A color filter for an AMLCD panel has a pattern of multi-color dots, each dot having red, green, and blue components in a black matrix. Each component is the cured product of a color pigment dispersed in a radiation-curable ink. The ink may be an ink curable by a cationic mechanism, a free-radical ink, or a hybrid, free-radical/cationic ink. The filter is produced by successively applying patterns of colored inks to a transfer roll, collecting the patterns on a collector roll to form an array of multi-color dots that is transferred to the substrate, and irradiating the array of dots to at least partially cure the inks.

Liquid crystal displays (LCDs) of relatively small size have been commercially available for over two decades. Recent improvements have permitted development of larger size displays adapted to use in portable computers, notebook computers and word processors. Full color LCD panels are also used for intermediate-sized, that is 15 cm (6") or smaller, flat screen TVs, projection television systems and camcorder view finders, with many more applications anticipated in the future.
Such display panels may take two forms: passive matrix and active matrix liquid displays (AMLCDs). The passive matrix employs transparent electrodes. These electrodes are patterned in perpendicular, striped arrays on facing glass plates. Red, green and blue color filters on the inner surface of one of the glass plates provide the full color display. The passive matrix display is easier to fabricate than an AMLCD. However, it is more complex to operate, and is limited in performance capabilities.
The active matrix display panel employs transistors or diodes placed on the back cover glass as on-off switches. There is an individual switch for each pixel in a display panel. The electrode film on the front face may be continuous and unpatterned as a consequence. Fabrication of an AMLCD involves three steps: First, the front glass substrate is prepared, including provision of a color filter; second, transistor arrays are formed on the back substrate; third, the two substrates are assembled, and a liquid crystal material inserted within the resulting panel.
Various methods of forming color filters have been proposed. Currently, such filters are produced by separately forming each color pattern on a substrate. This is a repetitive process involving photolithography. Three primary color elements are formed, each typically about 100.times.300 microns in size for the most common application: notebook computers. A black border is also applied around each color element for contrast. The process has been recognized as too expensive to render the product economically attractive for development to its full potential.
K. Mizuno and S. Okazaki, in Japanese Journal Of Applied Physics, Vol. 30, No. 118, November, 1991, pp. 3313-3317, propose producing a color filter by a process wherein ink patterns are successively prepared on a transfer (offset) roll and cured by UV exposure. Each ink pattern is individually transferred to a glass substrate coated with an adhesive layer. It would, of course, be desirable to collect and transfer a complete pattern, and to do so without the need for an adhesive layer. In addition to the items mentioned above, attention is also directed to a publication by W. C. O'Mara entitled "Active Matrix Liquid Crystal Displays Part I: Manufactured Process" appearing at pages 65-70 in the December 1991 issue of SOLID STATE TECHNOLOGY.
It has also been proposed to produce a color filter by photolithography in the form of a film. The pattern may then be inspected, and, if necessary, discarded without printing. If the pattern is accepted, the film is transferred directly to the glass substrate. This proposal is described by K. Ikiaki in a publication entitled "Low Cost Technology for Producing LCD Color Filters Transfer Print Method" In Nikkei MI, Vol:58, pp. 83-87 (90-04). The process still involves photolithography.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,445,432 (Ford et al.) discloses a method and apparatus for forming a multicolor pattern. In this process, thermoplastic decorating inks are printed onto a substrate utilizing a double offset technique. Each color ink is successively printed onto a collector roll to form a fully registered, multicolored pattern on the collector roll. This multicolored pattern is then transferred to the substrate in a single printing step. The process achieves superior registration to that obtained with conventional offset gravure.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,549,928 (Blanding et al.) describes using this double offset technique for printing the phosphors and the black matrix on color TV panels. In this operation, thermoplastic, pressure-sensitive inks, corresponding to the red, green and blue color phosphors and the black matrix, are applied separately to the collector roll to form the desired multicolor pattern. This pattern is then transferred as a complete pattern to the TV tube panel.
The double offset printing technique disclosed in these patents employs pressure-sensitive, hot-melt inks. These inks are printed from heated gravure rolls. The inks cool sufficiently on the offset surfaces to develop the cohesive strength necessary to achieve 100% ink transfer between the offset surfaces and the collector roll, and between the collector roll and the substrate.
The hot-melt inks have several disadvantages for color filter printing. Being pressure-sensitive, hot-melt inks, they are not stable at elevated temperatures as required for color filters. The ingredients typically employed tend to undergo oxidative degradation, or volatilize, at, or prior to, a temperature of 250.degree. C.
It is possible to develop hot-melt inks which can be subsequently cured thermally or by radiation. However, the heated ink procedure is not preferred for precise registration. Slight temperature variations, either in the print surface, or through conduction into the printing apparatus, can result in registration variability.
Consequently, an ideal ink should be capable of ambient temperature printing. It should also achieve 100% transfer without needing to precoat the substrate with an adhesive layer. Moreover, the ink should be able to exhibit stability to at least 250.degree. C.
A basic purpose of our invention is to provide an improved color filter for an LCD panel, in particular an AMLCD panel. Another purpose is to provide an improved method of printing color filters for LCD panels. A further purpose is to provide inks that are particularly adapted to use in printing color filters for LCD panels. Another purpose is to adapt the double offset printing technique to the production of color filters.

Method for printing a color filter with radiation curable inks


Provided is a method for fabricating a light emitting device. The method comprises forming a gallium oxide layer, forming a first conductive type semiconductor layer, an active layer, and a second conductive type semiconductor layer on the gallium oxide layer, forming a conductive substrate on the second conductive type semiconductor layer, separating the gallium oxide layer, and forming a first electrode on the first conductive type semiconductor layer.

Embodiments relate to a method for fabricating a light emitting device.
Nitride semiconductors are attracting much attention for the fields of optical devices and high-power electronic devices because of their high thermal stability and wide band gap energy. In particular, blue light emitting devices (LEDs), green LEDs, and UV LEDs that use nitride semiconductors have been commercialized and are being widely used.
Nitride semiconductor LEDs commercialized in recent years include a nitride semiconductor layer, which is organic-chemically deposited over a sapphire substrate that is a heterogeneous substrate. A gallium nitride (GaN) substrate having the same material as a nitride semiconductor thin film is too expensive. Thus, it is difficult to commercially utilize the GaN substrate. The sapphire substrate widely used in recent years has an electrically insulating characteristic. Thus, a nitride semiconductor LED formed on the sapphire substrate has a lateral type structure in which cathode and anode metal pads are formed in one direction of the substrate.
Generally, a lateral type LED structure has a limitation in which a portion of a light emitting layer should be etched to form a negative electrode. Also, since the electrodes are disposed on one side of the substrate, current is not uniformly injected into the light emitting layer when the current is injected. Such ununiform injection of the current deteriorates electronic reliability and light emission efficiency.

Method for fabricating light emitting device


A receptor layer transfer sheet, as intermediate transfer medium film, provided with a receptor layer to be transferred on a surface of a transfer-receiving material with an image preliminarily formed on the receptor layer comprises: a substrate film; an ionizing radiation (electron beam) hardening resin layer formed on the substrate film to be separable; and a receptor layer formed on the ionizing radiation hardening resin layer. The receptor layer is transferred together with the ionizing radiation hardening resin layer to the transfer-receiving material at a transferring process. A card-shaped printed product can be manufactured by using the receptor layer transfer sheet of the character mentioned above, in which an image is formed, through a sublimation thermal transfer process, on a receptor layer of a receptor layer transfer sheet. The receptor layer is transferred together with the ionizing radiation hardening resin layer on a card-shaped transfer-receiving material through a thermal transfer process.

