A filtration dehydration apparatus, which comprises: a filter, composed of a filtration layer and an absorption layer while allowing the filtration layer that is orientated facing toward the absorption layer to be a first side, and allowing a surface of the absorption layer that is orientated facing toward the filtration layer to be a second side; a supporting structure, for supporting and fixedly securing the filter; a solid waste collector, for collecting solid object left on the first side; and an extrusion unit, for pressing the absorption layer to squeeze out water in the absorption layer; wherein the first side is provided for a solid-liquid mixture to be placed thereon so as to allow the liquid containing in the solid-liquid mixture to flow into the absorption layer through the filtration layer while enabling solid objects in the solid-liquid mixture to be filtered out and thus left on the first side.

For protecting our living environment, sewage, being the wastewater released by residences, businesses and industries in a community, must be treated for remove as much of the suspended solids and pollutants as possible before the remaining water, called effluent, is discharged back to the environment. Sewage treatment is a multi-stage process that can include a primary physical/chemical procedure, a secondary biological procedure, and a tertiary fine filtration/adsorption/concentration procedure. Recently, the use of algae in this multi-stage wastewater treatment process is very common and is performed in a way similar to industrial algae cultivation for separating a solid waste (or treated sludge) for disposal from an environmentally safe fluid effluent, and the same time producing algae biomasses to be harvested. Moreover, the harvest of algae biomasses consists of separating algae from the growing medium, drying, and processing it to obtain the desired product. Generally, not to mention that the procedure of algae harvesting and sludge separation is considered to be the key process in the wastewater treatment process, the equipments and facilities required this procedure of algae harvesting and sludge separation can be the most expensive comparing to those other apparatuses used in the wastewater treatment process.
The belt filter press is an industrial machine, which is commonly used for solid/liquid separation processes, particularly the dewatering of sludges in water treatment. The process of filtration is primarily obtained by passing a pair of filtering cloths and belts through a system of rollers. Operationally, the feed sludge to be dewatered is introduced from a hopper between two filter cloths (supported by perforated belts) which pass through a convoluted arrangement of rollers. As the belts are fed through the rollers, water is squeezed out of the sludge. When the belts pass through the final pair of rollers in the process, the filter cloths are separated and the filter cake is scraped off into a suitable container. Generally, after each press, the filter cloths are cleaned by means of water sprays positioned on the return section of the belt for preventing sludge buildup on belt and filter cloths. Nevertheless, not only the cleaning of the filter cloths by water spray is an operation using a lot of clean water and energy, but also it is not guarantee to clean the filter cloths completely and thus in most case, the dewatering performance of those used filter cloths is decreasing with times and eventually required to be replaced. In addition, the shortcomings of a conventional belt filter press further includes: only 40% of the perforated belt is working for dewatering at any given time while allowing the other 60% to be left idle, but only moving along with the rotating rollers; and during a dewatering process in a conventional belt filter press, the sludge to be dewatered is being brought along to move with the moving belt, resulting that the conventional belt filter press will waste most of its energy consumption just to move the heavy load of the sludge; the lifespan of the filter cloths is shorter compared with other device using cloth media since the filter cloths are subjected to a plurality of pressing steps while being twisted, turned and pulled in large angles during a dewatering process; belt filter presses will require to work with the cooperation of a vacuum filtering system for minimize offgas and effluent during operations, and if there is no such system, the belt filter presses can only perform well at lower speed; and a conventional belt filter presses is only suitable for dewatering sludge with comparatively larger solid particles, but is not suitable for algae cultivation industry for harvesting and concentrating delicate algae.
In the conventional algae cultivation, algae generally are harvested by means of mechanical centrifugation. Accordingly, a centrifuge that is driven by a motor is used for removing excess water from a batch of algae harvest by rotating at a high speed. That is, the high speed of rotation creates a high centrifugal force for the water in the algae batch which causes it to be pulled to the outside of the spinning portion of the centrifuge and away from the algae. Thereby, no filter cloth is used and required for cleaning. However, in addition to the high initial cost and operation cost, such centrifuge is also not favored to be used in the algae harvesting since it can be very noisy during operation. Other than that, there is a thin film separation process being developed for algae harvesting and concentration. However, such thin film separation process still has the following disadvantages: small process capacity, high equipment cost, and the thin film can easily be clogged and thus required to be either replaced or processed by an expensive reverse rinse procedure. Consequently, the thin film separation process is not popular.
There are already many studies focused on the improvement of dewatering devices. Nevertheless, none of those studies can provide a new dewatering method different from the conventional belt filter press. That is, the problems of high energy consumption and wear-and-tear in filter belt still remain in the aforesaid studies since the sludge to be dewatered is still being brought along to move with the moving belt during a dewatering process, and thus most of its energy consumption will be wasted just to move the heavy load of the sludge, not to mention that the heavy load of the sludge will cause the supporting belt to withstand a larger pulling force from a convoluted arrangement of rollers. In addition to the lack of means for solving the problems of high energy consumption and wear-and-tear in filter belt, most of the dewatering apparatuses that are currently available require their filter belts to be made of materials with high mechanical strength, and consequently, not only the selection of materials for filter belt is limited, but also the manufacturing cost is increased.

INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE


Continuous cultures of pluripotent parenchymal hepatocytes were derived from the epiblasts of pig blastocysts. The cultures are feeder-dependent and grow slowly with doubling times of 3 to 4 days. They differentiate into large secretory duct-like structures or form small canaliculi. In combination with feeder cells and, optionally, adult pig hepatocytes and macrophages, the cells are useful in an artificial liver device which may be utilized as temporary liver support for the mitigation of the pathological effects of liver failure.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to pluripotent parenchymal hepatocytes derived from the epiblast of pig blastocyst which have been cultured continuously for a number of years, indicating an infinitely self-renewing cell population. The stem cell characteristics of the hepatocytes indicate that the cells are unique for investigations of liver differentiation and organogenesis and are particularly desireable for use in artificial liver devices.
2. Description of the Relevant Art
Liver transplantation has become widely accepted as an effective treatment for chronic and acute liver disease. One of the major problems associated with the transplantation process, however, as been the need for an effective means for providing temporary support for patients awaiting an available donor organ. Extracorporeal devices for providing heart, kidney and lung support are well-established, however, the development of such devices which are effective for liver support has proven more elusive.
Two basic approaches have emerged as promising. Both utilize a device such as a hollow fiber cartridge containing liver-derived cells which acts as a perfusion apparatus. Primary hepatocytes attached to microcarriers (Rozga et al. 1993. Hepatology. vol. 17(2), pp. 258-265; Rozga et al. 1994. Ann. Surg. vol. 217(5), pp. 502-511) represents one approach, while transformed cells such as those derived from hepatoblastoma cell lines (Sussman et al. 1992. Hepatology. vol. 16(1), pp. 60-65) are another. These approaches have several drawbacks, however. For example, primary cells have a very limited culture capability, therefore there is a requirement for continuous cell preparation. Transformed cells, on the other hand, grow well in culture, but, since they are transformed, they exhibit functional characteristics which may be different from normal cells. Both also suffer from the lack of accessory cells such as epithelial and bile-duct epithelial cells which are important in the function of a normal liver. The need thus exists for the discovery of normal hepatocytes capable of long-term culture which could effectively mimic liver function in an extracorporal device.
The continuous secondary culture of normal parenchymal hepatocytes has previously been unsuccessful, (Williams et al. 1977. In Vitro. vol. 13, pp. 809-817; Guguen-Guillouzo et al. 1983. Exp. Cell Res. vol 143, pp. 47-54; Perraud et al. 1991. Exp. Cell Res. vol 195, pp. 59-65). In vitro hepatocyte studies have largely been limited to the use of primary cultures of hepatocytes established after collagenase perfusion of rat or mouse livers (Williams et al., supra; Berry and Friend. 1969. J. Cell Biol. vol. 43, pp. 506-520). These techniques were also amenable to the establishement of primary hepatocyte cultures in non-rodent species such as the pig (Caperna et al. 1985. J. Anim. Sci. vol. 61, pp. 1576-1586). However, the use of primary cultures is problematic since it is labor intensive and inherently variable. In addition, other epithelial cells, fibroblasts and macrophages were common "contaminants" in primary liver cell culture, and these cells can quickly overgrow or otherwise interfere not only with maintaining cultures but also with experimental manipulations and measurements (Caperna et al., supra; Furukawa et al. 1987. In Vitro. vol. 23, pp. 339-348; Langenbach et al. 1979. Cancer Res. vol 39, pp. 3509-3514). Moreover, normal liver parenchymal cell activities, such as .alpha.-fetoprotein (AFP) and albumin production, and various enzymatic functions were often lost within one to two weeks of establishment in primary culture (Guguen-Guillouzo et al., supra; Langenbach et al., supra).
An alternative to normal parenchymal hepatocyte cell culture has been the establishment of numerous human and rodent hepatocarcinoma-derived cell lines (Richardson et al. 1969. J. Cell Biol. vol. 40, pp. 236-247; Aden et al. 1970. Nature (London). vol. 282, pp. 615-616). Although several of these hepatoma cell lines were minimally deviated and expressed various proteins representative of normal hepatocyte function, they were likely to be abnormal in several aspects, particularly growth control. For example, some of these cell lines were highly tumorigenic when placed in vivo (Richardson, supra; Knowles et al. 1980. Science. vol. 209, pp. 497-499). Also, while hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is mitogenic for primary hepatocytes, it has been reported to be cytostatic for the hepatoma cell lines HepG2, Hep3B and H35 (Higashi and Shima, 1993). Some human hepatoma cell lines also chronically produced hepatitis proteins (Aden et al., supra; Knowles et al., supra). Thus, hepatoma-derived cell cultures may confuse assessments of normal parenchymal biology in vitro, and in vivo assessments may not be possible. The ability to sustainably culture normal, functional parenchymal hepatocytes in secondary culture is therefore novel and of great value for the routine study of hepatocyte biology.
It has been hypothesized that the liver contains stem cells which support its general long term function and its regenerative ability (Sigal et al. 1992. M. J. Physiol. vol. 263, p. G139; Fausto and Meade. 1989. Lab. Invest. vol. 60, pp. 4-13). Stem cells have not been identified, although embryonic phenotypic gene expression, e.g. AFP, was found in some proliferating liver epithelia following the administration of hepatotoxic agents (Fausto et al. Purification and culture of oval cells from rat liver. In Pretlow and Pretlow, eds. Cell Separation: Methods and Selected Applications, Vol. 4. Orlando: Academic Press, 45-77; Evarts et al. 1987. Carcinogenesis. vol. 8, pp. 1737-1740). Liver "oval" cells and intrahepatic bile duct cells were also proposed as candidate liver stem cells or facultative stem cells (Sigal et al., supra; Fausto and Meade, supra). A consensus of data indicated that liver stem cells would express AFP and albumin and would be capable of differentiating into bile duct cells and parenchymal hepatocytes (Shiofiri, N. 1981. J. Embryol. Exp. Morphol. vol. 79, pp. 149-152; Evarts et al. 1989. Cancer Res. vol. 49, pp. 1541-1547; Germain et al. 1988. Cancer Res. vol. 48, pp. 4909-4918).
Thus although attempts have been made to establish normal hepatocyte cell lines which are capable of culturing over a long period of time (i.e., years) without losing characteristic activity, accomplishment of this goal has heretofore been unsuccessful.

