A roots pump has a housing, a plurality of rotary shafts, a rotor, a confluent passage and a closed space. The housing forms therein a pump chamber. The rotary shafts are supported on the housing in parallel relation to each other. The rotor is mounted on each of the rotary shafts, and the rotors on any adjacent rotary shafts are in engagement with each other. A set of the engaged rotors is accommodated in the pump chamber. The confluent passage is formed along one crossing line of paired imaginary swept peripheral surfaces in one-to-one correspondence with the paired and engaged rotors. The closed space is formed in one-to-one correspondence with each of the paired rotors between the paired rotors and paired peripheral wall surfaces which form the pump chamber. The closed space initially joins the confluent passage from a terminal end thereof with rotation of the paired rotors.

The present invention relates to a roots pump having a plurality of rotary shafts arranged in parallel relation to each other and a rotor arranged on each of the rotary shafts, wherein the rotors on any two adjacent rotary shafts are engaged with each other and a set of engaged rotors are accommodated in a pump chamber which is formed in the roots pump.
In a roots pump, or a kind of vacuum pump, as disclosed in Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. 2002-221178, a set of two rotors are rotated in engagement with each other. The rotation of the two engaged rotors transfers gas while simultaneously compressing the same. The roots pump having plural sets of such two rotors has a passage formed in an end wall which partitions any two adjacent pump chambers which are arranged in the axial direction of the rotary shaft for transferring the gas from a large-volume pump chamber to a smaller-volume pump chamber.
The roots pump has a closed space formed between the rotor and a peripheral wall surface of the pump chamber facing the rotor, and such closed space communicates with the other closed space formed between the other rotor and the other peripheral wall surface of the same pump chamber facing the other rotor. The passage in the end wall communicates with this confluent space (a confluent passage in the present invention), and gas in the confluent space flows into the passage in the end wall.
When a roots pump is used as a vacuum pump in a film production process for manufacturing semiconductor, such as process for forming nitriding film, reaction product flows into the roots pump with gas. When this reaction product is accumulated in a pump chamber of the roots pump, operation of the roots pump may become disabled. Therefore, there has been a need for preventing reaction product from being accumulated in a roots pump.


An aberration correction system for use in an electron microscope and which produces a negative spherical aberration and corrects a higher-order aberration. The aberration correction system has three stages of multipole elements which, respectively, produce fields of 3-fold symmetry with respect to the optical axis. Any two stages of multipole elements are disposed in directions not to cancel out the 3-fold fields. However, the three stages of multipole elements are so disposed as to cancel out 3-fold astigmatisms.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an aberration correction system for use in a transmission electron microscope and, more particularly, to an aberration correction system using three stages of multipole elements each producing a field of 3-fold symmetry.
2. Description of Related Art
One of the factors that limit the spatial resolution of an electron microscope is a variety of aberrations in the optical system. Especially, spherical aberration, which is one of such aberration, limits the spatial resolution because an axisymmetric lens always has a positive spherical aberration coefficient. This creates an intrinsic problem.
This problem has been dealt with in A. V. Crewe and D. Kopf, Optik, Vol. 55 (1980), pp. 1-10, where a result of a theoretical analysis has been shown. That is, a single stage hexapole element having a thickness along the optical axis has a negative spherical aberration coefficient. This suggests that spherical aberration can be reduced by introducing a hexapole element into the optical system. Subsequently, it has been pointed out that if only the single stage hexapole element is used, a second-order aberration occurs. Accordingly, incorporating a single stage hexapole element in a transmission electron microscope results in low usefulness. However, the fact that a hexapole element produces a negative spherical aberration coefficient is very useful to correction of spherical aberration. Techniques for reducing spherical aberration using hexapole elements have been improved further.
An example in which an aberration correction system equipped with a hexapole element having a negative spherical aberration and a thickness along the optical axis is applied to a transmission electron microscope is proposed in H. Rose, Optik, Vol. 85 (1990), pp. 19-24. This aberration correction system has a first transfer lens, a first hexapole element, a second transfer lens, and a second hexapole element arranged in turn. In this system, each transfer lens has two axisymmetric lenses.
An aberration correction system having two stages of multipole elements each having a thickness along the optical axis is shown in JP-A-2003-92078. This system has two stages of multipole elements (e.g., hexapole elements) and a transfer lens interposed between them. Each multipole element produces a field of 3-fold symmetry, generating a 3-fold astigmatism and a negative spherical aberration.
In the system of the above-cited JP-A-2003-92078, the rear stage of multipole element operates to cancel out the 3-fold astigmatism produced by the front stage multipole element and, therefore, the whole optical system produces a negative spherical aberration. Consequently, where an axisymmetric lens (e.g., an objective lens) producing a positive spherical aberration is disposed ahead of or behind the system, the spherical aberration in the whole optical system is reduced.
However, the above-described aberration-correcting techniques correct aberrations only up to the fourth order and cannot achieve complete correction of higher-order aberrations. For example, fifth-order spherical aberration can be corrected by optically controlling the distance between the objective lens and the aberration corrector but astigmatism of the same order (i.e., 6-fold astigmatism) cannot be corrected. Because this is a factor limiting aberration correction, it cannot be expected that the spatial resolution will be improved further.
An actual multipole element has a finite thickness along the optical axis. Where this multipole element produces a magnetic or electric field with 3-fold symmetry, if the spherical aberration is corrected by the multipole element, higher-order aberrations dependent on the thickness are induced. Furthermore, the combination of the two stages produces higher-order aberrations. Consequently, the range of incident angles of the electron beam that can be aberration-corrected is limited. This limitation makes it difficult to reduce diffraction aberration.
This limitation to the angles is further described by referring to the Ronchigram of FIG. 7. This diagram is obtained when an electron beam passing through two stages of multipole elements is corrected for aberrations, each of the multipole elements producing a magnetic field of 3-fold symmetry with respect to the optical axis. A low-contrast region appearing in the center of the diagram corresponds to the angle of incidence of the electron beam on each multipole element, the beam having been appropriately corrected for aberrations. Where a maximum value of the angle of incidence is roughly described, a maximum circle centered at the central point of the region and including only the region is fitted. The angle of incidence of the electron beam is computed from the radius of the circle. It can be seen from the diagram of FIG. 7 that the maximum incident angle of the electron beam that has been appropriately corrected for aberrations is about 50 mrad.
However, where regions located around the circle are noticed, one can observe that a region where an amorphous image is seen is hexagonal, because the fifth-order aberration, or the sixth-order astigmatism, is left as a residual aberration. In the case of the multipole elements producing the diagram of FIG. 7, the angle of incidence of the electron beam that can be corrected for aberrations is 50 mrad at maximum. It is difficult to appropriately correct the electron beam having a greater angle of incidence for aberrations. Accordingly, if one tries to reduce diffraction aberration, the spatial resolution is limited due to the limitation on the angle of incidence.
Higher-order aberrations (6-fold astigmatisms) produced from multipole elements that generate fields of 3-fold symmetry is induced because the magnetic or electric fields are distributed in directions to cancel out their mutual astigmatisms of 3-fold symmetry. That is, if multipole elements are rotated relative to each other such that each multipole element is rotated through 60° or 180° relative to the magnetic or electric field as in the prior art, higher-order aberrations are produced.