The present invention relates to a receptor layer transfer sheet (intermediate transfer medium film) usable for transferring a receptor layer, on which an image has been preliminarily formed, to a surface of a transfer-receiving material and also relates to a card-shaped printed product prepared by using such receptor layer transfer sheet.
There have been known thermal transfer methods as image formation method. In such methods, a thermal transfer sheet, composed of a substrate sheet and a coloring material layer formed on the substrate sheet, and a transfer-receiving material on which a receptor layer is formed as occasion demands, are disposed and pressed between a heating device such as thermal head and a platen roll, and heating portions of the heating device are selectively heated in accordance with information of images to be transferred, so that a coloring material contained in the coloring material layer on the thermal transfer sheet is transferred on the transfer-receiving material thereby to record the images thereon. These thermal transfer methods are generally classified into a fusion thermal transfer method and a sublimation transfer method.
In these thermal transfer methods, the fusion thermal transfer method is a method in which a thermal transfer sheet carrying a heat fusible ink layer is heated by the heating means of the type mentioned above and a softened heat fusible ink is transferred on a transfer-receiving material such as natural fiber paper or plastic sheet thereby to form an image on the transfer-receiving material. The heat fusible ink layer used in this method will be prepared by dispersing a coloring material such as pigment into a binder such as heat fusible wax or resin, and the heat fusible ink layer is carried by a substrate sheet such as plastic film. An image formed by this fusion thermal transfer method has an improved high density and sharpness, and hence, this method is more applicable to the recording of binary images such as letters or lines. Colored or multiple-colored images can be formed by using a thermal transfer sheet provided with heat fusible ink layers of yellow, magenta, cyan, black and the like and recording them on the transfer-receiving material.
On the other hand, the sublimation thermal transfer method is a method in which a thermal transfer sheet carrying a sublimation dye layer is heated by the heating means of the type mentioned above so as to sublimate the sublimation dye contained in the dye layer, and the dye is then transferred on a receptor layer formed on the transfer-receiving material, thus forming an image. The sublimation dye layer used in this method will be prepared by dissolving or dispersing the sublimation dye as coloring material into a binder such as resin, and the sublimation dye layer is carried by a substrate sheet such as plastic film. According to such sublimation thermal transfer method, since transferring amount of the dye can be controlled in dot unit in accordance with energy amount of the heating device such as thermal head, a gradation reproduction due to density modulation can be made possible. Furthermore, since the dye material is used as coloring material, the thus formed image has a transparency, and hence, this method is superior to the reproduction of intermediate colors at a time when a plurality of dye layers of a plurality of colors are transferred in an overlapped manner. For this reason, a full-colored image with high quality can be formed by transferring the sublimation dye of three or four colors of yellow, magenta and cyan, in addition to black, on the transfer-receiving material in an overlapped manner by using the thermal transfer sheet provided with sublimating dye layers of these three or four colors.
In these image forming methods, it is necessary particularly for the sublimation thermal transfer method that the transfer-receiving material on which an image is to be formed is provided with a dyeing property of the dye. Because of this reason, in a case where the surface of the transfer-receiving material has a less dyeing property, it is almost difficult to form an image on the transfer-receiving material as far as the receptor layer is provided thereon.
For example, the Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. SHO 62-264994 discloses a technique for providing a receptor layer on a transfer-receiving material having no dyeing property in a manner that a receptor layer transfer sheet formed by providing the receptor layer on a substrate film to be separable is preliminarily prepared and this receptor layer is transferred on the transfer-receiving material. According to this technique, a dye is transferred from a dye layer of a thermal transfer sheet to the receptor layer already transferred on the transfer-receiving material to thereby form an image.
Furthermore, in the Japanese patent Laid-open Publication No. SHO 62-238791, there is disclosed a technique such that a receptor layer transfer sheet formed by providing the receptor layer on a substrate film to be separable is preliminarily prepared and an image is formed by transferring a dye from a thermal transfer sheet on this receptor layer. Thereafter, the receptor layer bearing the image is transferred to the transfer-receiving material by heating the thus formed receptor layer transfer sheet.
Still furthermore, in the Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication HEI 7-156532, there is provided a transfer sheet, on which a receptor layer having an improved image and texture(or feeling) is formed by controlling surface roughness of the receptor layer transfer sheet.
According to these conventional methods or techniques, it becomes possible to transfer and form images on transfer-receiving materials such as a material having a good dyeing property such as card made of polyvinyl chloride, a material having a poor dyeing property or a material, such as polycarbonate resin, easily fusible by the heating of the thermal head.
Still furthermore, in order to obtain an improved durability of images formed by the fusion thermal transfer method or the sublimation thermal transfer method, the Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. HEI 3-45391 discloses a technique such that an ionizing radiation hardening resin layer provided with an adhesion layer as an image protection layer is formed on the image through the thermal transfer process to improve the durability of the image.
There have been further provided other methods for improving weather-proof property by forming a ultraviolet shut-off layer by a method similar to that mentioned above.
However, for card-shaped printed products such as ID (identification) cards, it is particularly important to have an improved durability, and many attempts have been made for achieving such purpose. Furthermore, in the conventional protection layer formation methods, the protection layer has been formed by transferring the protection layer on a transfer-receiving material, on which the image had already been transferred and formed, from a protection layer transfer sheet which had been prepared separately. Accordingly, the preparation of the card-shaped printed product having the improved durability by the protection layer has been complicated.
Furthermore, in a case where an image is transferred and formed by the receptor layer transfer sheet on the transfer-receiving material having a poor dyeing property, it has been required to further transfer the protection layer from the protection layer transfer sheet. Accordingly, in such case, the preparation of the card-shaped printed product formed of a material having a poor dyeing property has been also complicated to improve the durability of the image.

Receptor layer transfer sheet and card-shaped printed product


An absorbent core comprising a substrate layer and an absorbent layer, the absorbent layer comprising an absorbent material and a thermoplastic adhesive material; the absorbent core has longitudinal and transverse dimensions and consists of nine transverse segments in its longitudinal dimension and six longitudinal segments in its transverse dimension; in each of the transverse segments and longitudinal segments, the absorbent layer has average basis weights of absorbent material of thermoplastic adhesive material; the basis weights of the absorbent layer in at least one of the transverse segments are lower than the basis weights of the absorbent layer in at least one other of the transverse segments; and the basis weights of the absorbent layer in at least one of the longitudinal segments are lower than the basis weights of the absorbent layer in at least one other of the longitudinal segments.

Absorbent articles, such as disposable diapers, training pants, and adult incontinence undergarments, absorb and contain body exudates. They are also intended to prevent body exudates from soiling, wetting, or otherwise contaminating clothing or other articles, such as, bedding, that come in contact with the wearer. A disposable absorbent article, such as a disposal diaper, may be worn for several hours in a dry state or in a urine loaded state. Accordingly, efforts have been made toward improving the fit and comfort of the absorbent article to the wearer, both when the article is dry and when the article is fully or partially loaded with liquid exudates, while maintaining or enhancing the absorbing and containing functions of the article.
An important component of disposable absorbent articles is the absorbent core structure. Absorbent core structures typically include absorbent polymer material and cellulose fibers. The absorbent polymer material ensures that large amounts of bodily fluids, e.g. urine, can be absorbed by the absorbent article during its use and be locked away, thus providing low rewet and good skin dryness. The absorbent core structure is typically profiled, i.e. provided with regions of different capacity.
Some disposable absorbent articles, like disposable diapers, have been made thinner by reducing or eliminating these cellulose fibres from the absorbent core structure. To maintain the mechanical stability of the absorbent core structures, small quantities of adhesive material, such as thermoplastic adhesive materials, are added to stabilize the absorbent polymer material. Resultantly, absorbent structures having the required permeability/porosity, reduced gel-blocking, and that form stable structures in use or transport are provided.
However, it was found that some of these profiled absorbent core structures with reduced cellulose fibre content may not always provide satisfactory acquisition speed.
Therefore, there is still a need to provide absorbent core for disposable absorbent articles which are thin and deliver good fluid handling performances.

Absorbent core having varied basis weight of absorbent material and adhesive


A buccal tube has a base part and at least one tube, and it is formed from a metal material comprising Ti or Ti alloy, using a metal injection molding method. The buccal tube can be formed from a metal material which contains Ti as a base component, from 0.03 to 0.5 wt % C, from 0.08 to 0.8 wt % O and from 0.03 to 0.6 wt % N. The total C, O and N content in the metal material is preferably from 0.14 to 1.1 wt %. Furthermore, pores of average diameter from 0.5 to 50 .mu.m are preferably dispersed in at least a surface region of the buccal tube, and the porosity of the holes is preferably from 0.05 to 5.0 vol %. The buccal tube may further comprises at least one engaging part which is preferably formed into a hook or engaging piece for example.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a buccal tube which is used in orthodontic treatment or the like.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As for dental appliances which are used in the oral cavity, there are known brackets (tie wings), wires for pulling the brackets and buccal tubes which are to be fixed to the molars while pulling the ends of the wires, which are used for correcting tooth alignment.
A buccal tube includes one or two tubes into which wires or inner wires of a facebow are inserted, and a fixing platform which is to be fitted to a ring-like fixing part which is to be fitted onto a molar, and these are formed of a metal material and formed into an integral body.
Since such buccal tubes are small and have a complex shape, they have been so far manufactured with the lost-wax method, and in that method stainless steel is used mainly as the metal material therefore.
However, stainless steel buccal tubes have less bio-compatibility, and in particular they have adverse effects to living bodies such as causing the onset of metal allergies and cancer as a result of the dissolution of Ni and Cr. Furthermore, the visual image or esthetics when the brackets are fitted are poor because of the surface metallic luster thereof.
Further, stainless steel buccal tubes which have been made using the lost-wax method are liable to have defects such as pinholes, and so there are problems in that they have low strength and ununiformity in their qualities, and the manufacturing yield is poor.


A method of making an antimicrobial composite article, including the steps: providing a matrix comprising a polymeric material; providing a plurality of second phase particles comprising an antimicrobial agent; melting the matrix to form a matrix melt; distributing the plurality of second phase particles in the matrix melt at a second phase volume fraction to form a composite melt; forming a composite article from the composite melt; and treating the composite article to form an antimicrobial composite article having an exterior surface comprising an exposed portion of the matrix and the plurality of second phase particles. The distributing step can employ an extrusion process. The forming a composite article step can employ an injection molding process. The treating step can employ abrading and plasma-treating the article to define the exterior surface.

