The present invention provides a broad spectrum IBDV vaccine that is able to induce a protective immune response against classical- and variant E IBDV strains. Moreover, the vaccine can be administered to poultry by mass application routes.

The present invention is concerned with an IBDV mutant comprising the nucleotide sequences encoding a variant E VP2 protein in segment A of the viral genome and that is capable to infect and replicate in CEF tissue culture, a vaccine comprising this mutant and the use of this mutant for the manufacture of a vaccine.
Infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) is a member of the Birnaviridae family. Viruses in this family have a very similar genomic organisation and a similar replication cycle. The genomes of these viruses consist of 2 segments (A and B) of double-stranded (ds) RNA. The larger segment A encodes a polyprotein, which is cleaved by autoproteolysis to form mature viral proteins VP2, VP3 and VP4. VP2 and VP3 are the major structural proteins of the virion. VP2 is the major host-protective immunogen of birnaviruses, and contains the antigenic regions responsible for the induction of neutralising antibodies. The VP4 protein is the virus-coded protease that is involved in the processing of a precursor polyprotein of the VP2, VP3 and VP4 proteins. The larger segment A possesses also a second open reading frame (ORF), preceding and partially overlapping the polyprotein gene. This second open reading frame encodes a protein VP5 of unknown function that is present in IBDV infected cells. The smaller segment B encodes VP1, a 90 kDa multifunctional protein with polymerase and capping enzyme activities.
For IBDV, two serotypes exist, serotype 1 and 2. The two serotypes may be differentiated by virus neutralisation (VN) tests. Furthermore, subtypes of serotype 1 have been isolated. These so-called xe2x80x9cvariantxe2x80x9d viruses of serotype 1 can be identified by cross-neutralisation tests, a panel of monoclonal antibodies or RT-PCR. These subtypes of serotype 1 of IBDV have also been described in literature, for example: classical, variant-E, GLS, RS593 and DS326 strains (Van Loon, et al. Proceedings of the International symposium on infectious bursal disease and chicken infectious anaemia, Rauischholzhausen, Germany, 179-187, 1994).
Infectious Bursal disease (IBD), also called Gumboro disease, is an acute, highly-contagious viral infection in chickens that has lymphoid tissue as its primary target with a selective tropism for cells of the bursa of Fabricius. The morbidity rate in susceptible flocks is high, with rapid weight loss and moderate mortality rates. Chicks that recover from the disease may have immune deficiencies because of the destruction of the bursa of Fabricius, which is essential to the defence mechanism of the chicken. The IBD-virus causes severe immunosuppression in chickens younger than 3 weeks of age and induces bursal lesions in chicks up to 3 months old.
For many years the disease could be prevented by inducing high levels of antibodies in breeder flocks by the application of an inactivated vaccine, to chickens that had been primed with attenuated live IBDV vaccine. This has kept economic losses caused by IBD to a minimum. Maternal antibodies in chickens derived from vaccinated breeders prevent early infection with IBDV and diminish problems associated with immunosuppression. In addition, attenuated live vaccines have also been used successfully in commercial chicken flocks after maternal antibodies had declined.
Recently, very virulent strains of IBDV have caused outbreaks of disease with high mortality in Europe. The current vaccination programs failed to protect chicks sufficiently. Vaccination failures were mainly due to the inability of live vaccines to infect the birds before challenge with virulent field virus.
A further cause of acute disease in vaccinated flocks is the emerging of antigenic variants in the mid-1980s, in particular in the USA. The most important new antigenic subtypes of serotype 1 IBDVs were the Delaware variant E and GLS strains. Until then, vaccines used were based on live attenuated or killed IBDV strains of the classical type only. However, despite the fact that classical IBDV vaccine strains induce a certain degree of cross-protection against infection of chickens by other subtype strains (and vice-versa), substantial economic losses have been sustained as a result of vaccination with vaccines based on only one of the subtype viruses.
As a result of these developments in the field it became necessary to incorporate both classical and variant IBDV subtype vaccine strains into the IBDV vaccines to obtain a broad spectrum protection.
As described above, both live and killed vaccines based on classical strains are generally used in the field. The killed classical vaccines are commonly administered per injection, whereas the live classical vaccines are administered per injection or by one of the inexpensive, mass application techniques, such as spray-, aerosol and drinking water vaccination.
Delaware variant E viruses identified so far are highly virulent and can be administered as an inactivated vaccine only. Until now, there has been only one successful attempt to adapt and attenuate a variant E strain in cell culture. This vaccine strain designated as 89/03 is able to induce protection against variant E infection, but has the disadvantage that it does not take if administered by one of the mass application routes. This vaccine virus needs to be administered by injection, subcutaneously or intramuscularly (Hein et al., Proceedings of the 43th Western poultry disease conference, pages 102-103, 1994, Sacramento, USA).
For protecting birds against infection by IBDV of the GLS subtype, only inactivated vaccines are available.
Mundt (J. Gen. Virology 80, 2067-2076, 1999) identified the structural requirements at the molecular level which allows IBDV strains that were only able to infect and replicate in vivo in the bursa of Fabricius, to infect and replicate in chicken embryo fibroblast (CEF) tissue culture as well. Two amino acid exchanges in the VP2 protein at positions 253 (Gln to His) and 284 (Ala to Thr) were necessary and sufficient for the ability of IBDV bursa strains (BU) to infect CEF and other tissue cultures. In particular, two chimeric D78/variant E IBDV mutants with a tissue culture (TC) phenotype are disclosed in this document.
In view of the above, a need existed for a live attenuated Delaware variant E IBDV vaccine that is efficacious if administered via a mass application route. Furthermore, a need existed to obtain a broad spectrum IBDV vaccine strain that affords adequate protection against IBDV strains of two or more subtypes. Such a broad spectrum vaccine prevents that separate vaccine viruses for each IBDV subtypes have to be manufactured and formulated into a combination vaccine.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an IBDV mutant that is able to induce a protective immunity in chickens against virulent strains of at least two IBDV subtypes. It is a further object to provide an IBDV mutant which affords protection against virulent IBDV variant E strains and that at the same time can be administered via a mass application technique commonly used for live IBDV vaccination.
It has been found now that these objects have been met by providing an IBDV mutant comprising the nucleotide sequences encoding a variant E VP2 protein in segment A of the viral genome and that is capable to infect and replicate in CEF tissue culture, characterised in that the mutant comprises one or more mutations in the variant E VP2 coding region such that,
(i) the codon for the amino acid at position 254 encodes Glycine, and/or
(ii) the codon for the amino acid at position 270 encodes Threonine.
It has been shown by the present inventors that the chimeric IBDV D78/variant E bursa (BU) mutant disclosed in Mundt et al. (1999, supra), displaying the culture (BU) and immunogenicity characteristics of a variant E strain, is virulent and induces complete lymphocyte depletion after administration to chickens. Furthermore, it is shown in Example 2 that the corresponding tissue culture (TC) mutant of this strain is less virulent and is able to induce a partial protective immune response if administered per injection. However, at the same time the TC mutant induces only poor protection against challenge if this mutant is administered via the ocular route (a route that is a model for drinking water administration). Surprisingly, the inventors have identified that further mutations in the naturally occurring codons for amino acids 254(Ser) and/or 270(Ala) in the VP2 gene of variant E viruses, resulting in codons encoding amino acid 254(Gly) and/or 270(Thr), provide a live attenuated IBDV mutant that:
(i) is able to induce virus neutralising (VN) antibody titers against classical- and variant E subtype IBDV strains of about the same level,
(ii) is able to induce protection in vaccinated animals against challenge with virulent classical- and variant E subtype IBDV strains,
(iii) is able to induce protection if administered via a mass application route.
IBDV subtypes are well defined in the art, e.g. by means of their reaction pattern with monoclonal antibodies. An IBDV of the variant E subtype specifically reacts with virus neutralising Moab 67 that has been deposited at the ATCC by Dave Snyder on Sep. 14, 1992, under accession no. HB 11122 (see also, Vakharia et al., Virus Research 31, 265-273, 1994).
The mutations resulting in an IBDV mutant according to the invention are introduced in the coding region for the variant E VP2 protein at the codons for amino acid 254(Ser) and/or 270(Ala).
An advantageous IBDV mutant according to the invention comprises the desired mutations in both codons or in the codon for amino acid 254.
The exchange of nucleotide 890 (A to G) and 938 (G to A) lead to the substitutions of amino acid 254 (Ser to Gly) and 270 (Ala to Thr), respectively. As described above, the genomic organisation of IBD viruses is well established: the IBDV genome comprises a large segment A and a smaller segment B. The segment A of IBDV comprises a large open reading frame (ORF) encoding a polyprotein of about 110 kDa (VP2-VP4-VP3; FIG. 1). The complete nucleotide sequences of the segment A and segment B of many IBDV strains have been determined. Furthermore, the location within the ORF, the nucleotide sequence encoding the variant E VP2 protein and the amino acid sequence of the variant E VP2 protein have been determined by Vakharia et al., Avian Diseases 36, 736-743, 1992; Vakharia et al., Virus Res. 31, 265-273, 1994; Heine et al., J. Gen. Virol. 22, 1835-1843, 1991. Additionally, the nucleotide sequence of the DNA fragment comprising variant E VP2 coding sequences (nucleotides 647-1725) and corresponding to amino acid sequences 172-532 of the polyprotein used for generating an IBDV mutant according to the invention as described in the Examples are shown in SEQ ID. No. 1 and 2.
The numbers used herein to indicate the amino acid positions refer to numbering of the amino acids in the IBDV polyprotein as commonly used in the art. The numbers indicating the nucleotide positions are based on the complete nucleotide sequence of the segment A of the IBDV genome as described by Mundt and Mxc3xcller (J. Gen. Virol. 77, 437-443, 1995; NCBI accession number X 84034).
It is demonstrated in Mundt (1999, supra) that the prerequisite for an IBDV strain with a classical- or variant E phenotype to infect and replicate in CEF tissue culture is the presence of codons encoding amino acid 253(His) and 284(Thr) in the VP2 gene of the respective strains. Therefore, in particular, an IBDV strain according to the present invention displaying the property to infect and replicate in CEF tissue culture comprises amino acid 253(His) and 284(Thr). Such an IBDV strain can be obtained by the methods disclosed in Mundt (1999, supra). Furthermore, such a method is also described in Example 1.
As a result of the degeneracy of the genetic code various possibilities exist for the codons encoding amino acid 254(Gly) and 270(Thr) of the polyprotein of an IBDV mutant according to the invention. The codon in the VP2 coding region for amino acid 254(Gly) may be GGA, GGC, GGG or GGT, GGC being preferred, whereas the codon for amino acid 270(Thr) may be ACT, ACC, ACA or ACG, ACG being preferred.
Variant E IBDV strains having the property (i) to infect and replicate in CEF tissue culture and (ii) to induce a broad-spectrum immune response upon administration via a mass application route, can be prepared by introducing the specific relevant codons mentioned above in a naturally occurring variant E strain.
Alternatively, this result can also be obtained by exchanging part of the variant E VP2 coding region by a corresponding part of the genomic sequence of a known (classical) IBDV strain that already comprises the desired codons at the relevant positions. Full length genomic sequences of classical strains are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,871,744 (Vakharia and Mundt) and EP patent application no. 98201704.8 (Akzo Nobel NV).
