A pharmaceutical composition and treatment to inhibit the development of cataracts in the crystalline lens of the eye by administering a hydroxylamine to a subject at risk of developing a cataract. The pharmaceutical composition comprises a hydroxylamine compound in a therapeutically sufficient amount to prevent or retard the development of the cataract. A reducing agent can also be administered in combination with the hydroxylamine. Particular examples of the hydroxylamine are TEMPOL-H, TEMPO-H and OXANO-H, while particular examples of the reducing agent are a sulfhydryl compound, such as N-(2-mercaptopropionyl)glycine (MPG), N-acetyl cysteine, .beta.-mercaptopropionyl glycine, and glutathione. In particular embodiments, the composition comprises TEMPOL-H in an amount that is sufficient to provide a concentration of about 1 .mu.M to 1 mM in the aqueous humor of the eye, and mercaptopropionyl glycine in an amount sufficient to provide an aqueous humor concentrations of about 0.1 to 5 mM.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to compositions for the prevention and treatment of cataract formation in the crystalline lens of the eye
2. Discussion of the Background
Aging-related cataract is a gradual opacification of the crystalline lens of the eye, which is presently treated by surgical removal and replacement of the cataractous lens. Cataracts are believed to be a disease of multifactorial origin involving many of the same processes that characterize the process of aging in other tissues. Data accumulated over a period of years from the work of many laboratories indicates that once begun, cataract development probably proceeds via one or more common pathways or processes that culminate in damage to lens fibers. Since cataract is already a slowly progressing disease which occurs predominantly in the elderly, a significant retardation of its rate of development could eliminate the need for many surgical cataract extractions. This reduction would provide tremendous benefits both to individual patients and to the public health system.
Based on research from the inventors and others, several processes have been proposed as crucial factors in cataractogenesis. These processes include oxidation, phase separation phenomena and proteolysis. With the hypothesis that one or more of these processes probably represent "common pathways" involved in lens opacification, the inventors initiated an effort to screen compounds which might inhibit these particular processes for their potential as anti-cataract agents. In keeping with the likelihood that the disease is multifactorial, the inventors tested the agents not only individually but in various combinations as well.
One active area of medical research has been an investigation of the role that free radical scavengers and antioxidants may play in the prevention and treatment of diseases caused by oxidative stress. The focus of many such investigations has been upon biochemical pathways that generate reducing power in cells, for example, glutathione synthesis and cycling. Enzymes that reduce activated oxygen species, such as superoxide dismutase, have also been studied to determine whether they diminish cellular oxidative stress. Compounds for inhibiting lipid oxidation in cell membranes by direct radical scavenging have also been considered to be promising therapeutic interventions. The administration of compounds such as vitamin E, carotenoids, selenium compounds and vitamin C (ascorbate), for their antioxidant effects, is known in the popular culture.
There are many reviews in the literature of in vitro and clinical studies of the medical effect of antioxidants and free radical scavengers (references 1-3, below). Thiol compounds have been of particular scientific interest, because glutathione cycling plays a role in maintaining the redox balance in cells. Selenide compounds having glutathione peroxidase activity, for example, are the subject of U.S. Pat. No. 5,321,138. Thiol derivatives of amino acids have also been studied as antioxidants. In particular, mercaptopropionyl glycine (MPG) has been investigated for it effect in reducing cataract formation (4).
In the present invention, the nitroxide family of radicals is of particular interest. Nitroxides are free radicals that are stable, and which are reducible to their corresponding hydroxylamines. Nitroxides were originally of interest to physical chemists due to their paramagnetic properties, allowing their use as "spin-labels" in electron paramagnetic resonance studies. These compounds have more recently been studied because of their radical scavenging properties; nitroxides mimic the enzymatic activity of superoxide dismutase (5-8). Nilsson et al. disclosed, in WO 88/05044, that nitroxides and their corresponding hydroxylamines are useful in prophylaxis and treatment of ischemic cell damage.
Reddan et al. (9) have investigated the use of the nitroxide TEMPOL to protect lens epithelial cells from hydrogen peroxide damage in vitro. Mitchell et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 5,462,946, also disclose use of nitroxides (such as TEMPOL) to protect lens epithelial cells from oxidative damage. However Mitchell and his colleagues have also reported that only the nitroxide TEMPOL protects cells from oxidative damage, and that the corresponding hydroxylamine TEMPOL-H (the reduced nitroxide) affords no such protection (12, 13).
In spite of years of sustained study into the cause and treatment of cataracts, a clinically useful non-surgical treatment that retards the development of age-related cataracts has eluded researchers. Sorbitol-lowering drugs (aldose reductase inhibitors) have been found to have some effect in retarding the development of cataracts in rats with high galactose intake. Aspirin, acetaminophen and ibuprofen have also been shown to delay experimental cataracts. Bendazac has been found to protect lens proteins in vitro, and to delay the onset of cataracts in x-ray irradiated rats. Yet other treatments that have been proposed for the treatment of cataracts include vitamins, aminoguanidine, and various herbal preparations. None of these treatments has yet been demonstrated to be clinically useful.
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a clinically useful, non-surgical treatment to retard or prevent the development of cataracts in the crystalline lens of the eye.
This and other objects of the invention will be understood more clearly by reference to the following detailed description and drawings.

Hydroxylamine compositions for the prevention or retardation of cataracts

The United States of America as represented by the Department of Health and Human Services


A housebreaking reward system. The housebreaking reward system includes a moisture sensitive pad, a moisture detector, a reward dispenser, and an optional handheld transmitter. The moisture sensitive pad is constructed to contain and hold fluids (e.g., urine) deposited by an animal and is laid down at location where it is acceptable for an animal to eliminate. The moisture detector is selectively connectable to sensing elements on the moisture sensitive pad to detect when fluid is deposited. If fluid is detected, the moisture sensitive detector signals the reward dispenser to reward the animal for appropriate elimination. At least a portion the moisture sensitive pad is disposable to facilitate easy cleanup of the appropriate elimination area. After one or more fluid deposits, the moisture detector is disconnected from the sensing elements, and the used moisture sensitive pad is discarded.

Eliminating at an undesired location (i.e., inappropriate elimination), typically indoors, is a common reason that pet owners get rid of pets. While not necessarily catastrophic, the consequences of inappropriate elimination include soiling and/or damage to floors, rugs, carpets, furniture, and other objects that requires expensive cleaning, repair, and/or replacement to rectify.
Housebreaking is a training technique, typically used with dogs, aimed at encouraging appropriate elimination by teaching the animal to consistently eliminate in a certain location. Housebreaking an animal can be a difficult and time consuming process requiring constant attention on the part of the pet owner. As with any training process, prompt and consistent reinforcement is an important factor in the speed and success of housebreaking an animal. If the reinforcement is not clearly linked in time to the behavior, the animal may not properly associate the reward with the behavior as intended by the pet owner. A common problem that occurs during housebreaking is that a pet owner lacks sufficient time to fully housebreak the animal before having to be away for extended periods (e.g., going to work). As a result, the animal being housebroken is unsupervised and appropriate elimination is not rewarded. This lack of prompt and consistent reinforcement frustrates and lengthens the training process.
Although frequently thought of as encouraging outdoor elimination, housebreaking is also used to train the animal to eliminate in a certain indoor location. Even when the indoor location is generally resilient to the soiling or damage from elimination (e.g., vinyl flooring), it is desirable to make cleanup as easy as possible and minimize contamination using tools such as disposable pads. Ideally, housebreaking teaches the animal to eliminate on the disposable pad. The soiled pad is then discarded without the need for additional cleanup. It is with respect to these and other considerations that the present invention has been made.


An electronic device (e.g., a superconducting memory cell) includes a substrate and a layer of superconducting material disposed over the substrate. The layer of superconducting material is patterned to form a plurality of distinct instances of the layer of superconducting material including: a first wire; and a loop that is (i) distinct and separate from the first wire and (ii) capacitively coupled to the first wire while the loop and the first wire are in a superconducting state. The loop is configured to form a persistent current via the capacitive coupling in response to a write current applied to the first wire while the loop and the first wire are in the superconducting state. The persistent current represents a logic state of the electronic device.

In electrical circuits and devices, there is often a need to store information. The need to store information ranges from single bit applications (e.g., storage of register values) to applications in random access memory (RAM) and long-term data storage. Memory cells, which store one or more bits of information, are the fundamental building blocks of information storage devices. Thus, memory cells are essential components in many memory devices.
Superconductors are materials capable of operating in a superconducting state with exactly zero electrical resistance under particular conditions. Because of many useful properties of superconductors, memory cells based on superconductors are expected to have superior performance over conventional memory cells. However, prior memory devices that include superconductors had limited reliability.