The present disclosure relates generally to antimicrobial composite articles and methods for making them. More particularly, the various embodiments described herein relate to glass/polymer composite antimicrobial articles having copper-containing antimicrobial agents and various methods for making them.
Consumer electronics articles, including touch-activated or touch-interactive devices, such as screen surfaces (e.g., surfaces of electronic devices having user-interactive capabilities that are activated by touching specific portions of the surfaces), have become increasingly more prevalent. As the extent to which the touch screen-based interactions between a user and a device increases, so too does the likelihood of the surface harboring microorganisms (e.g., bacteria, fungi, viruses, and the like) that can be transferred from user to user. Moreover, the housings which incorporate the touch-activated or touch-interactive devices also include surfaces that harbor such microorganisms that can be transferred from user to user. The concern of microorganism transfer is also a concern with many "high touch" surfaces associated with various electronic equipment, furniture and architectural articles, counter-tops, table-tops, control panels and other articles used in medical, office and consumer settings in which users, consumers or the like come into contact with these surfaces.
To minimize the presence of microbes on various materials, so-called "antimicrobial" properties have been imparted to a variety of glasses; however, there is a need to provide entire articles (including the housing and any glasses used as cover glass) that also exhibit antimicrobial properties. Accordingly, antimicrobial articles useful for certain applications should be durable enough for the purpose for which they are used, while also providing continuous antimicrobial properties that are passive or do not require additional activation by a user or outside source (e.g., UV light). In addition, antimicrobial glasses and articles should provide controlled antimicrobial activity.
In some situations, polymer/glass composite articles intended to exhibit antimicrobial properties demonstrate far less antimicrobial efficacy. One problem associated with such articles is ensuring that the antimicrobial agents are present at the surfaces of these articles at a concentration sufficient to provide the desired antimicrobial efficacy. Another problem is ensuring that the microbes present on the surfaces of such article are in residence for a sufficient duration to be killed or neutralized by the antimicrobial agents within the composite articles.
Accordingly, there is a need for antimicrobial composites articles possessing exterior surfaces that can be configured to produce desired antimicrobial efficacy levels, along with processes for making the same.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Antimicrobial phase-separable glass/polymer composite articles and methods for making the same


Compounds useful for lowering beta amyloid levels are provided. The compounds have the structure of formula Ia:

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia (loss of memory) in the elderly. The main pathological lesions of AD found in the brain consist of extracellular deposits of beta amyloid protein in the form of plaques and angiopathy and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles of aggregated hyperphosphorylated tau protein. Recent evidence has revealed that elevated beta amyloid levels in brain not only precede tau pathology but also correlate with cognitive decline. Further suggesting a causative role for beta amyloid in AD, recent studies have shown that aggregated beta amyloid is toxic to neurons in cell culture and has a detrimental effect on memory. This suggests that reducing beta amyloid levels is a viable therapeutic strategy for the treatment of AD.
Beta amyloid protein is composed mainly of 39-42 amino acid peptides and is produced from a larger precursor protein called amyloid precursor protein (APP) by the sequential action of the proteases beta and gamma secretase. Although rare, cases of early onset AD have been attributed to genetic mutations in APP that lead to an overproduction of either total beta amyloid protein or its more aggregation-prone 42 amino acid isoform. Furthermore, people with Down's Syndrome possess an extra chromosome that contains the gene that encodes APP and thus have elevated beta amyloid levels and invariably develop AD later in life.
One approach to the inhibition of beta amyloid production is to target the recently described beta secretase enzyme. Three groups have recently reported peptide-based beta secretase inhibitors. A second approach is to target gamma secretase the other enzyme involved in beta amyloid production. Although gamma secretase has not yet been fully characterized, recent evidence suggests that the presenilins may be gamma secretases. Several gamma secretase inhibitors have been designed based upon the amino acid sequence of the APP cleavage site. Importantly, a gamma secretase inhibitor DAPT (LY374973, AN37124) has been recently shown to reduce beta amyloid protein levels in mice brains in vivo after oral administration.
What are needed are compounds that are effective in lowering beta amyloid production.

Heterocyclic sulfonamide inhibitors of beta amyloid production containing an azole

Abstract: wherein, R1 is lower alkyl, substituted lower alkyl, phenyl, substituted phenyl, benzyl, substituted benzyl, benzyloxy, substituted benzyloxy, or SO2R5; R5 is phenyl, substituted phenyl, heterocycle, substituted heterocycle, alkyl, or substituted alkyl; R2 is lower alkyl, substituted lower alkyl, CF3, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkynyl, substituted alkynyl, phenyl, substituted phenyl, or cycloalkyl; R3 is hydrogen, lower alkyl, or substituted lower alkyl; R4 is phenyl, substituted phenyl, heterocycle, substituted heterocycle, thiophene, or substituted thiophene; R6 is hydrogen, lower alkyl, substituted lower alkyl, CF3, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkynyl, substituted alkynyl, phenyl, substituted phenyl, cycloalkyl, or substituted cycloalkyl; W, X and Y are independently CR7 or N; and R7 is hydrogen, halogen, lower alkyl, or substituted lower alkyl.


A bunk assembly is provided. The bunk assembly includes a first plurality of bunks including a first bunk and a second bunk coupled end-to-end with the first bunk. The first and second bunks each include a cutout that substantially align forming a bunk slot between the first and second bunks when coupled end-to-end. The first plurality of bunks also includes a third bunk stacked on top of the first and second bunks when positioned in the bunk slot.

The field of the present disclosure relates generally to bunk assemblies and, more specifically, a space-saving arrangement of bunks in bunk assemblies.
At least some known long range, subsonic airliners are utilized on routes that are non-stop and that have a duration of twelve hours or longer. For such flights, federal regulations require crew rest accommodations to be provided for pilots and flight attendants of the aircraft. However, space in an aircraft fuselage is limited, and available space is generally allocated to increase passenger capacity and to improve passenger comfort and amenities. As such, at least some crew rest accommodations are positioned above the passenger cabin and are accessible via a stairway, ladder, or other similar device.
In one configuration, the crew rest accommodations include bunks arranged end-to-end extending along a length of the aircraft fuselage on either side of an aisle. In another configuration, the bunks are stacked on top of each other and arranged end-to-end along the length of the aircraft fuselage. However, such configurations generally increase the weight of the aircraft and/or obtrusively protrude into the passenger cabin, thereby reducing passenger comfort and amenities such as overhead storage space.

Bunk assembly and method of manufacturing thereof


An airbag device has an airbag that is wound in a rolled state, mounted in a vehicle longitudinal direction of a vehicle and deployable in a curtain-like manner in a vehicle compartment by a gas generated by an inflator in case of emergency. A cover cloth is provided so as to be wound to cover at least part of an outer circumference of the airbag extending in a longitudinal direction. The cover cloth has a first folded-back part that is formed by folding back one end of the cover cloth in a circumferential direction of the outer circumference of a cross section, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the folded airbag. An edge of the outer circumference of the airbag is held between the first folded-back part and the other end of the cover cloth.

When a high load is applied on a side of a motor vehicle in a side collision or a rollover, a curtain airbag device causes an inflator to be operated so as to generate a gas and deploys an airbag in a vehicle compartment in the curtain-like manner in a vertically lower direction along the side window.
As shown in FIG. 9, such curtain airbag device 1 is mounted by using clips 2 and brackets 3, for instance, from a roof side rail RSR toward a front pillar FP.
The curtain airbag device 1 in the mounting state explained above is covered by a front pillar trim covering and a room head lining (a roof trim covering) inside the vehicle compartment, and is stored at the outside of the vehicle compartment with respect to these trim coverings.
Further, in the side collision or the rollover, an airbag 5 that is wound in, for instance, a roll state, is deployed by the gas that is generated by an inflator 4. As a result, the front pillar trim covering and the room head lining are pushed toward an inside of the vehicle compartment and are disengaged from the front pillar FP and the roof side rail RSR of a vehicle body.
After they are disengaged, edges being disengaged from the front pillar trim covering and the room head lining are pushed and expanded toward the inside of the vehicle compartment so that the airbag is deployed in the curtain-like manner in the vehicle compartment from such opening that is formed by being pushed and expanded.
By the way, for instance, in regards to the airbag that is wound in the roll state, there is a case in which a predetermined position of the airbag in a longitudinal direction is covered by a cover cloth that regulates a deployment direction. In this case, at the time of deploying the airbag, because a tape that fixes the cover cloth is broken so as to release the cover cloth, the airbag is deployed in a predetermined direction.
However, depending on a covering condition in which the cover cloth covers the airbag, there is a case in which at the time of deploying the airbag, the cover cloth cannot be released well. In that case, the airbag may be caught inside the front pillar trim covering because the deployment direction of the airbag is changed. When the deployment is continued in such state, there is a possibility that the front pillar trim covering is damaged (refer to paragraph [0008] of Patent Document 1).

Curtain airbag device and structure for mounting to vehicle


A winding device (10) for winding a web (92) onto a reel (90) has a drive shaft (20), a gear (30), a clutch shaft (63), an energy storage means (50), a clutch (60) and an output shaft (80). The gear (30) is configured, as a positive-engagement gear, to transmit a rotary movement of the drive shaft (20) to a first clutch shaft element (61) assigned to the clutch shaft (63). The clutch shaft (63) is connected via the clutch (60) with the output shaft (80) in order, selectively, to enable or prevent a transmission of torque between the clutch shaft (63) and the output shaft (80). The gear (30) has, without the energy storage means (50) having effect, a first predetermined transmission ratio (i_0) between the drive shaft (20) and the clutch shaft (63), and the energy storage means (50) is configured to store and release rotational energy and to vary the transmission ratio.

EP 1 663 791 B1 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 8,012,279) shows, by way of example, the structure of a labelling device and a labelling device with unwinder and rewinder.
Labelling devices are used nowadays for increasingly wide labels and increasingly fast labelling speeds. The labels are in some cases hereby dispensed in cyclic operation, so that a speed profile for the movement of the label web is predetermined and the label web is stopped between the individual dispensing actions. This leads to powerful accelerations (positive and negative). These demanding requirements can lead to malfunctions in the rewinding device or rewinder.