In particular, an IBDV mutant according to the invention is provided that comprises part of the VP2 coding sequence of the classical strain D78 encoding a VP2 protein fragment that comprises amino acid positions 253-284 and having the desired codons as defined above.
A preferred IBDV mutant according to the present invention comprises part of the D78 VP2 coding region spanning nucleotide position 884-985 having a nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID No. 3. This nucleotide fragment replaces the corresponding fragment of the variant E VP2 coding region and encodes inter alia the following amino acids: 253(His), 254(Gly), 270(Thr) and 284(Thr) (SEQ ID No. 4).
An IBDV mutant according to the present invention may comprise the genetic backbone of the segment A of a variant E IBDV strain, including a mutated VP2 coding region as described above. However, an IBDV mutant according to the invention can also be based on the genetic backbone of another IBDV strain, such as a classical- or GLS strain, a classical strain, more in particular strain D78, being preferred.
In such a xe2x80x9cchimericxe2x80x9d IBDV mutant, VP2 coding sequences on the genetic backbone of segment A of a first type of IBDV strain are replaced by the corresponding, relevant variant E VP2 coding sequences that additionally comprise the desired mutations that are responsible for the advantageous properties of the new IBDV mutant.
The VP2 coding sequences encoding a variant E VP2 protein may comprise the (mutated) genetic information encoding the complete variant E VP2 protein (nucleotide positions 131-1666) or may comprise a fragment thereof that encodes a VP2 protein that is able to induce variant E virus neutralising antibodies. In the latter case the variant E VP2 coding sequences may be complemented with VP2 coding sequences of another IBDV subtype such that the IBDV mutant expresses a complete VP2 protein.
In particular, such an IBDV mutant may comprise at least a (mutated) variant E VP2 coding fragment spanning the so-called variable region of the VP2 gene. Bayliss et al. (J. Gen. Virol. 71, 1303-1312, 1990) determined this region to be located within the nucleotide positions 745-1182.
Preferably, the IBDV mutant comprises the variant E VP2 coding sequences spanning nucleotides 647-1666, including the desired mutations described above.
The generation of the (chimeric) IBDV mutants can be achieved by means of the recently established infectious cRNA system for IBDV (Mundt and Vakharia, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 93, 11131-11136, 1996). This reverse genetics system opens the possibility to introduce mutations in the RNA genome of the IBDV. The most important step in this reverse genetics system is to provide full length cDNA clones of the segments A and B of IBD virus, including the nucleotides of the 5xe2x80x2- and 3xe2x80x2- ends of both these segments. After cloning procedures, the full length sequences of segment A and B are operably linked to a promoter which is able to bind a DNA dependent RNA polymerase, such as the T7, SP6 or T3 polymerase, the T7 promoter being preferred. The DNA dependent polymerase is able to describe viral cRNA from full length cDNA clones of segment A and B, respectively. This cRNA is able to induce replication of the virus and the isolation of viable virus. This procedure can be performed with every natural occurring IBDV.
Reverse genetics systems have been described for various IBDV strains, such as D78 (Yao et al., J. Virol. 72, 2647-2657, 1998), strain HK46 (Lim et al., J. Virol. 73, 2854-2862, 1999) and CEF 94 (Boot et al., Virology 265, 330-341, 1999).
The segment B of an IBDV mutant according to the invention can be derived from any IBDV strain, preferably from a classical IBDV strain, most preferably from strain D78 or P2 (U.S. Pat. No. 5,871,744 and EP patent application no. 98201704.8).
IBDV mutants as described above comprising segment B of strain P2 display particular advantageous attenuated and protective properties, especially a mutant having amino 254(Gly) or 254(Gly)/270(Thr).
The desired mutations can be introduced into the IBDV genome by means of methods generally known in the art for this purpose. In particular, the mutation(s) are introduced by means of site-directed mutagenises. Methods for introducing a mutation in the IBDV genome are described herein, but are also generally used in the art (Mundt and Vakharia, 1996, supra; Yao et al., J. Virology 72, 2647-2654, 1998; Mundt et al., 1999, supra; EP patent application no. 98201704.8; Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, eds.: F. M. Ausubel et al., Wiley N.Y., 1995 edition, pages 8.5.1.-8.5.9.and Kunkel et al. in Methods in Enzymology vol. 154, 376-382, 1987).
As demonstrated in the Examples, an IBDV mutant according to the invention displays very favourable properties that can lead to a new type of IBDV vaccine. Therefore, another aspect of this invention is a vaccine for use in the protection of poultry against disease resulting from IBDV infection. The vaccine comprises an IBDV mutant as defined above, together with a pharmaceutical acceptable carrier or diluent.
The IBDV mutant can be incorporated into the vaccine as live attenuated or inactivated virus, however, the live form is preferred because this allows the use of all the advantageous properties of the IBDV mutants of the present invention.
A vaccine according to the invention can be prepared by conventional methods such as for example commonly used for the commercially available live- and inactivated IBDV vaccines. Briefly, a susceptible substrate is inoculated with an IBDV mutant according to the invention and propagated until the virus replicated to a desired infectious titre after which IBDV containing material is harvested.
Every substrate which is able to support the replication of IBDV mutants can be used to prepare the vaccine according to the present invention, including primary (avian) cell cultures, such as chicken embryo fibroblast cells (CEF) or chicken embryo liver cells (CEL), mammalian cell lines such as the VERO cell line or the BGM-70 cell line, or avian cell lines such as QT-35, QM-7 or LMH. Usually, after inoculation of the cells, the virus is propagated for 3-10 days, after which the cell culture supernatant is harvested, and if desired filtered or centrifuged in order to remove cell debris.
Alternatively, the IBDV mutant is propagated in embryonated chicken eggs. In particular, the substrate on which these IBDVs are propagated are SPF embryonated eggs. Embryonated eggs can be inoculated with, for example 0.2 ml IBDV mutant containing suspension or homogenate comprising at least 102 TCID50 per egg, and subsequently incubated at 37xc2x0 C. After about 2-5 days the IBD virus product can be harvested by collecting the embryo""s and/or the membranes and/or the allantoic fluid followed by appropriate homogenising of this material. The homogenate can be centrifuged thereafter for 10 min at 2500xc3x97g followed by filtering the supernatant through a filter (100 xcexcm).
The vaccine according to the invention containing the live virus can be prepared and marketed in the form of a suspension or in a lyophilised form and additionally contains a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent customary used for such compositions. Carriers include stabilisers, preservatives and buffers. Suitable stabilisers are, for example SPGA, carbohydrates (such as sorbitol, mannitol, starch, sucrose, dextran, glutamate or glucose), proteins (such as dried milk serum, albumin or casein) or degradation products thereof. Suitable buffers are for example alkali metal phosphates. Suitable preservatives are thimerosal, merthiolate and gentamicin. Diluents include water, aqueous buffer (such as buffered saline), alcohols and polyols (such as glycerol).
If desired, the live vaccines according to the invention may contain an adjuvant. Examples of suitable compounds and compositions with adjuvant activity are the same as mentioned below.
Although administration by injection, e.g. intramuscularly, subcutaneously or in ovo of the live vaccine according to the present invention is possible, the vaccine is preferably administered by an inexpensive mass application route commonly used for IBDV vaccination. For IBDV vaccination this route includes drinking water, spray and aerosol vaccination.
For administration by the drinking water route it is customary to deprive the animals of water for about 2 to 4 hours before placing the vaccine containing water in front of them, and it is important that there is enough drinker space for all birds to drink evenly. The vaccine is applied in fresh drinking water at a concentration calculated to give each bird a sufficient dose.
In order to prevent a dramatic reduction of the viable vaccine virus by the presence of small amounts of chlorine, iron, zinc or copper ions in the drinking water, preferably a protectant such as skim milk (powder) is added to the water containing vaccine.
The spray method, comprising the coarse spray and aerosol administration, involves the administration of the live IBDV vaccine incorporated in small liquid particles. In the coarse spray method particles usually have an initial droplet size ranging from 10 to 100 microns and in the aerosol administration method droplets usually range from  less than 1 to 50 microns.
In order to prevent inactivation of the live vaccine virus because of increased concentration of dissolved salts as a result of desiccation of the (tap) water particles, small amounts of a protein protectant, such as skimmed milk, skimmed milk powder or gelatin can be added to aqueous phase.
For the generation of the small particles, conventional spray-apparatus and aerosol generators can be used, such as the commercially available spray generators for knapsack spray, hatchery spray and atomist spray. Also the drinking water vaccination can be carried out using conventional apparatus. Details concerning conventional spray/aerosol- and drinking water vaccination can be found in the xe2x80x9cCompendium, administration of poultry vaccinesxe2x80x9d issued by the Gezondheidsdienst voor Pluimvee, Doorn, The Netherlands, van Eck et al., VI-VII, 1988.
In another aspect of the present invention a vaccine is provided comprising the IBDV mutant in an inactivated form. The major advantage of an inactivated vaccine is the high levels of protective antibodies of long duration that can be achieved against both classical and variant E IBDV strains.
The aim of inactivation of the viruses harvested after the propagation step is to eliminate reproduction of the viruses. In general, this can be achieved by chemical or physical means well known in the art.
A vaccine containing the inactivated IBDV mutant can, for example comprise one or more of the above-mentioned pharmaceutically acceptable carriers or diluents suited for this purpose.
Preferably, an inactivated vaccine according to the invention comprises one or more compounds with adjuvant activity. Suitable compounds or compositions for this purpose include aluminium hydroxide, -phosphate or -oxide, oil-in-water or water-in-oil emulsion based on, for example a mineral oil, such as Bayol F(copyright) or Marcol 52(copyright) or a vegetable oil such as vitamin E acetate, and saponins.
The vaccine according to the invention comprises an effective dosage of the IBDV mutant as the active component, i.e. an amount of immunising IBDV material that will induce immunity in the vaccinated birds against challenge by a virulent virus. Immunity is defined herein as the induction of a significant higher level of protection in a population of birds after vaccination compared to an unvaccinated group.
Typically, the live vaccine according to the invention can be administered in a dose of 102-109 TCID50 infectious dose50 (TCID50) per animal, preferably in a dose ranging from 104.0-107.0 TCID50. Inactivated vaccines may contain the antigenic equivalent of 105-109 TCID50 per animal.
Inactivated vaccines are usually administered parenterally, e.g. intramuscularly or subcutaneously.
Although, the IBDV vaccine according to the present invention may be used effectively in chickens, also other poultry such as turkeys, guinea fowl and partridges may be successfully vaccinated with the vaccine. Chickens include broilers, reproduction stock and laying stock.
The age of the animals receiving a live or inactivated vaccine according to the invention is the same as that of the animals receiving the conventional live- or inactivated IBDV vaccines. For example, broilers (free of maternally derived antibodies-MDA) may be vaccinated at one-day-old or in ovo, whereas broilers with high levels of MDA are preferably vaccinated at 2-3 weeks of age. Laying stock or reproduction stock with low levels of MDA may be vaccinated at 1-10 days of age followed by booster vaccinations with inactivated vaccine on 6-12 and 16-20 weeks of age.
The invention also includes combination vaccines comprising, in addition to the IBDV mutant described above, one or more immunogens derived from other pathogens infectious to poultry.
Preferably, the combination vaccine additionally comprises one or more vaccine strains of Mareks Disease virus (MDV), infectious bronchitis virus (IBV), Newcastle disease virus (NDV), egg drop syndrome (EDS) virus, turkey rhinotracheitis virus (TRTV) or reovirus.