Circuit having a bus, a first receiver circuit part coupled to the bus for processing a signal on the bus, a second receiver circuit part coupled to the bus for processing a signal on the bus, a transmitter circuit part coupled to the bus for outputting a signal on the bus, and a unit for preventing processing a signal on the bus by the first receiver circuit part in response to a control signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to bus systems and circuits with a bus, respectively, more specifically to circuits with a bus with several receivers and particularly to bus systems where at least, among other things, secret data, such as amounts of money, cryptographic keys or the like are transmitted on the bus, such as it is the case, for example, with cryptocontrollers in chip cards or smart cards.
2. Description of the Related Art
One example for a possible bus system and a circuit with a bus, respectively, is shown in FIG. 6. The circuit, generally indicated by 900, comprises a transmitter circuit part 902 and three receiver circuit parts 904a, 904b and 904c. Every circuit part 902 and 904a-904c, respectively, comprises an n-bit data input. Every circuit part 902, 904a-904 is coupled to bus 906 via its data input. Particularly, the receiver circuit part 904a is connected to an n-bit terminal 908a, the receiver circuit part 904b is connected to an n-bit terminal 908b, the receiver circuit part 904c is connected to an n-bit terminal 908c and the transmitter circuit part 902 is connected to a n-bit bus terminal 908d of the bus 906. Every receiver circuit part 904a-904c comprises a logic 910a, 910b and 910c, respectively, whose n-bit data input is connected via an n-bit input register 912a, 912b and 912c, respectively, to the respective data input of the receiver circuit part 904a-904c and the bus terminal 908a-908c, respectively. Every register 912a-912c has an enable and a toggle input, respectively, which is connected to a bus control 914.
In the exemplary bus system 900 of FIG. 6, the transmitter circuit part 902 outputs a data representing signal unspecifically on the bus 906. The signal reaches every bus terminal, particularly every bus terminal 908a-908c of the receiver circuit parts 904a-904c. From there, the signal reaches the input registers 912a-912c of the individual receiver circuit parts 904a-904c unhindered, to be latched and entered there, respectively. In the next clock cycle, the bus control 914 provides that among the input registers 912a-912c only those output their register content to the subsequent logic 910a-910c, which belong to the receiver circuit part 904a, 904c, which is the addressee of the signal output by the transmitter 902 on the bus 906. Therefore, the bus control 914 transmits the enable and toggle signal, respectively, to the input register and the input registers, respectively, of the addressee and the addressee circuit parts, respectively.
A bus system as the one of FIG. 6 cannot simply be used when both non security critical and security critical data are transmitted via the bus 906. In cryptography, for example, data that can be used for a DPA (differential power analysis) attack is processed in chip cards, smart cards or the same. In DPA attacks, the fact is utilized that processing a signal in a circuit influences the current consumption of the circuit, i.e. that the current consumption correlates with the input data. In DPA attacks, several different data are fed subsequently to the circuit, such as the cryptocontroller of a chip card, which processes the same then in the same way and, for example, with the same cryptokey. The current consumption curve of the circuit is measured each time. With regard to the measurement results, the correctness of a hypothesis for secure data, such as the cryptokey for an encryption implemented by the circuit, is checked by using a statistical analysis of the current and power consumption, respectively.
In the circuit 900 of FIG. 6, it is the case that all data output on the bus 906 is definitely first stored once in the input registers 912a-912c. These latching processes show in the current and power consumption, respectively, of the circuit 900 by overlaying, for example due to the switching processes in utilized transistors from the D flip flops underlying the registers. If the circuit 900 processes a different input value fed by the attacker, the signals and data, respectively, output on the bus 906 change during the processing by the circuit 900. When no counter measures are taken in the bus system 900 of FIG. 6, a DPA attack is successful, even when the logics 910a-910c are themselves embodied DPA secure.
One possibility for warding off DPA attacks is the usage of a dual rail precharge logic and bus. In these logics, every bit is transmitted on two bit lines. The bit value 0 corresponds to a logical 1 on the one and a logical 0 on the other bit line and rail, respectively, while the bit value 0 corresponds to the inverted distribution, i.e. a logic 0 on the one and a logic 1 on the other rail. Thus, consequently, a bit change always leads to a change from logic high to logic low and vice versa. Correspondingly, registers in the dual rail logic comprise twice as many cells and flip flops, respectively, as usually, i.e. 2n cells for an n-bit value, and the bus is twice as wide, 2n-bit wide. When they latch a small n-bit value, half of all register cells have always a logic low state and the other half a logic high state. In order to take away the possibility from the attacker to ascertain which bits change between subsequent n-bit values stored in the register, a precharge is performed prior to every register entry, where all register lines are brought to a logic low or a logic high state. Consequently, in every register entry, always n register cell state changes take place.
As has already been mentioned, it is not sufficient to perform those logics DPA secure in dual rail precharge logic in the circuit 900, which subject the security critical data, which could be used for a DPA attack, to the actual operations. Rather, the data is already "processed" earlier in the input registers 912a-912c. One possibility to implement the circuit 900 DPA secure is to embody all input registers 912a-912c DPA secure in dual rail precharge logic at the input stages of the receiver circuit parts 904a-904c. One disadvantage of this solution is, however, that there is a significant overhead of area, development time and current consumption. As has already been mentioned, twice the number of register lines would have to be used for the input registers. Additionally, a precharge cycle would have to be performed prior to every register entry, i.e. prior to every data output on the bus 906, which means additional current consumption.


The present invention relates to an improved image improvement apparatus which can be applied to video apparatus and to various other types of image processing apparatus. This invention has as an object the emphasis of the edge directly adding a waveform step difference to a middle position of a waveform change portion of an envelope of color signals in the form where they have been amplitude modulated, and therefore provides an apparatus which prevents unnatural contour compensation, improves color saturation phenomenon without giving an unnatural sensation to the viewer, facilitates the use of digital circuits and for which adjustment of the edge effect is possible. The control signals are obtained by control signal generating circuit and subtracters which use the input signals, output signals of a delay circuit, and output signals of a delay circuit. The output signals of a synthesizer are supplied to a signal selector circuit along with said signals. The signal selector circuit selects and outputs one of the three supplied signals in accordance with a control signal, and obtains an output signal for which the edge has been emphasized. The input signals, and each of the output signals of the delay circuits are supplied to a signal selector circuit. The control signal formation circuit and the subtracters use the signals to obtain the control signals. The signal selector circuit selects and outputs one of the supplied five signals in accordance with the control signal and obtains an output signal for which the edge has been emphasized.

The present invention relates to picture quality improving apparatus applicable to various video devices and apparatus such as television (TV) image receiving apparatus, video tape recorders (VTR) and the like, and various image processing apparatus handling image data and the like. More particularly, the present invention relates to picture quality improving apparatus applicable to digital circuits and capable of improving a distinction and a resolution of represented images by means of an improvement of a color blur phenomenon. The improvement is performed by stressing an envelope edge of a chrominance signal whose amplitude is modulated such that a person watching a picture feels an intact picture without a sense of incongruity.
There has been conventionally performed contour compensation used for improving a picture quality in which a contour compensation component is obtained by a quadratic differential calculation to add the proper quantity of the component to an original signal. In contour compensation by the above method, a quadratic differential waveform as a contour compensation component has a peak which is considerably outside a midpoint of a change portion (edge portion) of a waveform of the original signal. Accordingly, when the quadratic differential waveform is added to the original signal, it is possible to generate a preshoot and an overshoot so as not to obtain a picture improving effect at a desired degree. Furthermore, it is possible to perform artificial contour compensation in that an edging of other colors such as white and black occurs at edges of the reproduced picture.

Picture quality improving apparatus for compensating contour of images


The present invention provides a linear lighting device which includes an elongated light guide, a light source disposed at an end in a longitudinal direction of the light guide, and a case accommodating the light guide and the light source. In the linear lighting device, the light guide has a plurality of grooves arranged in the longitudinal direction of the light guide, and has a stepped cutout at the other end on an opposite side from the end, and a protruding portion protruding into the cutout is formed on an inner surface of the case which faces the cutout.

These days, there are more opportunities to use LEDs for automobile lighting. Since the LEDs are a directional point-like light source, they are used as light sources for vehicle interior lighting or vehicle exterior lighting by changing a lighting condition (lighting pattern) by using a lens or a light guide. FIG. 1 shows various examples of lighting applications in which a light source and an illumination target (an object to be illuminated) are located close to each other, such as lighting inside storage spaces such as a glove compartment and a cup holder, interior foot lighting, lighting for operating portions such as switches, mood lighting for improved appearance or decoration of an instrument panel, a trim, etc., and various types of illumination. Such lighting applications do not require so much light. Accordingly, an illumination mode different from conventional examples can be implemented and improved design can be achieved by converting point-like light emission of the LEDs to linear light by a light guide. For example, Patent Literatures 1 to 4 are known as such linear lighting devices using a linear light guide.


A low profile stepped delivery system for retracting trigger wires from a prosthesis to release the prosthesis from a delivery device. A rod is disposed within an axial bore of a handle. The rod has a first longitudinal surface and a second longitudinal surface. A first engagement mechanism is disposed on the first longitudinal surface and a second engagement mechanism disposed on the second longitudinal surface. A wire coiling assembly is disposed at an end of the of the handle and comprises a first rotary gear that is adapted to be rotated by the first engagement mechanism, a second rotary gear that is adapted to be rotated by the second engagement mechanism, a first wire spool that is coupled to a rotation of the first rotary gear, and a second wire spool that is coupled to the rotation of second rotary gear. The first wire spool is configured to secure a first trigger wire and the second wire spool is configured to secure a second trigger wire.

This invention relates to medical devices and, in particular, to devices, systems, and methods for actuating a plurality of trigger wires for delivery of an endoluminal prosthesis, such as a stent graft delivered in a body lumen.
Deploying an endoluminal prosthesis into a vessel of a patient from a location outside the body is generally known. An endoluminal prosthesis, such as a stent or stent graft, is typically introduced into a vessel in a radially constrained state. Once the endoluminal prosthesis is positioned, it can then be deployed within the vessel by actuation of a trigger wire system.
An endoluminal prosthesis may be either self-expanding or balloon-expandable, or it can have characteristics of both types. A self-expanding endoluminal prosthesis may be delivered to a target site in a compressed configuration and subsequently expanded by removing a delivery sheath, removing trigger wires, and/or releasing diameter reducing ties. With a self-expanding endoluminal prosthesis, the endoluminal prosthesis expands primarily based on its own expansive force without the need for further mechanical expansion. In an endoluminal prosthesis made of a shape-memory alloy such as nitinol, the shape-memory alloy may be employed to cause the endoluminal prosthesis to return to a predetermined configuration upon removal of the sheath or other device maintaining the endoluminal prosthesis in its pre-deployment configuration.
When trigger wires are used as a deployment control mechanism for a stent graft, the trigger wires may releasably couple the proximal and/or distal ends of a stent to a delivery catheter. For example, one or more trigger wires may be used to retain a stent graft at one or both ends to a delivery device. For example, one or more trigger wires may be looped through a portion of a stent or the graft at one or both ends of the prosthesis prosthesis. For example, a stent graft may have proximal and/distal stents having apices. The trigger wires may be disposed through, and pull upon, one or more of the apices to pull the stent closely against the delivery catheter. Alternatively, the trigger wires may run through one or more sutures which are attached to one or more apices of the stent, such as disclosed and shown in U.S. Publication No. 2008/0140178, and in particular FIGS. 3-8 and accompanying text, which disclosure is incorporated by reference in its entirety.
An endoluminal prosthesis is typically introduced into a vessel via a delivery device. Such a delivery device may include a cover or sheath that covers the endoluminal prosthesis. The sheath covering the endoluminal prosthesis is then manipulated within the vessel to a target location for deployment. The sheath is retracted such that it no longer covers the endoluminal prosthesis, allowing the endoluminal prosthesis to expand. The sheath is typically retracted by manually pulling the sheath back in a distal direction. The sheath may also be retracted through the use of at least one trigger wire. The trigger wire may pull on the sheath.
Trigger wires extending from a distal end of the delivery device to the prosthesis may then be retracted by simply pulling on them to release the ends of the prosthesis from the delivery device. The trigger wires can be manipulated from the distal end of the delivery device.