Winding device for winding up a ribbon or web


The present invention comprises an innovative gate oxidation process after the disposition of the gate and prior to the disposition of the source and the drain by exposing the gate to oxygen at a predetermined temperature and for a predetermined time period for the optimized transistor performance. During the innovative gate oxidation process, oxygen penetrates into the interfaces of the gate conductive layer gate oxide and the gate dielectric layer silicon substrate and oxidizes portions of the gate conductive layer at the interfaces due to the oxygen smiling or the bird beak effect, which results in an increased effective thickness of the gate dielectric layer. Optionally, HCl can be introduced at a predetermined flowrate during the innovative gate oxidation process. A particular embodiment of the present invention is the fabrication of MOS transistors with polysilicon as the gate conductive layer and silicon oxide as the gate dielectric layer, and with the source and drain fabricated by the low doped drain (LDD) implant. In this particular case, the innovative gate oxidation process is a polysilicon oxidation (POX) process grown before LDD implant. The oxidation temperature and oxidation time duration for optimized transistor performances have been found to be 850.degree. C. and 115 minutes, respectively. This present invention is utilized to achieve maximum speed and performance by optimizing the POX process.

MOS transistors are widely used in both analog and digital circuits, such as amplifiers, and analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog converters. Complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) field-effect transistors formed by pairs of N and PMOS transistors, are particularly widely used in large scale digital circuits, such as microprocessors, memory devices and gate arrays, as they have high performance and consume very little electric power.
A typical field-effect transistor comprises a substrate, at least one source disposed on the substrate, at least one drain disposed on the substrate, and at least one gate disposed on the substrate between the source and the drain. The gate typically comprises a conducting layer, such as a metal or a semiconductor layer, or the combination thereof, which is insulated from the source, the drain and the substrate by a dielectric layer, such as an oxide or a nitride layer.
The increasingly strong demand for higher speed, larger scale integrated circuits with higher component density and higher drive current has necessitated smaller and smaller component sizes. Presently the length of the channel of a MOS transistor has reached the submicron regime.
Unfortunately, the conventional submicron MOS transistors suffer from the problem of the short channel induced saturation threshold voltage (Vts) roll-off or the reduction of the absolute value of Vts as the channel length decreases, which results in a poorer controllability of the transistor.
The prior approaches to this problem include 1) to scale the gate oxide thickness, 2) to increase the channel ion implant dose, and 3) to employ a recently developed large angle package implant technique.
The first two approaches suffer from additional degradation in device reliability and performance, such as lower drive current resulted from reduced carrier mobility and lower speed resulted from increased junction capacitance; whereas the third approach, being a rather complicated process, is difficult implement for volume production.
The same situation is true for metal-insulator-semiconductor (MIS) field-effect transistors in general, as well as silicon-on-insulator (SOI) transistors.
Hence, there has been a need in the art for a simpler and more effective method suitable for volume production to provide both saturation threshold voltage (Vts) roll-off control and speed improvement without introducing additional degradation in device reliability and performance, such as lower drive current and lower device lifeline.

Method for construction and fabrication of submicron field-effect transistors by optimization of poly oxide process


Safety guard apparatus for an electrical outlet having one or more electrical receptacles for restricting access to the receptacles by a young child. The apparatus includes a base plate having one or more openings for registry with the electrical receptacles. The base plate is mounted to the electrical outlet in a similar fashion to a conventional wall plate. One or more cover plates are slidably engaged to the base plate along a path that is generally perpendicular to the base plate into and out of the wall to which the electrical outlet is mounted. In a fully extended position, the one or more cover plates are pivotal to cover the one or more openings to restrict access to the electrical receptacles. A lock system prevents the one or more cover plates from being opened by young child.

Electrical outlets are a necessity; however, they pose a threat to the safety of children as an uncovered electrical outlet may cause grave injury should a child stick a finger or object into the outlet. Because of this ever looming danger, many safety devices have been created to limit children's access to the outlet openings. The aforementioned devices include a variety of concealment covers for the outlet, including plugs, slidable blocking plates, screw on box structures, and foldable cover plates; however, these safety devices do not take into account the moving parts exposed on the outlet cover when the safety device is not in use. In fact the very mechanisms that are supposed to be protecting children may actually pose a safety issue as multiple panels, plates, plugs, and boxes are left dangling, hanging, or exposed in the vicinity of the outlet thus creating a hazard in and of themselves. Furthermore, the exposed moving parts may detract from the surrounds and be unpleasing to the eye. Accordingly, there is a need for a safety guard apparatus for protecting an electrical outlet that has one or more slidable cover plates that are retractable into the wall to which the electrical outlet is mounted in order to conceal the cover plate when the electrical outlet is being used.


The addition of a highly polarizable additive such as an organic anionic surfactant to an electrically active polymer improves the electrical properties of the polymer. When such an additive is added to an electroluminescent organic polymer this mixture can be used in diodes having an anode contacting a layer of this mixture as the active light-emitting layer and an air-stable metal cathode having a work function larger than 4 eV. The external efficiency and brightness versus voltage are significantly improved compared to results obtained with the same electroluminescent polymer used alone with high work function (>4.0 eV) metal cathodes. Specifically, device performance with indium/tin-oxide (ITO) as the anode, poly(2-methoxy-5-(2'-ethyl-hexyloxy)-1,4-phenylene vinylene), MEH-PPV, as the electroluminescent polymer, lithium nonylphenoxy ether sulfate as the surfactant additive and aluminum as the cathode is comparable to or better than that obtained with high performance devices using calcium as the cathode.

The semiconductor light-emitting diode is a solid state device that emits light when a voltage is applied across it. In conventional inorganic semiconductor devices, a p-n junction is fabricated, consisting of a single crystal semiconductor formed with one part of the crystal doped with positive charged carriers (designated p-type) and another part of the crystal doped with negative charged carriers (designated n-type). It is a basic feature of all such p-n junctions that their chemical composition and, hence, doping profile is static, or fixed in position in the host crystal. During operation, charge carriers are injected into or removed from the junction through electrical contacts external to the junction region.
Junction regions are introduced in a variety of manners. Abrupt junctions, in which the transition between the n- and p-type regions are relatively narrow, are typically fabricated by alloying a solid impurity (for example, a metal) with the semiconductor, or by employing one of a number of epitaxial growth techniques on crystalline semiconductor substrates. Graded junctions, in which the transition region is relatively broader, are produced by diffusion or ion implantation of impurities into the host semiconductor. These technologically demanding manufacturing processes make it both difficult and expensive to fabricate large area displays. Moreover, such devices are inherently brittle and lack the mechanical and processing advantages generally associated with organic, and especially polymeric, materials. For these reasons, there has been considerable interest for many years in organic materials for use as the active (light-emitting) components of light-emitting diodes.
A number of electroluminescent devices have been disclosed which use organic materials as an active light-emitting layer in a sandwich architecture.For example, S. A. Van Slyke and C. W. Tang in U.S. Pat. No. 4,539,507 disclosed a device having a bilayer of two vacuum-sublimed films of small organic molecules sandwiched between two contacts. R. H. Friend et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 5,247,190 disclosed a device having a thin dense polymer film made up of at least one conjugated polymer sandwiched between two contacts. Because these are electric field-driven devices, the active electroluminescent layer must be very thin (typically about 1000 angstroms thick) and uniform. In these devices, excess charge carriers are injected through the contacts into the light-emitting semiconductor layer by processes well known in the study of metal-semiconductor interfaces (see, e.g., M. A. Lampert and P. Mark, Current Injection in Solids, Academic Press, NY, 1970). Dissimilar metals were used for the contacts to facilitate the injection of electrons at one contact and the injection of holes at the other. As a result, the current-voltage characteristic curves of these devices show a pronounced asymmetry with respect to the polarity of the applied voltage, like that typical of the response of diodes. Hence, the rectification ratio of such devices is high, typically greater than 10.sup.3, and light is emitted for only one polarity of the applied voltage.
Among other drawbacks, the devices disclosed by S. A. Van Slyke and C. W. Tang and by R. H. Friend et al. suffer from the need to use metals of relatively low work function to inject sufficient numbers of electrons into the active layers to produce efficient light output at low drive voltages. Because such metals are readily oxidized, they are a source of device degradation in ambient conditions and require passivating packaging. To improve efficiency and operational stability, low work function metals such as Mg and Li were alloyed with more stable metals with higher work function such as Al or Ag and used as the cathode for organic LEDs (for example C. W. Tang and S. A. Van Slyke, U.S. Pat. No. 4,885,211 (1989); S. A. Van Slyke and C. W. Tang, U.S. Pat. No. 5,059,862 (1991)). The efficiencies were higher than when the higher work function metal was used alone. However, when the proportion of a higher work function metal was increased beyond a certain level, the initial and extended performance were significantly reduced. A double-layer cathode was also proposed where a high work function metal was overcoated on the top of the low work function metal (for example, J. Kido, K. Nagai and Y. Okamoto, IEEE Trans. Electron Devices, 40 (1993), 1342).
The class of materials suitable for organic LEDs was expanded by Burroughes et al (J. H. Burroughes, D. D. C. Bradley, A. R. Brown, R. N. Marks, K. MacKay, R. H. Friend, P. L. Burns and A. B. Holmes, Nature, 347 (1990), 539) who demonstrated that LEDs could be made from conjugated polymers such as poly(phenylenevinylene), PPV. Devices using aluminum as a cathode disclosed by Burroughes et al had low brightness and low efficiency (0.002%) (D. D. C. Bradley, Synth. Met., 54 (1993), 401) and operated only at very high voltages (40 volts) (R. H. Friend, J. H. Burroughes and D. D. Bradley, U.S. Pat. No. 5,247,190 (1993)). Braun et al (D. Braun and A. J. Heeger, Appl. Phys. Lett., 58 (1991), 1982) showed that by using the soluble PPV derivative, poly(2-methoxy-5-(2'-ethyl-hexyloxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene), with a low work function electron injecting cathode, such as calcium, polymer LEDs could achieve high brightness with external quantum efficiencies of order 1% (U.S. Pat. No. 5,408,109).
For a given polymer, a common practice is to use conduction band and valence band offsets at semiconductor heterojunction interfaces to achieve carrier confinement within the active electroluminescent (EL) layer. Electron-transport layers, which contain either small molecules or an electrically active polymer, are placed between the luminescent layer and cathode in order to enhance the quantum efficiency through charge carrier confinement (N. C. Greenham, S. C. Morrati, D. D. C. Bradley, R. H. Friend and A. B. Holmes, Nature, 365 (1993), 628; A. R. Brown, D. D. C. Bradley, J. H. Burroughes, R. H. Friend, N. C. Greenham, P. L. Holmes and A. Kraft, Appl. Phys. Lett., 61 (1990), 2793; S. Aratani, C. Zhang, K. Pakabaz, S. Hoger, F.Wudl and A. J. Heeger, J. Electron. Mater., 22 (1993), 745). The quantum efficiencies are also improved, when the electron-transporting molecules are blended with the luminescent polymer (C. Zhang, S. Hoger, K. Pakbaz, F. Wudl and A. J. Heeger, J. Electron. Mater., 23 (1994), 453; Z. Hu, Y. Yang and F. E. Karasz, J. Appl. Phys., 76 (1994), 2419I; D. Parker and Q. Pei, Appl. Phys. Lett., 65 (1994), 1272; I. N. Kang, D. H. Hwang, H. K. Shim, T. Z. Zyung, and J. J. Kim, Macromolecules, 29 (1996), 165). Although these approaches are promising, the device performance remains well below that obtained with devices which use a low work function metal as cathode; the latter providing significantly higher efficiency and higher brightness at low operating voltages.
Q. Pei et al discovered the polymer light-emitting electrochemical cell (LEC) (Q. Pei, G. Yu, C. Zhang, Y. Yang, and A. J. Heeger, Science 269 (1995), 1086; Q. Pei and F. Klavetter, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/268763 (Jun. 28, 1994)) which contains solid electrolyte in the electroluminescent layer. The ionic conducting character of this device allows the creation of a p-n junction in situ by electrochemical doping. Because carrier injection occurs through ohmic contacts into the doped n-type and p-type regions, stable metals such as Al and Au can be used for the anode and cathode. Thus, the quantum efficiency in LECs is relatively independent of the work function of the cathode and anode since there is no need to match the work function of the electrodes to the .pi. and .pi.* energies of a luminescent polymer. However, since the in situ creation of the p-n junction is limited by ionic transport (the ionic conductivity of the active layer), the time required for the device to turn-on is considerably longer than in conventional LEDs, where all processes are electronic.