Superconductive memory cells and devices


A trim panel for a vehicle is formed with a pinch-sealed edge by compression molding. The mold is designed with one or more cutting surfaces that compress or pinch the trim panel material to the point of severing the trim panel to form a tightly compressed and cut edge.

The following background is provided simply as an aid in understanding the disclosed device and is not admitted to describe or constitute prior art.
1. Field of the Invention
The present disclosure relates generally to methods and apparatus for forming motor vehicle trim panels such as, for example, garnishes, headliners, and door panels.
2. Related Art
Trim panels are used in occupant compartments of motor vehicles. For example, a vehicle body may include a quarter panel with an inner panel and an outer panel attached to one another and attached to a vehicle structure in some manner. The quarter panel may include a decorative trim panel mounted to the inner panel. The edges of trim panels are generally formed and/or cut in a manner that leaves all of their component parts visible, which provides an unattractive edge that is also susceptible to separating over time. Thus, various methods are employed to modify and strengthen the edge. Most methods involve adding a cover to the edge and/or folding the edge over and sealing it.
Headliners are interior trim panels that are coupled to the roof of the vehicle and may have openings to accommodate features such as a sunroof Headliners are generally formed from a rigid substrate made of a material such as a polymer or a reinforced polymer composite material or a foam core made from an elastomer and binders or binding agents. They also often include a cover material such as a fabric. The headliner may be formed using a compression foaming process. Door panels are interior trim panels that are coupled to a vehicle door and may have openings for various components (e.g., door handle, window controls) or decorative elements (e.g., lights, design elements). Garnishes are interior trim panels that are couple to roof pillars or supports (e.g., between the front windshield and a side window). Other examples of interior trim panels include seating elements and instrument panels.

Method and apparatus for forming a vehicle trim panel


A wellbore surface assembly includes a slip assembly, vertical rails, linear actuators, and an iron roughneck. The slip assembly is attached to a floor surface of a wellbore and it includes movable slips that engage a first tube. The vertical rails are attached to the base of the automatic slip assembly. The iron roughneck is movable along the vertical rails. The automatic iron roughneck includes a frame, a rotary ring, die actuators, and dies. The iron roughneck is movable by the linear actuators along a length of the vertical rails, changing an elevation of the iron roughneck with respect to the automatic slip assembly and the floor surface of the wellbore. The dies engage the second tube and the rotary ring rotates the second tube, threadedly attaching or detaching the second tube from the first tube.

Wellbores are drilled into the earth for production or other purposes. Wellbores receive tubular strings such as casing strings and drill strings. Tubular strings include multiple connected pipe sections or tubulars joined end to end. For example, a drill string is run into the wellbore by connecting multiple drill pipe sections at the surface of the wellbore until reaching a desired length of the drill string. The drill string or part of the drill string is pulled out of the wellbore by retrieving and disconnecting tubular sections one by one at the surface of the wellbore. Methods and equipment for improving the process of running and pulling out tubulars to and from a wellbore are sought.

Running and retrieving tubing in a wellbore


This invention relates to free-radical curable, styrene-containing resin compositions having reduced styrene emissions. More particularly, the invention relates to free-radical curable, styrene-containing resin compositions having reduced styrene emissions comprising: (a) a polymerizable alpha, beta-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylate resin, which is dissolved in styrene; (b) a paraffin wax; and (c) a fluorocarbon surfactant.

Free-radical curable, styrene-containing resins are well-known to those skilled in the art and widely available from commercial sources. Such resins include, for example, styrene-containing unsaturated polyesters, vinyl esters and urethane acrylates or methacrylates. All of these resins are alpha, beta-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylates. These resins, especially unsaturated polyesters, can be easily adapted to many common thermoset molding techniques for the construction and transportation industries, including the manufacture of parts for automobiles, trucks, boats, machine housings and household items such as bath fixtures. Another application for such resins is in the construction of tanks, piping and process equipment for chemicals and chemical waste such as underground gasoline storage tanks. These resins are selected as a replacement for metals such as steel, stainless steel, aluminum and bronze because of their ability to resist corrosion and chemical attack. Therefore, it is desirable to provide such resins which, when molded, have good toughness, impact and adhesion properties as well as hydrolytic, thermal and chemical resistance.
However, styrene emissions associated with the manufacture of free-radical curable, styrene-containing resins are now limited by regulations promulgated in 1989 by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). According to these regulations, manufacturers in many industries must reduce workplace styrene emissions from 100 parts per million to 50 parts per million. Environmental requirements issued by the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAOMD) in California apply to such resins and mandate that styrene emissions must be less than 60 grams per square meter of styrene by a paint can lid test described below.
In order to meet new environmental regulations, manufacturers of styrene-containing resins might either reduce the styrene monomer content of resins or suppress emissions from existing styrene-containing compositions. The problem with lowering the styrene content is that styrene functions to provide a workable viscosity of the resin and to crosslink with the unsaturation in the resin, such as a polyester polymer backbone. Therefore, lowering the amount of styrene in the resin will have an impact on other properties.
Several approaches to lowering styrene emissions have been tested without success. One approach is to lower the molecular weight of the resin in order to reduce the amount of styrene needed to obtain a workable resin viscosity. The problem with this approach is that the flexural strength of the resin is greatly decreased, particularly when tested after exposure to high temperatures or chemical exposure. Another approach to reducing emissions in unsaturated polyester resins is to substitute part of the styrene with another additive such as hydroxyethyl methacrylate or methyl methacrylate. However, neither of these substitutes works as well as styrene in most applications. For example, chemical resistance of a polyester resin is lower in a hydroxyethyl methacrylate additive system. Similarly, vinyl toluene has been tested as a substitute for styrene in unsaturated polyesters. While it appeared that the styrene emissions and interlaminar adhesion were acceptable, this system could not be used at workable viscosity levels which would also meet styrene emission requirements.
The general object of this invention is to provide free-radical curable, styrene-containing resin compositions having reduced styrene emissions. It is another object of the invention to provide such resins with reduced styrene emissions without significantly affecting the preparation, processing and physical properties of the resins when used in molding processes. It is another object to provide a simple, inexpensive method for making such resin compositions. It is yet another object to provide molded articles having good physical properties which are made from such compositions. Other objects appear hereinafter.
These and other objects are achieved by the addition of a small amount of a paraffin wax and a fluorocarbon surfactant to a free-radical curable, styrene-containing polymerizable resin composition. Unexpectedly, it has been found that compositions containing a paraffin wax and a fluorocarbon surfactant have lower styrene emissions without significantly affecting preparation, processing, and physical properties, particularly chemical and hydrolytic resistance and interlaminar adhesion of the cured or polymerized resin compositions.

Curable, styrene-containing resin compositions having reduced styrene emissions


To provide a network system including a network constructed by combining a plurality of switching devices. The network includes a first partial network including switching devices and a second partial network that is formed outside the first partial network and includes switching devices. The switching device in the first partial network connected to the second partial network blocks passage of a broadcast signal that is transmitted from a terminal device and that has a specific logical port number as transmission information at a physical port.

TCP/IP is a well known communication protocol used between devices (see, for example, Non Patent Literature 1). In the TCP/IP, an IP address allocated to each device is used to specify a destination and a source in order to perform communication. It should be noted that there is, for example, a limited broadcast address as a unique IP address. When transmission data is transmitted specifying its destination as a limited broadcast address, the transmission data reaches all the devices in a network.
Generally, a method of transmitting transmission data to all the devices in a network is referred to as a "broadcast". The range over which the broadcast can reach is referred to as a "broadcast domain".