In some examples, a system receives data from peripheral devices connected to respective point-of-sale (POS) base terminals, the data captured using agents executing in the POS base terminals during periods of reduced activity of the POS base terminals. Based on processing the received data, the system determines linkage of peripheral devices to the POS base terminals, and determines, for a first POS base terminal, swapping of a first peripheral device with a second peripheral device. The system generates an output indicating that the first peripheral device has been swapped with the second peripheral device, and identifies an issue associated with a POS base terminal or a peripheral device, and trigger a remediation action to address the issue.

A point-of-sale (POS) device can be used in a retail or other setting to scan items and collect payments for the items. The POS device can include a scanner to scan an identifier of an item. The POS device can include a reader to interact with a payment device, such as a credit or debit card, a smartphone or wearable device loaded with a payment application, a smartcard, and so forth.
Throughout the drawings, identical reference numbers designate similar, but not necessarily identical, elements. The figures are not necessarily to scale, and the size of some parts may be exaggerated to more clearly illustrate the example shown. Moreover, the drawings provide examples and/or implementations consistent with the description; however, the description is not limited to the examples and/or implementations provided in the drawings.

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A virtual cartridge autoloader system is provided. A first autoloader device has multiple cartridge holders. Each cartridge holder is configured for electrical communication with removable data cartridges having electronic interfaces. The first autoloader device performs virtual loading functions on the removable data cartridges using an electronic switch. A second autoloader device distinct from the first autoloader device is electrically interfaced with the first autoloader device. The second autoloader device also has multiple cartridge holders, each of which also is configured for electrical communication with removable data cartridges having electronic interfaces. The second autoloader device also performs virtual loading functions on the removable data cartridges using an electronic switch. A controller is configured to receive media changer commands from a host computer for the first autoloader device and for the second autoloader device. The autoloaders may thereby be operated as a single device.

The present invention generally relates to data storage devices. More specifically, the present invention relates to removable cartridge storage devices.
Computer backup has traditionally been performed using tape drive technologies. Tape drive technologies have been popular in the use of backup systems for a variety of reasons. One reason is that tape media has generally had the lowest cost per bit of storage. Additionally, tape devices use removable tape cartridges, which may be taken to an off-site location to provide for disaster recovery. A third reason tape devices are popular is because of the long-term archive characteristics of tape media.
As the storage capacity in stand-alone and networked computers has increased, so have the demands on backup systems. One of the current trends is the use of mechanical automation systems, such as tape cartridge autoloaders and robotic tape libraries, to expand the capacity of the backup system. The cartridge autoloaders and tape libraries hold multiple removable tape cartridges. One or more tape drives is embedded inside a storage area containing one or more magazines of tape cartridges. These systems also include a mechanical system to automate the cartridge changing operation. The mechanical system is used to load and unload the cartridges between the magazines and the tape drives.
A prior art tape cartridge autoloader that may be used to automate cartridge changing operations is illustrated in FIG. 1. The tape autoloader 100 includes at least one tape drive 120. Multiple storage slots 111-117 are used to house tape cartridges 101-107. The storage slots 111-117 may be part of a removable magazine to facilitate the loading and unloading of cartridges.
A motorized mechanism 130 is used to move the tape cartridges 101-107 to and from the tape drive 120. The motorized mechanism may also optionally be used to move cartridges to and from an access opening (not shown) to the tape autoloader 100, which may be used to enter and remove tape cartridges 101-107 into the tape autoloader 100. The motorized mechanism 100 may include a cartridge picker arm 134 and a picker motor 132 to operate the cartridge picker arm 134. A drive motor 136 is used to drive the motorized mechanism 130.
The tape autoloader 100 typically has at least two interfaces 152, 154 to host computer 150. By way of example, interfaces 152, 154 may be Small Computer System Interfaces (SCSI) or Fiber Channel (FC)interfaces. An interface 154 is provided for each tape drive 120 included in the tape autoloader. This interface 154 may be referred to as the "data path" interface and is used to send data and tape drive commands to a system controller component of tape drive 120. The tape autoloader 100 may include multiple tape drives and the data path interfaces to each tape drive may be coupled to different host computers. A second interface 152 (also called the "control path") is used to send control commands to the autoloader mechanism controller 140, such as load, unload, and audit commands. The autoloader mechanism controller 140 includes electronics and software used to actuate the motorized mechanism 130 f 6 r movement of tape cartridges 101-107 and auditing of the tape autoloader 100. The control path interface 152 may be coupled to a second host computer. Some prior art tape autoloaders combine the functions of the "data path" and "control path" interfaces into a single physical interface.
The autoloader mechanism controller 140 is also communicatively coupled to tape drive 120 for communications between these components. Although multiple tape drives in the tape autoloader 100 may be operated in parallel, the mechanical system 130 used to load and unload cartridges can only move a single cartridge at a time. A separate "data path" interface to host computer 150 is required for each tape drive 120, as each tape drive has its own system controller.
As can be appreciated from the above description, the tape cartridge autoloader 100 can only hold a predetermined number of data cartridges 111-117. Other types of prior art autoloader devices (e.g., optical autoloader devices) also have the same limitation. Although these systems come in may different sizes and cartridge capacities, buyers may face a difficult dilemma when determining the capacity of the device that will best meet organizational requirements. Buyers may choose to either purchase a smaller capacity autoloader device to meet current needs and replace the device when capacity requirements increase or may choose to purchase a larger capacity device to meet future expected capacity requirements. The first alternative is disruptive when the organization/application upgrades to a larger capacity device and more costly since two devices are purchased. The second alternative has a high initial cost which may not be affordable or may be perceived to be unnecessary as larger capacity requirements may not be anticipated.

Extendable virtual autoloader systems and methods


A method and device of nanostructured titania that is crack free. A method in accordance with the present invention comprises depositing a Ti film on a surface, depositing a masking layer on the Ti film, etching said masking layer to expose a limited region of the Ti film, the limited region being of an area less than a threshold area, oxidizing the exposed limited region of the Th.ucsbi film, and annealing the exposed limited region of the Ti film.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a method of forming patterned nanostructured titania (NST) features, and in particular for forming NST features for various electronic applications such as chemical sensing, wear-resistant electrical contacts and photovoltaics.
2. Description of the Related Art
Patterned nanoporous titania (NST) thin films are well known in many prior reports. For instance, NST has been used in chemical detection systems, catalysis and solar energy conversion. In one widely used conventional method (called the sol-gel method), patterned features of TiO2 are made by the hydrolysis and condensation of metal alkoxide precursors. The metal alkoxide precursors, in liquid form, are deposited on a substrate and subsequently decomposed to form a titania gel film. Various techniques have been used to pattern the TiO2 film such as reactive ion etching, embossing and laser trimming. It is noted that except reactive ion etching, other techniques used with this method are not compatible with high-volume semiconductor manufacturing processes. Patterning of the TiO2 film is done either before or after an annealing step in which the film is heated at elevated temperature to convert the amorphous titania gel into crystalline TiO2. In addition, special precautions are usually required to ensure crack formation does not occur and carbon, from the organic precursors, is not incorporated in or on the nanostructured titania features.
In another known method, paste containing titanium dioxide powders is screen printed at desired locations on components using hard mask; example metal mask. The use of hard mask means that accurate alignment techniques are needed to deposit the paste at desired locations on the substrate. Also the probability of adjacent paste developing bridges increases as the pitch decreases, thus lowering process yield.
In yet another known method, self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) are selectively deposited at locations on which TiO2 pads are desired. Selective deposition of TiO2 films occurs by interactions of functional group of the self-assembled monolayers with Ti-containing precursors. Because surface coverage of SAM is, in most cases, not high, this method results in poor yield especially when large-area substrates are used. In addition, relatively long time—up to a few hours—is required for deposition of TiO2 using this method. In addition, edge acuity, or the ratio of standard deviation to the mean of a sample of pattern widths, of titania features formed using this technique is relatively poor, namely, about 2.1% in the state of the art. This latter problem makes it extremely difficult to use this method to form submicrometer features with very small separation.
With the persistent effort to trim cost and the ever-pervading trend of miniaturizing electronic components, the electronics industry is constantly moving towards using larger diameter wafers to increase yield and hence drive cost down, and making features on integrated circuits smaller and closer to each other. It is, therefore, becoming increasingly difficult to form miniaturized features of porous TiO2 in integrated circuitry.
Formation of porous titania by reacting aqueous hydrogen peroxide (aq. H2O2) solution with thick Ti sheets, Ti powder and unpatterned Ti films is already known in prior art scientific literature. Similarly, formation of a porous titania layer by reacting Ti with aqueous NaOH solutions had been reported. However, in all these cases, titania layers formed by reacting aqueous hydrogen peroxide have high crack density and delaminated extensively from the underlying substrate making them unsuitable for applications in integrated microelectronic circuits.
It can be seen, then, that there is a need in the art for titania layers in microelectronic applications. It can also be seen that there is a need in the art for titania layers that are easily produced that do not have high crack densities and do not delaminate from the underlying substrate.

The Regents of the University of California


A flip chip package includes a chip having a surface, main bumps disposed on a first region of the surface of the chip, dummy bumps disposed on a second region of the surface of the chip, a substrate having a surface, dams disposed on the surface of the substrate, connection pads disposed on the surface of the substrate and electrically connected to respective ones of the main bumps, and adhesion patterns attaching the dummy bumps to respective ones of the dams.