Electrically active polymer compositions and their use in efficient, low operating voltage, polymer light-emitting diodes with air-stable cathodes


The present disclosure provides engineered human extracellular DNASE proteins (e.g., variants of DNASE1 (D1), DNASE1-LIKE 1 (D1L1), DNASE1-LIKE 2 (DTL2), DNASE1-LIKE 3 Isoform 1 (DTL3), DNASE1-LIKE 3 Isoform 2 (DTL3-2), DNASE2A (D2A), and DNASE2B (D2B)) that are useful for treating conditions characterized by neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) accumulation and/or release. In accordance with the invention, the DNase variant has advantages for therapy and/or large-scale manufacturing.

Inflammation is an essential host response to control invading microbes and heal damaged tissues. Uncontrolled and persistent inflammation causes tissue injury in a plethora of inflammatory disorders. Neutrophils are the predominant leukocytes in acute inflammation. During infections, neutrophils generate neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), lattices of DNA-filaments decorated with toxic histones and enzymes that immobilize and neutralize bacteria. However, inappropriately released NETs may harm host cells due to their cytotoxic, proinflammatory, and prothrombotic activity.
DNASE1 (D1) forms along with DNASE1-LIKE 1 (D1L1), DNASE1-LIKE 2 (D1L2) and DNASE1-LIKE 3 (D1L3), the DNASE1-protein family, a group of homologous secreted DNase enzymes. DNASE2A and DNASE2B form an additional group of homologous extracellular DNase enzymes. DNASE1- and DNASE2-protein family members are evolutionary conserved and expressed in various species, including humans. Recombinant human DNASE1- and DNASE2-protein family members provide drug candidates for NET-associated diseases. While D1 has been developed for some therapeutic applications in patients, the conditions for large-scale manufacturing of the other members of the DNASE1-protein family have not been described. Furthermore, the physical, enzymatic, and pharmacokinetic properties of these enzymes are not ideal for clinical applications. Thus, there is a need for defining a manufacturing process for D1L1, D1L2, and D1L3 enzymes, and for engineering DNases for use in therapy, including for degrading NETs.

Engineering of DNASE enzymes for manufacturing and therapy


The objective of the present invention is to propose a method that allows preventing the use of more than one identical security module for the identification and use of resources administered by an operating centre. This objective is achieved by an anti-cloning method based on the memorization of the identification numbers of the user units connected to said security module.

User units are connected to one or several networks offering products or services for sale. These products or services are subject to a conditional use, or control. For this reason, these units have a security module in charge of the identification and management of the access authorization to said networks.
These user units may take several forms, for example a pay-television decoder, a computer, a mobile phone, a palmtop, a PDA, a radio, a television, a multimedia station, or an automatic teller machine.
This security module is generally in the form of a smart card, a credit card or a SIM card, usually including a cryptographic processor. This card supplies the necessary information for identifying itself on a network by means of decryption operations using keys stored in the memory of the cryptographic processor, which is reputed be inviolable.
This security module can be in charge of exchanging confidential information with the user unit, for example when producing the key that starts the cryptographic operations associated to the identification or the payment of a product.
These security modules can be connected to several user units according to the user's needs. Such a use is allowed by the administrator of the network, and this is why the security module is generally moveable. This situation is found in the field of pay television or that of mobile phones.
Due to the value that this security module represents, particularly in electronic purse applications, the temptation is great for pirates to clone these modules.
Although the operating center is able to detect the simultaneous use of two modules having the same serial number, if this use is done at different moments it is not possible for the operating center to determine if the use is by the same module or by a clone.
A first solution is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,672,533 and proposes to create session number that must change with each connection with the operating center. It is a previous identification to all transactions and although it answers the need to detect copies of the cards it can only function in an environment in which the on-line connection with the operating center is obligatory.

Abstract: During a connection with an operating centre these numbers are transmitted and compared with the numbers of a previous transmission. Differences are accepted as long as new numbers are added to a list previously transmitted. The security module is declared invalid if the numbers previously memorized are not included in the transmitted numbers.