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


A high performance shaped charge for piercing high strength steel has a symmetry of revolution about an axis; a priming system constituted by a punctiform initiating source for producing a detonation wave in a block of donor explosive, and a cavity positioned between the donor explosive and a receiver explosive, the cavity being shaped in such a way that the detonation wave from the receiver explosive which enters a charging explosive is planar and perpendicular to the axis of the charge.

The present invention relates to a new type of shaped charge and particularly to a hollow charge having a symetrically shaped covering or liner, which can be conical or possibly dihedral, and which covering is projected by a charging explosive that is initiated by a priming explosive block.
Modern development efforts in this technical field are seeking a significant increase in the piercing or perforating power of the shaped charges, particularly hollow charges. This research has led to consideration being given to the use of high performance covering i.e., liner, geometries (closed angles, reduced thickness). These are relatively sensitive to technical defects and particularly to distortions of the priming detonation wave.
The hitherto produced shaped charges are equipped with priming systems that produce spherical waves (punctiform or point priming) or toroidal waves (annular priming). Experimental results have revealed that going from punctiform priming to annular priming leads to an approximately 15% increase in the depths by which high-strength steel is pierced. However, a serious disadvantage of this priming procedure is its lack of performance reproducibility. This is, on the one hand, due to the naturally unstable character of convergent detonation wave systems and, on the other hand, to the considerable sensitivity of the covering projection mechanism of the hollow charge to deviations in symmetry of the detonation wave.
Another problem generally encountered with this type of priming results from the need for the detonation wave to acquire a maximum energy level. This makes it necessary for the detonation wave to pass along an adequate "detonation path" between the initiation point and the covering. Generally this constraint seriously penalizes the weight and overall dimensions of the device.


An adapter for use in the process of inspecting the end face of an optical fiber. The adapter is used as an interface between an inspection probe and a connector. The connector holds an the optical fiber end which has a surface. The adaptor comprises a positioning mechanism having an attachment portion for releasable attachment to the connector; and a fixture adapted for releasable attachment to the probe. The fixture is mounted to the positioning mechanism and is moveable relative to the attachment portion. The positioning mechanism permits movement of the probe for inspection of the surface.

Using optical fiber as a transport medium for telecommunication demands special attention. The fiber must be in impeccable condition and exemplary cleanliness is preferable to limit errors that could appear at the receiver. Distance and physical pressure on the fiber can modify signal quality. It is really important to minimize controllable factors that can seriously affect quality of signal and even cause total loss of continuity.
Oil, dust and scratches can degrade the quality of signal. To correctly inspect fibers in a optical fiber connector, an optical fiber microscope (probe 10 of FIG. 1) must be used. Many companies are specialized in this technology and it is applicable for many types of connectors (SC, ST, MTP . . . ). The better known microscopes are made by Westover and Telonix.
Some connectors require specific attention in view of the high density of their smaller MTP connectors. The guide pins of some connectors pose another problem: focus can't be achieved because the focal distance of a conventional fiberscope is too short. Their lenses are too big and make contact with the MTP guide pins. Optical fibers are therefore not inspected correctly. Another restriction is that the female connector is also very complex. It contains the same number of MTP connectors but they have to be inspected without unplugging them from the connector body (not shown).
U.S. Pat. No. 5,459,564, issued Oct. 17, 1995 describes an apparatus and method for inspecting end faces of optical fibers and optical fiber connectors. However, the apparatus and method described therein comprises many parts, is difficult to use and to manufacture, is bulky and not easily transportable.
A practical tool for verifying the quality of each and every fiber is not presently available. Therefore, there is a need in the industry for an improved optical fiber end inspection apparatus.

Apparatus and method for inspecting optical fiber end face


A humidification system and method particularly well adapted for use in commercial aircraft to provide substantially micro-organism free humidified air within a passenger cabin of the aircraft. The system employs a vessel for holding a quantity of water therein. The vessel is disposed within a microwave oven which is used to heat the water within the vessel to the boiling point such that steam is generated therefrom. This steam is directed into an airflow duct and used to humidify an airflow being supplied into a cabin area of the aircraft. The steam is substantially micro-organism free. A controller is used to cycle the filling and draining of the vessel to achieve a desired humidity level for the airflow. Optimally, a vacuum accumulator is employed to assist in rapid draining of the water from the vessel.

Humidification systems are used in buildings and mobile platforms such as aircraft, and other moving platforms, to humidify the air within a confined area in which occupants or passengers are residing. The humidification of the air can significantly add to the comfort of occupants or passengers.
One drawback with presently utilized humidification systems is that most suffer from relatively high maintenance, in addition to accumulations of mineral deposits from the water, the growth/transmittal of micro-organisms from the water used, relatively high noise, or a combination of these problems. In relatively small, predefined areas, such as within a passenger cabin area of an aircraft, where the aircraft is pressurized and the only airflow through the cabin is the humidified air flow, the need to remove micro-organisms and present a substantially bacteria-free airflow is particularly important. In aircraft applications, the added maintenance required because of the accumulation of mineral deposits in various components of the system is further highly undesirable because such maintenance action adds additional cost to an airline operating the aircraft.
In view of the foregoing, it would be highly desirable to provide a humidification system that is especially well suited for use on mobile platforms such as aircraft, busses, trains, ships, etc. that does not suffer from the traditional high maintenance associated with previously developed humidification systems. It would also be highly desirable to provide a humidification system which is capable of destroying micro-organisms from water being used in the system to thus provide a bacteria-free, humidified airflow to passengers, occupants and/or crew members on a mobile platform. It would further be highly desirable to provide such a humidification system which does not add significant additional cost, does not require significant additional maintenance and does not take up appreciable space on board the mobile platform.

