular miniplast splint include at least one mounting device, and at least two different positioning guides can be secured as mutual replacements on the same mounting device, whereby at least two different relative positions can be defined between the miniplast splints.

In particular for sleep apnea therapy, various embodiments of occlusal splint arrangements are known from the state of the art. They basically aim at influencing the position of the upper jaw relative to the lower jaw so that the lower jaw, the tongue muscle and the soft palate are restricted to an appropriate degree from sinking backwards so as to keep the airways open.
An embodiment that is particularly suited for this purpose is disclosed in document DE 103 41 260 A1. The embodiment comprises a maxillary miniplast splint and a mandibular miniplast splint which can each be plugged onto the corresponding rows of teeth. Moreover, the miniplast splints have opposing contact surfaces so that they can be brought to bear against each other. To realize the required relative position of the miniplast splints toward each other, one miniplast splint comprises an adjusting device including a locking pin and the other miniplast splint has a complementary locking guide. The position of the mandibular miniplast splint relative to the maxillary miniplast splint is defined in that the locking pin engages into the locking guide.
Further, the afore-mentioned document has an adjusting device as well as alternative embodiments. The individual position of the mandibular miniplast splint relative to the maxillary miniplast splint can be influenced by the adjusting device. In the cited case, this is achieved in that the position of the locking pin in the adjusting device can be adjusted using an adjusting screw.
Although a reliable positioning between the maxillary and the mandibular miniplast splint for therapy of the sleep apnea syndrome is made possible by known embodiments from the state of the art, the latter per se each still have various disadvantages. On the one hand, they relate to the unnecessarily complex structure and the associated high production costs. Further, the susceptibility to the deposition of dirt is especially disadvantageous in spots that are hard to clean, thus being problematic from a hygienic point of view and requiring a corresponding chemical cleaning after each use.
US 2011/0155144 A1 describes an occlusal splint arrangement in which the mandibular and the maxillary miniplast splint are connected to each other in an articulated manner via two articulated levers and cannot be separated from each other. Adjustment to the upper and lower jaw takes place by a thermoplastic filler material.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,516,805 B1 describes an occlusal splint arrangement in which the mandibular and the maxillary miniplast splint can be fixed in relation to each other by a downwardly extending fixing protrusion. The fixing protrusion is exchangeably mounted in a guiding groove and is locked with a fixing screw.
US 2005/0028826 A1 describes an occlusal splint arrangement in which the mandibular and the maxillary miniplast splint are provided with removably attached positioning devices positioning the miniplast splints relative to each other. To attach the positioning devices, attachment plates are used that are embedded into the plastic of the miniplast splints and to each of which two circular attachment wires are attached. After the attachment plates have been embedded into the plastic of the miniplast splints, the attachment wires protrude sideways from the miniplast splint, and the positioning devices are plugged onto the attachment wires from the side. The problem therein is that the attachment of the positioning devices to the miniplast splints is not sufficiently secure. Moreover, if a positioning device is pushed off the attachment wires by unconscious jaw movements during sleep, for example, there is the danger that loose positioning device may be swallowed or inhaled, which poses an immense health risk.