1. Technical Field
Various embodiments of the present disclosure relate to semiconductor packages and, more particularly, to flip chip packages, electronic systems including the same, and memory cards including the same.
2. Related Art
Advanced materials, advanced devices, advanced modules and advanced substrates, which are capable of processing data at a high speed in a high frequency bandwidth, are increasingly desirable with development of information/communication technology and digital technology. Particularly, in a mobile telecommunication area, because mobile telecommunication systems become smaller with a multi-band characteristic and a high operation speed, semiconductor chips employed in the mobile telecommunication systems become more highly integrated. Accordingly, various packaging technologies have been developed to produce lighter, smaller, and thinner semiconductor packages. Recently, development of the packaging technologies has been concentrated on chip size packages (CSPs) and wafer level packages (WLPs).
In general, packages are fabricated by electrically connecting a chip to a package substrate through bonding wires and by encapsulating the chip and the bonding wires using a molding process. Recently, however, a flip chip is mounted on a package substrate and is electrically connected to the package substrate through bumps disposed between the flip chip and the package substrate to realize a flip chip package. In such a flip chip package, lengths of electrical connection paths between the chip and the package substrate may be reduced to improve electrical characteristics of the flip chip package. Moreover, the number of input/output (I/O) pins of the flip chip package may be increased for a given area to realize a high performance package.

Flip chip packages having chip fixing structures, electronic systems including the same, and memory cards including the same


In a legged mobile robot (1), an elastic member (382) is installed at a position between a second joint (18, 20) connecting a distal end of a leg (2) and a foot (22) and a floor contact end of the foot, and a displacement sensor (70) is installed in a space defined by a top-to-bottom height of the elastic member. With this, it becomes possible to make the displacement sensor including its components such as the converter or the like compact enough to be housed in the elastic member at the limited space of the foot of the legged mobile robot. Further, it is arranged to self-diagnose abnormality of the displacement sensor by utilizing the redundancy of freedom, and also to detect the floor reaction force accurately such that the legged mobile robot can be controlled to walk more stably.

In legged mobile robots, in particular, in biped mobile robots of humanoid type, a sensor is installed at each foot to detect displacement of the foot at foot landing or floor reaction force acting on the robot from a floor surface which the robot contacts and based on the detected values, control is appropriately performed to achieve stable walking.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. Hei 5(1993)-305584 proposes a technique to install the floor reaction force sensor at each robot foot. In the prior art, a six-axis force sensor is installed between an ankle joint and a floor contact end of each foot of a biped mobile robot of humanoid type to detect the floor reaction force acting on the foot.
Further, Journal of the Robotics Society of Japan Vol. 13, No. 7, pp. 1030–1037 (October, 1995) proposes a technique to install a displacement sensor detecting the displacement of the feet. In the prior art, a foot of a similar legged mobile robot is made of an upper foot plate and a lower foot plate connected by wire to sandwich a shock absorber therebetween. Sensing elements, partial components of potentiometers (displacement sensors), are disposed at four corners of the upper foot plate, and a converter is installed at its upstream such that distance (displacement) between the upper and lower foot plates is detected through the sensing elements. In this manner, it is detected whether the foot has landed and there is a height difference (irregularity) at a landed floor area.
In the feet of the legged mobile robots, in particular, of the biped mobile robots of humanoid type, it is necessary to install an appropriate guide member to prevent the supporting leg from spinning about the vertical axis due to reaction force of swinging the free leg during robot walking. At the same time, the feet must have certain elasticity to absorb and mitigate the impact at foot landing of the free leg.
When the sensor is thus installed at each foot of the legged mobile robot, in particular, of the biped mobile robots of humanoid type, since space at the feet is limited, only the sensing elements, a partial component of the sensor, are disposed at an elastic member. However, displacement sensors should preferably include the other components such as a converter or the like and be compact enough to be installed there.