Network system implementing a plurality of switching devices to block passage of a broadcast signal


Embodiments of the disclosed technology are directed to a self-contained, totally implantable blood pump that replaces the whole heart. It is a small spherical device that encloses all of its blood propulsion dynamics. The dynamics are controlled by a built-in microcontroller that regulates the speed of the motor in response to hemodynamic changes like blood pressure fluctuations, level of body activity, and/or posture. The hemodynamic changes are detected using a plurality of sensors disposed around the body. An implantable transcutaneously rechargeable battery provides power to the microcontroller, motor and/or sensors.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, accounting for more deaths than all forms of cancer combined. Heart failure—the most common, costly, disabling and deadly of heart ailments—affects close to five million people in the United States, and each year about 550,000 new cases are diagnosed. The mortality rate is approximately 40,000 a year, but heart failure is listed as a contributing cause of 280,000 deaths every year. It is also the leading cause for hospitalization in people older than 65. Of more concern is the fact that more than 50% of patients seek re-admission within six months after treatment, and the average duration of hospital stays is six days. Its health care cost in the United States. is estimated to be more than $35 billion.
Heart failure can be treated medically. However, many patients in advanced stages of heart failure do not respond to medications. Heart transplantation is the ultimate remedy. About 60,000 end-stage heart failure patients may benefit from heart transplantation, but only 2,100 receive heart transplants annually because of limited availability of organs. Totally artificial hearts could save more patients from donor heart shortage.
Medical devices have been used safely and effectively to assist the failing heart and the circulation. There are many assist devices already available, including ventricular assist devices (VAD) and totally artificial hearts (TAH). VAD's continue to play a role as temporary circulatory support, bridge-to-heart transplantation or, for some devices, destination therapy (traveling to a remote location for medical services).
There are various forms of VADs. They are classified as to how a VAD is used (LVAD, RVAD or BiVAD); where a VAD is located (extracorporeal or implantable); or how its pump works (pulsatile or continuous flow). Although FDA-approved for clinical uses, presently available designs are still prone to serious complications, such as infection, bleeding and stroke. Cables being inserted through the skin become sources of infection because batteries and controls worn outside the body drive these devices. Heparin anticoagulation is a requirement for most of these devices. Excessive anticoagulation causes bleeding, while inadequate anticoagulation can lead to strokes.
(5) This invention is a self-contained and totally implantable blood pump that replaces the whole heart. This mechanical heart and the controls, including the power source, are self-contained and totally implanted inside the body. There are no external cables or connections. The hemodynamic benefit is achieved and controlled by the built-in microcontroller that makes the heart autonomously adjust to blood pressure, physical activity and/or body posture.


An amplifier unit is provided, with which the need for manufacturing a photoelectric conversion IC in Bi-CMOS process is eliminated, and relatively low process cost of the photoelectric conversion IC is achieved. The input section of a buffer (the base of a transistor Q5) is connected with a plurality of patterns of phase compensation circuits each including a resistor and a capacitor connected in series. A bipolar transistor (Q6) is interposed between a positive power supply line and a capacitor (C2) forming a capacitance of the phase compensation circuit. By switching on/off the bipolar transistor (Q6), the capacitance value and resistance value of the phase compensation circuit are switched. Since the bipolar transistor (Q6) is interposed between the capacitor (C2) and the positive power supply line, base current (Isw) acting as a switch signal does not affect the amplifier unit.

In recent years, as disc rotation speeds have increased during the reading of data in optical disc drives typified by a CD-R drive and a DVD-R drive and data have been written to an optical disc, there has been a demand for photoelectric conversion ICs which can correctly amplify both of a high-frequency signal during the reading of data and a pulsed signal during the writing of data. Further, photoelectric conversion ICs which can accommodate different standards of optical discs are demanded.
Such photoelectric conversion ICs can be achieved by switching frequency characteristics and gains (amplification factors) in current-voltage converters which convert current from photo diodes to voltage.
FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an example of a current-voltage converter included in a conventional photoelectric conversion IC.
The current-voltage converter comprises an amplifier APi for converting a current signal from a photo diode PDi to a voltage signal, a feedback capacitor Cf and a feedback resistor Rf of the amplifier APi, and an analog switch circuit (junction FET) 14 for switching the gains and feedback capacitances of the amplifier APi.
The cathode of the photo diode PDi connects to the inverting input terminal of the amplifier APi. Meanwhile, the anode of the photo diode PDi is grounded. The inverting input terminal of the amplifier APi receives a light-receiving current signal from the photo diode PDi and the noninverting input terminal of the amplifier APi is fed with intermediate voltage Vs (½ Vcc) of reference voltage Vcc.
The amplifier APi comprises a differential amplifier circuit 11 for current-voltage conversion which converts the light-receiving current signal from the photo diode PDi to a voltage signal, a phase compensation section 12 for performing selected phase compensation on a signal from the differential amplifier circuit 11, and an output circuit 13 for amplifying, in a push-pull manner, a signal whose phase has been compensated by the phase compensation section 12. The phase compensation section 12 includes an analog switch circuit (junction FET) 14. The analog switch circuit 14 is turned on/off in response to a control signal Vm. In response to the on/off of the analog switch circuit 14, the gain of the amplifier APi is switched, and simultaneously the feedback capacitance of the amplifier API and the resistance value and the capacitance value of the phase compensation section are also switched.
In this way, the current-voltage converter makes it possible to adjust the frequency characteristics of the amplifier APi.
The conventional photoelectric conversion IC including the current-voltage converter configured thus is able to change the gain of the amplifier APi so as to obtain a constant output voltage, even when the power of light (amount of reflected light) reflected from an optical disc and incident on the photo diode PDi is varied among the different standards of optical discs or due to whether data are written or read. Further, the conventional photoelectric conversion IC is able to adjust frequency characteristics depending on the different standards of optical discs and the state of writing or reading by changing the feedback capacitance of the amplifier APi and the resistance value and capacitance value of the phase compensation section (For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-107563).

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A cable and conduit assembly comprises a conduit, such as coiled tubing, with a cable, such as an electrical power cable, longitudinally disposed therein. A plurality of elastic fingers, such as relatively short lengths of spring steel, extend from the cable and frictionally engaging an interior surface of the conduit to transfer the weight of the cable to the conduit. The elastic fingers are angled to permit installation of the cable within the conduit in a first longitudinal direction and to prevent movement of the cable within the conduit in a second longitudinal direction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to devices used to restrain the movement of a cable that is disposed within a conduit and, more particularly, to cable anchors used within coiled tubing to suspend an electric submergible pumping system within a wellbore.
2. Description of Related Art
To reduce the size of equipment and the associated costs needed to deploy and recover an electric submergible pumping system ("ESP"), ESP's can be suspended from coiled tubing, rather than conventional jointed tubing. This method takes advantage of the relatively low cost and ease of transportation of the units used to install and remove coiled tubing. A typical arrangement for suspending an ESP on coiled tubing is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,835,929; 4,830,113; and 5,180,014.
The cable that is used to connect the ESP to a surface power source does not have sufficient internal strength to support its own weight over about 60 to 200 feet. Therefore, the cable is clamped, banded or strapped to the jointed tubing or the coiled tubing at intervals of about every 50 to 150 feet, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,681,169. Alternatively, the cable can be encased within the coiled tubing, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,336,415; 4,346,256; 5,145,007; 5,146,982; and 5,191,173.
When the cable is encased within the coiled tubing, standoff devices can be used to centralize the cable within the coiled tubing to permit fluid production through the coiled tubing. These standoff devices also support the cable, in place of the external clamps or straps, by preventing longitudinal movement of the cable with respect to the coiled tubing and thereby transfer the weight of the cable to the coiled tubing. These standoff devices are usually referred to as "cable anchors", and are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,193,614; 5,269,377; and 5,435,351.
Common problems associated with the prior cable anchors are that such cable anchors are either (i) relatively mechanically complex, and require injection of a solvent to release the anchors, or (ii) require a time consuming and uncontrollable chemical interaction to cause elastomeric materials to swell. There is a need for a simple mechanical cable anchor assembly that is quickly and predictably operable, and is not dependent upon the uncertain nature of chemical interactions and solvents.


A connector is provided for a small diameter pipe that has been formed to include an annular swelled part near the end of the pipe. The connector includes a body with a communication hole extending axially therethrough. A chamber extends axially into one end and joins the communication hole. A window is formed through portions of the connector body defining the chamber, and a pawl extends across the window. The pawl includes a central portion that projects into the chamber. The pawl is configured to engage the annular swelled part of the pipe for holding the pipe in the connector body. The connector further includes a releasing member rotatably mounted around the connector body in proximity to the pawl. Outer circumferential portions of the releasing member define a cam wall configured such that rotation of the releasing member into a selected rotational orientation will deflect the pawl outwardly to enable release of the pipe.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a connector for connecting metal pipes or rigid resin tubes (hereinafter, simply refer to pipe arrangements) having a relatively small diameter of about 20 mm which are generally arranged as a supply passage for oil and air in an automotive vehicle or various kinds of mechanical apparatus.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The connector described in Japanese Patent Application No. 8-121063 which was filed to the Japanese Patent Office on Apr. 18, 1996 by the applicant of this application, is substantially sufficient for many purposes.
The conventional connector has a sleeve member mounted without rotation in clockwise and counterclockwise directions. The sleeve member expands to engage with a tongue-like resilient wall portion communicating to a hook wall provided in the outer peripheral portion thereof. However the rotating position in the expansion wall together with rotation of the sleeve member at a time of connecting the pipe arrangements and releasing them can not be constant. Accordingly, the operation is required to be performed with attention, thereby incurring difficulties. Further, in the case that a large amount of drawing force is applied to the pipe arrangements, there is a possibility that the tongue-like resilient wall may be expanded and opened, so that the further improvement has been required in view of the above points.