Broad spectrum infectious bursal disease virus vaccine


A slider having a magnetic read/write head and including, a base coat, a reader element having a transducer, a writer element, the writer element including at least one conductive coil, the coil being electrically insulated by a composition which has a negative coefficient of thermal expansion, and an overcoat.

Computer disk drive technology has experienced tremendous advances in certain economies of scale, such as size, data compression and data density. In particular, areal density, the density of data on a hard disk drive, has increased geometrically over the last several years. In turn, the tolerances of disk drive components and their relationship to one another has also become a concern. For example, reading from, or writing to, a hard drive having a higher areal density requires close proximity between the transducer containing head and the media. With this closer proximity between head and media, comes a correlative need for the relationship between the head and media to be more regular and predictable during operation.
Complicating these concerns is that the load beams and slider may be made from any number of materials such as metals, polymers or composites all having differing and sometimes marginally compatible physical properties. The environment of use is also a concern. The load beams and slider are also the subject of high thermal stress. These components are commonly subjected to the isothermal heating generated by the various components working in the disk drive. Even more severe, the read/write head of the slider is often characterized as being the hottest part of the assembly. The read/write head is subject to the isothermal heating originating from the other disk drive components. Even further, the read/write head is subjected to joule heating induced thermal stress by the electrical work completed by the transducers in the portion of the slider.
As can be appreciated, the increase or decrease in thermal energy may have any number of effects on the materials used to fabricate the slider. These materials may expand, to different and varying degrees, when heated. In the meantime, the expansion of various elements of the read/write head may result in protrusions from the head adversely affecting fly height between the head and the media. Fly height naturally has to be of such magnitude so that elements of the head do not touch, dig, scrape, or otherwise interfere with the media.
One area of ongoing concern is the writer core on the head. The writer core is generally characterized by coils which carry current flow and, in turn, generate magnetic flux. The heat build up in this area of the head can be considerable. In the past, two general classes of materials have been used to insulate the coils. The first class of materials is commercially available, thermoset polymers. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,567,239 discloses liquid resist polymers used to isolate and insulate adjacent conductive lines of a coil pattern.
Thermosetting polymeric compositions are generally characterized by a high coefficient of thermal expansion and a low Young's modulus. Thus while these polymers may create irregular expanded volumes on the head, the expansion may often be mitigated. Another material used in the past is alumina which has a high dielectric character, a moderate coefficient of thermal expansion, but a high Young's modulus. Thus, while alumina does not expand to the same degree as a thermoset, the expansion, once evident, is more difficult to mitigate.
As can be seen, there is a need for further refinements in head materials and design which will allow for lower fly heights and greater areal density on media.

Negative thermal expansion dielectrics for thermal pole tip protrusion compensation


Described herein are dialog systems, and techniques for providing such dialog systems, that are suitable for use on standalone computing devices. In some embodiments, a dialog system includes a dialog manager, which takes as input an input logical form, which may be a representation of user input. The dialog, manager may include a dialog state tracker, an execution subsystem, a dialog policy subsystem, and a context stack. The dialog state tracker may generate an intermediate logical form from the input logical form combined with a context from the context stack. The context stack may maintain a history of a current dialog, and thus, the intermediate logical form may include contextual information potentially missing from the input logical form. The execution subsystem may execute the intermediate logical form to produce an execution result, and the dialog policy subsystem may generate an output logical form based on the execution result.

An increasing number of devices now enable users to interact with the devices directly using voice or spoken speech. For example, a user can speak to such a device in a natural language, and in doing so, the user can ask a question or make a statement requesting an action to be performed. In response, the device performs the requested action or responds to the user's question using audio output. Since interacting directly using voice is a more natural and intuitive way for humans to communicate with their surroundings, the popularity of such speech-based systems is growing at an astronomical rate.

Task-oriented dialog suitable for a standalone device


In an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, a scan converter module generates display frame data from received frame data using a conversation table adapted to the specific display resolution of a display device. Received frame data is stored in a first frame memory, and display frame data is stored in a second frame memory. A control unit selects the conversion table corresponding to the specific display resolution of the display device from among a group of conversion tables. An address converter generates an address set corresponding to a display address using the selected conversion table. Interpolation is then performed based on the echo data specified by this.

Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses are apparatuses configured to display an ultrasonic image through transmission and reception of ultrasound to and from a living organism. More specifically, with electronic scanning of ultrasonic beams, received frame data formed of a plurality of beam data items is generated. The individual beam data item is subjected to detection processing, logarithmic transformation, re-sampling (decimation) processing, and other processing. The received frame data (a plurality of beam data items) having been subjected to such processing is converted into display frame data (a plurality of line data items) by a scan converter module. The display frame data is then subjected to display processing by means of a video processor, and the display frame data which has been processed is displayed as an ultrasonic image on a display device. In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, a re-sampler is provided upstream of the scan converter.


A method for inductively coupled communications is described. The method includes generating a retransmitted modulated signal that is stronger than a received signal from a first device. The method also includes generating a suppressed carrier signal from the retransmitted modulated signal for retransmission to the first device. The method further includes filtering a superimposed signal of the suppressed carrier signal on the received signal to attenuate modulation sidebands. The method additionally includes synchronizing to the first device based on the filtered signal.