A metal-containing refractory sulfide ore is split into a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is partially biodigested by a sulfide-digesting microorganism in a biooxidation reactor where the microorganism is acclimated to the sulfide "diet" provided by the ore. The partially digested ore is then combined with the second portion. The resulting material is then dewatered, biooxidized and subjected to a lixiviation process.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to recovering precious and/or base metals from refractory sulfide ores and/or concentrates. It is particularly concerned with recovering gold and silver from those refractory sulfide ores that have high levels of sulfide and/or have been concentrated by one or more preceding ore processing steps (e.g., flotation, gravity separation, etc.).
2. Description of the Prior Art
Both precious and base metals are often associated with various sulfide minerals. Ores containing these minerals are usually characterized as "refractory ores" when their metal values are associated with a metallic sulfide host material. Gold, for example, is often found in the form of finely disseminated sub-microscopic particles that are occluded within a refractory sulfide host of pyrite or arsenopyrite. Consequently, the gold-encapsulating sulfide host material must be at least partially oxidized in order to make the ore's gold component more amenable to subsequent recovery processes wherein the sub-microscopic gold particles are exposed to a leaching agent such as cyanide.
Various sulfide oxidizing "pre-treatments" (e.g., treatments that take place prior to leaching an ore's gold component) have been developed. The most commonly used pre-treatments for precious metal-containing refractory ores are roasting, pressure oxidation and/or bacterial oxidation processes. Unfortunately, each of these processes has certain drawbacks. For example, roasting requires that the temperature of the refractory sulfide ore be raised to levels (e.g., approximately 650.degree. C.) that will burn off its sulfide component. At such temperatures, the sulphur and arsenic components of such refractory sulfide ores react with the surrounding air's oxygen to form various noxious gases, e.g., arsenic gases and sulfur oxide gases (e.g., SO.sub.2 and SO.sub.3). In earlier times, these gases were simply vented to the atmosphere. More and more stringent governmental regulations have, however, restricted such venting practices and mandated addition of scrubbing circuits to remove these contaminants. This has greatly increased the cost of constructing and operating such roasters.
Pressure oxidation processes employ high purity oxygen, (at high temperatures and at high pressures), in order to oxidize the sulfur components of refractory ores. Aside from the hazards associated with high temperatures, high pressures and high oxygen purity requirements, these processes also have the added drawback of high capital costs. These high capital costs follow from the fact that very expensive, corrosion-resistant autoclave equipment is needed to carry out such processes. Indeed, these high costs have prohibited more extended use of pressure oxidation pretreatments, especially for those ore deposits having lower grade ores or small reserves.
Bacterial oxidation of refractory ores falls into two general categories: tank biooxidation or heap biooxidation. Each takes advantage of the fact that certain microorganisms are capable of oxidizing sulfide components of metal sulfide materials (e.g., ores, concentrates, etc.). For example, various bacteria have been used to oxidize sulfide components of iron sulfide refractory ores. The use of tank biooxidation processes is, however, generally limited to use upon those refractory ores having relatively high precious metal values. In general, such processes can not be economically justified to pre-treat those ores or concentrates where the ratio of gold, or precious metal equivalent (in g/t), divided by its sulfur content (in %) is smaller than about 0.7.
The other bacterial oxidation process used to oxidize refractory sulfide ores is open air, heap bioleaching. It begins by breeding a bacterial culture in a liquid medium. The resulting bacteria suspension is then used to inoculate an unconcentrated form of the ore that is stacked in a heap (on an appropriate pad system) in the open air and sprayed with the bacteria suspension. Under such conditions, rather long periods of time (e.g., from about 180 to about 600 days) are usually needed to oxidize a refractory ore's sulfide component. These long process time periods imply large inventory hold-ups and these hold-ups, in turn, imply greater production costs. Eventually, however, refractory ores can be pre-treated by these open air, heap biooxidation processes. After this has been accomplished these treated ores are mixed with lime in order to raise their pH, and then treated by conventional hydrometallurgical treatments such as cyanide heap leaching.
Aside from the long periods of time they require, heap bioleaching processes also have certain technical drawbacks. For example, these processes can not be used to treat ores that have a carbonate matrix. This is due to the low pH requirements of those sulfide digesting bacteria used in such processes. Moreover, when such processes are used on low grade whole ores, a large volume of such ores must be placed on a pad in order to recover even relatively small amounts of precious metals. This circumstance dictates that the heaps must be stacked at lift heights of as much as 20 feet. This, in turn, leads to problems when the ore contains clays and/or fine refractory sulfide materials because such fine materials tend to plug the channels of air and liquid flow in such highly stacked heaps. This results in puddling, channeling, and starvation of nutrients, carbon dioxide and/or oxygen, as well as uneven inoculum distributions. Blocked heap channels have proven to be particularly debilitating with respect to sulfide-digesting bacteria because these bacteria require especially large amounts of oxygen in order to grow and oxidize the sulfide components of such ores. Adequate air flow is also needed in such heaps in order to dissipate the heat generated by the exothermic biooxidation reactions that are carried out by sulfide digesting bacteria.
Various biodigesting processes have been the subject of a number of patents. For example, South African Patent 90/2244 teaches a tank bioleaching process for treatment of refractory sulphide ores. This process includes the steps of making a slurry from a refractory ore, subjecting the slurry to the biological oxidation action of certain Thiobacillus ferrooxidans species, separating the solid component of the slurry, and then recovering the precious metal from said solid component by, for example, cyanidation procedures.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,246,486 teaches a pre-treatment process based upon biooxidation of a sulfide component of a refractory ore. The process begins by coating refractory sulfide ore particles with an inoculate of a bacteria that is capable of attacking the sulfide component of such an ore. After various other treatments, a heap is constructed from these particles and exposed to the action of a cyanide leaching solution.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,143,543 teaches an improved method of mixing biological conversion components (e.g., nutrients and oxygen) into a biomass. To this end, a portion of a biomass is withdrawn from a reaction tank and sent to an injection zone where the conversion components are injected into a portion of biomass previously withdrawn from the reactor. The resulting mixture is then sent to a static mixer where it is combined with other streams. The resulting material is then returned to the reaction tank.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,021,088 teaches a process for pre-treating gold-bearing, carbonaceous or carbonaceous pyretic ores with one or more heterotrophic microorganisms in order to consume the ore's carbon component. The resulting ore is then colonized with at least one microorganism species whose sulfide digestion capability serves to further enhance the ore's susceptibility to subsequent cyanidation processes.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,530,763 teaches a method for removing a metal contaminant from a waste fluid by a process that begins by incubating a bacteria that is capable of attaching to a particular type of metal contaminant. A waste fluid containing the targeted metal contaminant is then introduced into the tank and porous support members with which the bacteria are associated are slowly moved through the waste fluid to allow the bacteria to attach themselves to the metal contaminant component of the waste fluid. The resulting bacteria/metal contaminant is then separated from the porous support material.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,573,575 teaches a process whereby differences in the adhering qualities of refractory ore particles of different sizes are employed to enhance the overall recovery efficiencies of an open heap leaching process. The first step in the disclosed process is to crush the refractory ore and separate it into a fine particle component and a coarse particle component. The coarse particle component is formed into a heap. The fine particle component is made into a large particle concentrate material that is then added to the coarse particle component heap. The resulting coarse particle/large particle concentrate mixture is thereafter exposed to a heap biooxidation treatment.
These prior art processes often suffer from the disadvantage of being prohibitively expensive when they are used upon low grade ores in general--and especially those that emanate from relatively small ore bodies. Indeed, there are large amounts of identified low grade refractory ores, as well as small bodies of higher grade ores and/or many stocks of mined ore, that must be set aside because they cannot be processed economically using current recovery technologies. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide biooxidation pre-treatment processes that are particularly effective in rendering such ores amenable to lixiviation at economically acceptable costs.

Integrated, tank/heap biooxidation process


A device for driving a dot matrix display panel has a number of first terminals that can be connected to different signal lines in the dot matrix display panel, to carry current to or from picture elements in the dot matrix display panel. The invented device also has a second terminal and a set of switches that can selectively connect the first terminals to the second terminal. These switches enable a measurement device connected to the second terminal to measure electrical parameters at the first terminals individually, so that the electrical parameters of the device can be tested efficiently and accurately, without having to contact each of the first terminals with a probe.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a display driving circuit for a current-driven display panel such as an electroluminescent (EL) panel, and more particularly to the testability of the display driving circuit.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 1 shows a conventional display driving circuit, disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 11-95723, and illustrates how it is tested. The display driving circuit 10 drives an organic electroluminescent panel 1 to create a dot matrix display. The organic electroluminescent panel 1 comprises an intersecting grid of m data lines SGi (i=1 to m) and n scanning lines CMj (j=1 to n), where m and n are integers greater than one. Organic electroluminescent picture elements or pixels PEi,j are disposed at the intersections of the grid; each pixel PEi,j has an anode coupled to data line SGi and a cathode coupled to scanning line CMj.
The display driving circuit 10 comprises m constant-current sources 11i (i=1 to m), a switching unit 12, a switching unit 13, and a driving control unit 14.
The i-th constant-current source 11i drives data line SGi. On their input side, the constant-current sources 11i are connected to a shared power terminal 15 from which they receive a supply voltage VS; on their output side they are connected to electrodes (a) of switches 12i in the switching unit 12. The switches 12i also have respective electrodes (b) connected to a common ground terminal 16, to which a ground potential (GND) is supplied, and further electrodes (c) connected to respective current output terminals 17i. Data line SGi in the organic electroluminescent panel 1 is connected to current output terminal 17i.
The switching unit 13 comprises n switches 13j having respective electrodes (a) connected to the ground terminal 16, electrodes (b) connected to the power terminal 15, and electrodes (c) connected through respective terminals 18j to the corresponding scanning lines CMj in the organic electroluminescent panel 1.
The driving control unit 14 controls the switching units 12, 13 according to display data DT received from a data input terminal 19.
In this type of display driving circuit 10, the switches 13j in switching unit 13 are selected cyclically, one at a time, by the driving control unit 14, and switch over to their a-electrodes when selected. The scanning line CMj in the organic electroluminescent panel 1 corresponding to the selected switch 13j is thereby connected to ground, while the other (non-selected) scanning lines are connected to the power-supply voltage VS.
The switches 12i in switching unit 12 operate under control of the driving control unit 14 according to the data to be displayed on the selected scanning line. Pixel PEi,j in the organic electroluminescent panel 1 emits light if switches 12i and 13j are both set to the a-side, so that current supplied by constant-current source 11i flows through pixel PEi,j to ground. As switching unit 13 selects the scanning lines CMj in sequence, the emitted light produces a dot matrix display.
The organic electroluminescent panel 1 and its display driving circuit 10 are manufactured separately and tested as independent units. The display driving circuit 10 is fabricated on a semiconductor wafer and undergoes various electrical tests in the semiconductor wafer state. If it passes these tests, then after the wafer has been diced into chips, the display driving circuit 10 is packaged and connected to the organic electroluminescent panel 1. Accurate testing of the constant-current sources 11i is particularly necessary, because the uniformity of the current output therefrom has a major effect on the quality of the display. If the constant-current sources 11i do not output uniform amounts of current, the pixel elements cannot put out uniform amounts of light.
The display driving circuit 10 is tested in the wafer state by a testing apparatus 30 of the type shown in FIG. 1. The testing apparatus 30 has a switch setting unit 31 that supplies data DT to the driving control unit 14 to set the switches in the switching units 12, 13, a constant voltage source 32 that supplies voltage VP to the constant voltage source 32, a constant voltage source 33 that outputs a lower voltage, and an ammeter 34 connected in series with the constant voltage source 33. The testing apparatus 30 also has a constant-current source 35 that supplies current to switching unit 13 and a voltmeter 36 that measures the resulting voltage drop. The testing apparatus 30 is connected to the display driving circuit 10 by a cable equipped with probes.
In this configuration, the ammeter 34 is connected to the current output terminals 17i of the display driving circuit 10 one after another, and measures the current supplied by the corresponding constant-current sources 11i. The constant-current source 35 and voltmeter 36 are connected to the scanning terminals 18j of the display driving circuit 10 one after another, and measure the voltage drops on the different paths leading through the switches 13j in switching unit 13. A decision is then made as to whether the measured currents and voltages are within specified tolerance limits.
One problem with this type of test is that it takes too much time, since the probes have to be moved repeatedly from one terminal to another, and each time a probe is moved to a new terminal, a certain time must be allowed before the flow of current stabilizes and accurate values can be measured.
Another problem is that the test results tend to vary according to random variations in the force with which the probes make contact with the terminals, the area of contact, and other such factors. To ensure the quality of the display, tight tolerances are set on the test results, so random variations can easily cause a device that actually meets its specifications to be rejected as defective.