Connector for connecting pipe arrangements having small diameter


The present disclosure relates to a go-around system for an aircraft. The go-around system includes a controller, an alert system, an auto flight system, and an auto throttle system. The controller is configured to receive flight path information, airspeed information, and runway information from one or more avionic systems, determine, based on the flight path information, airspeed information, and runway information, a go-around advisory, and output an alert signal regarding the go-around advisory. The go-around advisory is a directive to perform a go-around. The alert system is configured to provide at least one of a visual alert, an aural alert, and a detailed information alert to a user in response to receiving the alert signal from the controller. The auto throttle system is configured to automatically adjust a speed of the aircraft for a go-around based on the go-around advisory.

The present disclosure relates generally to the field of avionics. More specifically, the present disclosure relates generally to the field of avionic advisory systems for determining when a go-around should be performed by a pilot.
Go-arounds or aborted landings are performed when it is determined that an aircraft approaching a runway for a landing cannot properly land. Typically, when to implement a go-around or an aborted landing is determined based on pilot judgment. When a pilot begins landing an aircraft, the pilot must remain mindful of a variety of factors including but not limited to approach speed, runway obstructions, altitude, descent rate, etc., which may require a go-around or aborted landing. On some occasions, pilots should perform a go-around or abort the landing but do not, since the pilots may believe that performing a go-around or aborting a landing is admittance of poor performance on their part. Additionally, the pilots may believe that if they decide to perform a go-around or abort the landing, this may disrupt Air Traffic Control (ATC) of the airport and cause traffic congestion. Furthermore, the pilot may be inexperienced in performing go-arounds or aborted landings, and may choose to continue landing the aircraft even when a go-around/aborted landing should be performed due to lack of experience. Due to these factors, pilots sometimes choose to continue with the landing instead of performing a go-around/abort the landing, even when a go-around should be performed.
There is a need for an autonomous alert system to determine when the pilot should perform a go-around/abort a landing and notify the pilot when to perform the go-around maneuver. Further, there is a need for a system which identifies when a go-around should be performed and automatically initiates a go-around sequence to improve landing safety.


A solid-state image sensor having a well of a first conductivity type; a photoelectric conversion region having a second conductivity type formed in the well storing charges obtained from a photoelectric conversion; a drain region having the second conductivity type formed in the well apart from a surface of the well; and a gate electrode formed on the surface of the well via a gate insulator, the gate electrode transferring the charges from the photoelectric conversion region to the drain region. Alternatively, a transistor includes a first semiconductor region having a first conductivity type; second and third semiconductor regions having a second conductivity type formed in the first semiconductor region, the second and third semiconductor regions being separated from each other by a portion of the first semiconductor region serving as a channel region; an insulator layer provided on a surface of the first semiconductor region in contact with the channel region; a gate electrode provided on the insulator layer; and the first semiconductor region includes a shield semiconductor region of the first conductivity type disposed between the surface of the first semiconductor region and at least one of the second and third semiconductor regions such that the at least one of the second and third semiconductor regions is sandwiched between the shield region and the first semiconductor region.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device that has at least one of a drain and a source buried in a semiconductor layer. More specifically, the present invention relates to a solid state image sensor that have at least one of a drain region and a photoelectric conversion region buried in the semiconductor layer, away from a surface of the semiconductor layer.
2. Discussion of the Background
An amplifying MOS image sensor (CMOS sensor) is adapted to function as a solid state image sensor. One advantage of the amplifying MOS image sensor is the low power consumption. A conventional amplifying MOS image sensor is shown in Japanese patent No. 3484071.
In the conventional amplifying MOS image sensor, a drain region is formed in a surface of a semiconductor layer or a well, such that an upper edge of the drain region coincides with an upper surface of the semiconductor layer or well.
However, there are various crystal defects that are produced on the surface and the neighboring of the surface of the semiconductor layer or well, due to the forming process of the semiconductor device. These crystal defects are known by the one of ordinary skill in the art and a size of the neighboring of the surface of the semiconductor layer that is affected by the crystal defects due to the manufacturing of the device is also known in the art. Further, the amount of defects at the surface of the semiconductor layer is larger compared to a region inside the semiconductor layer. This difference in the amount of defects is determined by the damage to the surface of the semiconductor layer during manufacturing, for example when an interlayer dielectric is deposited on the surface of the semiconductor layer or when a drain region is formed inside the semiconductor layer. Thus, charges from a photoelectric conversion region or a photodiode (PD) formed in the semiconductor layer are trapped by the crystal defects, both inside the layer and at the surface of the semiconductor layer causing a leak current to occur from or into the drain region. For simplicity, the crystal defects inside the semiconductor layer are simply called crystal defects, and the defects in the surface of the same layer are called surface states.
Furthermore, some of the charges which are transferred to the drain region are trapped in the surface states or the crystal defects which exist in the semiconductor layer above the drain region, making less likely a discharge of the charges stored in the photoelectric conversion region. Thus, a S/N ratio (signal/noise ratio) of the conventional amplifying MOS image sensor is decreased, resulting in a poor performance.

Semiconductor device with burried semiconductor regions


A sampling port (10) has a body (12) having an space (35) open at one end (20) and adapted to receive a sampling vial (70) with an cannula (24) extending longitudinally along the space (35) with a pointed end (26) facing the open end (20), whereby a sampling vial passed into the space from the open end may be impaled on the cannula. The port includes at least one guide member (36) extending into the space (35) to reduce the effective size of part of the space (35), the at least one guide member (36) guiding a vial (50) of a first size when inserted into the open end (20) and the at least one guide member (36) being movable to allow a vial (70) of a size larger than the first size to be inserted into the space.

Medical sampling ports are devices that allow a sample of fluid to be withdrawn, typically into a sampling vial. Typical sampling ports are tubular with one end closed to form a base and the other end open. A cannula is centrally mounted on the base and extends within the port toward the open end. The end of the cannula ends short of the end of the sampling port and so is not exposed. A sampling vial may be passed into the open end and impaled on the cannula.
It is desirable that the sampling vial when inserted into the sampling port is prevented from significant sideways movement, as this may result in damage to the cannula or incomplete penetration of the cannula into the sampling vial.
Sampling vials generally come with portions to be inserted in to a sampling port in two different maximum diameters. It is desirable that these different diameters are readily accommodated by the sampling port without the need for separate guides or the like that are inserted or removed from the sampling port to accommodate the different diameters.


An electrical switch includes a base, a sliding block, two short circuit metal pieces, contact metal pieces, and a cover. The base has a rectangular top slot, which receives the sliding block, and an elongate guide groove in the middle of the rectangular top slot along the length, which guides a bottom rail on the sliding block. Each short circuit metal piece has a protruded portion on a contact surface thereof engaged into a locating groove on a stop wall at either long side of the base for positioning.

The present invention relates to switching devices, and more particularly to an improved structure of sliding block electrical switch which eliminates the drawbacks of the sliding block electrical switch of U.S. Pat. No. 5,153,401, which is also an invention of the present inventor.
The sliding block electrical switch according to U.S. Pat. No. 5,153,401, as shown in FIG. 1, which comprises a base 1, which has a rectangular slot 12, depressions 13 located by each of two long sides of the rectangular slot 12 and respectively separated by walls 131, and holes 16, contact metal pieces 15 respectively lodged in the depressions 13, a sliding block 2, which has a protruded portion 21 and a clamping block 22, two short circuit metal pieces 23 received in the rectangular slot 12 and respectively retained between the protruded portion 21 and the clamping block 22 of the sliding block 2 and moved by the sliding block 2 to make contact with the contact metal pieces 15 adjacent to each other, and a cover 3, which has hooks 31;32 respectively hooked in holes 16 on the base 1. This structure of sliding block electrical switch is easy to assemble and disassemble manually without the use of any tools or fastening elements. As shown in FIG. 2, the sliding block 2 is capable of moving in the rectangular slot 12 so as to trigger the short circuit metal pieces 23 to make contact with the contact metal pieces 15 located at different positions in order to carry out the function of circuit switching. In order to let the sliding block 2 be moved in the rectangular slot 12, the width of the sliding block 2 must be narrower than the width of the rectangular slot 12. This limitation affects the stability of the sliding of the sliding block 2 in the rectangular slot 12. Because there is no positioning means to hold the sliding block 2 in the rectangular slot 12 and the contact between the short circuit metal pieces 23 and the contact metal pieces 15 is a contact between plains and circular surfaces, a contact error may occur easily.