The use of electronic devices has become common. In particular, advances in electronic technology have reduced the cost of increasingly complex and useful electronic devices. Cost reduction and consumer demand have proliferated the use of electronic devices such that they are practically ubiquitous. And, as the use of electronic devices has expanded, so has the demand for new and improved features for them. More specifically, electronic devices that perform new functions and/or perform faster, more efficiently, or with higher quality are often in high demand.
Some electronic devices (e.g., smartphones) transmit wireless signals. Wireless signals may, for example, be utilized to communicate with other electronic devices. For instance, the wireless signals may convey voice information or data. In some implementations, the wireless communication may be over an inductive coupling between devices. The size of the antennas and the mobility (i.e., relative motion) of the transmitter and receiver may affect the wireless signals. As the size of antennas decreases, inductive coupling factors may also reduce. To compensate for the reduced antenna size, electronic devices may communicate using active load modulation. System and methods for synchronizing a second device to a first device during active load modulation may be beneficial.

Systems and methods for inductively coupled communications


An imaging assembly for an image sensor may include a lens, a transparent substrate and two aspherical optical coatings on each side of the substrate. The imaging assembly can also incorporate an opaque coating with an opening in-line with the lens to form an aperture, an anti-reflection coating, and an infrared filter coating.

As image sensors are incorporated into low cost cameras and other devices, such as mobile cellular telephones and personal digital assistants having a main function that may not be capturing images, it is preferable to minimize the cost of the image sensor. Image sensors usually require a focussing lens as part of an imaging assembly so that a representation of a subject may be reproduced. In addition, the imaging assembly may incorporate other components such as additional lens elements, an aperture and an infra-red (IR) filter. Typically, prior art imaging assemblies mount individual components in a support structure commonly referred to as a barrel. The lenses and barrel are usually made from low cost materials, such as plastic. Generally, prior-art imaging assemblies of this type are intentionally low cost and can suffer from problems of limited chromatic correction and difficulties surviving elevated temperatures.
Typically, chromatic correction is required because a lens will not focus light of different wavelengths on the same point. Focal length depends on refraction, and the index of refraction for short wavelengths (for example, blue light) is larger than that of longer wavelengths (for example, red light). This is termed chromatic aberration of a lens.
It may also be beneficial for an imaging assembly to be able to withstand elevated temperatures. One reason for this is that solid state image sensors are often subjected to a re-flow solder process. The re-flow solder process requires that the image sensor be passed through a re-flow oven that melts solder deposits to electrically connect various elements. In a fixing operation, prior to passing the image sensor through a reflow oven, components of the image sensor are fixed in place. Because the imaging assembly cannot tolerate the temperature of the reflow oven, it is fixed in place in a separate fixing operation. It would be advantageous if only one fixing operation was needed for all components.
Typically, the components associated with prior art barrel imaging assemblies have optical properties that are modified by elevated temperature, and, therefore may not be suitable for a re-flow solder process.


A plating apparatus that reduces a terminal effect is provided. The plating apparatus is provided. The plating apparatus includes a substrate holder for holding a substrate as a plating object, an electric contact disposed on the substrate holder to apply a current to a substrate, and a plurality of anodes arranged to face the substrate holder. Each of the plurality of anodes has a long and thin shape. Each of the plurality of anodes is arranged such that a longitudinal direction of the anode is parallel to a surface of a substrate held onto the substrate holder and such that at least one end in the longitudinal direction of each of the anodes faces the electric contact of the substrate holder.

Conventionally, wiring has been formed on fine grooves for wiring, holes, or resist openings provided on surfaces of a substrate such as a semiconductor wafer, and bumps (protruding electrode) electrically connected to electrodes of a package or similar component has been formed on the surface of the substrate. As such method for forming these wiring and bump, a method such as an electroplating method, a deposition method, a printing method, and a ball bump method has been known. In accordance with increase in the number of I/Os of a semiconductor chip and decrease in pitch, the electroplating method that allows miniaturization and provides comparatively stable performance has been often used.
When the electroplating is performed on the substrate such as the semiconductor wafer, an anode sometimes has a shape similar to that of the substrate as a plating object to arrange the anode and the substrate in parallel in an electrolyte. For example, when the substrate as the plating object is circular, the anode may be configured circular having a similar size. When the substrate as the plating object is quadrangular, a quadrangular anode having a similar size may be used as the anode.
When the wiring or the bump is formed in the electroplating method, a seed layer (power feed layer) having a low electrical resistance is formed on a surface of a barrier metal provided on the grooves for wiring, the holes, or the resist openings on the substrate. A plating film grows on a surface of this seed layer. Recently, in accordance with the miniaturization of the wiring and the bump, the seed layer having a thinner film thickness has been used. As the film thickness of the seed layer thins, an electrical resistance (sheet resistance) of the seed layer increases.
Generally, the substrate to be plated has an electric contact on its peripheral edge portion. In view of this, a current corresponding to a combined resistance of an electric resistance value of a plating solution and an electric resistance value of the seed layer from a center portion of the substrate to the electric contact flows through the center portion of the substrate. Meanwhile, a current approximately corresponding to the electric resistance value of the plating solution flows through the peripheral edge portion (near the electric contact) of the substrate. That is, the current is less likely to flow through the center portion of the substrate by the electric resistance value of the seed layer from the center portion of the substrate to the electric contact. This phenomenon that the current concentrates on the peripheral edge portion of the substrate is referred to as a terminal effect.
The thinner the film thickness of the seed layer of the substrate is, the larger the electric resistance value of the seed layer from the center portion of the substrate to the electric contact is. In view of this, the thinner the film thickness of the seed layer of the substrate is, the more significant the terminal effect in the plating is. As a result, a plating rate in the center portion of the substrate decreases, the film thickness of the plating film in the center portion of the substrate becomes thinner than that of the plating film in the peripheral edge portion of the substrate, and an in-plane uniformity of the film thickness decreases.
To suppress the decrease in the in-plane uniformity of the film thickness due to the terminal effect, it is necessary to adjust an electric field applied to the substrate. For example, a plating apparatus that installs a regulating plate, which adjusts an electric potential distribution between an anode and a substrate, between the anode and the substrate has been known (see PTL 1).


An element is protected without hampering an actual operation in the case where overvoltage that might damage the element is applied. A semiconductor device includes a first potential supply terminal 100; a second potential supply terminal 101; a protection circuit 107 which includes a voltage divider 102 electrically connected to the first potential supply terminal 100 and the second potential supply terminal 101, a control circuit 103, and a bypass circuit 106; and a functional circuit 108 which is electrically connected to the first potential supply terminal 100 and the second potential supply terminal 101 through the protection circuit 107.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to semiconductor devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, electronic circuits (hereinafter referred to as functional circuits) which are formed over substrates and have specific functions have been utilized for a variety of electronic components or semiconductor devices such as electronic devices.
As functional circuits, photoelectric conversion circuits can be used, for example. A large number of semiconductor devices having photoelectric conversion circuits generally used for detecting electromagnetic waves (also referred to as photoelectric conversion devices) are known. For example, semiconductor devices having sensitivity to ultraviolet rays to infrared rays are generally referred to as optical sensors. Among optical sensors, an optical sensor having sensitivity to a visible light region with a wavelength greater than or equal to 400 nm and less than or equal to 700 nm is particularly referred to as a visible light sensor. A large number of visible light sensors are used for devices which need illuminance adjustment, on/off control, or the like depending on human living environment.
A semiconductor device having a functional circuit, for example, the above photoelectric conversion device, has a problem in that an element included in the circuit is damaged when high voltage which is higher than certain voltage is applied from the outside. For example, in the case of a photoelectric conversion device, it has a problem in that electrostatic discharge (ESD) occurs in a photoelectric conversion circuit when high voltage of several kilo volts is applied to the photoelectric conversion circuit by static electricity or the like. With respect to the above problems, a semiconductor device which has a function of suppressing damage to an element even if high voltage that might damage a functional circuit is applied from the outside by providing a protection circuit to lower voltage applied to the functional circuit has been proposed (for example, Reference 1: Japanese Published Patent Application No. 2003-303890).

Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.


An aircraft airfoil disclosed herein has a forward skin structure at least partially defining a leading edge of the airfoil and an aft skin structure at least partially defining a trailing edge of the airfoil. At least one of the forward skin structure and the aft skin structure is movable relative to the other of the forward skin structure and the aft skin structure between a closed position, in which at least one thrust fan positioned between the leading edge and the trailing edge is at least partially covered, and an open position, in which the at least one thrust fan is less covered than in the closed position.