Humidification system and method for a mobile platform


A bed bug protection device for protecting humans, animals and objects from crawling pests such as bed bugs. The device includes a top component for contacting the top surface of bedding such as a mattress or box spring. The top component includes barrier material suitable for preventing pests from biting humans or animals resting on the bedding. The device further includes a fitted side skirt joined to the periphery of the top component that hinders bed bugs and similar pests from climbing up the covered bedding and gaining access to humans, animals, or objects resting atop the bedding. The device may be part of a system including pillow protectors, headboard and/or footboard protectors for preventing contact by traditional bed coverings with walls or bed structures that may be infested by bed bugs.

Bed bug infestations are increasing at an alarming rate throughout the world. However, existing chemical control methods such as fumigation and the like are not keeping pace due to the growing resistance of bed bugs to insecticides. Similarly, thermal or heat treatment is commonly used as a means to combat bed bugs, but such treatment also has its disadvantages. For instance, apart from the obvious danger of using high energy heaters in enclosed spaces, it has been observed that some bed bugs successfully flee the heat-treated area only to return later. Consequently, because of the limitations of current pesticidal and thermal treatment methods, it is difficult to completely kill or remove all bed bugs that infest a room.
The bed frame, mattress, box spring, and headboard are some of the most heavily infested areas of a typical bedroom. Since presently available control methods are unlikely to completely eliminate all living bed bugs, sedentary and sleeping persons will continue to provide blood meals to the bed bug population whereby the infestation cycle continues.
Other measures have been proposed, if not as ways of eliminating bed bugs, but as barriers between the bugs and their mammalian (human or pet) hosts.
Included among these are U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. 2005/0019364 and 2008/0305134 which respectively disclose the concepts of treating a pillow cover and a bedding cover with pesticidal substances. Since a portion of the population may be particularly sensitive to such chemicals, items so treated may not represent a viable solution to the problem of bed bug or other insect infestation of bedding.
Others, including U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,552,489 and 7,802,334, as well as U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0281614, have proposed encasements for entirely enveloping mattresses and box springs. A primary disadvantage of such encasements is that they are difficult to place around a mattress or a box spring. That is, mattresses and box springs are large, unwieldy objects that are not readily insertable into pocket-like encasements. A user must raise the entirety of the mattress or box spring from the surface on which it rests in order to properly install the encasement. This is no mean feat for persons of limited strength. Moreover, these devices are intended to prevent escape of pests from the encased mattress or box spring. None address the problem of bed bugs that may scale the sides of the encased mattress or box spring and reach the upper surface where they might bite persons or pets resting thereon. Similarly, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2009/0154844 describes a portable, zippered bag for protecting luggage, clothing and similar travel-related items from pests such as bed bugs. The bag is described as being fabricated from smooth, non-porous, plastic material that offers little or no bug harborages. The bag is not disclosed as being useful for protecting mattresses, box springs or the like. However, even if were scaled to such size, it would be very difficult for many users to insert a mattress or box spring therein.
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2011/0067182 describes a bed bug proof mattress. Even if its claims to bed bug resistance are true, an investment in a new mattress is expensive and not a viable option for persons of limited resources. Additionally, a bed is not portable. While such a bed may be useful for its intended purpose at the site at which it is located, it is of little use to travelers who cannot transport the bed with them. Further, once such a bed is covered with linens, it, like any other bed, is subject to bed bugs scaling the sidewalls of the bed and accessing humans, animals or other objects resting atop the bed.
U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. 2007/0107662; 2008/0032581 and 2010/0009587 disclose multilayer bed linens that are intended to protect persons from contact with bed bugs. These coverings include an impervious barrier layer over which lies a fibrous fabric layer that contacts the user's body. The barrier layer functions to prevent bed bugs from accessing the user while the fabric layer is provided for comfort. The difficulty with these bed coverings arises from the presence of the fabric layer covering the barrier layer. Such fabric surfaces enable bed bugs to gain traction sufficient to scale the sides of the bed that the linens are intended to protect and expose users lying on the bed to bed bug bites.
Bed wetting covers/mattress protectors are also known. These protectors are typically fabricated from flexible liquid resistant plastic materials such as vinyl or the like. However, once a conventional fabric, e.g. linen, bedding sheet is placed over such a cover there is no protection from bed bugs. That is, contact between the tucked fabric sheet and the underlying structure, e.g., a box spring, enables bed bugs to climb the sheet and access persons and animals lying atop the bed.
It is also long-known to cover furniture with clear vinyl slipcovers that visually expose the underlying furniture yet protect the furniture from perspiration and other stains. Such slipcovers are individually tailored and assembled to cover to the furniture they are intended to protect (such as chairs and sofas). Popular in the mid-twentieth century, they have since fallen into disfavor. Custom-fit clear vinyl furniture coverings are marketed by Home Design Shop, Inc. of Southampton, Pa.
It is not believed that clear vinyl furniture slipcovers were ever used to cover bedding. Possible reasons include:
1. Unlike other furniture such as chairs and sofas, bedding structures such as mattresses and box springs are essentially utilitarian, not decorative, and are not intended for public display in both their in-use (sleeping) and non-use states. They are covered by sheets blankets, and the like, which themselves provide comfort and decorative functionality. Hence, there is no point in covering bedding with protective material that reveals its visual appearance.
2. If used as bedding covering, clear vinyl would be uncomfortable against a user's skin because it would not "breathe" and wick perspiration from the skin.
Of additional significance, clear vinyl furniture slipcovers are not intended to be covered by or effectively retain additional covering material such as bedding linens or the like since such material would mask the underlying furniture and thereby defeat an essential purpose of the clear slipcovers. Further, vinyl slipcovers typically include zippers and vents that could enable bed bugs to pass from the interior to the exterior of the slipcovers.
Flexible plastic outdoor furniture and equipment (e.g., grill) covers are also known. However, such covers are not designed for nor would they be suitable for covering bedding. Not surprisingly, they do not have moisture wickable material on their upper surface. Indeed, the presence of such material would defeat the dedicated purpose of the covers. That is, liquid permeable material would permit moisture to penetrate the cover and cause harm to the underlying furniture or equipment.
In addition, many outdoor covers include vents. Thus, even if one were somehow inspired to use an outdoor cover as a bed covering, and assuming such a cover could somehow sensibly accommodate a bed, the presence of a vent would enable bed bugs or similar pests to pass from the interior to the exterior of the cover and access the linens or other conventional bed coverings placed over the device. Upon accessing the conventional bed coverings the pests may climb them to reach the top surface of the bed and bite humans or animals lying on the bed.
Further, it is also known to provide, essentially, an object enclosure or "tent" affixed atop a bed covering in order to bar encroachment by bed bugs and the like. Such devices are marketed by Anteater Pest Control, Inc. of Duluth, Ga. For claustrophobic persons, or persons that require unrestricted freedom of movement while sleeping, such devices do not constitute a viable pest control option.
An advantage exists, therefore, for an non-restrictive, fitted protective bedding cover that is easily placed onto and removed from bedding such as mattresses, box springs, and the like. The cover should permit ready receipt of conventional fabric bedding sheets yet provide an impassible barrier between crawling pests such as bed bugs and humans, animals and objects resting on the bedding.


The present disclosure identifies a novel subtype of follicular lymphoma (FL) characterized by dysregulation of the cyclin/CDK/RB proliferative pathway. This subtype of FL is associated with increased malignancy and mortality, relative to FL which is not associated with cell cycle dysregulation. Accordingly, this disclosure presents novel methods to subtype FL and stratify patient risk by detection of biomarkers associated with RB inactivation. This disclosure further presents novel therapies for the treatment of FL subtyped by inactivation of RB.

Lymphomas are cancerous growths of lymph node cells.
Follicular lymphoma (FL) is a form of lymphoma that is diagnosed in 18,000 Americans and has a worldwide incidence of ˜120,000 cases per year. The clinical behavior of FLs is characterized by slow and relentless growth and inevitable relapse despite intensive chemotherapy.
FLs are considered indolent and slow growing tumors. This is in contradistinction to aggressive lymphomas, where cell cycle lesions/mutations are common and their pathogenic and therapeutic relevance is established (Pasqualucci et al., Nature genetics 43: 830-837 (2011), Morin et al., Nature 476: 298-303 (2011), Schmitz et al., Nature (2012), Monti et al., Cancer Cell 22:359-372 (2012), Lenz et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 105:13520-13525 (2008), Jardin et al., Blood 116:1092-1104 (2010)). Cell cycle lesions have only rarely been reported in FL and their role has remained unclear (Chim et al., Human pathology 38:1849-1857 (2007), Alhejaily et al. Human pathology 42:972-982 (2011), Pruneri et al., International journal of cancer. Journal international du cancer 112:71-77 (2004)).
FLs are genetically defined by the translocation t(14;18) that activates the anti-apoptotic BCL2 (B-cell lymphoma 2) protein. However, BCL2 activation is not sufficient for malignant growth (Staudt, N Engl J Med 356:741-742 (2007)), and therapies that target BCL2 have shown limited efficacy in the treatment of FL.
Effective treatments are needed for this fatal condition.