Structure of sliding block electrical switch


A demand forecasting method and a demand forecasting apparatus are provided. A preliminary prediction amount corresponding to a part number is obtained based on historical demand data. A demand probability of the part number is calculated based on the preliminary prediction amount. A prediction demand amount corresponding to the part number is obtained based on the historical demand data, the preliminary prediction amount and the demand probability.

Predicting demand accurately is an important part in the field of inventory. If inventory can be accurately predicted, a large amount of unnecessary inventory may be reduced to achieve and a cost saving effect while satisfying customer needs. The longer the system runs, the greater the savings. In terms of service parts, during a specific time from the start to the end of product service time, necessary parts are to be provided to meet the needs of customers for repair or replacement. For suppliers, if the demand for parts can be predicted and handled more accurately, parts inventory may be circulated in a shorter time to create revenue, and reduce the cost backlog caused by inactive parts.
Most of the existing inventory forecasting technologies use a time series method with data to formulate forecasts. The defects of the prior art are roughly the following three points. (1) The data cannot be fully utilized, and the limits of time series can usually only consider a few variables. Therefore, even though the information included in the data is rich, because people have limited understanding of the data, the variables that may be considered in the final formula used to produce predictions may only be 10 variables at the most. (2) Because these formulas for output prediction are derived from the accumulation of human experience, it is difficult to make a systematic inheritance and transfer when someone leaves or is replaced. (3) The current system cannot be quickly expanded to different regions. In simple terms, as the demand patterns in Europe, the United States, and Asia are different, if localized predictions are to be made for different regions, three teams are then required to carry out experience accumulation and development of formulas.

Demand forecasting method and demand forecasting apparatus


A driver circuit includes a first transistor having a first node coupled to a high supply voltage and a second node coupled to an output node, wherein the first transistor passes the high supply voltage to the output node based on a first gate voltage on a gate of the first transistor. The driver circuit also includes a second transistor having a first node coupled to a low supply voltage and a second node coupled to the output node of the driver circuit, wherein the second transistor passes the low voltage to the output node based on a second gate voltage on a gate of the second transistor. The driver circuit further includes a logic block configured to control a slew rate of an output signal Vout at the output node by controlling a slew rate of the first gate voltage and controlling a slew rate of the second gate voltage.

Storing and retrieving data from a hard disk drive or other storage media is essential to modern electronics. A hard disk drive typically stores digitally encoded data on rapidly rotating platters having magnetic surfaces. Platters in a hard disk drive are usually rotated by a motor commonly referred to as a spindle motor.
One factor affecting the reliability of a hard disk drive is accurate control over the speed of rotation of platters (or the speed of a spindle motor). The speed of a spindle motor is typically controlled by a motor driver that provides power to the spindle motor using pulse-width modulation (PWM) techniques. As a result, an output of the motor driver (e.g., a pulse width modulated signal) switches between potentials of a positive power supply and a negative power supply (e.g., ground). This switching can cause electromagnetic interference (EMI) and noise that disrupts other sensitive circuits in the hard disk drive.
To reduce noise and EMI, the slew rate of the output of the motor driver needs to be controlled. However, controlling the slew rate with an inductor load present (such as an inductor load in a spindle motor) is difficult, especially during inductive recirculation when the output voltage quickly approaches the positive supply rail voltage. In addition, any slew rate controller needs to respond quickly to an input control signal to maintain the spindle motor at a constant speed, adding further difficulty to slew rate control.

Output voltage slew rate control in hard disk motor drive


A doser valve with a seat comprising at least one axially located slot from an outer surface of the seat and at least one radial/tangential extending passage in fluid communication with the at least one axially located slot and an exit passage out of the seat.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention pertains to the field of valves. More particularly, the invention pertains to adjustable doser valves.
2. Description of Related Art
Doser valves have been used in diesel engines to deliver small shot of atomized fuel into the exhaust stream to incinerate deposits that collect and build up in the exhaust filter. The shots of atomized fuel aid in cleaning out the filters so that they function properly.
FIGS. 5, 6A, and 6B show a prior art doser valve. Referring to FIG. 5 the prior art doser valve receives pressurized fuel from a source through a fuel inlet connection point 21, which delivers fuel to a passageway 18 of an armature 6. From the passageway 18 of the armature 6, fuel flows to a passageway 14e in the poppet 14 received within a cartridge body 3. From the passageway 14e, fuel flows through axially drilled passages 25 and holes 15a and in the seat 15 and exits the prior art doser valve when the poppet head 14 is not sealingly engaged with the seat 15. The poppet 14 is lifted by the armature 6. When the solenoid assembly 2 is energized, magnetic forces attract the armature 6 to the stop 12 and overcome the force of the spring 16, and lift it away from the seat 15. Because the poppet 14 is lifted by the armature 6, the conical end of the poppet 14 will lift off of the seat 15 when the armature 6 is actuated, so that a metered quantity of fuel is expressed from the conical end of the poppet 14.
In conventional doser valves, the stop 12 is set to a preset stroke distance and remains immovable for the life of the valve.


Compositions and methods are provided for prognostic classification of rheumatoid arthritis disease patients into subtypes, which subtypes are informative of the patient's need for therapy and responsiveness to a therapy of interest.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a chronic inflammatory disease of the synovial joints, afflicts up to 1.0% of the adult population worldwide, yet our understanding of the etiology and pathogenesis of RA remains limited. In RA, synovial inflammation results in growth of the synovial lining to form pannus tissue, which contributes to cartilage and joint destruction.
Although RA involves autoimmune reactions, the precise cause is unknown; and many factors may contribute. A genetic predisposition has been identified and, in white populations, localized to a shared epitope in the HLA-DR β1 locus of class II histocompatibility antigens. Unknown environmental factors, e.g., viral infections, smoking, etc. are also thought to play a role. RA is characterized by the production of, autoantibodies, including rheumatoid factor (RF; IgM antibody against the Fc portion of IgG) and anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPAs) that have binding specificity for citrulline-containing proteins such as perinuclear factor, vimentin, filaggrin and fibrinogen. Prominent immunologic abnormalities include immune complexes produced by synovial lining cells and in inflamed blood vessels. Macrophages also migrate to diseased synovium in early disease; increased macrophage-derived lining cells are prominent along with vessel inflammation.
In chronically affected joints, the normally thin synovium thickens and develops many villous folds. The synovial lining cells produce various materials, including collagenase and stromelysin, which contribute to cartilage destruction, and IL-1 and TNF-α, which stimulate cartilage destruction, osteoclast-mediated bone absorption, synovial inflammation, and prostaglandins. Fibrin deposition, fibrosis, and necrosis are also present.
Rheumatoid factors (RF), antibodies to human γ-globulin, are present in about 70% of patients with RA. However, RF, often in low titers, occurs in patients with other diseases, including other connective tissue diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus, granulomatous diseases, chronic infections such as viral hepatitis, subacute bacterial endocarditis, and tuberculosis, and cancers. Low RF titers can also occur in a small percentage of the general population, and more commonly in the elderly.
Another disease indicator is the presence of anti-CCP (cyclic citrullinated peptide) antibodies, which have a high specificity and sensitivity for RA and, like RF, predict a worse prognosis.
Diagnostic methods for predicting the severity of rheumatoid arthritis are of great clinical interest. The present invention addresses this issue.
Publications
Autoantibody profiles and uses thereof are described in U.S. Patent application, publication US-2003-0003516-A1, herein incorporated by reference.
Epitope spreading to citrullinated antigens in mouse models of autoimmune arthritis and demyelination is described by Kidd et al. (2008) Arthritis Res Ther. 10(5):R119. Zhao et al. (2008) Arthritis Res Ther. 10(4):R94 describe immune complexes contain citrullinated fibrinogen. Arthritis induced by posttranslationally modified (citrullinated) fibrinogen in DR4-IE transgenic mice is described by Hill et al. (2008) J Exp Med. 205(4):967-79. Proteomic analysis of secreted proteins in early rheumatoid arthritis is described by Hueber et al. (2007) Ann Rheum Dis. 66(6):712-9. Antigen microarray profiling of autoantibodies in rheumatoid arthritis is described by Hueber et al. (2005) Arthritis Rheum. 52(9):2645-55.