Aircraft designed to takeoff, hover, and land vertically or substantially vertically have inspired generations of aerospace designers since Sikorsky's first helicopter took flight in September of 1939. Traditionally, these designs were limited to helicopter-type configurations that have a single large rotor, or, in some cases, two large rotors. However, with the systematic improvement in lightweight aerospace materials, battery and electric motor technology, and ducted fans, new vertical take-off and landing ("VTOL") or short take-off and landing ("STOL") designs are becoming practical.
Modern VTOL or STOL designs often leverage this new distributed propulsion schema wherein lifting fans are positioned in idealized locations around or within an aircraft and are powered by electric motors connected to highly dense energy sources. These fans are often oriented so that their thrust vector is vertically or substantially vertically downward, with instances of upward thrust useful in some airfoil applications, and act by drawing air in through an inlet whereby a fan or propeller propels the air mass. The reactionary force concordantly produces a thrust vector to lift the aircraft vertically from the ground, arrest downward velocity, or otherwise produce aerodynamic balancing forces. When the aircraft is at a desired height, the aircraft may employ one or more power systems to generate forward thrust to begin moving horizontally.
One such schema that has been investigated is to place lift fans within the airfoils, canards or body of a VTOL or STOL aircraft. This has been attempted by many leading aerospace agencies beginning in the early 1960s. However, this configuration has been historically very challenging. Many aerodynamic and structural problems manifest with high-power fans embedded and operating within the airfoils (e.g., wings, canards, and empennage) and/or fuselage of an aircraft. These problems include airflow disturbance at the fan inlets that reduce efficiency, complex pitching moments during transition to and from forward flight, high drag forces during forward flight due to the open-duct free-stream airflow interference, reduction in fan thrust nearing the ground, and other structural problems related to lift fans and their supporting architecture.
Attempts to cover the lift fans with louvres, doors or other such devices have proven complex, heavy, inefficient, and generally contribute to significant aerodynamic challenges.

Aircraft airfoil and aircraft having the same


The interest level estimation system of the present invention includes a gaze measurement unit that measures a person's gaze velocity and a skin potential level measurement unit that measures a person's skin potential level. The interest level estimation system also includes an interest level estimation unit. In the interest level estimation unit, a skin potential level time variation and a gaze velocity standard deviation are obtained at predetermined intervals, an inflection point of the skin potential level time variation is obtained at the predetermined intervals, the skin potential level time variation and the gaze velocity standard deviation that are obtained before a time corresponding to the inflection point are related to an interest state at the predetermined intervals, and the skin potential level time variation and the gaze velocity standard deviation that are obtained after the time corresponding to the inflection point are related to a disinterest state at the predetermined intervals, thereby obtaining a relationship between the skin potential level time variation and gaze velocity standard deviation and the interest level.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an interest level estimation system and an interest level estimation method for estimating a person's interest level to a subject.
2. Description of the Related Art
A system which measures a person's interest level to contents from a person's eye movement has been developed as a system and a method for estimating the person's interest level to the subject (for example, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-20131). However, it is not always suitable that the person's interest level to the subject is estimated by only a measurement value relating to the person's eye movement. Sometimes the person's interest level is changed with time even in the similar subject. A phenomenon in which the interest level (reactivity) to the similar subject is lowered by acclimatization is referred to as habituation. On the contrary, a phenomenon in which the interest level (reactivity) to the similar subject is increased is referred to as dishabituation. A change in the person's interest level with time is not sufficiently considered in the conventional system and method for the interest level.
Thus, the interest level estimation system and interest level estimation method in which the person's interest level is estimated in consideration of a change of the interest level with time (time-inconsistency of interest level) using suitable measurement values indicating the person's interest level is not developed.
Accordingly, there is a need for the interest level estimation system and interest level estimation method in which the person's interest level is estimated in adequate consideration of a change in the interest level with time using suitable measurement values indicating the interest level.

System and method for estimating interest level


Provided are a video processing method, an electronic device, and a storage medium. The method is applied to an electronic device, and includes: acquiring decoding information when decoding a video file; and determining whether the decoding information is abnormal. The method further includes: in response to detecting the decoding information is abnormal, adding an identifier of the video file into a preset blacklist; and in response to detecting the decoding information is normal, adding the identifier of the video file into a preset whitelist, and performing display enhancement processing on the video file.

With the development of science techniques, electronic devices have become one of the most commonly used electronic products in people's daily lives. In particular, users often watch videos or play games through the electronic devices. Moreover, the electronic devices can process videos to improve the playback effect of the videos.

Video processing method, electronic device, and storage medium

GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP., LTD.


Alkoxy-crosslinking one-component moisture curing compositions contain a polymer bearing (alkoxy)(methyl)silylalkyl-terminal groups, and specific silanes as described herein. The compositions exhibit improved shelf life and yet retain other desirable characteristics.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to alkoxy-crosslinking one-component sealant materials based on alkoxyorganosilane-terminated polymers having an outstanding shelf-life and outstanding curing characteristics.
2. Description of the Related Art
Organic polymers having terminal silane groups in the form of one-component materials curing with atmospheric humidity (RTV-1) are known and are widely used for the preparation of flexible sealants and adhesives. Such polymers may be composed of different building blocks. Usually, these are polyurethanes, polyethers, polyesters, polyacrylates, polyvinyl esters, ethylene/olefin copolymers, styrene/butadiene copolymers or polyolefins. It is known that, for stabilization during the processing and storage of the compounds, low molecular weight compounds which have hydrolyzable groups which have a higher reactivity to water than the silane-terminated polymers are added to these one-component materials. The amount of added water scavengers depends on the water content of the components of the formulation and on the desired shelf-lives and processing times. In general, these are organofunctional silanes, the organic radical often being critical for the reactivity. Examples of such silanes are vinyltrimethoxysilane and alkylaminopropyltrimethoxysilanes, but also, for example, silanes which bind water with the formation of ammonia, such as hexamethyldisilazane.
In general, substituted propyltrimethoxysilanes are used for the termination since they are as a rule economically available and have very good reactivity in the materials. However, owing to the high reactivity, the polymers are also problematic with regard to processing, for example in the incorporation of water-containing fillers or additives which increase the reactivity further; moreover, the shelf-lives are often insufficient.
For example, the addition of relatively large amounts of aminosilanes as adhesion promoters can greatly reduce the shelf-life. The materials generally have to be stabilized by means of further added components, such as, for example, the phosphoric esters described in DE-A-19923300, in order to moderate the catalyst activity. Furthermore, the addition of standard water scavengers, such as vinyltrimethoxysilane, is suitable only to a limited extent for stabilizing the materials.
Analogously to the organic polymers already described above, polydiorganosiloxanes having high reactivities are also known. U.S. Pat. No. 5,254,657 describes moisture-curing silicone-based materials in which the crosslinkable silane units are prepared analogously to the organic polymers via the reaction of an aminosilicone with an isocyanatoalkylalkoxysilane. These too have a problematic shelf-life owing to the high reactivity of the terminal silane groups.

Alcoxy cross-linking, single-component, moisture-hardening materials

Consortium fuer Elektrochemische Industrie GmbH


A structural door beam for vehicles includes an elongate open channel with an open section configuration defined by a central web and at least one side flange. A mounting tab projects outwardly from a side edge of the side flange and has a marginal edge surrounding a generally planar mounting surface configured to support a vehicle motion sensor. An integral reinforcing flange extends along portions of the side flange edge and the mounting tab edge and protrudes laterally at a predetermined angle to define an integral buttress which stiffens the mounting tab to avoid inadvertent activation of the vehicle motion sensor. An integral bead may also be provided to reinforce the mounting tab.

The present invention relates to motor vehicles and the like, and in particular to a structural door beam therefor having an integrated reinforcement feature to avoid inadvertent activation of a vehicle motion sensor mounted on the door beam.
Structural door beams are designed to protect vehicle occupants from injury during a side impact collision. When properly designed, the structural door beam should have high rigidity in a direction transverse to the direction of the force applied during a side impact automobile collision. Frequently, the structural door beams carry a vehicle motion sensor that detects impact. The motion sensor relays a signal to an inflation device activating one or more air bags to protect occupants inside the vehicle. A problem that sometimes occurs is that the motion sensor will interpret vehicle vibrations, such as those generated by the vehicle's sound system, as a collision, and subsequently activate the inflation device and the associated air bags. Inadvertent activation of the air bags is dangerous to automobile occupants, and is expensive to repair. Consequently, a structural door beam that provides reinforcement to the portion of the structural door beam that carries the vehicle motion sensor, maintains the structural integrity of the door to meet safety requirements, yet adds no significant cost to manufacture, would be advantageous and would represent a significant advancement in door beam technology.