Legged mobile robot and floor reaction force detection system thereof


Compounds of the formula

The present invention is directed to novel heteroaryl-naphthalenyl-alkylamines, their salts, processes for their preparation, and compositions comprising them. The novel compounds of this invention are useful in inhibiting the cytochrome P450RAI enzyme (Cyp26) in animals, including humans, for the treatment and/or prevention of various diseases and conditions that respond to treatment by retinoids and by naturally occurring retinoic acid.
Retinoic acid, retinoid-like compounds, and pharmaceutical compositions comprising retinoic acid or rectinoid-like compounds as the active ingredient are known in the art to play a significant role in the regulation and differentiation of epithelial cells. Such regulatory and differentiating effects, which include the ability to promote cell differentiation, apoptosis, and the inhibition of cell proliferation, make retinoic acid and retinoid compounds useful agents in tumor therapy and in treating such conditions as skin-related diseases. Retinoids and retinoid compounds are known as agents for treating skin-related diseases such as actinic keratoses, arsenic keratoses, inflammatory and non-inflammatory acne, psoriasis, ichthyoses, keratinization and hyperproliferative disorders of the skin, eczema, atopic dermatitis, Darriers disease, lichen planus; for preventing, treating, and reversal of glucocorticoid, age, and photo damage to the skin. Retinoids and retinoid compounds are also known as topical anti-microbial and skin antipigmentation agents. Retinoids, with their ability to serve as differentiating agents, redirect cells towards their normal phenotype and therefore may reverse or suppress developing malignant lesions or prevent cancer invasions altogether. Therefore, retinoid compounds are useful for the prevention and treatment of cancerous and precancerous conditions, including, for example, premalignant and malignant hyperproliferative diseases such as cancers of the breast, skin, prostate, colon, bladder, cervix, uterus, stomach, lung, esophagus, blood and lymphatic system, larynx, oral cavity, metaplasias, dysplasias, neoplasias, leukoplakias and papillomas of the mucous membranes, and in the treatment of Kaposi's sarcoma. In addition, retinoid compounds can be used as agents to treat diseases of the eye, including, for example, proliferative vitreoretinopathy, retinal detachment, corneopathies such as dry eye, as well as in the treatment and prevention of various cardiovascular diseases, including, without limitation, diseases associated with lipid metabolism such as dyslipidemias, prevention of post-angioplasty restenosis and as an agent to increase the level of circulation tissue plasminogen activator. Other uses for retinoid compounds include the prevention and treatment of conditions and diseases associated with human papilloma virus (HPV), including warts, various inflammatory diseases such as pulmonary fibrosis, ileitis, colitis and Krohn's disease, neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and stroke, improper pituitary function, including insufficient production of growth hormone, modulation of apoptosis, including both the induction of apoptosis, restoration of hair growth, including combination therapies with the present compounds and other agents such as Minoxidil®, diseases associated with the immune systems, including use of the present compounds as immunosuppresant and immunostimulants, modulation of organ transplant rejection and facilitation of wound healing, including modulation of chelosis. Retinoid compounds have also been discovered to be useful in treating type II non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM).
Several compounds having retinoid-like activity are marketed under appropriate regulatory approvals in the United States of America and elsewhere as medicants for the treatment of several diseases responsive to treatment with retinoids. Retinoic acid (RA) itself is a naturally occurring retinoid, the biologically most active metabolite of vitamin A, is biosynthesized and present in a multitude of human and mammalian tissues and is known to play a crucial role in the regulation of gene expression, cellular differentiation, proliferation of epithelial cells, and other important biological processes in mammals including humans.
Retinoids have demonstrated reversal of malignant growth in vivo and in vitro and are effective as chemopreventive agents. Retinoids could successfully be used to treat oral leukoplakia, a potentially premalignant mucosal lesion, and the occurrence of second primary tumors following head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) could be inhibited or delayed. These second primary tumors, which occur at an incidence rate of 2-3% per year, are a major cause of death after surgical resection of early-stage head and neck cancer. Retinoid therapy has also been explored in the treatment of glioma tumors, primary and metastatic melanoma cells, and has shown anti-metastatic activities in rat invasive prostate adenocarcinoma cells. Retinoid leukemia therapy works through terminal differentiation and the eventual apoptotic death of leukemic cells and has been shown to result in complete remission in up to 90% of patients with Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia (APL).
Although treatment with retinoids is highly successful in inducing complete remission in APL, if maintained on retinoids alone, most patients will relapse within a few months. The clinical use of retinoic acid in the treatment of cancer has been significantly hampered by the prompt emergence of resistance, which is believed to be caused by increased retinoic acid metabolism. Retinoic acid is metabolized by Cyp26A1 (Cyp26), an inducible cytochrome P450 enzyme, that inactivates RA by oxidation of RA to 4-HO-atRA, 8-HO-atRA, and 4-oxo-atRA. The tightly controlled negative feedback mechanism limits the availability of RA and thereby limits its biological activity. Compounds have been identified that inhibit Cyp26 and therefore RA metabolism and have shown to enhance the antiproliferative effects of RA and cause an increase in endogenous levels of RA in plasma and in tissues.
Cyp26 inhibitors, also known as retinoic acid metabolism-blocking agents (RAMBAs), are known and include, for example, Liarozole (Liazal™) and R116010. Such Cyp26 inhibitors have demonstrated therapeutic benefits in dermatological and cancerous conditions in vitro, in vivo, and in clinical settings. In several preclinical tumor models, Liarozole displayed antitumoral properties which correlated with decreased endogenous retinoic acid metabolism and therefore, an increase in RA accumulation within tumor cells. In cancer patients, Liarozole has been shown to increase the half-life of orally administered RA and 13-cis-RA. Unfortunately, one of the limitations of Liarozole and many Cyp26 inhibitors described in the literature was their lack of specificity. Liarozole as well as other Cyp26 inhibitors inhibit other cytochrome P450-mediated reactions and are limited due to their lack of specificity towards other cytochrome P450 enzymes. This lack of specificity might explain the limited risk benefit ratio (the activity/toxicity ratio was considered insufficient by the FDA) observed in prostate cancer patients in the Liarozole phase III clinical trials. Therefore, there is clearly a need within retinoid therapy for Cyp26 inhibitors (RAMBA's) that are highly potent and selective that have greater selectivity to other cytochrome P450 enzymes, fewer side effects, and favorable drug-like properties including sufficient water solubility, bioavailability, sufficient pharmacokinetic properties, extraction ratios, and limited toxicity to balance the activity/toxicity ratio and for use in the treatment of various dermatological and cancerous conditions.
The present invention shows highly potent and selective novel heteroaryl-naphthalenyl-alkylamines Cyp26 inhibitors that provide therapeutic benefits in the treatment or prevention of the diseases and conditions which respond to treatment by retinoids or are controlled by natural retinoic acid. The perceived mode of action of these compounds is that by inhibiting the Cyp26 enzyme (CP450RAI [cytochrome P450 retinoic acid inducible]) that has been proven in the art to catabolyze natural retinoic acid, endogenous retinoic acid level is elevated to a level where desired therapeutic benefits are attained. The endogenous levels of all natural and synthetic retinoids which are metabolized by Cyp26 would be expected to increase from inhibition of Cyp26 by the novel heteroaryl-naphthalenyl-alkylamines Cyp26 inhibitors described in this invention. Co-administration with a composition of the natural or synthetic retinoids with the compounds, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, disclosed in this invention can increase the level of retinoids. The co-administration of the natural and synthetic retinoids, which are catabolized by Cyp26, with at least one compound disclosed in this invention is a method for treating skin-related or cancerous diseases to yield higher endogenous levels of the retinoids. The compounds of this invention are active at nanomolar concentrations and selectively and potently inhibit enzymes involved in retinoic acid catabolism and therefore result in the effective modulation of desirable levels of atRA.
The following publications describe or relate to the role of Cyp26 inhibitors and their ability to slow the catabolism of retinoic acid, thereby increasing endogenous retinoic acid levels, and their potential for the treatment of dermatological diseases and cancers:
Altucci, L. et. al. "Retinoic Acid-induced Apoptosis in Leukemia Cells is Mediated by Paracrine Action of Tumor-Selective Death Ligand Trail", Nature Med. 2001, 7, 680-686;
Altucci, L.; Gronemeyer, H. "The Promise of Retinoids to Fight Against Cancer", Nature Reviews (Cancer), 2001, 1, 181-193;
Winum, J. Y.; et. al. "Synthesis of New Targretin® Analogues that Induce Apoptosis in Leukemia HL-60 Cells", Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters, 2002, 12, 3529-3532.
Kuijpers, et. al. "The Effects of Oral Liarozole on Epidermal Proliferation and Differentiation in Severe Plaque Psoriasis are Comparable with Those of Acitretin", British Journal of Dermatology, 1998. 139, 380-389;
Van Wauwe, et. al. "Liarozole, an Inhibitor of Retinoic Acid Metabolism, Exerts Retinoid-Mimetic Effects in Vivo", The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, 1992, 261, 773-779.
Haque, M.; Andreola, F.; DeLuca, L. M. "The Cloning and Characterization of a Novel Cytochrome P450 Family, Cyp26, with Specificity towards Retinoic Acid", Nutri Rev. 1999, 56, 84-85.
Wouters, W. et. al. "Effects of Liarozole, a New Antitumoral Compound and Retinoic Acid-Induced Inhibition of Cell Growth and on Retinoic Acid Metabolism in MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cells", Cancer Res, 1992, 52, 2841-2846;
Freyne, E. et. al. "Synthesis of Liazal™, a Retinoic Acid Metabolism Blocking Agents (RAMBA) with Potential Clinical Applications in Oncology and Dermatology", Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters, 1998, 8, 267-272;
Miller, W. H. "The Emerging Role of Retinoids and Retinoic Acid Metabolism Blocking Agents in the Treatment of Cancer", Cancer, 1998, 83, 1471-1482;
Van Heusden J. et. al. "Inhibition of all-TRANS-retinoic Acid Metabolism by R116010 Induces Antitumor Activity", Br. J. Cancer, 2002, 86(4), 605-611;
Debruyne, F. J. M. et. al. "Liarozole-A Novel Treatment Approach for Advanced Prostate Cancer: Results of a Large Randomized Trial versus Cyproterone", Urology, 1998, 52, 72-81;
De Coster, R. et. al. "Experimental Studies with Liarozole (R75251): An Antitumor Agent which Inhibits Retinoic Acid Breakdown", J. Steroid Biochem. Molec. Biol. 1992, 43, 197-201;
Njar, V. C. O.; Brodie, A. M. H. "Inhibitors of Cytochrome P450 Enzymes: Their Role in Prostate Cancer Therapy", I Drugs, 1999, 1, 495-506;
Miller, V. A.; Rigas, J. R.; Muindi, J. F. R.; Tong, W. P.; Venkatraman, E.; Kris, M. G.; Warrell Jr. R. P. "Modulation of all-trans-retinoic acid pharmacokinetics by liarozole", Cancer Chemother. Pharmacol. 1994, 34, 522-526;
Muindi, J.; Frankel, S. R.; Miller Jr. W. H.; Jakubowski, A.; Scheinberg, D. A.; Young, C. W.; Dmitrovski, E.; Warrell, Jr. R. P. "Continuous treatment with all-trans-retinoic acid causes a progressive reduction in plasma drug concentrations: implications for relapse and retinoid 'resistance' in patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia", Blood. 1992, 79, 299-303;
Muindi, J F.; Scher, H. I.; Rigas, J. R.; Warrell Jr. R. P.; Young, C. W. "Elevated plasma lipid peroxide content correlates with rapid plasma clearance of all-trans-retinoic acid in patients with advanced cancer", Cancer Res. 1994, 54, 2125-2128.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,303,785B1 describes inhibitors of cytochrome P450RAI. International Patent Publication No. WO 99/29674 describes inhibitors of retinoic acid metabolism. International Patent Publication No. WO 01/30762A1 describes imidazol-4-ylmethanols used as inhibitors of steroid C17-20 Lyase.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,291,677 and 6,124,330 and International Patent Publication No. WO 02/03912 A2 describe inhibitors of cytochrome P450RAI. International Application No. PCT/US00/11833 describes PPAR agonists or antagonists. International Patent Publication No. WO 02/06281 describes selective β3 adrenergic receptor agonists. International Patent Publication No. WO 01/068647 describes an antiviral agent. International Patent Publication No. WO 01/062234 describes a farnesyl protein transferase inhibitor. International Patent Publication No. WO 01/055155 describes compounds which have antibacterial activities. International Patent Publication No. WO 01/044170 describes adamantine derivatives. International Patent Publication No. WO 01/000615 describes benzimidazoles. International Patent Publication No. WO 00/069843 describes compounds for the treatment of inflammations. International Patent Publication No. WO 00/043384 describes aromatic heterocyclic ureas as anti-inflammatory agents. Japanese Patent Publication No. JP 01/43635 describes benzimidazole compositions and derivatives. International Patent Publication No. WO 99/40092 describes GABAa agonists, antagonists or inverse agonists. International Patent Publication No. WO 99/376609 describes virucides used against cytomegalovirus. German Patent Publication No. DE 75/6388 describes substituted 2-aryl-4-amino-quinazolines. International Patent Publication No. WO 98/54168 describes 2-oxoimidazole derivatives. International Patent Publication No. WO 98/23593 describes inhibitors of apolipoprotein B and/or microsomal triglyceride transfer protein. U.S. Pat. No. 5,852,213 describes matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors of the MMP enzyme. U.S. Pat. No. 5,834,483 and International Patent Publication No. WO 97/37665 describes endothelin antagonists. International Patent Publication No. WO 97/24117 describes substituted hydroxamic acid compounds. International Patent Publication No. WO 95/29689 describes N-carboxyalkyl derivatives. U.S. Pat. No. 5,461,162 describes N-acyl auxilliary compounds. European Patent Publication No. 611,776 describes pseudopeptides with antiviral activity. European Patent Publication No. 569,220 describes organic sulfonamides. European Patent Publication No. 545,376 describes guanidinothiazoles. German Patent No. DE 4,201,435 describes trifluoromethyl ketones. German Patent No. DE 4,138,820 describes compounds used as herbicides. International Patent Publication No. WO 91/19717 describes phosphodiesterase inhibitors. European Patent Publication No. EP 437,729 describes peptide retroviral protease inhibitors. European Patent Publication No. EP 412,350 describes peptides as renin inhibitors. International Patent Publication No. WO 89/10919 describes carbostyril derivatives. International Patent Publication No. WO 00/064888 describes diaryl carboxylic acids and derivatives. WO 99/47497 describes naphthyl and indolyl acylsulfonamides. German Patent No. DE 4304650 describes benzimidazoles, xanthines, and analogs. International Patent Application No. PCT/CA99/00212 describes compounds used for treating or preventing prostaglandin mediated diseases.

Naphthylene derivatives as cytochrome P450 inhibitors

Abstract: Compounds of the formula

Abstract: and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein n1, n2, n3, n4, G1, Q1, Z, R1, R2, R3, R4a, R4b, R5a, and R5b are defined herein, inhibit the cytochrome P450RAI enzyme and are useful for the treatment and/or prevention of various diseases and conditions which respond to treatment by retinoids and by naturally occurring retinoic acid.


A sheet wrapping dispenser is arranged to support rotatively a roll of wrapping web material oriented for ease of severance and mounting of the organization relative to the support structure.

1. Field of the Invention
The field of invention relates to sheet dispensing apparatus, and more particularly pertains to a new and improved sheet wrapping dispenser apparatus wherein the same is arranged for the ease of mounting and dispensing of wrapping material from a web roll.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The dispensing and presentation of various sheet and film wrapping structure has been available in the prior art as exemplified by U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,166,589; 3,716,964; 3,477,656; and 3,516,615.
Accordingly, it may be appreciated there continues to be a need for a new and improved sheet wrapping dispenser apparatus as set forth by the instant invention which addresses both the problems of ease of use as well as effectiveness in construction in the mounting and presentation of sheet webbing to be dispensed and in this respect, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.