Methods for treatment of lymphomas with mutations in cell cycle genes


A power shear machine for processing metal in sheet or plate form. The machine comprises a table base, and a cross-beam both secured between two side members in order to form a part of the machine frame; a shear made of a bottom blade cooperating with a vertically sliding top blade; a vertically sliding hold-down in front of the top blade; and a device for controlling the vertical sliding displacements of the top blade and hold-down. The power shear includes the hold-down which is made of two separate parts, each supporting one of two mating tools on facing sides thereof, and a device for temporarily locking together the parts.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to power shears made of assembled weldments or castings, wherein a table base and a cross-beam secured between two side members form an essential part of a machine frame. A bottom blade is mounted on the back of the table base and cooperating with a vertically sliding top blade which lateral edges are guided through grooves provided on the face of each side member. A hold-down also vertically slides through grooves in the side members, in front of the top blade and therefore on top of the table base, and a means induces the top blade and hold-down to slide up and down independent of each other.
2. Description of the Relevant Art
Conventional shears presently on the market are limited to shearing and cannot perform other tasks. When hydraulically operated, the conventional shears require separate pumps for shearing and hold-down.


A water repellent powdered material and a method of making the powder in which the powdered material is mixed with an organic solvent solution of a triorganosiloxysilicic acid having the formula (R.sub.3 SiO.sub.1/2).sub.2 nSiO.sub.2 in which R is a monovalent hydrocarbon radical such as alkyl, aryl, and alkenyl; and n is an integer having a value of one to five; with the acid being present in an amount of from 0.1 to 20 parts by weight per one hundred parts by weight of the powdered material. The powder can be used to formulate cosmetic foundations.

The present invention relates to a water-repellent powder and to a method for the preparation thereof. More specifically, the present invention relates to a water-repellent powder comprising powder whose surface is coated with triorganosiloxysilicic acid and to a method for the preparation thereof.
Due to their excellent flowability, dispersibility, and lipophilicity, water-repellent powders are widely employed for cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, organic resins, paints, coatings, and magnetic material. Known water-repellent powders include, for example, water-repellent powders prepared by treating the surface of a powder with dimethyldichlorosilane (Japanese Patent Application Laid Open [Kokai or Unexamined] Number Sho 50-51494 [51,494/1975]), water-repellent powders prepared by treating the surface of a powder with hexamethyldisilazane (Japanese Patent Application Laid Open Numbers Sho 50-51494 and Sho 53-9297 [9,297/1978]), and water-repellent powders prepared by treating the surface of a powder with methylhydrogenpolysiloxane (Japanese Patent Publication [Kokoku] Number Hei 1-54381 [54,381/1989]).
However, the water-repellent powders disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid Open Numbers Sho 50-51494 and Sho 53-9297 contain residual hydrogen chloride or ammonia (reaction by-products), and this places limitations on the application of these water-repellent powder products in cosmetics, and organic resins. The water-repellent powder disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication Number Hei 1-54381 evolves hydrogen during its storage, which raises the risk of explosion during the storage of this type of powder. Moreover, when this water-repellent powder is employed in cosmetics, it can cause such problems as a change in the color of the cosmetic, foundation caking, tarnishing mirrors positioned over the foundation. When the water-repellent powder disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication Number Hei 1-54381 is employed in organic resins, it evolves hydrogen gas when the organic resin is molded and/or with the simple passage of time. This causes the appearance of bubbles in the organic resin, with a resulting substantial decline in the strength of the organic resin. Finally, the use of this type of water-repellent powder in inks is associated with a strong tendency for the ink pigment to aggregate.
The preparative methods for the water-repellent powders disclosed in the aforementioned patents require the careful removal of reaction by-products that are released during the manufacturing process, e.g., hydrogen chloride, ammonia, or hydrogen, and this requirement results in each case in a poor productivity.

Water repellent and method of preparation


Provided is an electronic parts mount apparatus for taking out semiconductor chips from a semiconductor wafer held on a wafer hold section by a transfer head comprising a plurality of suction nozzles and transporting and mounting the semiconductor chips to and on a board has a parts recognition camera disposed in a manner that it can advance to and retreat from the wafer hold section for picking up an image of the semiconductor wafer. Also provided is a method including a parts mounting step for mounting a plurality of semiconductor chips on the board by the transfer head and an image picking up step for picking up a plurality of semiconductor chips to be next taken out by the parts recognition camera which are performed concurrently.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an electronic parts mount apparatus and an electronic parts mount method for taking out an electronic part in wafer shape such as a semiconductor chip and mounting the electronic part on a board of a lead frame, etc.
2. Description of the Related Art
An electronic part cut out in wafer shape, such as a semiconductor chip, of electronic parts used with electronic machines hitherto has been taken out by a mount apparatus including a dedicated taking but unit and mounted on a board of a lead frame, etc. In the dedicated unit, a transfer head for taking out a semiconductor chip moves up and down at a fixed taking out position and a semiconductor wafer is held so that the semiconductor wafer is horizontally movable relative to the transfer head. The semiconductor wafer is moved in order, whereby one semiconductor chip at a time is taken out by the transfer head. The semiconductor chip to be taken out is registered to the transfer head by picking up an image of the electronic part in wafer shape by a camera fixedly placed on a wafer hold section and recognizing the position of the electronic part.

Method for mounting electronic parts onto a board

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A system for dispensing a granular product. The system includes a refillable, sealable receptacle, having a neck at its lower end, a rotatable and flexible impeller within the neck, with the shape and size of the impeller conforming generally to the shape and size of the neck, providing sealing for maintaining the freshness of the granular product. Preferably the impeller comprises a hollow central core, and a shaft extends through the hollow core into at least one through-hole formed in the neck. A handle is present for turning the shaft to rotate the impeller. A base is provided with a retaining arm for removably receiving the receptacle. The system is capable of easy disassembly for cleaning, by removal of the receptacle and impeller from within the receptacle. Also provided is a multi-system for dispensing a plurality of products; having several receptacles and associated dispensing mechanisms mounted on a single support.

In private homes, ready-to-eat breakfast cereal is generally either stored in the box in which it was purchased or transferred to a sealed receptacle for storage. The consumer then transfers the desired amount of cereal to his serving bowl by pouring or scooping.
Hotels, restaurants, residential institutions and other establishments in which breakfast buffets are available frequently present breakfast cereals in large bowls to which, the consumer may help himself using a scoop. There are many disadvantages associated with these storage and dispensing arrangements.
Firstly, spillage frequently occurs during transfer of the cereal from the storage bowl to the consumer's bowl, causing wastage and mess.
Secondly, freshness is not preserved. If cereal is stored in its original box, air may enter the box and cereal at the bottom of the box may become stale before consumption. In the case of the storage bowl or receptacle, no continual flow of fresh product is maintained, since the bowl or receptacle may be repeatedly refilled from above, resulting in stale cereal remaining at the bottom.
Thirdly, these methods are not hygienic, since the food is exposed to contamination by dust, insect matter and other airborne particles. Such contamination may occur even if the box is closed or a cover is provided, since each consumer must remove the cover prior to helping himself to cereal. Furthermore, the cereal may inadvertently be touched by the consumer during the scooping process.
Fourthly, crushing of the cereal frequently occurs during scooping, resulting in product wastage.
Various solid food devices comprising an enclosed receptacle with an attached dispensing mechanism have been developed to alleviate the problems associated with unsanitary storage and dispensing methods.
However, the majority of conventional dispensers are extremely hard to dissasemble and clean efficiently, since they often contain a multitude of minute components in various three-dimensional planes, which cannot be easily removed or cleaned. This results in a non-hygienic food dispensing system, or requires considerable time and effort to be regularly invested in cleaning the system. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 2,920,796 to Field describes a dispenser having a multitude of parts. Such systems having a large number of specialized components are expensive to manufacture and difficult to assemble. The need exists for a simple dispensing system which, having a limited number of components, is inexpensive to manufacture and is easy to use and to wash.
Another fundamental disadvantage of conventional systems lies in their failure to provide sealing of the product in the storage section of the dispenser, therefore a food product stored for several days tends to become stale.
Furthermore, most of the known bulk food dispensers cause considerable breakage and crushing of fragile foods such as breakfast cereals. Dispensers which have been described as being suitable for breakfast cereals have a tendency to become jammed. Prior art dispensers are additionally limited since they often do not have a portion control mechanism. In such dispensers, when the dispensing aperture is opened, product will continuously be dispensed, in an unmeasured manner, so that during dispensing the product tends to overflow and spill out of the bowl.
A great need exists for a dispensing system that allows sanitary dispensing of pet food, which is often sold in hefty-sized bags, into which a pet owner often will insert a bowl to remove a portion for use, in a repetitive, and potentially unsanitary manner. The pet food within a large-sized bag is open to the air, so that it will rapidly become stale and air-borne micro-organisms may easily enter. Additionally, when pet food is stored within a large-sized bag, the malodor of the pet food tends to disperse within the room.
It would therefore be desirable to provide a closed, hygienic dispensing system for granular products which does not cause breakage of fragile product, which provides freshness-sealing of the product within a storage area prior to dispensing, and which is simple to use and maintain.