Vehicle door beam with reinforced tab and method for making the same


A method and system for detecting the location of an air/sea interface on an Instrumented Tow Cable (ITC) when distributed temperature measurements are provided. The air/sea interface is determined by estimating the variance of observed temperature in the proximity of each measurement cell. The method and system described herein uses a sliding variance across the entire cable length. The variance of the cell or cells in the area of the interface has been found to be large compared to other cells. Accordingly, the location of the air/sea interface is determined based on the location of the peak variance. The location of the air/sea interface is used in determining the catenary of the ITC.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the detection of an air/sea interface and more specifically to detection of the interface during distributed temperature measurements using an Instrumented Tow Cable.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
As is known in the art, an Instrumented Tow Cable (ITC) can be used to measure the ocean temperature profile in relation to depth with an order of magnitude improvement in spatial resolution as compared to other known systems.
The ITC measures the temperature along an optical fiber cable with a spatial resolution of one half meter to one meter and a temporal resolution of approximately two to three minutes. As is known to those ordinarily skilled in the art, the measurement is performed using light scattered from within optical fibers integrated into a tow cable.
The ITC uses known Optical Time Domain Reflectometry (OTDR) techniques to determine the precise location of each measurement cell along the cable length. A depth sensor at the bottom of the cable is used to determine the depth at the end of the cable. To obtain the depth of each temperature measurement, it is assumed that the entire cable tows at the same incidence angle with respect to the flow—the critical angle. The critical angle is that angle where the weight and drag of the cable balance.
For any incident angle δ, the force balance on a section of cable is as follows:
                                          W                                                                          cos                                                                          θ                    =                                                    1                2                                          ρ                                                                                dC                n                                                          V                2                                                          sin                2                                          θ                        =                                          1                2                                          ρ                                                                                dC                n                                                                            V                  2                                                                  (                                      1                    -                                                                  cos                        2                                                                  θ                                                        )                                                                    ;                            [        1        ]            where W=the cable weight per unit length (in sea water);                ρ=density of water (˜1000 kilograms per meter3 (kg/m3));        d=cable diameter;        Cn=normal drag coefficient (˜1.5 for a jacketed cylindrical cable);        V=tow speed; and        θ=incidence angle with respect to the flow.
The formula for the critical angle θ, is as follows:
                              cos                                                                          θ            c                          =                              -                          W                              ρ                                                                                dC                  n                                                                  V                  2                                                              +                                                    1                +                                                      W                    2                                                                              ρ                      2                                                                                d                      2                                                                                C                      n                      2                                                                                V                      4                                                                                .                                              [        2        ]            Note that when W is equal to zero, θ is also equal to zero. A neutrally buoyant cable has an incidence angle of zero, regardless of speed.
For neutrally buoyant towed array systems, the assumption of a zero critical angle tow is—in practice—very accurate. However, when a heavy variable depth body is towed, such an assumption of a critical angle is no longer valid. In the case of towing a heavy variable depth body, a lookup table needs to be generated to provide the cable catenary as a function of tow speed. Once the catenary is known and the depth is known at the end of the cable, the depth for each temperature measurement made using the ITC method can be assigned.
While the critical angle can be estimated from Equation [2], the critical angle can be measured more accurately based on the total length of the cable in the water and the total depth of that length. The total depth can be determined using the depth sensor, as described above.
What are needed are a method and system for more accurately measuring the total length of the cable in water (i.e., the length of cable from the air/sea interface to the end of the cable in the water). If the position on the cable where the cable enters the water, referred to herein as the air/sea interface, can be determined; then the total length of the cable in the water can be ascertained.

Method and system for interface detection

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy


A microscope control device includes an offset processing unit that corrects phase contrast information regarding a phase contrast between corresponding phase contrast images, which is generated based on a set of the phase contrast images of a sample which are captured by a microscope, based on offset information of phase contrasts caused by optical distortions unique to the microscope, and a defocus amount calculation unit that calculates a defocus amount of the sample on the basis of the phase contrast information after offset correction.

The present application relates to a microscope control device and an optical distortion correction method.
A technique has been proposed in which, using a microscope used to observe a sample such as a cell tissue slide, an image of a sample observed by the microscope is preserved as a digital image, and the preserved digital image is observed from other devices provided on the Internet or an intranet (for example, refer to the following Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-222801). By the use of this technique, it is possible to promote advancements in so-called telepathology where a doctor in a remote location performs a pathological diagnosis using a network.

Microscope control device and optical distortion correction method


A filter bag for a vacuum cleaner includes at least three layers, at least two layers which include at least one nonwoven fabric layer and one nonwoven fibre layer being connected by a weld, a high bulk resulting due to the small number of welds per surface area.

In the last few years, numerous developments have become known which deal with improving the mono- or multilayer filter bags made of paper or paper and tissue which have been known for a long time in the state of the art. DE 3 812 849 describes dust filter bags with a filter paper outer layer and an internally situated melt-spun microfibre nonwoven fabric (melt-blown). A multilayer filter bag made of nonwovens (SMS) is disclosed for example in U.S. Pat. No. 4,589,894 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,647,881. These inventions deal mainly with improving the dust separation. In EP 1 258 277 B1 and EP 0 960 645 B1, combinations of nonwovens are described which have a particularly long service life and good dust separation capacity. EP 1 362 627 A1 describes filter bags with a multilayer construction in which the fibre diameter distributions in the coarse dust filter layer and in the fine dust filter layer have gradients. In EP 1 254 693 A2, a vacuum cleaner bag is described in which a pre-filter layer made of a dry-laid, electrostatically effective nonwoven is present in front of a filter layer.
Furthermore, a filter medium made of a film fibre nonwoven is described in EP 1 197 252 A1, which comprises dry-laid, electrostatically charged split fibres which are connected to each other by ultrasonic welding. In order to achieve sufficient strength of the nonwoven, it is essential that at least two ultrasonic weld points per cm2 are present. It is achieved as a result that the individual fibres are connected directly to each other by ultrasonic welds. It is mentioned as an advantage of such a filter medium that the manufacturing rate in comparison with needle bonding of the fibre web with a scrim is higher and the air resistance of the scrim can be avoided. In the above-mentioned application, it is also provided furthermore that the film fibre nonwoven can also be connected to further nonwoven fabric layers. It is disadvantageous with the filter medium of EP 1 197 252 A1 above all that the dust storage capacity of this material is inadequate for use as filter medium for vacuum cleaner bags.

Filter bag for a vacuum cleaner and use thereof


An aqueous ink composition contains a colorant and a humectant, and has a surface tension .gamma. of less than 50 mN/m when measured by a maximum bubble pressure method at 25.degree. C., with a bubble frequency .nu. of the aqueous ink composition being set at less than 1 Hz, and a surface tension .gamma. of more than 40 mN/m when measured by the maximum bubble pressure method at 25.degree. C., with the bubble frequency .nu. of the aqueous ink composition being set at more than 5 Hz. In addition, an ink-jet printing method for forming ink images on an image-receiving medium has the step of ejecting the above-mentioned aqueous ink composition in the form of droplets according to the recording signals at a recording frequency of 8 kHz or more.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an aqueous ink composition, more particularly to an aqueous ink composition which comprises as the main components a colorant and a humectant.
The present invention also relates to a method of ink-jet printing method using the above-mentioned aqueous ink composition.
2. Discussion of Background
Ink-jet printers have been widely utilized in recent years because of the advantages of low noise and low running cost, and color printers capable of producing color images on a sheet of plain paper have also been placed on the market.
However, it is extremely difficult to obtain a color ink composition which is satisfactory with respect to the requirements such as the following: image density, color reproduction, water-resistance, light-resistance, drying characteristics, blurring of images and the strike-through phenomenon, and the reliability of ink-ejection. In particular, it is necessary to control not only the wettability of plain paper by the ink composition and the penetration properties of the ink into the paper, but also the wettability of a material constituting the flow path for ink composition in the ink-jet printer (hereinafter referred to as the ink flow path) by the ink composition and the penetration properties of the ink into the above-mentioned material for path. Therefore, the formulation for the aqueous ink is of great importance because the above-mentioned physical properties are determined by the ink composition.
The addition of an alkyl alcohol having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and a monohydric alcohol having 4 carbon atoms or less, to the formulation for the ink composition is proposed as disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Applications 6-100808 and 6-166841, respectively. Such alcohols are added to the ink composition not only to improve the image quality, but also to ensure proper wettability of the material constituting the ink flow path by the ink composition. When such proper wettability of the ink flow path by the ink composition is obtained, the ink can be readily loaded into an ink container at the initial stage (this performance will be hereinafter referred to as initial ink-loading performance), and the bubble generated in the ink container can be easily sent out therefrom (this performance will be hereinafter referred to as bubble-discharging performance). Further, the ink-refilling performance for the nozzle can be improved. However, those alcohols have odor and have the problems of safety and stability during the long-term storage.
In Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application 6-136306, an aqueous ink composition comprising a styrene-acrylic acid copolymer is disclosed. However, when the ink-jet printer with a stationary-type head is supplied with the above-mentioned ink composition, the reliability of ink-ejecting performance is unsatisfactory.
The inventors of the present invention have already proposed aqueous ink compositions, each of which comprises a specific surfactant so as to improve the drying characteristics of the obtained images and minimize the deterioration of image quality, as disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Applications 6-107990 and 6-322303. However, even though those ink compositions are employed for ink-jet printing, all of the previously mentioned requirements are not satisfied. At present there is an increasing demand for further improvement of the image density and reduction of image blurring.

Aqueous ink composition and ink-jet printing method using the same


A data storage device includes a cross point array of resistive memory elements and a plurality of blocking elements. The device is arranged in groups. Each group includes series-connected memory elements and a blocking element. The blocking elements are used to prevent sneak path currents from interfering with sense currents during read operations.

Magnetic Random Access Memory ("MRAM") is a non-volatile memory that is being considered for short-term and long-term data storage. MRAM has lower power consumption than short-term memory such as DRAM, SRAM and Flash memory. MRAM can perform read and write operations much faster (by orders of magnitude) than conventional long-term storage devices such as hard drives. In addition, MRAM is more compact and consumes less power than hard drives. MRAM is also being considered for embedded applications such as extremely fast processors and network appliances.
Consider an MRAM device including a resistive cross point array of memory cells, word lines extending along rows of the memory cells, and bit lines extending along columns of the memory cells. Each memory cell includes a magnetoresistive element (e.g., a spin dependent tunneling junction) having a resistance state of either Rparallel or Ranti-parallel, depending on its magnetization orientation (parallel or anti-parallel). Each magnetoresistive element lies at a cross point of a word line and a bit line. The magnetoresistive elements in this array are coupled together through many parallel paths. The resistance seen at one cross point equals the resistance of the magnetoresistive element at that cross point in parallel with resistances of magnetoresistive elements in the other rows and columns.
Because of this coupling, parasitic or "sneak path" currents can arise during read operations, while resistance states of selected magnetoresistive elements are being sensed. The parasitic currents can interfere with the sensing of resistance states of the magnetoresistive elements, making for unreliable sensing of the resistance state of a single magnetoresistive element in the resistive cross point array.
Blocking elements such as diodes or transistors can be used to block the sneak path block currents. For example, each magnetoresistive element of an MRAM array is connected in series with a blocking element. These blocking elements improve isolation and signal strength, which can increase the reliability of the sensing.
However, the blocking elements tend to be rather large, as they are formed in or on a semiconductor substrate of the MRAM device. The blocking elements can significantly reduce the density of the memory cells, which in turn can increase the size and cost of the MRAM devices.
There is a need to reliably sense the resistance states of the magnetoresistive memory elements in resistive cross point memory cell arrays, without significantly reducing memory cell density.