Efficiently testable display driving circuit


Two software-only prefix encoding techniques employ encoding look-up tables to produce contributions to the encoded bit stream that are incremented in integral numbers of bytes to facilitate accelerated encoding rates at the expense of an acceptable trade-off in increased memory size requirements. The first technique, referred to as offset-based encoding, employs encoding tables which eliminate most of the bit-based operations that need to be performed by a prefix encoder without inordinately expanding memory requirements. In offset-based encoding, a Huffman table is employed which contains information for each number of bits by which the length of a Huffman word is offset from an integral number of bytes. The encoding method generates bytes of encoded data, even though the Huffman code has variable length code words for each symbol to be encoded. The second technique, referred to as byte-based encoding, employs a byte-based Huffman encoding table which operates even faster than the offset-based encoding scheme because it does not employ any bit-based operations at all; however, this is achieved at the expense of a considerable expansion in memory requirements.

The present invention relates to a method for accelerating prefix encoding of data by byte-based machines. Although directed principally at software-only implementations, the method also can be employed in hardware or hybrid software/hardware prefix coders. The invention achieves significant improvement in encoding speeds at the sacrifice of increased storage requirements.
Prefix coding finds application to text compression, still image compression, fax compression, video compression, telemetry and related disciplines. Huff-man codes are a popular family of prefix codes that possess the desirable property of minimizing the average code word length (hence, maximizing the compression ratio) for data with a known probability distribution. Adaptive Huffman codes extend this property to situations in which the probabilistic mechanism governing the source output is not known a priori but can be estimated as the data stream unfolds.
Modifications of Huffman type prefix codes have been adopted in the widely deployed Group 3 and Group 4 facsimile standards and JPEG, H.263, H.320 and MPEG image and video standards. Common modifications include shortening the lengths of some of the Huffman code words for highly unlikely source symbols, protecting certain key code words (e.g., those representing end-of-line or end-of-block characters) from being misconstrued in the event that errors infiltrate the encoded bit stream during storage or transmission, bounding the maximum number of times in a row that a code symbol can be repeated in legitimately coded data in order to help maintain synchronization, ensuring that certain unique synchronizing sequences occur relatively frequently, forcing all code words to end with the same symbol, etc. The resulting so-called Modified Huffman codes sacrifice some of the compression ratio that would be achieved by a true Huffman code in order to provide one or more other properties deemed highly desirable in a given application.
The fact that successive code words having variable lengths get concatenated during prefix encoding makes prefix decoding an inherently bit-serial operation. More particularly, prefix decoding cannot be parallelized unless compression ratio is sacrificed by separating portions of the code stream from one another by a pattern of flag bits. Accordingly, prefix coding threatens to act as a bottleneck, especially in low-latency applications such as video conferencing, distance learning and telemedicine. The point is that, even though the bulk of the computations that need to be performed during the compression and decompression of images and video are devoted to two-dimensional transformation and motion estimation/compensation of image blocks, these computations can be parallelized in order to meet system latency requirements, but the prefix coding cannot.
This difficulty could be eliminated by using fixed-length rather than variable length codes, but then all the data compression ability would be lost with the likely result that whatever computational time might thus have been saved would be lost back during transmission. Hence, the efficient implementation of prefix encoding and decoding is a key component of the design of systems involving data compression, especially when a low latency requirement is imposed.
The bit-serial nature of prefix coding is particularly debilitating when the computations are performed by byte-based machines such as microprocessors or general purpose computers as opposed to by special purpose hardware. For example, whereas digital hardware can right-shift a bit stream in about a nanosecond, today's byte-based machines need to perform approximately a dozen logical operations in order to accomplish this, each of which requires several machine cycles; therefore, even a machine clocked as fast as 200 MHZ will require between ten and a hundred times longer to bit shift a data stream than would special-purpose digital hardware.
Nonetheless, there are compelling reasons to perform prefix coding on byte-based machines. One is that compression systems can be marketed and distributed nearly for free via the Internet and the world wide web provided they are software-only. Another is that it is easier to adapt to the statistics of the specific data sources one encounters in practice if the code is realized in software as opposed to hardware. Moreover, computer platforms today frequently receive compressed fax, image and video files via either downloads or external drives. In many applications there is a need to retrieve and display such material quickly. In such instances it would be advantageous to use byte-based techniques to decode the prefix-encoded portions of the compressed representations, even though such applications are not low-latency ones in which the encoding has been done only fractions of a second earlier. The gap between bytes and bits in software implementation of prefix decoders often has been bridged by means of stored, byte-addressable look-up tables; sometimes provision is made to update these tables in accordance with the empirically observed source statistics.
Although the gap between bits and bytes in prefix encoders also could be bridged similarly by means of stored encoding tables, this has not been done in practice. One reason is that many applications involve multicasting, i.e, are characterized by one encoder/transmitter servicing many decoders/receivers, as in the cases of web servers and video-on-demand. In such instances the encoder is an expensive, high-powered machine that is likely to contain special-purpose digital hardware to perform the prefix encoding operations. Another is that image and especially video encoding is so computationally demanding that encoders for low latency operations have had to be realized via special purpose hardware in order to keep up with the data stream. Hence, whereas software-only decoders (e.g., ones compatible with the MPEG1, MPEG2, H.261 and H.320 video decoding standards) have been implemented and widely disseminated, software-only encoders have not. However, rising interest in duplex, low-latency video applications such as teleconferencing, distance learning and telemedicine, coupled with increasing computer speeds and/or new encoding algorithms of considerably reduced complexity, have combined to make software-only encoding a viable endeavor. A need has therefore been created for a byte-based software-only encoding scheme for prefix encoding data streams. The present invention meets this need.


A facility for specifying the distribution of products and generating product distribution lists. The facility receives account definitions, which may include information specifying account hierarchies. One or more product categories may be associated with each account. A distribution code may also be associated with the account's category assignment. The facility may identify or more products associated with the account, and a product distribution code may be associated with each product in the category. Based on the distribution level for each category and the product distribution codes for each product in the category, the facility may identify products for a product distribution list associated with an account.

Within the consumer goods industry, consumer goods companies (e.g., product manufacturers, distributors, etc.) distribute products to various customers down the line (e.g., distributors, wholesale establishments, retail establishments, etc.). Distribution may often occur on an ongoing basis. To make distribution possible, a marketing administrator typically creates product distribution lists that control which of a company's products are available for distribution to various customer accounts.
Most consumer goods companies are organized using a hierarchical structure that is typically based on the company's channels of distribution. Thus, consumer goods companies often have the problem of managing complex authorized product distribution lists containing hundreds of products down the account hierarchy while keeping track of the supplying accounts. Currently this is a tedious and labor-intensive process.
A consumer goods company's channels of distribution are typically defined as either direct or indirect. With direct distribution, a key account, sometimes the company's own distribution center, is the sole intermediary between the product origination source and the retail outlets. With indirect distribution, there is another intermediary, such as a third-party distributor, between the key account and the retail outlets. This intermediary is sometimes called an indirect account.
A company using an indirect distribution scheme typically authorizes its products for retail distributions at the key account, indirect account and retail outlet levels. This method is often referred to as retail product authorization. Using this method, consumer goods companies often build distribution lists from a set of products available to the indirect account. This set of products is typically a subset of the products from the key account distribution list.
It would be desirable to have a facility to more effectively manage distribution and the generation of product distribution lists.