A stretcher comprising: two stretcher arms (1), the stretcher arms being provided with idle shaped rings (5), driving wheels (2a, 2b), and two pairs of inclined wheels (4, 4xe2x80x2) in correspondence with the shaped rings (5), in which the inclined wheels (4, 4xe2x80x2) are respectively mounted on two plates (12, 13) that are adjacent to the arms (1) and detachably interconnected to each other with the possibility of disengaging the arms (1) from the plates (12, 13).

The object of the present invention is a stretcher for tubular knitwear fabric, especially for application to calenders or other machines for the treatment of tubular fabric.
It is known that stretchers are used during the finishing step of tubular knitwear articles for stretching and spreading the tubular article in order to ease the finishing operations. This operation causes impurities to be deposited onto the plates and onto the members the stretcher is comprised of.
The purpose of the present invention is to obviate this draw-back by adapting the stretcher such that it can be dismounted, thereby providing the benefit of possibly providing in a simple fast way for the maintenance and clean-up of the whole stretcher.

Quick-strip stretcher for tubular fabric


A content-dependent scan rate converter with adaptive noise reduction that provides a highly integrated, implementation efficient de-interlacer. By identifying and using redundant information from the image (motion values and edge directions), this scan rate converter is able to perform the tasks of film-mode detection, motion-adaptive scan rate conversion, and content-dependent video noise reduction. Adaptive video noise reduction is incorporated in the process where temporal noise reduction is performed on the still parts of the image, thus preserving high detail spatial information, and data-adaptive spatial noise reduction is performed on the moving parts of the image. A low-pass filter is used in flat fields to smooth out Gaussian noise and a direction-dependent median filter is used in the presence of impulsive noise or an edge. Therefore, the selected spatial filter is optimized for the particular pixel that is being processed to maintain crisp edges.

Many spatial light modulators (SLMs), such as the digital micro-mirror device (DMD™) are inherently progressive display devices. Therefore, systems built around these devices require scan-rate conversion of their interlaced video signals in order to double the vertical resolution of each image field. FIG. 1a illustrates an interlaced frame 100, which consists of two fields, field A 101 (dotted line) and field B 102 (solid line). For example, in an NTSC signal these field are approximately 16.7 mSec apart in time with the lines from field A 101 being presented on the TV screen and then the lines from field B 102 being inserted between the field A lines, so that two 60 Hz fields are combined to provide a 30 Hz interlaced frame rate. However, in a progressive display system 150, every line 151 is displayed in every field 150, as shown in FIG. 1b, thereby doubling the vertical resolution of the display.
To produce the sharpest image, these scan rate converters need to be content dependent. In other words, the scan rate converter must analyze the motion patterns of an interlaced image sequence and determine the most suitable method for scan rate conversion, on a pixel-by-pixel basis.
If the interlaced image sequence is created from a progressive source, such as film, having been broken apart into two fields for television presentation, then the scan rate converter can combine adjacent interlaced fields to form the original progressive frame. By performing this film mode detection and correctly jamming adjacent fields, the highest amount of detail is produced in the resulting image.
However, when the original source is an inherently interlaced signal, then the scan rate converter must determine how best to combine information from the current interlaced field and the previous interlaced field. In the absence of motion, the current field and the previous field may be jammed together to form a progressive image with the highest amount of detail. But, if motion is detected, information from the previous interlaced field cannot be used. A moving object is not in the same spatial location in 2 adjacent fields. Therefore, a field jam would produce a progressive image with 2 copies of the moving object. Hence, pixel values must be interpolated from the current field when motion is detected. In order to minimize the loss of vertical detail in moving objects, the scan rate converter must perform interpolation along edges.
In addition, noise on the video must be considered in the scan conversion process since it can give a false indication of motion and can also blur the high spatial detail of the image.
In general, in conventional de-interlacing techniques, the vertical resolution of the new progressive image is accomplished by jamming the odd and even field lines, but only when there is no motion. When there is motion, then only the current field is used and the lines above and below the current pixel are averaged.
What is needed is a highly integrated scan rate converter that determines, on a pixel-by-pixel basis, if motion is present in the image and then determines the best value for each pixel for a high resolution progressive image. This method needs to interpolate along edges, rather than across them. This solution further needs to include adaptive noise reduction, also on a pixel-by-pixel basis, to prevent false motion detection and assure high spatial detail in the image. The features incorporated in the method and implementation of the present invention meets these needs.

Content-dependent scan rate converter with adaptive noise reduction


A memory device includes a memory cell array having a plurality of memory cells, a storage unit suitable for storing a fail address corresponding to a fail memory cell in the memory cell array, an available storage capacity determination unit suitable for generating available capacity information indicating an available storage capacity in the storage unit, and an output circuit suitable for outputting the available capacity information.

1. Field
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to integrated circuit design, and more particularly, to a post package repair for an Integrated circuit.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a conventional memory device performing a repair operation.
Referring to FIG. 1, the memory device includes a memory cell array 110, a row circuit 120, a column circuit 130, a row fuse circuit 140, and a row comparison unit 150.
The memory cell array 110 includes a plurality of memory cells, the row circuit 120 activates a row (or a word line) selected by a row address R_ADD, and the column circuit 130 accesses, for example, reads or writes, data of a column (or a bit line) selected by a column address C_ADD. The row fuse circuit 140 stores a row address corresponding to a defective memory cell within the memory cell array 110 as a repair row address REPAIR_R_ADD. A row comparison unit 150 compares the repair row address REPAIR_R_ADD stored in the row fuse circuit 140 to a row address R_ADD inputted from the outside of the memory device. When the repair row address REPAIR_R_ADD is identical with the row address R_ADD, the row comparison unit 150 controls the row circuit 120 to access a redundancy row (or a redundancy word line) instead of a row designated with the row address R_ADD. That is, the row (or the word line) corresponding to the repair row address REPAIR_R_ADD stored in the row fuse circuit 140 is substituted with a redundancy row (or a redundancy word line).
For reference, in the FIG. 1, "ACT" denotes an active command, "PRE" denotes a precharge command, "RD" denotes a read command, "WT" denotes a write command, and "DQs" denotes data or data pads.
Conventionally, laser fuses have been mainly used in the fuse circuit 140. The laser fuse stores a logic high data or a logic low data depending on whether the fuse is cut or not. The laser fuse may be programmed in a wafer state, but the fuse may not be programmed after a wafer is mounted in a package. Furthermore, the laser fuses may not be designed in a small area due to the limit in a line pitch.
In order to overcome such concerns, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,904,751, U.S. Pat. No. 6,777,757, U.S. Pat. No. 6,667,902, U.S. Pat. No. 7,173,851, and U.S. Pat. No. 7,269,047, one of storage units, such as an e-fuse array circuit, a NAND flash memory, a NOR flash memory, a magnetoresistive random access memory (MRAM), a spin transfer torque magnetic random access memory (STT-MRAM), a resistive random access memory (ReRAM), and a phase change random access memory (PCRAM), is included into the memory device. Repair information, including, for example, fail addresses, is stored in the storage unit.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a conventional memory device including storage unit for storing repair information.
Referring to FIG. 2, it may be seen that the fuse circuit 140 is removed from the memory device shown in FIG. 1 and a storage unit 210 and a register unit 220 are added.
The row fuse circuit 140 is substituted with the storage unit 210. Here, a row address corresponding to a defective memory cell in the memory cell array 110 is stored as a repair row address. The storage unit 210 may include an e-fuse array circuit, a NAND flash memory, a NOR flash memory, an MRAM, an STT-MRAM, a ReRAM, or a PCRAM.
The register unit 220 receives and stores repair information, for example, a fail address, programmed in the storage unit 210. The repair information stored in the register unit 220 is used for a repair operation. The register unit 220 may include latch circuits and may store the repair information only while power is supplied. An operation for transmitting the repair information from the storage unit 210 to the register unit 220 is referred to as a boot-up operation.
Since the storage unit 210 is configured in an array form, it takes some time to call internally stored data. Because calling for data may not be performed takes some time, it may not be possible to perform a repair operation immediately using the data stored in the storage unit 210. Accordingly, after the boot-up operation is performed to transmit the repair information stored in the storage unit 210 to the register unit 220 and to store the repair information, the repair operation is performed using the data stored in the register unit 220.
When the fuse circuit 140 including the laser fuses is substituted with the storage unit 210 and the register unit 220, it may be possible to repair an additional defect found in a package state. On the other hand, in recent years, technologies for accessing the storage unit 210 even after manufacturing of a memory device, for example, after selling of a product, and for repairing a defect occurring after the manufacturing of the memory device have been studied.