Magnetic memory device including groups of series-connected memory elements

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, LP.


The present invention provides a polyamide resin composition capable of simultaneously satisfying, with regard to a molded body, suppression of dimensional change upon water absorption, excellent abrasion resistance after water absorption, excellent impact strength, and high surface strength.

Polyamide resins have excellent characteristics as engineering plastics and have been widely used in various industrial fields, such as automobiles, machines, and electrical/electronic fields. Techniques in which a filler, such as a carbon fiber and a glass fiber, is blended to enhance mechanical properties of a polyamide resin have been known.
For example, a material for sliding components containing particular contents of polyamide 6 and a glass fiber having a non-circular cross section with the ratio of the major axis to the minor axis in the cross section being 1.2 to 10 has been proposed, and it is said that low warping property, high limiting PV value, low dynamic friction coefficient, and excellent abrasion resistance are achieved (e.g., see Patent Document 1). Furthermore, a reinforced polyamide molding material containing particular contents of a particular polyamide resin and a glass fiber having a non-circular cross section has been proposed, and it is said that a molded part having high transversal rigidity and transversal resistance can be produced (e.g., see Patent Document 2).
Meanwhile, a thermoplastic resin composition for laser welding, the thermoplastic resin composition containing particular contents of a thermoplastic resin such as a polyamide resin and a glass fiber having a flat cross section has been proposed, and it is said that excellent mechanical strength and excellent laser welding characteristics are achieved (e.g., see Patent Document 3).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a resin composition comprising a glass fiber having a non-circular cross section, and a polyamide resin having a structural unit having more than 6 carbon atoms per 1 amide group, wherein a number average molecular weight of the polyamide resin is 20000 to 40000, and a content of the glass fiber is 15 mass % to 60 mass %.


Disclosed is a method for producing fluorinated organic compounds, including petnafluoropropenes, which preferably comprises converting at least one compound of formula (I):CFnXmCFaXbCH2X  (I)                to at least one compound of formula (II)CF3CF═CHF  (II)                    where each X is independently Cl, I or Br; n is 2 or 3; m is 0 or 1, a is 1 or 2, b is 0 or 1, m+n=3 and a+b=2.

(1) Field of Invention
This invention relates to novel methods for preparing fluorinated organic compounds, and more particularly to methods of producing fluorinated olefins.
(2) Description of Related Art
Hydrofluorocarbons (HFC's), in particular hydrofluoroalkenes such tetrafluoropropenes (including 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoro-1-propene (HFO-1234yf) and 1,3,3,3-tetrafluoro-1-propene (HFO-1234ze)) and pentafluoropropenes (1,2,3,3,3-pentafluoropropene (HFO-1225ye) have been disclosed to be effective refrigerants, fire extinguishants, heat transfer media, propellants, foaming agents, blowing agents, gaseous dielectrics, sterilant carriers, polymerization media, particulate removal fluids, carrier fluids, buffing abrasive agents, displacement drying agents and power cycle working fluids. Unlike chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), both of which potentially damage the Earth's ozone layer, HFCs do not contain chlorine and thus pose no threat to the ozone layer.
Several methods of preparing hydrofluoroalkanes are known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,679,875 discloses methods for manufacturing 1,1,1,2,3-pentafluoropropene and 1,1,1,2,3-pentafluoropropane; U.S. Pat. No. 6,031,141 discloses a catalytic process using chromium-containing catalysts for the dehydrofluorination of hydrofluorocarbons to fluorooolefins; U.S. Pat. No. 5,396,000 discloses a process for producing CF3CHFCH2F utilizing a vapor phase catalytic dehydrofluorination step to produce CF3CF═CHF from CF3CHFCHF2; U.S. Pat. No. 6,548,719 discloses a process for producing fluoroolefins by dehydrohalogenating a hydrofluorocarbon in the presence of a phase transfer catalyst; U.S. Publication No. 2006/0106263 discloses the production and purification of hydrofluoroolefin compounds; and WO98/33755 discloses catalytic process for the dehydrofluorination of hexafluoropropanes to pentafluoropropenes.
Notwithstanding prior teachings applicants appreciate a continuing need for methods of efficiently preparing certain hydrofluorocarbons, particularly pentafluorpropenes such as HFO-1225, including particularly HFO-1225ye.

Method for producing fluorinated organic compounds


An apparatus for use with a digital micro-mirror includes a hinge disposed outwardly from a substrate and capable of at least partially supporting a micro-mirror disposed outwardly from the hinge. The micro-mirror capable of being selectively transitioned between an on-state position and an off-state position based at least in part on a bias voltage received by a conductive conduit. The apparatus also includes a conductive layer disposed inwardly from the at least one micro-mirror. In one particular embodiment, the conductive layer enables a conductive path for the bias voltage substantially inwardly from a periphery of the micro-mirror.

Digital micro-mirror devices (DMD) are capable of being used in optical communication and/or projection display systems. DMDs involve an array of micro-mirrors that selectively communicate at least a portion of an optical signal or light beam. DMDs selectively communicate an optical signal or light beam by pivoting between active "on" and "off" states. To permit the micro-mirrors to pivot, each micro-mirror is attached to a hinge that is mounted on one or more support posts. In addition, a conductive layer associated with each micro-mirror receives a bias voltage that is capable of at least partially creating the electro-static forces necessary to transition each micro-mirror between the active "on" and "off" states.
Conventional DMDs typically route the bias voltage associated with the DMD underneath the hinge associated with each micro-mirror. Routing the bias voltage under the hinge of the DMD typically requires the formation of a conductive channel under the hinge. In addition, conventional DMDs typically cause stray light reflections around the periphery of the micro-mirror, which can degrade the contrast ratio of the device.