The electric cylinder consists of an electromotor 1, a plurality of parallel ball screws 4 connected to the electromotor 1 via transmission members 3, a plurality of ball nuts 5 mating with the ball screws 4, a slider 6 for consolidating the ball nuts 5 into one body, and a rod 7 fixedly mounted to the slider 6. The electric cylinder has a high thrust so that it can replace an oil pressure cylinder so that those cylinders used in a plant are unified into electric cylinders to achieve their efficient maintenance.

It is well known that cylinders are widely used in various plants. An oil-pressure cylinder is normally used when high thrust is needed to push a row of platform trucks, especially ones whose total weight exceeds one hundred tons. Electric cylinders are mainly used when no particularly high thrust is needed.
If the above-mentioned oil-pressure cylinder can be replaced by an electric cylinder, the cylinders used in a plant can be combined into one type of electric cylinder. Such unification is very advantageous for their maintenance.
However, the manufacture of a high-thrust electric cylinder with thrust high enough to replace the oil-pressure cylinder is very difficult, because ball screws for both high-load and small-lead use are seldom on the market and are rarely available. Moreover, due to extraordinarily high cost it is not practical to either manufacture ball screws by oneself or have them custom-made. Thus, the necessity of using both oil-pressure and elecric cylinders is unavoidable and causes great inconvenience in maintaining the cylinders.


An X-axis counter (101) and a Y-axis counter (102) detect velocities of the movement of a mouse in X-axis and Y-axis directions, respectively. A comparator (103) detects which of the velocities of the movement of the mouse in the X-axis and Y-axis directions is higher. An X-axis displacement amount correction data ROM (106) and a Y-axis displacement amount correction data ROM (107) correct a detection result by the X-axis counter (101) and a detection result by the Y-axis counter (102) with the same correction rate based upon detection results by the comparator (103) to output displacements in the X-axis and Y-axis directions.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a coordinate data generating apparatus, and more particularly, it relates to an apparatus for generating coordinate data for moving a cursor which appears on a screen of a display.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In data processors such as a personal computer, a television game machine, etc., increasingly complicated application softwares and game theories have promoted a necessity of rapid data input. A "mouse", namely, a coordinate data generating apparatus has been used to rapidly input data into such a data processor.
The mouse has a ball which rotates as the mouse moves, and it converts rotations of the ball into coordinate data in a two-dimensional plane and output the coordinate data. Specifically, the mouse detects rotations of the ball in two axial (X-axis and Y-axis) directions, and it outputs results of detection about both of the axes as coordinate data. A direction of the mouse and an amount of displacement of the mouse are expressed with a composite vector about the two axes. The data processor controls a position of a cursor on a screen of a display device like a CRT (cathode ray tube) display based upon the coordinate data received from the mouse. Controlling an amount of displacement of the cursor in this way, selection of a menu or command, plotting, etc. can be practiced rapidly.
In the case where the mouse is used to move the cursor on the screen, the cursor moves in proportion to the movement of the mouse. For example, assuming that the cursor moves by 5 cm when the mouse moves by 10 cm, the cursor moves by 10 cm when the mouse moves by 20 cm. In this case, even if the mouse moves quickly, an amount of displacement of the cursor simply depends upon an amount of displacement of the mouse. It is an annoying work for the operator to move mouse a long distance to move the cursor a long distance.
To overcome such disadvantage, there has been proposed a system for variably setting a rate of the displacement amount of the cursor to that of the mouse in accordance with a velocity of the moving mouse. This system is called "displacement amount varying system", which is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publications 117324/1985 and 131116/1986. In such a displacement amount varying system, the rate of the displacement amount of the cursor to that of the mouse is set small like 1:1 or 2:1 with a slow movement of the mouse, while the rate of the displacement amount of the cursor to that of the mouse is set large like 3:1, 4:1 or the like with a quick movement of the mouse. FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 are diagrams for explaining relations between the velocity of the moving mouse and the displacement amount of the cursor in the displacement amount varying system. As shown in FIG. 11, when the mouse moves slowly, a displacement amount of the cursor to that of the mouse is small. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 12, when the mouse moves quickly, the displacement amount of the cursor to that of the mouse is large. Thus, a quick movement of the mouse causes the cursor to move a long distance, and this requires only a small range for the mouse to move on a table.
In such a displacement amount varying system of the prior art, a correction of the displacement amount of the cursor according to the velocity of the moving mouse is controlled about one axis separately from the other. Specifically, in the prior art displacement amount varying system, the velocity of the moving mouse is found about X-axis and Y-axis directions, and the displacement amount of the cursor is corrected about one axial direction independent of the other in accordance with the velocity of the mouse moving in each axial direction. Hence, there arises problems as explained below when the cursor is moved diagonally across the screen of the display device.
FIGS. 13 and 14 are graphs showing relations between a vector of the movement of the mouse and a vector of the movement of the cursor. In FIGS. 13 and 14, broken line A represents the vector of the movement of the mouse while solid line B represents the vector of the movement of the cursor.
FIG. 13 shows a case where an angle .theta. between the X-axis and the vector A of the movement of the mouse is smaller than 45.degree.. In this case, an X-axis component of the velocity of the mouse is larger than its Y-axis component. Consequently, in a correction rate of the displacement amount of the cursor to that of the mouse, the correction rate about the X-axis direction is larger than that about the Y-axis direction. This means that a displacement amount of the cursor in the X-axis direction in accordance with a unit displacement amount of the mouse in the X-axis direction is longer than a displacement amount of the cursor in the Y-axis direction in accordance with the unit displacement amount of the mouse in the Y-axis direction. Thus, an angle .alpha. between the X-axis and the vector B of the movement of the cursor is smaller than the angle .theta.; that is, the direction of the movement of the cursor does not coincide with the direction of the movement of the mouse.
FIG. 14 shows a case where the angle .theta. between the X-axis and the vector A of the movement of the mouse is larger than 45.degree.. In this case, a Y-axis component of the velocity of the mouse is larger than its X-axis component. Consequently, in a correction rate of the displacement amount of the cursor to that of the mouse, the correction rate about the Y-axis direction is larger than the correction rate about the X-axis direction. This means that a displacement amount of the cursor in the Y-axis direction in accordance with a unit displacement amount of the mouse in the Y-axis direction is longer than a displacement amount of the cursor in the X-axis direction in accordance with the unit displacement amount of the mouse in the X-axis direction. Thus, the angle .alpha. between the X-axis and the vector B of the movement of the cursor is larger than the angle .theta.; that is, the direction of the movement of the cursor does not coincide with the direction of the movement of the mouse.
As described above, in the displacement amount varying system of the prior art, when the mouse moves diagonally, the direction of the movement of the mouse and that of the cursor deviate from each other. The operator feels considerably uncomfortable to a deviation caused between those directions during the operation, because it is very difficult for him or her to move the cursor in any desired direction. For example, when the cursor is to be moved diagonally across the screen from the lower left to the upper right, the cursor actually moves in a direction along the angle .alpha. in spite of the operator's intention to move the cursor in a direction along the angle .theta.. Moreover, since the velocity of the movement of the mouse is varied each time the operator uses the mouse, the direction of the movement of the cursor is accordingly varied each time, and the destination of the cursor is never in accord with the direction of the movement of the mouse on any trial.


An objective of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for performing roaming traffic charging for a user equipment; receiving a roaming traffic charging request about the user equipment, wherein the user equipment roams to a visited network, the roaming traffic charging request includes roaming traffic-related information of the user equipment; if the roaming traffic-related information satisfies a first charging condition, forwarding the roaming traffic charging request to an OCS of an alternative roaming provider corresponding to the user equipment so as to perform the roaming traffic charging for the user equipment, wherein the alternative roaming provider corresponds to a home network of the user equipment. Compared with the prior art, the present invention provides an innovative online charging solution to support an alternative roaming provider, which is based on the new EU roaming regulations and independent from H-MNO, for roaming tariff; enables operators to support new EU roaming regulations and fulfill most of EU Commission's expectations without causing a great impact to the core network.

In May and June 2012, European Parliament and representatives of the Council and the European Commission have reached a preliminary deal on new EU (European Union) roaming rules that will fundamentally change the market for international roaming to the benefit of holidaymakers and business users alike.
From 1 Jul. 2014, customers would have the option to sign up for a cheaper mobile roaming contract, separate from their contract for national mobile services, while keeping the same phone number. Consumers will therefore be able to easily compare roaming services (independently from other mobile services) and benefit from lower prices.
The European Commission proposes more competition, and more choice and lower prices for the mobile phone user abroad. The proposal would also give mobile operators (including so-called virtual mobile operators, who do not have their own network) the right to use other operators' networks in other Member Country at regulated wholesale prices, and so encourage more operators to compete on the roaming market. To cover the period until structural measures become fully effective and competition drives retail prices down, the proposal would progressively lower current retail price caps on voice and texting (SMS) services and introduce a new retail price cap for mobile data services.
To support the new EU roaming regulation, the most European operators are urgently asking customer to propose solution to support the new regulation, so the people will have the option to immediately choose an alternative roaming provider (ARP) as of 1 Jul. 2014.
Currently, the roaming contract of end user is still defined by Home Mobile Network Operator (H-MVO), the roaming tariff plan is closely bundled into the home tariff plan.
This current roaming charging solution doesn't support the new EU regulation requirement. As the new EU regulation requirement, the mobile roaming contract shall be separated from their contract for national mobile services, while keeping the same phone number, the mobile roaming service and payment contract can be offered from the different alternative roaming partners.