Memory device and memory system including the same, and operation method of memory device


A component mounting apparatus including a component supply device which includes a carrier tape that accommodates a component to be mounted on a board in which a plurality of feeders having carrier tapes loaded are respectively mounted at a plurality of mounting positions, which automatically discharges a carrier tape to a tape insertion port of the feeder based on a component discharge instruction, and which automatically conveys an inserted carrier tape to a suction position at which a component is suctioned when the carrier tape is inserted into the tape insertion port; and control device which instructs discharge or supply of a component.

In PTL 1 and PTL 2, a feeder which can automatically convey a carrier tape to a suction position at which a component is suctioned without performing splicing processing, is described, splicing work due to component shortage becomes unnecessary by using the feeder, and there is no case where a component mounting apparatus is stopped by the splicing.

Component mounting apparatus with feeder control device


Techniques are provided for performing font subsetting. One or more font subsetting parameters are received. The one or more font subsetting parameters indicate a granularity level for which font subsetting is performed for portions of a data container. The font subsetting parameters indicate a font subsetting granularity level other than an entire document associated with the data container. A first portion of the data container is determined in accordance with the font subsetting granularity level. A subset of font data for at least one font family is determined in accordance with what font data for the at least one font family is actually used by the first portion. The subset of font data is embedded in an output for a consumer.

A document may utilize one or more different fonts or font families. Data for the fonts may be embedded within the document itself. The font data embedded in the document may be an entire font file for a font family even though portions of the font file may not be utilized by the document. In other words, the document may only utilize a portion of the font data embedded in the document. One drawback of embedding the entire font file within the document is that the document size may be very large. To work around the foregoing drawback, documents may include a subset of the font file. In connection with subsetting a font, the document includes only the font data that is actually used by the document rather than the whole font file for the particular font family. While performing font subsetting and including only a subset portion of the font data within a document may decrease the size of the document, other drawbacks may be present. The font subsetting may be performed at the document level meaning that all the font data to be embedded in the document cannot be determined until the document is processed. This can be a problem when the document is being consumed, for example, for streaming consumption in which the document is typically consumed as it is being produced.

Techniques for granular font subsetting for efficient document consumption


The invention relates to conjugates of poorly immunogenic antigens, e.g., peptides, proteins and polysaccharides, with a synthetic peptide carrier constituting a T cell epitope derived from the sequence of E. coli hsp65 (GroEL), or an analog thereof, said peptide or analog being capable of increasing substantially the immunogenicity of the poorly immunogenic antigen. A suitable peptide according to the invention is Pep278e, which corresponds to positions 437-453 of the E. coli hsp65 molecule.

Immunization against infection caused by pathogenic microorganism (bacteria, viruses and parasites) is generally achieved by inoculating an individual with the natural antigen (attenuated or killed microorganism) or parts of said infectious agent (for example detoxified microbial products) in order to stimulate a protective immune response able to neutralize the pathogenic microbe or its deleterious effects.
Limited availability of the natural antigenic substance, risks involved in handling pathogenic material as well as storage problems stimulated the interest in the development of subunit vaccines. Isolated protective epitopes nevertheless are often characterized by their poor immunogenicity. The carbohydrate capsules of bacteria are an example of such coats: They are not easily recognized by T cells and therefore the immune response to these antigens is deprived of T cell help, T cell memory, IgG class switch, and affinity maturation. Such an immune response is inefficient and resistance to infection with bacteria encoated with carbohydrate capsules is not easily obtained by vaccination, with bacterial carbohydrates. Peptide epitopes too may be poorly immunogenic, the absence of a T cell epitope and the genetically restricted immune response being the reason.
It is now well established that most antigens require T cell help to induce B cells to produce antibodies. Conjugating a "helper" or T cell determinant to a B cell-specific antigen was shown to induce humoral immune responses to the coupled B cell epitope. The discovery by Avery & Goebel (1929) that coupling of polysaccharides to protein carriers increases immunogenicity has recently been used for the preparation of vaccines for human use. Both in humans and in rodents these conjugates behave like T cell dependent antigens by exhibition of immunological memory. There are similarities between conjugate polysaccharide vaccines and protein carrier-hapten systems. Thus the capsular polysaccharide (CPS) conjugates are able to induce protective levels of CPS antibodies in infants, while CPS alone is not. It is possible that the superior immunogenicity of conjugates compared to that of pure polysaccharides is due to the help by carrier-specific T cells, as has been demonstrated in the carrier-hapten system in rodents.
In most cases, T cell independent (T-ind) antigens have been coupled to large immunogenic carrier proteins such as tetanus toxoid, cholera toxin or diphtheria toxoid. Nevertheless, besides dosage limitations and the risk of sensitization to the carrier itself, as reported for tetanus toxoid, the immunological response to high molecular weight carrier molecules harboring stimulatory as well as suppressive T cell epitopes is not very predictable. It has been shown that the antibody response to a hapten coupled to a carrier protein can also be inhibited when the recipient has been previously immunized with the unmodified protein. This phenomenon has been termed carrier-induced epitope suppression and was recently demonstrated to occur with a number of hapten-protein conjugates (Herzenberg & Tokuhisa, 1982). Since the development of more potent conjugate vaccines against a large number of extremely infectious organisms is still important, efforts are being made to search for more appropriate carrier molecules providing the needed T cell epitopes. Universally immunogenic T cell epitopes, defined by specific peptides with sharply outlined immunological characteristics, might represent a new generation of such alternative molecules. T cell epitopes of various sorts have been used for this purpose before. However, to trigger a strong memory response when the host meets the infectious agent after vaccination, the T cell carrier epitope should be present along with the specific B cell epitope. This fact would seem to require that a different T cell carrier be used for each infectious agent. Highly abundant proteins well recognized by the immune system might be an appropriate source for peptides serving this purpose.
Studies using a wide variety of proteins, both those closely related to self and those phylogenetically distantly related, have shown that the majority of T cells are focused onto a few immunodominant epitopes with a minority responding to other, subdominant determinants. This hierarchy of determinant utilization by T cells could result from a combination of factors including differential affinities for the available MHC molecules, the diversity of the T cell repertoire, internal competition for MHC-binding sites and fine differences in processing (Babitt et al, 1985; Kappler et al, 1987; Brett et al, 1988)
Evidence is accumulating that proteins belonging to the family of heat shock proteins (hsp's) are major antigens of many pathogens (Young et al, 1988). Hsp's were first described and later named due to their production by cells exposed to sudden elevations in temperature. The hsp's include proteins of various molecular weights,. including 20 kD, 60 kD, 65-68 kD, 70 kD, 90 kD, 110 kD, and others. It is now apparent that hsp's are induced in all cells by many different environmental insults, including oxidative injury, nutrient depletion and infection with intracellular pathogens; the hsp response enables the cell to survive under otherwise unfavorable conditions. Although cellular stress increases the synthesis of hsp's, many hsp's are also constitutively expressed and play an essential role in normal cell function. The hsp response is ubiquitous throughout the pro- and eukaryotic kingdoms and hsp's belong to some of the most conserved molecules.
Hsp65, as a representative member of the proteins belonging to the hsp family, can be considered to be a dominant antigen because infection or immunization with many different bacteria induces antibodies and T cells specific for the hsp65 molecule (Young et al, 1988). In mice immunized with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, 20% of all T cells which respond to the bacterium, are specific for hsp65. Interestingly, T cells with reactivity to hsp65 have also been identified in normal healthy individuals lacking any clinical signs of disease (Munk et al, 1988).
Lussow et al. (1990) showed that priming of mice with live Mycobacterium tuberculosis var.bovis (BCG) and immunization with the repetitive malaria synthetic peptide (NANP).sub.40, conjugated to purified protein derivative (PPD), led to the induction of high and long-lasting titers of anti-peptide IgG antibodies. Later on, Lussow et al. (1991) reported that the mycobacterial hsp65 as well as the hsp65 of E. coli (GroEL) acted as carrier molecules in mice, previously primed with BCG, for the induction of high and long-lasting titers of IgG against the repetitive malaria synthetic peptide (NANP).sub.40. Anti-peptide antibodies were induced when the malaria peptide, conjugated to the mycobacterial or E. coli hsp, was given in the absence of any adjuvants.
Barrios et al. (1992) have shown that mice immunized with peptides or oligosaccharides conjugated to the 70 kD hsp produced high titers of IgG antibodies in the absence of any previous priming with BCG. The anti-peptide antibody response persisted for at least 1 year. This adjuvant-free carrier effect of the 70 kD hsp was T cell dependent, since no anti-peptide nor anti70 kD IgG antibodies were induced in athymic nu/nu mice. Previous immunization of mice with the 65 kD or 70 kD hsp did not have any negative effect on the induction of anti-peptide IgG antibodies after immunization with hsp-peptide conjugates in the absence of adjuvants. Furthermore, preimmunization with the 65 kD hsp could substitute for BCG in providing an effective priming for the induction of anti-(NANP).sub.40 antibodies. The carrier effect of mycobacterial hsp65 and hsp70 for conjugated peptides was demonstrated also in non-human primates (Perraut et al, 1993).
It can be assumed that some T cell epitopes within the sequence of the bacterial hsp65 protein show immunodominance and are able to induce immunological memory, whereas others do not express privileged immunological recognition or are involved in the induction of autoimmune diseases. Distinguishing between functionally different T cell epitopes, binding to several different MHC molecules, may lead to the identification of universally immunogenic peptides, which can qualify as safe, defined, and potent alternatives for carrier molecules of T-ind antigens.
Israel Patent Application No. 102687 of the same applicants describes specific T cell epitopes of human hsp65, and analogs thereof, conjugated to poorly immunogenic molecules.
None of the above mentioned references describes specific T cell epitopes derived from the sequence of hsp65 of E. coli (GroEL) conjugated to poorly immunogenic molecules.