Fibrinogen immune complexes to diagnose and guide therapy in rheumatoid arthritis

THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR UNIVERSITY


A differentiated services code point (DSCP) field and a flags field of a data packet are utilized to route the packet in a network address translation (NAT) network. A sending device configures the DSCP field in the packet with information that may be used to identify a destination for the packet within the NAT network. The sending device also configures the flags field to indicate that the DSCP field is to be utilized to identify the destination. When a device in the NAT network receives the packet, the device examines the flag field to determine whether the DSCP field is to be utilized to identify the destination. If the flag indicates that the DSCP field is to be utilized to identify the destination, the DSCP field is utilized to locate the destination network address for the packet. The packet is then transmitted to the identified destination network address.

Network address translation ("NAT") is the process of modifying Internet protocol ("IP") address information in IP packet headers while in transit across a network traffic routing device, such as a network router. A "one-to-many" NAT is commonly utilized to hide an entire IP address space, usually consisting of private IP addresses, behind a single IP address in another, commonly public, address space. For example, a one-to-many NAT typically alters higher-level information in outgoing communications, such as transmission control protocol ("TCP") and user datagram protocol ("UDP") ports, and maintains a translation table so that return packets can be correctly translated back. Because a one-to-many NAT is the most common type of NAT, it is often referred to simply as a NAT.
One limitation of current NAT implementations is that the same protocol cannot be multiplexed on the same port using a single NAT external network address. For example, two server computers within a NAT network executing a service that utilizes the same port number cannot be accessed from outside the NAT network when only a single external network address is utilized. As a result, services utilizing the same port number within a NAT network are typically assigned their own external network addresses. This configuration, however, results in the use of additional public network addresses, which might be scarce and/or expensive to obtain.
It is with respect to these and other considerations that the disclosure made herein is presented.

Packet routing in a network address translation network


The invention relates to a method for manufacturing an RF filter comprising several resonator cavities and an RF filter manufactured by the method. The resonator cavities are formed into shape from a copper plate in a first manufacturing phase. In a second manufacturing phase the formed resonator cavities are inserted or integrated into a chassis material of the RF filter.

Conventional coaxial RF filter apparatus generally discloses a metal-based chassis. Aluminium is commonly used as a chassis material due to its mechanical, thermal and electrical properties. The resonator cavities of the RF filter are formed in the base material, either by a cast or machining process. This type of an RF filter apparatus is used due to the good electrical characteristics combined with rigid mechanical construction. Metal-based chassis allows easy assembly of the other components. The metal chassis also provides for the components an electrical and heat conductor.
Electric losses in the cavities of the RF filter are due to electric currents flowing in cavity walls. To improve the electrical characteristics of the resonator the cavity can be plated by a metal having good conductivity. Some examples of possible metals are silver and copper. By plating with silver or copper, the electrical conductivity of the wall can be increased compared to the conductivity of aluminium and that way the electrical losses can be reduced. Silver or gold can be utilized as a plating material for preventing oxidation in cavity walls in certain applications.
A conventional RF filter chassis is typically machined from a metal block or formed into shape in a casting process. The metal block can be made of aluminium, for example. Copper or silver plating layer is then applied in a secondary operation. The metal-based filter chassis is heavy and the plating operation complicates the supply chain. Additionally, electroplating process involves hazardous chemicals in the metal cleaning process (typically the cleaning process includes solvent cleaning, hot alkaline detergent cleaning, electro cleaning or acid treatment) and in the plating bath which includes cyanides of the metal to be deposited as well as cyanides of other metals.
In a corrosive environment the outer metallic surface of the RF filter will require to be plating-free to avoid corrosion. Plating-free surface is typically created by selectively plating the housing, by powder coating the plating-free surfaces prior to the electroplating process. Outdoor use of the filter is considered to be a corrosive environment.
Publication US 2010/0102902 depicts a manufacturing method for an RF filter cavity. In the depicted manufacturing method an interior structure of the RF filter has been formed from a metal plate (aluminium) by deep drawing. The formed cavity structure is in the next step attached to a plastic housing. In the end the cavity structure is plated with silver.
Patent publication U.S. Pat. No. 4,706,051 depicts a waveguide filter having multiple resonant cavities. The waveguide filter comprises two similar parts that are manufactured by impact extrusion. After impact extrusion, each manufactured part includes a bottom wall, side walls, end walls, and separating walls. One manufactured part creates one half of the waveguide filter. Two manufactured parts are reverse-coupled for composing the waveguide filter.

Method for manufacturing an RF filter and an RF filter


Example acoustic bandgap devices provided that can be fabricated in a semiconductor fabrication tool based on design check rules. An example device includes a substrate lying in an x-y plane and defining an x-direction and a y-direction, an acoustic resonant cavity over the substrate, and a phononic crystal disposed over the acoustic resonant cavity by generating the phononic crystal as a plurality of unit cells disposed in a periodic arrangement. Each unit cell include: (a) at least one higher acoustic impedance structure having a longitudinal axis oriented in the y-direction and a thickness in the x-direction greater than or about equal to a minimal feature thickness of the semiconductor fabrication tool, and (b) at least one lower acoustic impedance material bordering at least a portion of the at least one higher acoustic impedance structure and forming at least a portion of a remainder of the respective unit cell.

Microelectromechanical system (MEMS) resonators are electromechanical structures with dimensions at microscale or nanoscale that can be configured to resonate at a wide range of different frequencies. The small size and the range of attainable resonant frequencies allow the usage of MEMS resonators in many different types of applications, such as but not limited to chemical and biological sensing, frequency and time references, telecommunications, microprocessors, and signal filtering.

Acoustic bandgap structures for integration of MEMS resonators


The present invention provides an ethylene-vinyl alcohol based copolymer (EVOH) having fundamentally improved thermal stability. The EVOH is characterized in that the proportion of ethylene units (III) is from 20 to 60 mole % with respect to the total (III+IV+V) of ethylene units (III), vinyl alcohol units (IV), and vinyl ester units (V), and the proportion of the total (I+II) of carboxylic acids units (I) and lactone ring units (II) in copolymer terminals with respect to the total (III+IV+V) is 0.12 mole % or less. The EVOH can be obtained by, for example, contacting a reducing agent with an ethylene-vinyl ester based copolymer before saponification and/or EVOH after saponification.

Ethylene-vinyl alcohol based copolymer (hereinafter also referred to as "EVOH") is a thermoplastic resin that is excellent in gas barrier properties, oil resistance, antistatic properties, mechanical strength, and the like. EVOH is widely used for various packaging materials such as films, sheets, and containers. To be processed into various molded products, EVOH is molded in a molten state by, for example, extrusion molding or injection molding. When molding EVOH in a molten state, the molding temperature usually needs to be 200° C. or higher. For this reason, thermal degradation tends to occur, and the molded products may suffer from fish eyes or hard spots, which can be a cause of degradation in product quality.
It has been known that the long-term run stability of EVOH is improved by adding to the EVOH an organic carboxylic acid, an alkali metal salt, an alkaline earth metal salt, a phosphate, or the like (for example, WO99/05213 and JP 2001-164059A). However, such a method, which seems to be a stopgap measure, has not resolved the problem fundamentally nor achieved an improvement in the long-term run stability to a sufficient degree.
Thus, conventionally, it has long remained as an unsolved problem to suppress quality degradation of EVOH due to fish eyes and hart spots formed in a high-temperature molding process.