A mobile terminal apparatus is provided in order to effectively utilizing more than one display area. At least when a specific application is executed, a mobile terminal apparatus has a first display mode which uses its screen upon dividing its main display into top and bottom display areas and a center display area, and also has a second display mode using the entire screen main display area without division. Based on a key operation as well as execution and termination of the application, the first and second display modes are switched over. In the second display mode, at least part of the contents shown on the top and bottom display areas in the first display mode are exhibited on a sub display area. For example, when under the second display mode, as the contents to be exhibited on the sub display area, the contents shown on the top and bottom display areas as well as the content shown on the sub display section are switched over or shown by scrolling.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a portable terminal apparatus represented by a portable telephone device having at least one display section.
2. Description of the Related Art
Significant advances have been made recently in the technology of portable terminals represented typically by portable or mobile telephones, making available a variety of functions such as the Internet connection, game software downloading and execution, etc. Efforts have been made towards providing color images and larger screens.
Nevertheless, there are limits to providing larger screens inasmuch as increasingly smaller size and lightweight are required of a portable (or, mobile) terminal apparatus. There is simply no comparison to a display unit of a personal computer.
On the other hand, even in a mobile telephone, it has become possible to prepare an e-mail, have access thereto or to Web information, and even so far as to execute games and the like. In regard to such use of various application programs, the size of a display area leaves room for improvement.
Particularly, in many existing mobile telephone devices, which are mobile or portable terminal devices having communications functions, their display area is separated in strips on an upper portion and a lower portion of the display area, which show data related to remaining battery level, service area/no service area, signal strength indication (for example, number of indicative bars), a guide to key operations (key operation information) and other information. What has brought about is that the available display area is being increasingly compressed. These circumstances may cause a mobile telephone having a small screen to be less attractive to users seeking larger screen size, with the consequence of decreasing market competitiveness of the product.
Now, there is currently available a new model of mobile telephone device, particularly of a folding type, which is designed so as to enable the user to look at predetermined information through a relatively small auxiliary or sub-display section provided on the outside of its cover. Yet, when the cover of such mobile telephone is opened, only the main display section appears for viewing with the sub display section becomes unavailable for view. On the other hand, the applicant of the present invention has proposed, in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2001-172164, a mobile telephone terminal equipped with a sub display section so constructed as to enable the user to view and confirm in either status of the cover being flipped open/closed or the cover being shut.
In this manner, efforts are made in the conventional mobile terminal apparatus, particularly mobile telephone devices, to expand its display area. Nonetheless, its expansion is not without limits, and appropriate measures are required so as to make effective use of the limited available display area.

Portable terminal apparatus and display control program thereof


An efficient method for preparing nitrated glycerol glycol ether useful as a high energy plasticizer, by using as nitrator feed, the reaction products of an alkali metal bisulfate-catalyzed reaction of ethylene oxide and a stoichiometric excess of glycerol.

Use of high energy nitrate derivatives of various polyhydroxy alcohols are known in the high explosives and propellant arts, particularly as energetic organic plasticizers for cross-linked double based rocket propellant compositions.
Because of the vulnerability of rocket propellant materials to low temperature extremes, particularly the tendency of double based solid propellants to become embrittled and to crack, causing irregular burning properties, it is found useful to incorporate mixed energetic organic plasticizers to prevent crystallization. By way of example, mixtures of 1, 2, 4-butanetriol trinitrate (BTTN), triethylene glycol dinitrate (TEGDN), nitroglycerine (NG), as well as glycerol glycol ether (GGE) can be used in nitrated form as glycerol glycol ether trinitrate (ROC), for such purpose.
Of the above compounds, however, the nitrate derivative of glycerol glycol ether, glycerol glycol ether trinitrate (ROC) in combination with nitroglycerine (NG), is found particularly suitable because of its high energy content and low volatility. Such composition, however, is expensive and time consuming to safely produce by traditional conitration reaction. This is so because of the need to separate out or purify the primary GGE intermediate product to eliminate sodium chloride and minimize ethylene glycol content which, respectively, cause corrosion and production of a volatile dinitrate in the nitrator.
A frequently used art process for obtaining GGE (i.e. Kharasch synthesis) is generally represented by the following reaction: ##STR1##
A number of by-products are obtained by this process, and the required distillation steps to obtain GGE are further complicated by precipitation of dissolved salts from the hydrolysis step.
It is an object of the present invention to produce high energy plasticizer composition suitable for cross-linked double based rocket propellant.
It is a further object of the present invention to cheaply and efficiently produce high energy plasticizer composition comprising glycerol glycol ether trinitrate and nitroglycerine in controlled ratios and with predictable stability using glycerol and ethylene oxide as raw material.

Process for preparing high energy rocket propellant plasticizer from glycerol