An eyelash measuring device having: a ruler, a substantially eye shaped opening formed by an upper arch and a lower arch, and a graticule. The ruler is on the upper arch of the substantially eye-shaped opening and allows a user to measure an eyelash, and then set the measurement via the graticule. The eye shaped opening allows a user to gaze through the device to a mirror for measuring, and the ruler is printed in reverse so that when gazing in a mirror the type appears to be correctly oriented.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a measuring device, and more particularly, an EYELASH MEASURING DEVICE.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Numerous innovations for eye-related measuring devices have been provided in the prior art that will be described. Even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, however, they differ from the present invention.
A FIRST EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 3,050,860, Published/Issued on Aug. 28, 1962, to Kosh teaches an instrument for measuring the vertical and horizontal dimensions of a rectangle circumscribing a lens.
A SECOND EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 3,200,823, Published/Issued on Aug. 17, 1965, to Sebastian teaches a device for imparting a selectable curvature and uniform spacing to lash hairs of artificial eyelashes to be used in manufacturing and maintaining such artificial eyelashes.
A THIRD EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 3,517,673, Published/Issued on Jun. 30, 1970, to Kim teaches a measuring device that permits a false eyelash to be accurately sized to complement the user's eye both as to shape and length. The trimmer allows a false eyelash to be cut accurately to size and shape. The measuring device is used manually by an individual to suit the individual's taste.
A FOURTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 3,557,653, Published/Issued on Jan. 26, 1971, to Kim teaches a measuring device that permits a false eyelash to be accurately sized to compliment the user's eye both as to shape and length. The trimmer allows a false eyelash to be cut accurately to size and shape. The measuring device is used manually by an individual to suit the individual's taste.
It is apparent now that numerous innovations for eye-related measuring devices have been provided in the prior art that adequate for various purposes. Furthermore, even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, accordingly, they would not be suitable for the purposes of the present invention as heretofore described.


A powdery composition for nasal administration, where    (1) the composition contains (i) a drug, (ii) a water-absorbing and gel-forming base material such as hydroxypropyl cellulose or hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose and (iii) a water-absorbing and water-insoluble base material such as crystalline cellulose or α-cellulose,    (2) wherein the amount of the water-absorbing and gel-forming base material is about 5-40 wt % based on the total of the water-absorbing and gel-forming base material and the water-absorbing and water-insoluble base material, and    (3) wherein the drug is unevenly dispersed more on/in the water-absorbing and water-insoluble base material than on/in the water-absorbing and gel-forming base material.

For instance, in a non-peptide/non-proteinaceous drug such as an anti-inflammatory steroid, the development of a pharmaceutical preparation for nasal administration is desired because of the fact that (1) the topical nasal mucosa can be an objective site of action, (2) rapid action can be expected in the pharmaceutical preparation for nasal administration, (3) on the other hand, the absorption through oral administration is low in some drug, and others.
Further, many of peptide/proteinaceous drugs are not readily absorbed into body mainly because it is readily decomposed by proteolytic enzymes in the gastrointestinal tract when orally administered. Therefore, it is often forced to administer such a drug by injection in order to use it for therapy. Unfortunately, injection imposes burden such as pain, attendance to the hospital, etc., to a patient. Accordingly, it is desired to develop a pharmaceutical preparation for noninvasive administration such as nasal administration which can substitute injection.
Nasal administration, by which a drug is transferred into circulating blood through the nasal mucosa, is being energetically studied as a method for non-injection type administration together with transdermal administration, transocular administration, transrectal administration, transpulmonary administration, etc. Among these non-injection type administration methods, the nasal administration is easy to administer a drug. Moreover, nasal administration is considered to be superior in the absorption of a drug among the non-injection type administration methods since the blood vessel system in the nasal mucous membrane is more developed compared with the skin, the ocular mucous membrane, the rectal mucous membrane, etc. Therefore, a pharmaceutical preparation for nasal administration has been put into practice in some drugs. Further, the transfer of a drug into blood in nasal administration is faster than that in oral administration, and it can be expected that nasal administration has immediate effect similar to injection. On the other hand, the absorption of a drug through the nasal mucosa depends on physical properties such as lipophilicity of the drug and also on the molecular weight, etc. It is pointed out that a drug having a high solubility in water, a drug having a high lipophilicity, a peptide/proteinaceous drug having a large molecular weight, etc., is generally low in absorption trough the nasal mucosa. Under these circumstances, some contrivances to improve the absorption of such a drug through the nasal mucosa has been proposed.
For instance, Suzuki, et al., [Japanese Patent Publication (Examined) 60(1985)-34925] disclosed a long acting pharmaceutical preparation for nasal cavity comprising a cellulose ether and a drug.
The long acting pharmaceutical preparation for nasal cavity of the patent publication is aimed to allow a drug to adhere on the nasal mucosa and to slowly release the drug over a long period of time. Some of the objects, i.e. the drug is absorbed through the nasal mucosa and the effective amount of the drug is released in a sustained state, have been achieved. However, the main object of a long acting pharmaceutical preparation of said patent is put on the slow releasing of the drug, and accordingly the enhancement of absorption of the drug appears to be not always sufficient. The drugs concretely cited as preferable examples in said patent include an anti-inflammatory steroid, an analgesic anti-inflammatory agent, an antihistaminic agent, a drug having anti-allergic effect, etc., for which the keeping of topical concentration rather than systemic absorption is important.
In a long acting pharmaceutical preparation for nasal cavity of said patent publication, it is assumed that a high pernasal absorption ratio is hardly achieved for a drug having a high solubility in water, a drug having a high lipophilicity or a peptide/proteinaceous drug having a large molecular weight. Under these circumstances, the development of a pharmaceutical preparation for administering such a drug on the nasal mucosa, which can utilize it effectively in terms of curing effect and curing efficiency, is strongly desired.
Nolte, et al., (Hormone Metabolic Research Vol. 22, 170-174, 1990) and Bruice et al., (Diabetic Medicine Vol. 8, 366-370, 1991) reported insulin preparations for nasal administration containing sodium glycolate or sodium taurofusidate as an absorption promoter. However, these absorption promoters have problems in irritation on the nasal mucosa, and the preparations have not been put in practice yet.
On the other hand, Suzuki, et al., [Japanese Patent Publication (Examined), 62(1987)-42888] disclosed a powdery composition for nasal administration excellent in absorption through the nasal mucosa comprising a polypeptide and a water-absorbing and water-insoluble base material. They reported that the nasal absorption of the polypeptide without using an absorption promoter had been achieved in the composition.
However, even in the composition of the above patent publication, none of the nasal absorption ratios of polypeptides [the area under blood concentration-time curve (AUC) after nasal administration] exceeds 10-20% of AUC in injection. For instance, in Example 4 of the patent publication, the maximum blood concentration of insulin was less than 200 μU/ml when 10 units of insulin had been administered to a rabbit, and it was about 20% of the maximum blood concentration obtained in injection with same amount of insulin. The absorption ratio of the nasal preparation determined from AUC is estimated to be less than 10% of the absorption ratio of injection.
The patent publication describes the combined use of a water-absorbing and water-insoluble base material with a water-absorbing and water-soluble base material in an amount of 0.1-60 wt % based on the water-absorbing and water-insoluble base material, especially preferably 1-50 wt %.
However, concerning the objects and the effects of the combined use, only the slow releasing effect (slow releasability or sustainability) comparing the single use of a water-absorbing and water-insoluble base material is described.
Further, there is no description about the use of a non-peptide/non-proteinaceous drug instead of a polypeptide.
Furthermore, in spite that the patent publication cites a number of water-absorbing and water-insoluble base materials including crystalline cellulose and a number of water-absorbing and water-soluble base materials including hydroxypropyl cellulose, it does not mention at all that a combination of base materials having specific kinds, specific compositions and specific particle sizes among these base materials can provide a powdery composition for nasal administration which can exhibit an excellent maximum blood concentration for a peptide/proteinaceous drug or a non-peptide/non-proteinaceous drug.
Generally, a peptide/proteinaceous drug is expensive, and further when an absorbing ratio is low, its blood concentration tends to vary largely and an expected curing effect is not stably obtained in many cases. Therefore, it is desired to provide a composition of a peptide/proteinaceous drug for nasal administration capable of giving a higher rate of absorption. Further, it is strongly desired to provide a composition for nasal administration which is safe and capable of giving a higher rate of absorption at the same time. Furthermore, it is desired to provide a composition for nasal administration capable of giving a higher maximum blood concentration. The situations are same in a non-peptide/non-proteinaceous drug.
One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a composition for nasal administration excellent in absorption of a drug.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a composition for nasal administration capable of exhibiting high absorption of a drug, especially a higher maximum blood concentration.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a composition for nasal administration capable of exhibiting high absorption, especially a higher maximum blood concentration, even for a drug having a high water solubility, a drug having a high lipophilicity or a peptide/proteinaceous drug having a larger molecular weight.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a composition for nasal administration capable of exhibiting more excellent absorption, especially capable of exhibiting a higher maximum blood concentration, also for a drug which can exhibit excellent nasal absorption by nature, that is, a drug which is not high in water solubility nor high in lipophilicity, a drug which is a non-peptide/non-proteinaceous drug, etc.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a composition for nasal administration which is described in the above objects and at the same time excellent in safety.
The inventors of the present invention have zealously pursued studies for achieving the above-mentioned tasks and completed the present invention by finding that one can provide a new powdery composition for nasal administration excellent in absorption through the nasal mucosa by using a pair of base materials of specific kinds and having a specific composition and by specifying the state of existence of a main drug in the base materials, even for the drug having low absorption through the nasal mucosa or a non-peptide/non-proteinaceous drug.

Powdery composition for nasal administration