Ethylene-vinyl alcohol based copolymer and method for production thereof


A network multi-media production and authoring system. A real-time network referred to as an "AV LAN" is defined. Coupled to the AV LAN are a number of shared multi-media production resource devices. These multi-media production resource devices include video tape recorders, audio tape recorders, video titling devices, graphics devices, special effects generators, etc. Also connected to the AV LAN are a number of workstations which are used to control the production resources connected to the AV LAN. The production resources are connected to the AV LAN through an interface unit known as a `device translator`. The device translator is a microprocessor driven device that translates coded messages received over the AV LAN into specific commands which the particular production resource understands. The edit workstations present the user with an intuitive graphical user interface that enables the user access the various production resources in order to create, define, edit, and store elements for use in a multi-media production. The scalable nature of the AV LAN system allows users to design and build AV LAN networks to suit their particular needs. An AV LAN system can be as simple as a single workstation connected to a single production resource device. The AV LAN can be expanded into entire production, editing, and post-production studio. This is accomplished by coupling together several individual AV LAN networks using a network bridge. Efficient organization of such a large system can be accomplished by grouping together like kind production resources onto the same local AV LAN network.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to methods and apparatus to provide an integrated intelligent environment for the production and post-production of multi-media works. In particular, the present invention relates to the integration of a plurality multi-media production and post-production resources into a networked multi-media production and authoring system. The system provides multiple users with control of a plurality of dynamically allocated shared resources using a common intuitive user interface.
2. Art Background
A variety of resources must be integrated, scheduled and coordinated in the production of a feature film or video presentation. Various production media resources such as video, dialog audio, special effects, music audio, and graphics must be edited and selectively integrated into the overall production. Consequently, computer controlled editing systems and integration methods have been used for editing and synchronization of completed music scores, special effects sequences and the like.
Although present editing systems are capable of machine control, they provide few capabilities in dealing with the content of the actual program being edited. Frequently, identifiable sequences of a production, such as special effects, are accomplished through the use of special effects personnel who operate independently of the primary director and production scheduler. Discrete teams of individuals may work on audio editing, video editing, titles, special effects and other related operations required to collectively form a multi-media production. For example, suppose an advertisement agency decides to produce a beer commercial in which the star is a dog. In the final day of post-production, an executive makes a decision which requires that the dog be removed from the commercial and that girls in bikinis should be inserted as the stars of the commercial. If the dog was shot using well-known blue screen image technology and inserted in the final production as a matte layer, it would be easy to remove the image of the dog and replace him with the girls in the bikinis. However, even assuming that the dog had been shot using a blue screen technique, the task remains to remove all dog sounds and other elements related to the previous star. This task is not simple, nor inexpensive, using today's technology.
As will be appreciated from the discussion which follows, the elimination of the dog and the replacement with the girls may be accomplished during a single edit session at one workstation utilizing the present invention's integrated multi-media production and authoring system. Utilizing the present invention, cross media links are established between the various production PG,4 resources comprising a multi-media production. Using a common user interface (see copending patent application, Ser. No. 07/622,821, filed Dec. 4, 1990) the visual image of the dog may be removed and the bikinied girls added. Since the audio track with the dog sounds is linked to the dog visual image, it is easily removed such that an update of all audio and related information is completed, necessary to modify the commercial in a post-production process.
The present invention provides an integrated intelligent studio in which a multi-media production may be realized in a coordinated fashion. Multi-media projects cover many communication media types, including printed materials, audio programs, television shows, feature films and many others. The ability to integrate the functions of the resources utilized in the production of multi-media projects into a single shared system provides a level of performance and capability unknown in the prior art. A variety of hardware and software tools addressing each phase of the multi-media production provide machine readable information from the initial project conception to completion. The present invention's approach of integration permits individual or grouped elements in the multi-media production to be incrementally added or deleted from the production.
As will be described, the present invention provides the users with total control of all allocated production resources through a high-performance multi-media workstation. Multiple workstations may be configured into a distributed network architecture, each specifically configured for a range of tasks, as described more fully below.

Integrated multi-media production and authoring system


The present invention relates to the stabilization of radiopharmaceutical preparations and to the stabilization of components of radiopharmaceutical kits. In particular, the present invention relates to stabilization of lyophilized components of radiopharmaceutical kits by the addition of a cyclic oligosaccharide, such as, a modified or unmodified cyclodextrin, to the kit.

The present invention relates to the stabilization of radiopharmaceutical preparations and to the stabilization of components of radiopharmaceutical kits. In particular, the present invention relates to stabilization of lyophilized components of radiopharmaceutical kits by the addition of a cyclic oligosaccharide, such as a modified or unmodified cyclodextrin, to the kit.
Modified cyclodextrins are known to be useful in stabilizing drugs. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,727,064 to Pitha describes pharmaceutical preparations consisting generally of a drug with a substantially low water-solubility and an amorphous, water-soluble complex of cyclodextrin. In particular, the Pitha patent describes (1) a method of converting drug compositions which are crystalline and of low water-solubility into intrinsically amorphous complexes which have improved pharmaceutical properties; and (2) the method comprising inclusion of multi-component mixtures of cyclodextrin derivatives in the drug compositions. Pitha points out that in order for the cyclodextrin derivatives to be effective in assisting dissolution of the drugs, that a substantial part of the drug molecule should fit into the hydrophobic cavity of the cyclodextrin molecule and the same part of the drug molecule should be hydrophobic. The method of Pitha is most directly concerned with stabilization of hormone compositions, such as testosterone, progesterone, and estrogenic drugs.
European Patent 149,197 to Brauns et al, also relates to ways of increasing the solubility of drug compositions which are sparingly water-soluble by themselves. Brauns et al particularly relates to pharmaceutical preparations containing such drug compositions and a partially etherified beta-cyclodextrin. Brauns et al also indicates that medicinal substances which exhibit the greatest increased water-solubility when converted to inclusion complexes with the beta-cyclodextrin are those having a corresponding fitting shape, i.e. they have to fit into the cavity of the beta-cyclodextrin cyclic system. Examples of such medicinal substances mentioned in Brauns et al, include non-steroidal antirheumatic agents, steroids, cardiac glycosides and derivatives of benzodiazepin, benzimidazole, piperidine, piperizine, imidazole, and triazole.
However, the prior art does not relate to stabilization of radiopharmaceutical preparations or to kits for forming radiopharmaceuticals. Further, the prior art relates only to formation of inclusion complexes wherein the drug fits within the framework of the modified cyclodextrin. Finally, the prior art does not relate to the stabilization of volatile components of a radiopharmaceutical kit.
Therefore, there remains a need to develop stabilization techniques for radiopharmaceutical kits.


A control console for a machine having a seat with a plane of symmetry is disclosed. The machine also has an armrest extending from the seat in a forward direction generally parallel with the plane of symmetry. The armrest has an upper surface intended to support an operator's forearm. The control console includes a base operatively connected to the armrest, and at least one operator interface device operatively connected to the base. The at least one operator interface device has a neutral axis inclined at an oblique angle relative to the upper surface of the armrest. The at least one operator interface device is pivotal in a fore/aft direction to initiate only a single function of the machine, the fore/aft direction being rotated outward away from the seat a predetermined angle relative to the forward direction of the armrest.

Machines such as, for example, wheel loaders, motor graders, agricultural tractors, and other types of heavy equipment have a variety of tools attached to and controlled by the machine's operator. These tools can be relatively complicated and difficult to operate. Each tool may have a different operator interface with numerous controls for position, orientation, and other associated features and functions.
Historically, machines have incorporated large, permanently located levers with complex mechanical linkages, multiple operating joints, and cables to provide the desired work tool functionality. Machines with such multiple control mechanisms required operators with high skill levels. After a period of operating these control mechanisms, the operators became fatigued, with no way to rest the hand or arm while operating the various control mechanisms. Further, because an operator's hand was required to travel from one actuating element to another, there may have been a delay between work tool manipulation that resulted in poor quality and/or low production. Also, because these control mechanisms were fixed in a permanent location, they may have been inefficiently and/or non-ergonomically located for all machine operators.
One example of an operator interface designed to reduce operator fatigue and response time while improving results of the machine is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,164,285 (the '285 patent) issued to Garberg et al. on Dec. 26, 2000. The '285 patent describes a control console for a mobile machine that is connected to a seat within a cab of the machine. The control console extends along an axis which is angled away from a seat plane, when viewed from above the seat. The console has a plurality of single axis control levers mounted on a platform along a horizontal lever axis vertically aligned with an armrest. The platform is vertically movable relative to the seat. As the platform moves, the lever axis remains at a constant angle relative to the seat plane.
Although the console of the '285 patent may have alleviated some of the problems associated with separate machine controls and operator fatigue, the console does not provide enough support or adjustability to the machine operator. In particular, the location of the control levers does not correspond with the natural angle of an operator's hand at rest. In addition, because the console is adjustable in only a single direction, it may still be inadequate for some operators.
The disclosed control console is directed toward overcoming one or more of the problems set forth above.


The invention relates to a monochromator device for selecting at least one wavelength band from incident radiation in a given wavelength range. The monochromator device may include at least one optical layer of a monocrystalline material having a crystallographic line that is adapted to the at least one wavelength band to be selected; and a mechanical substrate. The at least one optical layer and the mechanical substrate are assembled by molecular bonding.