Peptides used as carriers in immunogenic constructs suitable for development of synthetic vaccines


The present invention provides a method for changing nitrogen utilization efficiency in a plant comprises regulating the expression of Arabidopsis NRT 1.7 or an ortholog thereof so that the nitrate remobilization from older leaves to young leaves in the plant is regulated, thereby the nitrogen utilization efficiency is changed. The present invention also provides a transgenic plant obtainable by transforming a plant with an expression construct with a high or low level of expression of NRT 1.7. On the other hand, the present invention yet provides a chimera nitrate transporter, a DNA molecule coding for this chimera transporter and an expression vector thereof.

Nitrogen fertilizer is one of the most expensive nutrients to supply. 50-70% of the applied nitrogen is lost from the plant-soil system and causes water pollution (Peoples, 1995, in: P. E. Bacon, Editor, Nitrogen Fertilizer in the Environment, Marcel Dekker, 565-606). Improving nitrogen utilization efficiency ("NUE") is important to reduce the cost of crop production as well as environmental damage. Nitrogen remobilization is one of the key steps to improve NUE (Mickelson et al., 2003, J Exp Bot 54, 801-812; Masclaux-Daubresse et al., 2008, Plant Biol (Stuttg) 10 Suppl 1, 23-36).
When plants encounter nutrient deficiency, nitrogen can be recycled from older to younger leaves to sustain the growth of developing tissues. Nitrate remobilization occurs not only from leaf to leaf during the vegetative stage, but also from leaf to seeds during the reproductive stage. High nutrient demand during reproductive stage cannot be satisfied by Nitrogen uptake, and nitrogen recycled from senescent tissue plays an important role in sustaining grain production. Although several studies showed that nitrate remobilization was important to increase grain yield and withstand nitrogen deprivation, little was known about nitrate remobilization. Thus, it is important to find out how the stored nitrate is retrieved to withstand nitrogen deficiency and to sustain high nitrogen demand in the reproductive stage, thereby to regulate the growth of nitrogen use efficiency in a plant.

Method for changing nitrogen utilization efficiency in plants


A shoulder stabilizing restraint which includes a pillow and a forearm wrap. The pillow has an arcuately-configured posterior face for engaging an anterior quadrant of a torso on a first side of a user. The pillow also has a flat forearm engagement face for engaging a forearm on the first side of the user. The forearm engagement face is preferably converges with the posterior face at a posterior/lateral convergence which is positionable proximal to a lateral border of the torso on the first side of the user. The forearm wrap is fastenable to the pillow to retain the forearm in engagement with the forearm engagement face and the shoulder joint at a positive external rotation angle.

The shoulder is a relatively complex joint of the body, which is capable of rotation within multiple planes when the arm is displaced relative to the torso. Referring to FIG. 1, the shoulder is rotatable within three different planes of rotation, i.e., an X-Y plane containing the X and Y axes, an X-Z plane containing the X and Z axes, and a Y-Z plane containing the Y and Z axes. The Z axis has a vertical orientation aligning the Z axis in correspondence with the central longitudinal axis of a standing person. The X and Y axes both have a horizontal orientation, being perpendicular to one another and to the Z axis.
When the Z axis corresponds identically to the central longitudinal axis of a person, the X-Z plane extends longitudinally from right to left through the body of the person when standing and bisects the body into a front or anterior half Y+ and a rear or posterior half Y−, wherein the front half Y+ is forward of the X-Z plane and the rear half Y− is rearward of the X-Z plane. The Y-Z plane extends longitudinally from front to rear through the body of the person and bisects the body into a right half X− and a left half X+, wherein the right half X− is to the right side of the Y-Z plane and the left half X+ is to the left side of the Y-Z plane. The X-Z and Y-Z planes in combination divide the body into four quadrants, i.e., a right anterior quadrant X−Y+, a left anterior quadrant X+Y+, a right rear quadrant X−Y−, and a left rear quadrant X+Y−. The X-Y plane extends along a latitudinal cross-section of the body aligned in correspondence with the waistline of the body of the person, which bisects the body into an upper half Z+ and a lower half Z−, wherein the upper half Z+ is above the X-Y plane and the lower half Z− is below the X-Y plane.
Shoulder rotation is termed "external rotation" when the forearm (with the elbow flexed at about 90°) is displaced away from the anterior torso in the X-Y plane. Conversely, shoulder rotation is termed "internal rotation" when the forearm is displaced toward the anterior torso in the X-Y plane. The shoulder and associated arm are said to be at 0° external rotation (or full internal rotation) when the forearm engages or is immediately adjacent to the anterior torso. The degree of external rotation increases as the forearm swings away from the anterior torso to a maximum angle of about 180°. It is noted that the elbow and upper arm of the associated arm can remain in contact with the lateral border of the torso as the shoulder moves through external or internal rotation.
Shoulder rotation is termed "abduction" when the upper arm (independent of the condition of the elbow) is displaced away from the lateral border of the torso in the X-Z plane. Conversely, shoulder rotation is termed "abduction" when the upper arm (independent of the condition of the elbow) is displaced toward the lateral border of the torso in the X-Z plane. The shoulder and associated arm are said to be at approximately 0° abduction (or full abduction) when the elbow and upper arm engage or are immediately adjacent to the lateral border of the torso. The degree of abduction increases as the elbow and upper arm swing away from the lateral border of the torso in the X-Z plane to a maximum angle of about 135°.
Shoulder rotation is termed "flexion" when the arm (independent of the condition of the elbow) is displaced toward the anterior torso in the Y-Z plane. Conversely, shoulder rotation is termed "extension" when the arm is displaced away from the anterior torso in the Y-Z plane. The shoulder and associated arm are said to be at approximately 0° extension (or full flexion) when the elbow and upper arm engage or are immediately adjacent to the lateral border of the torso, i.e., when the upper arm is hanging at the side and lies in the X-Z plane. The degree of extension increases as the upper arm swings away from the anterior torso in the Y-Z plane to a maximum angle of about 180°.
Although the rotational capabilities of the shoulder recited above advantageously enhance the function of the joint, the same expansive rotational capabilities also complicate treatment of the shoulder following injury or surgery. Treatment frequently requires determining a desired optimal healing position of the shoulder and associated arm, placement of the shoulder and associated arm in the desired healing position, and immobilization of the shoulder and arm in the desired healing position. Such a recuperative treatment is particularly applicable to soft tissue injuries involving damage to one or more connective shoulder ligaments and furthermore is oftentimes the treatment of choice following any number of surgical procedures, including surgery for recurrent posterior subluxation, rotator cuff surgery, humeral head or shaft fracture correction, and the like. Healing occurs inter alia through diminution of inflammation and/or regeneration of muscle tissues, which is promoted by removing stress from the injured or surgically corrected joint.
Support devices, such as orthopedic braces, rigid casts, slings and the like, are commonly employed to perform the above-recited placement and immobilization function with varying degrees of success. For example, rigid casts, which are typically molded plaster or resin, have traditionally been used as joint immobilizers. The rigid cast may be replaced from time to time as swelling is reduced. However, the disadvantages of rigid casts are well known. Rigid casts are heavy and uncomfortable to wear and are relatively laborious and complex to apply. Rigid casts may also unduly limit the mobility of the patient and cause joint stiffening and muscle atrophy. In addition, wound and skin treatments and bathing must usually be postponed until the rigid cast is removed.
Support devices using synthetic thermoformable materials are lighter and stronger than rigid casts. However, such devices are significantly more complex and costly. The basic stock materials for constructing the devices are relatively expensive and construction of the devices requires molding all of the constituent parts piece by piece from the stock materials while very hot. The resulting constituent parts are then subsequently joined piece by piece again using heat. Adjusting the fit of the device requires cutting off excess material once the device is in place which can produce sharp edges. In addition, such devices, like rigid casts, can only be used once.
Support devices using metal components are likewise costly and are also relatively heavy. In addition the metal components must be made to order and are typically assembled in an articulated configuration necessitating many fasteners, such as screws, nuts, and bolts, which require significant adjustment.
The present invention recognizes a need for a shoulder orthosis, which is simple, light-weight, and relatively inexpensive, yet highly stable for desired post-surgical or post-injury management of the shoulder. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an orthosis for an arm and shoulder which effectively immobilizes the arm and shoulder while accurately positioning the shoulder joint to promote healing and curtail pain. More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an orthosis for an arm and shoulder which restrains the arm, elbow joint and shoulder joint in a more stable position than prior art orthoses. It is another object of the present invention to provide an orthosis for an arm and shoulder which will fit the great majority of patients with a single size and which is adaptable for either the left or the right side of the patient. It is another object of the present invention to provide an orthosis for an arm and shoulder which is light-weight and is easily fitted to the patient. These objects and others are accomplished in accordance with the invention described hereafter.