Method and apparatus for performing roaming traffic charging for a UE


An X-ray apparatus includes a rotation-anode type X-ray tube which is configured such that a rotatable anode target and a cathode that is disposed to be opposed to the anode target are accommodated within a vacuum envelope, a stator which generates an induction electromagnetic field for rotating the anode target, a housing which accommodates and holds at least the rotation-anode type X-ray tube, a circulation path which is provided near at least a part of the rotation-anode type X-ray tube, and through which a water-based coolant is circulated, and a cooling unit including a circulation pump, which is provided at a position along the circulation path and forcibly feeds the water-based coolant, and a radiator which radiates heat of the water-based coolant, wherein at least a part of a surface of a metallic component is coated with a coating member to prevent contacting with the water-based coolant.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an X-ray apparatus, and more particular to an X-ray apparatus with improved heat radiation characteristics relating to heat that is produced by, e.g. a rotation-anode type X-ray tube.
2. Description of the Related Art
An X-ray apparatus is configured to include a rotation-anode type X-ray tube in which a vacuum envelope accommodates an anode target that is rotatably supported, and a housing which accommodates the rotation-anode type X-ray tube. In a case where heat that is produced by, e.g. the anode target is to be radiated, the rotation-anode type X-ray tube is provided with a cooling mechanism for cooling the heat.
As regards X-ray apparatuses with cooling mechanisms, the following proposals have been made.    (1) An X-ray apparatus has been proposed, wherein a rotation-anode type X-ray tube and a stator are immersed in an insulating oil. A water-based coolant with a high heat transfer efficiency is made to flow through flow paths, which are partly provided at parts with high heat production, such as a recoil electron trap and a vacuum envelope provided near an anode target. Thereby, the parts with high heat production are cooled. The coolant is circulated between these flow paths and a cooling unit (see, e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 6,519,317).    (2) An X-ray apparatus has been proposed, which is constructed similarly to the X-ray apparatus (1), except that a rotation-anode type X-ray tube and a stator are immersed not in an insulating oil, but in a water-based coolant, and the water-based coolant is circulated between a housing and a cooling unit (see, e.g. PCT National Publication No. 2001-502473).
According to the X-ray apparatus with the structure (1), if the thermal load on the rotation-anode type X-ray tube increases, the heat that is produced from the outer surface of the vacuum envelope increases. However, since the coolant that cools the outer surface is only the insulating oil that is not cooled by the external heat exchanger. In some cases, the necessary cooling performance cannot be obtained. In addition, since the coolant contains water, metallic parts of the circulation paths may be corroded. The metallic parts, which constitute the flow paths that are partly provided at the recoil electron trap and vacuum envelope provided near the anode target, have functions to isolate the vacuum and the coolant. If corrosion progresses, such functions would deteriorate and the X-ray tube would become non-usable. If such a drawback occurs, the water-based coolant may enter the X-ray tube when the temperature of the anode target of the X-ray tube rises to a high level. The water-based coolant comes in contact with the high-temperature anode target, evaporates and raises pressure. This poses a problem in safety.
In addition to the problem of the structure (1), the X-ray apparatus with the structure (2) has the following problem. That is, with the decrease in insulation resistance value of the water-based coolant due to the metal corrosion, the insulation performance of a low-voltage electric circuit system, such as a stator circuit, and the insulation performance between the housing and vacuum envelope may deteriorate. In particular, in the case where a dynamic-pressure slide bearing is used as the bearing of the rotational support mechanism, compared to the case where a ball bearing is used, the heat production of the stator increases and the electric insulation performance considerably deteriorates. In addition, the vacuum wall of the X-ray tube, which is not immersed in the water-based coolant in the case of (1), is corroded. As a result, a similar problem with the structure (1) tends to occur more easily.


A method, system and computer program product for interfacing between information requesters and information sources. In an embodiment, information is obtained from one or more information sources in response to client requests. In an embodiment, information received from information sources is cached for future use, such as for future client requests. In a caching embodiment, information can also be received by monitoring traffic between an information source and a third party, and/or by proactively querying the information sources. Proactive queries can be generated to populate a cache and/or to update presently cached information. In a caching embodiment, the invention includes methods for determining whether to respond to a request for information out-of-cache and/or with real-time information from an information source. In an embodiment, the invention interfaces with airline availability information sources. The invention also includes, without limitation, methods for interfacing with information sources through proxies, methods for ordering and prioritizing queries, methods for processing queries in a distributed architecture, and time-out features.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to interfacing between clients and information sources and, more particularly, to optimizing use of available bandwidth between the clients and information sources using one or more information caching features, information source management features, query handling features, and/or distributed architecture features described herein.
2. Related Art
Information systems are often bandwidth limited in the number of requests for information they can handle within a given period of time.
For example, tasks like pricing an airline ticket and searching for a lowest available airfare (low fare search) require flight availability information as input. Flight availability information typically indicates what seats are available on a given flight, and/or at what price levels. Airline flight availability information is maintained on a variety of different information systems, such as computer reservation systems (CRSs), such as those operated and/or maintained by Sabre, Galileo, Worldspan, or Amadeus.
Typically availability information is retrieved from an airline availability information source, such as a CRS, by sending a message to the information source. Often these messages must be sent via a set of proxies, such as computer terminals intended for use by human travel agents.
Conventional proxies can generally send and receive one or two availability messages per second. However, recent technological developments are increasing the demand on information systems, such as CRSs. For example, applications like low fare search require potentially large numbers of availability messages to be sent. Furthermore, such applications are often implemented as parallel processes, where programs running on a many machines may all request availability information, potentially simultaneously. The increasing demand is expected to increase delays in information retrieval from information sources.
There is a need, therefore, for methods and systems to optimize available bandwidth between information requesters ("clients") and information sources.
In the airline reservation industry, for example, there is a need for methods and systems, such as a software server program, to act as intermediary between clients/applications that need availability information and information systems, such as CRSs and/or CRS proxies that provide the availability information.

Method, system, and computer program product for interfacing with information sources


Apparatus and methods are presented for providing processing system network connectivity, and more particularly, for routing data packets between at least two processing system networks. A first memory for storing at least one address for each of the networks, and a second memory for storing selectively at least one address for particular ones of the networks, are provided. A control circuit for routing a received data packet from a source network to a destination network is also provided. The control circuit utilizes a destination address which was retrieved from one of the first memory and the second memory, in response to a determination as to whether at least one address corresponding to the destination network is stored in the second memory.

A processing system network, such as a computer network, is a combination of two or more independent nodes capable of communicating with one another over a communications path or link. A network node may be an independent processing system, such as a personal computer, or another processing system network.
Network nodes communicate with one another in order to share resources, such as databases and data files, software applications, hardware peripherals and communication links. Communication links are shared, for example, to enable two or more nodes which are not directly linked together to communicate through one or more intermediate nodes. Resource sharing generally involves the transfer and reception of large amounts of data. The data is typically divided into packets, frames, groups, etc. ("data packets"). Each data packet includes a collection of related data items, as well as any information necessary to route the data packet between network nodes.
Networks traditionally belong in one of two general categories, namely, local area networks ("LANs") and wide area networks ("WANs"). A LAN is a group of communicating nodes which are located relatively close to one another, such as within the same building or building complex. The communication links between LAN nodes are typically characterized by relatively high-speed data packet transfers. A WAN, on the other hand, is a collection of independent and distinct network nodes which work together over relatively long distances. Communication links between WAN nodes are routinely provided by third-party carriers such as by long-distance telephone companies. The InterNet is an example of a worldwide WAN. Communications between WAN nodes are generally characterized by relatively slower data packet transfers as compared with communications between LAN nodes.
Many organizations setup LANs at different strategic locations, such as on each floor of an office building or at each one of several different buildings. It often becomes necessary to share resources among LANs.
There are two broad approaches for establishing LAN-to-LAN communications, namely, private ownership and leasing from commercial communication suppliers. Many organizations setup their own private electric, microwave, light beam and/or fiber optic transmission systems to carry data locally around metropolitan areas and campuses. However, when communication connections extend beyond a particular area, circuits are typically leased from commercial suppliers, including telephone carriers such as AT&T (New York, N.Y.) and MCI (Washington, D.C.); specialized communications companies such as Tymnet (British Telecommunications Public Limited Company, located in London, England) and Telenet (Sprint International Communication Corporation, located in Reston, Va.); and satellite system providers such as GTE (Stamford, Conn.).
Leased services typically fall into one of three general categories, namely, circuit-switched, full-period and packet-switched. Circuit-switched services are those with a dial tone, such as switched-56 digital services or the Integrated Services Digital Network ("ISDN"), for example, wherein a connection is dialed, data is transferred, and the system hangs up upon completion of the transaction. Full-period services, such as leased telephone lines, provide a circuit dedicated to an organization's full time use. Packet-switched systems, such as CompuServe (Columbus, Ohio), Tymnet and SprintNet (Kansas City, Mo.), for example, allow multi-point connections for bursts of short data packets. Packet-switched networks, also called X.25 networks after an older Consultive Committee International Telegraph and Telephone ("CCITT") packet-switching standard, commonly use a newer standard called frame relay.
Network portal devices are used to couple LANs and WANs together (i.e., LAN-to-LAN, LAN-to-WAN and WAN-to-WAN). The conventional approach is to use the portal device as a junction point through which data packets received from a source network are routed to one or more destination networks. The portal device typically includes control circuitry and a memory.
The memory typically includes the routing address for each LAN and each WAN coupled to the portal device, and typically includes the address of one or more of the nodes of each of the LANs and WANs. In the event that a particular network node is itself a LAN or a WAN, the addresses of one or more of its nodes are also often stored within the memory.
When a data packet is forwarded from a LAN node to a WAN node, the data packet is received by the portal device. The control circuitry searches the memory and retrieves the address of the destination WAN node. The control circuitry recognizes from the memory search that the destination node exists on a WAN and will typically wrap the data packet in a "data envelope" along with additional routing and transmission information. This additional information tells the commercial communication suppler how to route the data packet to the destination WAN node.
In an alternative case wherein a data packet is forwarded from one LAN node to another LAN node, the data packet is received by the portal device and the control circuitry is again required to search the memory. The control circuitry upon retrieving the address of the destination LAN node from memory determines whether the data packet requires additional processing, such as being wrapped in the aforementioned data envelope. Upon a determination that no additional processing is required, the control circuitry forwards the data packet to the destination LAN node.
Thus, although the foregoing process is both necessary and effective for processing a data packet routed to the WAN, it is equally unnecessary and ineffective when routing a data packet between LAN nodes. In point of fact the search and retrieval processes performed by the control circuitry when transferring a data packet from one locally connected LAN to another cause significant delays. The delay is compounded by the determination as to whether the data packet requires additional processing. These delays are compounded still further when considering that the portal device may, and often does, receive hundreds, if not thousands, of data packets per second. Many, if not most, of these data packets are queued and routed on a first come, first serve basis. A LAN-to-LAN data packet that is preceded by several data packets requiring special processing typically is required to wait unnecessarily. This wait curtails portal device throughput and the overall functionality of the processing system network.
Accordingly, there exists a need in the art to substantially eliminate delays associated with routing a data packet between two nodes wherein the data packet requires little or no additional processing.
There exists a further need to substantially eliminate delays associated with routing a data packet from a source LAN to a destination LAN.
There exists a still further need to reduce over-all memory access time associated with searching and retrieving addressing data from the memory of a portal device.