It is known to use X-rays or beams of neutrons to effect various analyses of materials.
A source of X-rays or neutrons is necessary for this, and a monochromator device is generally used. The purpose of the monochromator device is to select a wider or narrower band of wavelengths (i.e. energy) from the spectrum of the source whose extent in terms of wavelength is too large for the envisaged application.
For X-rays, the selection of a band of wavelengths is effected by means of the phenomenon of diffraction of X-rays by a perfect crystal.
Accordingly, incident X-rays whose spectrum extends over a given range of wavelengths received by a perfect crystal at a given angle of incidence give rise to diffraction of the radiation in a narrower band of wavelengths.
It will be noted that the width of the band of wavelengths diffracted by the crystal depends on the nature of the crystal used (lattice parameter, symmetry of the crystal) and on the crystallographic line chosen.
It is in particular known to use silicon as the perfect crystal, being a material well-known for the quality and the sufficient size of its crystals, for the ease with which it can be worked, and for its low cost.
However, the bandwidth of silicon proves to be too small compared to the bandwidth of the sources used and this leads to a considerable loss of flux. For example, for a source of X-rays used in the laboratory (for example employing a cathode ray tube or a rotary anode), from an emission line of a metal such as copper or molybdenum, the width of a fluorescence line is conventionally of the order of ΔE/E=3-5×10−4, whereas the bandwidth of silicon 111 is 1.3×10−4, which means that two thirds of the intensity of the incident radiation are lost. Silicon has too high a resolution for applications using the X-ray diffraction technique.
It is also known to use germanium as the perfect crystal, being a material available in the form of large perfect crystals and which, because of a higher electron density than silicon, and thus greater line widths, transmits three times the flux transmitted by a silicon crystal.
For example, the line width of 111 germanium (Δλ/λ=3×10−4) is well adapted to the case of a source formed of fluorescence lines the width of which is of the order of 3-5×10−4(see above).
However, the cost of a material such as germanium is higher than that of silicon and its mechanical characteristics (in particular its elastic limit) and its thermal characteristics (in particular its thermal conductivity) are worse than those of silicon. Because of this, with germanium as the crystal, it is difficult to envisage applications in which the curvature of the crystal must be variable and change as a function of the application. Such applications are encountered when it is required, for example, to focus X-rays at variable distances to adapt the optics to the apparatus or to focus different energies at a fixed distance.
The object of this focusing is to reduce the size of the beam produced at the location of the sample to be analyzed.


An above-ground flammable fluid containment apparatus and method are provided. The apparatus preferably has a primary fluid container for positioning flammable fluid therein and a secondary container having a bottom and a plurality of walls connected to and extending upwardly from the bottom so as to define an inner chamber. The plurality of walls include front and rear walls and a plurality of side walls connected to and extending between the front and rear walls. The secondary container has at least portions of the primary fluid container positioned within the inner chamber so that outer surfaces of the primary fluid container and inner surfaces of the secondary container define an interstitial space. A a weather shielding cover overlies and connects to upper end portions of the primary fluid container and the secondary container for enclosing the primary fluid container and for shielding the primary fluid container from exposure to various environmental conditions. The weather shielding cover is preferably mounted to the secondary container so that air can readily flow through respective front and rear openings of the apparatus into the interstitial space surrounding the primary container to thereby cool the primary container. The front and rear openings are respectively defined by upper end peripheries of the front and rear walls of the secondary container and lower end peripheries of the weather shielding cover.

The storage or containment of volatile or toxic fluids has been a safety and environmental concern for numerous years. Underground storage tanks or systems have been used in various industries, e.g., fuel distribution, in attempts to stabilize tanks and reduce potential damage to tanks from external sources. These underground storage tanks, however, have increasingly been criticized for actual and potential environmental problems such as leakage of fluid from the tanks into the ground. Also, the owners of these underground storage tanks have problems in determining whether and when a tank has been damaged. These tanks can additionally be expensive to install and maintain and generally lack mobility.
Above-ground storage tanks have also been developed over the years, but due to the environmental and other problems associated with underground storage tanks these above-ground storage tanks have been increasingly emphasized. As shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,282,546 by Bauer titled "Composite Above Ground Liquid Storage Vault" and U.S. Pat. No. 5,564,588 by Reese titled "Method And Storage Tank System For Aboveground Storage Of Flammable Liquids," these above-ground storage tanks or systems often include a primary tank or fluid container having at least portions thereof positioned within a secondary tank or fluid container to thereby allow the second container to inhibit leakage of the fluid from the primary container directly into the ground or surrounding surface mounting area. The space between the outer surfaces of the primary tank and the inner surfaces of the secondary tank is often partially or entirely filled with other granular insulating material to provide a protective layer to the primary tank. In other types of related tank systems, the secondary tank can be formed of a concrete material which forms the protective layer. The protective layer, for example, can inhibit damage to the primary tank, can inhibit the initiating of or spreading of a fire associated with the primary tank, and can provide a temperature insulating layer to the primary tank.
As shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,450,978 by Crisp et al. titled "Environment Compatible Storage Vessel," sand and other non-conductive particulate medium have also been used instead of concrete for the insulating layer and as the sole support for the primary tank when positioned within the secondary tank. Despite the advancements made in the above-ground storage tanks over the years, these tank systems continue to be heavy, not readily portable, and lack effective mobility particularly when the primary tank is encased with concrete. Also, these tank systems can still be expensive to construct and maintain, time consuming to install, shifting and sliding on the sand when transporting or after installation, and ineffective in providing structural support to the primary tank.
Additionally, some applications of these above-ground tank systems do not require a concrete insulating layer. As shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,197,627 by Disabato et al. titled "Double Walled Storage Tank," the tank systems used for these applications often lack a secondary tank or container and simply use a double-walled structure. Other tanks systems, such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,555,999 by Wilcox titled "Secondary Containment For Aboveground Flammable And Combustible Liquid Storage Tanks" and U.S. Pat. No. 5,346,093 by De Benedittis et al. titled "Liquid Storage System," often partially expose upper portions of the fuel tank to various weather conditions. These at least partially exposed tank systems, however, can create problems associated with harsh weather or environmental conditions, e.g., heat, rain, snow, and can also be ineffective in providing structural support to the primary tank.

Above-ground flammable fluid containment apparatus and method of containing same


A computer method for filling a selected region in a target image includes determining an attribute of a seed pixel within the selected region, forming a mask image of the region based on identifying pixels that have the attribute, and filling the selected region based on the mask image.

The invention relates to filling of graphical regions.
Users of computer graphics programs often desire to fill a selected region of an image with other graphical information. For example, an architect using a designing program may want to fill only a selected rectangular area with a repeating brick pattern. This operation is called "seed filling". The general operation is suggested by FIG. 1. A target image 10 contains a region 12 that has been selected by a mouse click at a given pixel location 14. A fill image 16 (here, a repeating brick image) is to be placed within the boundary 15 of selected region 12, but not within the boundary 17 of some similar but unselected region 18.
When a selected region has already been defined, for example by defining its boundary, seed filling the region is straightforward: a given fill image is placed within the defined boundary of the selected region of the target image. A more difficult problem arises when the given selected region is not defined by a specific boundary, but rather, for example, constitutes a contiguous (or piece-wise continuous) bitmap region defined by all its pixels being a given color and each pixel being connected to at least one other pixel of the region. With piece-wise continuous bitmap regions, the extent of region 12 normally must be determined before filling is done.
One way to determine the extent of region 12 is by a methodical search that begins at pixel location 14 (called the seed) and looks for all similar (e.g., similarly colored) pixels. Referring to FIG. 2, for example, if region 12 comprised blue pixels, the colors of the four pixels 14b, 14c, 14d, and 14e connected to seed pixel 14a would be determined. For each such connected pixel that has the same color (blue) as 14a, the colors of its remaining three connected pixels would also be determined (the color of pixel 14a need not be determined because its color is already known). This process continues until all connected pixels having the same given attribute as initial pixel 14a (blue color in this case) have been found, and used to place fill image 16 into region 12. For example, as each pixel 14 is tested, it can be immediately replaced with an appropriate pixel of fill image 16.
This four-connected pixel approach takes a significant amount of time. In many graphical operating systems, for example Microsoft.TM. Windows.TM., each interrogation of a pixel for its color involves calling a specific device driver that governs its own device-dependent bitmap (DDB) of the image. More generally, one requests the graphical device interface (GDI) layer of an operating system for information about a particular pixel in a bitmap. Each call takes a finite time and the aggregate time for the calls increases geometrically with the size of the selected region.
Some computer systems allow for device-independent bitmaps (DIBs), which do not require so many separate calls to the GDI. However, these systems may use a DDB as a master for output to a device (e.g., monitor), and can require a relatively time-consuming translation step from the DBB to a DIB for direct manipulation by a particular program, and then back again.