Bias voltage routing scheme for a digital micro-mirror device


A boot including, on the one hand, a bottom assembly made of at least two layers, or one wearable layer and a core layer, and, on the other hand, a reinforcement element which is coupled to the core layer of the bottom assembly, wherein the reinforcement element is coupled to the core layer in a region located between the heel and the fore end of the bottom assembly, and it extends freely along at least one side of the upper into the rear region, and wherein a comfort layer is inserted between the user's foot and the core layer. The boot provides excellent lateral foot retention without there being any interference with shock absorption on the comfort layer, and this is achieved while allowing the heel of the bottom assembly free to bend.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention is related to boots whose bottom assembly is made according to a stratified structure having several layers, each fulfilling a separate function. More specifically, this invention is related to the coupling of a reinforcement element of the upper with one of the layers of the bottom assembly.
2. Description of Background and Relevant Information
Boots of the aforementioned type have been described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,317,820 and published European Application No. 0 748 596. More specifically, in the example of U.S. Pat. No. 5,317,820, the reinforcement element of the boot upper is coupled to a bottom assembly that includes, from the base upwards:
a wearable layer, made of rubber, that comes in contact with the ground; PA1 an intermediate layer, made of rubber, having a lateral edge that extends rearwardly in order to retain the user's heel; and PA1 another semi-stiff upper layer, made of a plastic material, that extends in correspondence with the plantar surface of the user's foot. PA1 making the reinforcement of the upper and the bottom assembly interdependent so as to improve the stability of the foot in view of proper movement thereof, the precision of the supports in the bottom assembly/ground interface, and the grip of the wearable layer of the bottom assembly on the ground by making it more incisive; PA1 dampening the shocks during the impact of the bottom assembly with the ground without altering the foot stability; PA1 guaranteeing an optimum comfort level in the foot/bottom assembly interface without cutting off the necessary perception of the bottom assembly supports on the ground; PA1 restoring a portion of the energy used during shock absorption so as to stimulate rebound during the movement of the foot, at least during the propulsion phase. PA1 an efficient coupling of the reinforcement element and the core layer of the bottom assembly with the wearable layer in contact with the ground because the reinforcement of the upper is made interdependent of the bottom assembly without there being any interference with an intermediate shock absorbing layer; PA1 an extremely good shock absorption in the bottom assembly/ground interface because the spacing of the reinforcement element with respect to the heel of the bottom assembly leaves the heel free to bend during impacts with the ground, which furthermore respects satisfactory foot movement during the shock absorption phase; PA1 a good absorption of shocks because such shocks are dispersed, and thus dampened, firstly, at the level of the wearable layer; secondly, in the area of the core layer, which, due to its stiffness in torsion and bending, disperses them even further over almost its entire surface; and thirdly, in the area of the comfort layer, which dampens their residual intensity even further, before they reach the foot; PA1 an optimum level of comfort in the bottom assembly/foot interface because the plantar surface of the foot rests directly on an elastic shock absorbing layer that ensures a flexible contact especially in the area of the foot supports; PA1 a certain capacity to stimulate rebounding during the movement of the foot because, on the one hand, the elastic shock absorbing layer, by its very nature, pushes the foot back in order to readopt its initial shape in the manner of an elastic return during the movement of the foot during the propulsion phase, and, on the other hand, due to the bending freedom of the heel of the bottom assembly with respect to the reinforcement of the upper, the elastic return into the initial position of the latter leads to the same rebound effect.
According to the construction disclosed and taught, it is from this latter upper layer, made of a plastic material, that the reinforcement element originates, the element being constituted of two lateral supports rising up the sides of the upper of the boot.
By virtue of this structure, the semi-stiff upper layer, which constitutes the core of the sole, can be biased so as to vary in position with respect to the ground depending on the forces applied on the upper by means of the lateral supports that form the reinforcement element thereof. As a result, this reinforcement element supports the forces borne by the upper, especially during use, and transmits them directly to the bottom assembly of the boot via the semi-stiff upper layer from which it originates, and vice versa.
In fact, by obtaining the coupling of the reinforcement element with the semi-stiff upper layer, the upper and the bottom assembly become interdependent, thereby improving the lateral retention of the user's foot in the boot, and thus the stability of the shod foot. However, the efficiency of this coupling has proven to be random, or at least inadequate when it comes to achieving good adherence and efficient gripping, since the stiffness obtained in the area of the wearable layer which comes in contact with the ground, or at the bottom assembly-ground interface level, depends not only on the mechanical properties of the semi-stiff upper layer with its reinforcement, but also depends on the mechanical properties of the intermediate rubber layer that is inserted between it and the wearable layer. As regards the intermediate rubber layer, which is inherently shock absorbing, and also adds material thickness to the bottom assembly on the side that is furthest from the plantar surface of the user's foot, there is a substantial dispersion of shocks and stresses in this area, and elastic deformations also occur, which have a detrimental effect on the expected lateral retention of the foot, by means of the reinforcement element, and therefore on the stability during the impact of the bottom assembly with the ground. The precision of the supports of the bottom assembly on the ground are also changed.
In addition, another disadvantage lies in the fact that the semi-stiff upper layer is located immediately across from the plantar surface of the user's foot.
Indeed, in such a situation where the foot takes direct support on a relatively hard surface, the repeated compressions that the latter is subject to at the point of such supports when the boot is used often causes painful sensations, even minute traumas, that are manifested, for example, by chafing, blisters, cramps, etc.
In the example of European Application No. 0 748 596, the boot disclosed therein differs from the previously described boot mainly in the fact that the bottom assembly does not have a shock absorbing upper layer, or comfort layer, between the semi-stiff upper layer provided with the reinforcement element and the wearable layer that comes in contact with the ground. Indeed, the boot includes, on the one hand, a bottom assembly that is obtained according to a stratified structure having several layers respectively fulfilling distinct functions, or at least one wearable layer and one core layer, and, on the other hand, one reinforcement layer for its upper that is coupled to that of the layers of the bottom assembly that constitutes its core layer, the latter being directly arranged on the wearable layer that comes in contact with the ground. The overall structure which results from such an arrangement provides greater efficiency to the coupling of the reinforcement element with the upper layer, which are preferably made from an injected plastic material, and therefore equipped with a certain stiffness.
Indeed, according to this construction, there is no dispersion of shocks and stresses between the wearable layer that comes in contact with the ground and the upper layer that constitutes the core of the sole and is provided with the reinforcement element. Consequently, all the biases and stresses that occur between the reinforcement element and the intermediate layer from which the latter originates are directly transmitted to the wearable layer that comes in contact with the ground and vice versa. As such, there is optimal synergy between the reinforcement element of the upper and the bottom assembly which allows for a substantial improvement in the overall behavior of the boot in dynamic gripping and adherence onto the ground, as well as in precision and stability, especially by virtue of the stiffness in torsion and bending achieved in the bottom assembly/ground interface obtained in this manner.
However, such a bottom assembly, i.e., with no intermediate shock absorbing layer or comfort layer, has proven to be especially ill-suited in ensuring a transfer function capable of correctly dampening shocks in the area of the user's foot at each contact with the ground, i.e., there is no shock absorption. Such a transfer function with shock absorption is essential in the bottom assembly for a good foot movement, which generally occurs in three phases, absorption-support-propulsion, and prevents certain types of traumas that almost always occur due to the intensity of the shocks and their frequency in the sensitive zones of the plantar surface of the foot, such as, for example, the heel zone where overloads are substantial.
Indeed, in some sports, such as hiking, especially when walking down a slope, or in sports such as running, the heel of the boot hits the ground rather violently at the moment of impact and the reactional forces from the ground can reach values that are equal to several times the user's body weight.
Therefore, it is easy to understand that the absorption function of the bottom assembly is especially important during this first phase of the foot movement, so as to absorb at least part of the shock energy that is produced at that moment and disperse it through elastic deformation, and thus avoid overloads that generate injuries.
In addition, as was the case with the bottom assembly described previously with reference to U.S. Pat. No. 5,317,820, the upper layer that constitutes the core of the sole is immediately across from the plantar surface. Consequently, the same problems of discomfort are also found in the foot/sole interface.

Multi-layered sole coupled to a reinforcement of the upper of the boot


A portable, light-weight, electrically powered device that derives at least part of its power from manual mechanical input means having a rotatively mounted battery which provides electrical power but also acts as an mechanical inertial storage mechanism. The kinetic energy of the moving battery is capable of being utilized via a generator to energize the device's electrically powered element. In one embodiment, a compact high-output generator is disclosed for providing increased current over a given time period for recharging the battery. In another embodiment a rotatively mounted canister is provided for mounting one or more batteries or other variable mass materials if generator power is used exclusively. Manual input occurs via enclosed gear-based hand levers.

Portable battery powered electrical devices such as radios, telephones and flashlights are well known. It is also well known to electrically power such devices using generators which convert manually input mechanical energy into the electrical energy used by the device. Speck, U.S. Pat. No. 3,099,402 shows that a battery can be included as an alternate source of electrical power and that the generator current can serve to recharge the battery as well as power the bulb of a flashlight.
Manual input may be either direct as in the case of McNath, U.S. Pat. No. 2,424,700, or indirect through storage in a spring as shown in Speck, allowing extended operation with only periodic winding of the spring. Spring based storage suffers primarily from higher manufacturing costs, limited storage capacity, wear and eventual breakdown of the spring over repeated operation cycles, the potential for overwinding, and a bulkier housing capable of containing the spring in both wound and unwound states.
It has been shown by Jimena, U.S. Pat. No. 4,315,301 that instead of a spring, a high inertia flywheel may be used to store manually input mechanical energy. The spinning flywheel also provides a gyroscopic effect which helps to stabilize the flashlight orientation during manual input.
However, flywheel based storage suffers from both bulkiness and weight. The kinetic energy stored in a rotating body is increased by increasing its mass or by locating its mass at a greater distance from the body's axis of rotation. Therefore, for greater energy storage, the flywheel should be large or massive or both. However, neither of these two design criteria are desirable in a portable devices. Therefore, most designs strike a compromise between portability and energy storage. In addition, flywheels are costly in both material and fabrication since both dense and durable materials such as metals like iron or steel are preferred.
Various manual input means such as disclosed in Speck and Jimena have mechanisms which may subject the user's hands to pinching between the levers and flashlight body and/or the gearing.
With respect to the battery recharging ability of manually activated generators, it is desirable to recharge as quickly as possible. This is furthered by a well regulated, efficiently supplied high voltage to the battery. Current manually operated generators suffer from relatively low output over a given time period.
It is therefore desirable to have a portable handheld electric device which is at least partially manually powered and which reduces the above identified problems.

Combination flywheel and electrical storage cell and method of use


A utility box insert for protecting the contents of the utility box during the installation of wallboard. The insert includes a base plate dimensioned to fit within the interior of a utility box, sidewalls extending upwardly from the sides of the plate, fastening tabs extending upwardly from the ends of the plate in order to hook over the edge of the utility box, and cut-outs cooperating with said fastening tabs in order to accommodate for mounting ears located on the utility box.

The present invention relates to utility boxes, and more particularly, inserts for utility boxes to prevent the contents of the utility boxes from becoming damaged by a cutting tool during installation of wallboards. The insert of the present invention also functions as a template to guide a cutting tool around the interior perimeter of a utility box while not allowing the cutting tool to come in contact with the contents of the utility box.
It has become common practice in the construction industry to cut openings in wallboards, after the wallboards have been installed to the studs, in order to gain access to the utility boxes, such as electrical, telephone, television and the like, previously installed therebehind.
Therefore, a need has developed in the industry for a device which cooperates with the utility box to protect the box and its contents from the cutting tool used to gain access to the utility box. There have been attempts made in the prior art to fulfill the need for such a device, as witnessed by the U.S. Pat. Nos. to Smolik (4,384,396) and Payne (4,359,302). However, these devices have not gained acceptance, as they are too costly to manufacture as they require grooves to be made in the plate, or are too difficult to use, as they are not easily attachable to the utility box.
The present invention is intended to solve the above shortcomings by providing a device which is easy to use and inexpensive to manufacture because it simply snaps on to the edge of the box and can be disposed of after use.