Apparatus and methods for routing data packets through a processing system network


Modulation and cutoff system for automotive interior fans/blowers which cuts off fan or closes shutters to stop or divert airflow during preselected Automotive Occupancy Sensor system operations so that the airflow does not interfere with, cause anomalies or short duration signal ambiguities in the US and IR sensor signal detection. The US sensor increases to a fast mode cycle upon receiving a crash imminent (CI) signal or upon detection of a Keep-Out Zone Intrusion (KOZI). Upon receipt of a CI or KOZI signal the fan/blower power is interrupted, slowed or the airstream is diverted. Alternately or additionally, the AOS system can be recalibrated for fan or air stream relative movement, the before/after fan interrupt US/IR signals can be compared, and a "fan-on" signal can be used to change AOS fusion processing coefficient, feature selections or matrix.

For background on AOS systems see Corrado et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,482,314 and our copending divisional case Ser. No. 08/731,355, filed Oct. 11, 1996. Such systems produce a signal for input to the ADS, which if the occupant is out of position (OOP) or in a rear facing infant seat (RFIS) in the front seat of a vehicle, the deployment of the airbag is aborted, deferred or otherwise controlled, as in SAS.
One of the substantive factors to be considered is the fact that air currents set up within the vehicle near the IP can interfere with or cause anomalous readings of ultrasound (US) sensors. In addition, streams of heated or cold conditioned air can interfere with or cause short duration signal ambiguities of Infra Red (IR) sensors. The former tends to be long term, i.e., US anomalies so long as blower is on, while the IR tends to be transient.


Disclosed herein are an acetone-extracted product obtained from gamboge resin and compounds further purified from said acetone-extracted product, including a new compound called formoxanthone A. The acetone-extracted product and the further purified compounds have been demonstrated to have activities in inhibiting the growth of tumor/cancer cells. Also disclosed are the processes for obtaining said further purified compounds, and the uses of the acetone-extracted product and the further purified compounds in the preparation of pharmaceutical composition for inhibiting the growth of tumor/cancer cells.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an acetone-extracted product obtained from gamboge resin and compounds further purified from the acetone-extracted product, including a new compound called formoxanthone A. The acetone-extracted product and the further purified compounds have been demonstrated to have activities in inhibiting the growth of tumor/cancer cells. The invention also relates to processes for obtaining the further purified compounds, and uses of the acetone-extracted product and the further purified compounds in the preparation of pharmaceutical compositions for inhibiting the growth of tumor/cancer cells.
2. Description of the Related Art
Gamboge resin is the gamboge of Garcinia sp. secreted by the plant Garcinia of the family Guttiferae. It has been used as a source of vegetative dyes and pigments since the old days. It is also used in folk medicine in some areas such as India and Thailand.
Garcinia (TENGHUANG in pinyin), which is commonly known as gamboge, is a kind of evergreen trees that grow in tropical regions. The main species grown in India is Garcinia morella Desv, whereas the main species grown in Thailand is G. harburyi Hook. Before the flowering-period, the bark of the tree is cut open in a spiral shape about 2 meters from the ground to collect the exuding resin. The resin is then subjected to heat-drying to result in a solidified gamboge resin.
According to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), gamboge is effective in combating inflammations, clearing away toxins, stopping blood bleeding, and killing worms. Ever since 1934, there have been a number of reports on the components of the gamboge resin. At present, it is known that many compounds can be isolated from extracts of gamboge resin, including: morellin, morellic acid, gambogic acid, morellinol, isomorellin, isomorellic acid, isogambogic acid, isomorellinol, neogambogic acid, desoxymorellin, dihydroisomorellin, α-guttiferin, and β-guttiferin, etc.
Some studies have reported the cytotoxic activity of certain components of gamboge resin on human lung cancer cells (HEL cells), human cervical cancer cells (HeLa cells), and human nasopharyngeal cancer cells (KB cells) [M. Tada et al. (1996), Phytochemistry, 41, 815–920; G. A. Cordell et al. (1993), Magnetic Resonance in Chemistry, 31, 340–347].
It is pointed out in a report that the roots of Anemone raddeana are used in Chinese folk medicine to cure rheumatism and neuralgia, and that betulin and betulinic acid can be isolated from ethanol extracts of the roots of Anemone raddeana. Betulin has been proven to be capable of preventing tyrosyl phosphorylation of proteins in human neutrophils, thereby suppressing superoxide generation [K. Yamashita et al. (2002), Clinica Chimica Acta, 325, 91–96].
In a report by Darrick S. H. L. Kim et al. in Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters (1998), 8, 1707–1712, it has been demonstrated that simple modifications of the parent structure of betulinic acid can produce derivatives that can be developed as potent anticancer drugs. There are reports which point out that betulinic acid can trigger apoptosis by a direct effect on mitochondria [Simone Fulda et al. (1998), The Journal Of Biological Chemistry, 278, 33942–33948], and has selective cytotoxicity on tumor cells [Valentina Zuco et al. (2002), Cancer Letters, 175, 17–25].
To the applicants' knowledge, there has not been any report or patent that discloses the isolation of betulin and betulinic acid from gamboge resin.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,462,041 has disclosed gambogic acid, its analogs and derivatives as represented by the following Formulae I, II and III:
wherein R1 to R5 are such as defined in the aforesaid patent.
Compounds having one of the aforesaid Formula I–III are disclosed to be activators of caspases and inducers of apoptosis.
EP 0 428 815 A1 discloses a process of purifying a cytolytic toxin from the resin of Garcinia morella Desv, which relates to a product identified by the name GMD1630 that is obtained by ethanol extraction, chloroform extraction, and thin layer chromatography (TLC). However, the patent does not disclose whether the GMD1630 product is a single compound or a mixture of compounds with similar properties.
In view of the foregoing, the preparation of bioactive extracts or purified compounds from gamboge resin for the manufacture of drugs, such as anticancer drugs, should merit further study and research.

Compounds isolated from gamboge resin having activity in inhibiting the growth of tumor/cancer cells and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the same

Taiwan Sunpan Biotechnology Development Company, Ltd.


A twin-spool gas turbine engine including a high-pressure rotor and a low-pressure rotor, which rotors are mounted in bearings supported by an intermediate casing, at least one accessory gear box, and a drive device which drives radial and coaxial shafts for transmitting movement to the accessory gear box is disclosed. The drive device includes a high-pressure drive gear driving one of the radial shafts and connected to the high-pressure rotor and a low-pressure drive gear connected to the low-pressure rotor upstream of the high-pressure drive gear and driving the other of the radial shafts. The low-pressure drive gear is supported in the intermediate casing by an axial-positioning bearing.

The invention relates to a twin-spool gas turbine engine with means of driving the gears of the gear box to which the accessories are fitted.
Some of the power generated by an aeronautical gas turbine engine is used to power various accessories, both of the engine and of the aircraft for which the engine provides some of the propulsive power.
Some of this power is currently tapped off the high-pressure (HP) compressor, the compressed air from which is used, in particular, to pressurize and air-condition the cabin of the aircraft or the de-icing. Another portion of this power is tapped mechanically off the shaft of the HP stage of the engine to drive the input shaft of an accessory gear box positioned on a casing of the engine. This input shaft is rotationally driven by a radial transmission shaft running through a structural arm of the intermediate casing and itself driven by a gear secured to the HP shaft.
The accessory gear box well known to those skilled in the art by its English term and abbreviation "Accessory Gear Box (AGB)" supports various machines, or accessories, for example a generator, a starter motor, an alternator, hydraulic, fuel or oil pumps, etc. These various accessories are mechanically driven by the HP shaft, via radial transmission shafts.
There is a current trend toward increasing the amount of mechanical power tapped off because of the ever increasing role played by electrical means which are held to have greater flexibility of use.
However, tapping off excessive amounts of mechanical power has a detrimental effect on the operation of the HP spool because it is liable to cause the compressor to hunt, particularly when the engine is running at low speed.

Gas turbine engine with a means of driving the accessory gear box, and method of fitting said engine