The present invention provides an improved hollow cathode method for sputter coating a substrate. The method of the invention comprises providing a channel for gas to flow through, the channel defined by a channel defining surface wherein one or more portions of the channel-defining surface include at least one target material. Gas is flowed through the channel wherein at least a portion of the gas is a non-laminarly flowing gas. While the gas is flowing through the channel a plasma is generated causing target material to be sputtered off the channel-defining surface to form a gaseous mixture containing target atoms that is transported to the substrate. In an important application of the present invention, a method for forming oxide films and in particular zinc oxide films is provided.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to methods and related apparatus for depositing films on a substrate by hollow cathode sputtering. More particularly, the present invention relates to methods and apparatus for depositing oxide and other films by hollow cathode sputtering.
2. Background Art
Numerous methods are known for depositing thin films on a substrate. Such methods include, for example, sputtering, vacuum evaporation, chemical vapor deposition, and the like. Typical substrates that are coated with thin films are glass, ceramics, and silicon wafers. Vacuum evaporation is a low pressure deposition technique in which a material is vaporized by heating. Vacuum evaporation is a line of sight deposition technique in which the vaporized material is then radiated out in straight lines from the source. Chemical vapor deposition is a thin film deposition technique in which a reactive gaseous mixture is heated over a substrate. The elevated temperature causes a chemical reaction to occur from which a desired film is formed. Chemical vapor deposition can be undesirable because of contamination of the deposited films.
Sputtering is a low pressure deposition process in which a plasma containing gas ions and electrons is created by the action of an electric field on gas that is introduced into a deposition chamber. The electric field may be formed by either a dc or rf voltage bias. These ions are accelerated towards a target from which material is removed. This removed material is ultimately deposited on a nearby substrate. Reactive sputtering is a further refinement of the sputtering process in which a reactive gas such as nitrogen, oxygen, hydrogen, H2O, H2Se, CH4, C2H6, C2H2, C2H4, B2H6, PH3, CCl4, CF4, organic monomers like HMDSO, pyrrole and the like are introduced into the deposition chamber. These reactive gases are capable of reacting with the removed target material to form a compound film on the substrate. Accordingly, these reactive gases provide one or more atoms that are incorporated into the film. Reactive sputtering is particularly useful for depositing doped and undoped metal oxides, nitrides, carbides, and the like. However, care must be taken in the reactive sputtering process because such reactive gases may form an insulating layer on the conductive target thereby reducing film growth rate.
The effect of insulating layers on the targets in the sputtering process is generally alleviated by the use of RF power to form the plasma. This type of sputtering is referred to as RF sputtering. It is particularly useful for depositing both insulating and oxide films, but deposition rates tend to be low. In the RF sputtering process, a substrate is placed between two electrodes which are driven by an RF power source. Superimposed on this applied RF field is a DC potential. This DC potential advantageously drives the ions toward the target causing some of the target material to be removed. This removed target material may then react with a reactive gas. Again the removed material ultimately coats the substrate.
A number of sputtering refinements makes this technique even more desirable for the deposition of insulating and oxide films. These refinements include unbalanced magnetron sputtering, the utilization of pulsed dc power, and the use of hollow cathodes. The utilization of hollow cathode sputtering in a gas flow mode is a relatively new technique in which an inert gas such as argon is introduced into a channel in a target cathode. While contained within this channel a plasma is formed that removes atoms from the target. These atoms are eventually swept by the gas flow out of the cathode at which point they may then be reacted with a reactive gas. The continuous flow of the inert gas prevents (or tends to prevent) the reactive gas from entering the cathode and thereby prevents (or tends to prevent) an insulating layer from forming on the target. Although the prior art hollow cathode processes may inhibit the formation of an insulating layer on the target, these processes tend to produce films at unacceptably low growth rates.
Accordingly, there exists a need for improved sputtering methods for depositing thin films and in particular insulating or oxide thin films with high growth rates and reduced formation of insulating layers on the targets used in such sputtering processes.

Hollow cathode sputtering apparatus and related method


A satellite communications system (10) provides for snap to grid variable beam size digital beamforming. The communications system (10) has an antenna configuration (20) for maintaining communications links with satellite networking equipment, and a signal processing system (30) for processing signals resulting from the communications links. The beamforming subsystem (40) forms beams based on the processed signals wherein the beams match predetermined grid information. The beamforming subsystem (40) includes a grid database (50) containing predetermined grid information. A beamforming processor (60) converts the predetermined grid information contained in the grid database (50) antenna coefficients. An antenna management system forms beams based on the antenna coefficients.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to satellite communication systems. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a system and technique for digital beamforming based on predetermined grid information.
2. Discussion
A primary interest of telecommunications technology is enhancing the features offered by communication systems and expanding the coverage area of these systems. The principal goal behind developing next generation communication systems is either to improve the transmission fidelity, to increase the data rate, or to increase the distance between relay stations. In an effort to accomplish these objectives, earth-based (or terrestrial) communication systems have evolved over the years to incorporate high-speed electro-optic equipment and optical fibers. The result has been a substantial increase in the fidelity and speed of transmissions. Optical communication has therefore allowed quality and grade of service to reach new heights. Optical communication systems have not provided, however, a solution to the increasing mobility of today""s society and the need for global communication.
First generation satellite telecommunication systems are now capable of providing communications services around the world using RF signals. These sophisticated communications satellites transmit many telephone, data and television signals simultaneously over long distances. Satellite communication systems have therefore proven to be well suited for the increasing demand for wireless communications and global transmissions. Substantial competition still exists, however, between satellite and terrestrial communication systems in the arena of quality of service. It is therefore desirable to improve the transmission fidelity and data rate of satellite-based communication systems and thereby improve the quality and grade of service.
Conventional satellite communications networks employ a plurality of interconnected space vehicles, or satellites, in an effort to provide satellite communication channels to subscriber equipment via transmitted beams. Attenuation in the beams is common and is generally due to environmental effects such as trees and rain. In a given service area, it is therefore necessary to specify acceptable levels of attenuation in the beam transmitted from the satellite and received by the subscriber equipment (e.g., pagers, mobile phones, etc.). Attenuations are specified in terms of (ink margins and can be defined for different types of communication links such as in-building, in-vehicle, and mobile outdoor links.
In the past, satellites used fixed antenna beams to provide communication channel coverage over the entire satellite footprint. This technique of providing communications links is potentially inefficient due to the need to provide coverage over the entire satellite footprint while providing high gain antenna beams to improve link quality and subscriber equipment characteristics. For example, the additional necessary hardware required to form enough fixed high gain antenna beams to cover the satellite footprint will substantially increase the satellite size, weight, power, and processing requirements. The communications electronics payload is also affected because of the added complexity of the switching, routing, and processing of the communication channels associated with these beams.
Recent trends have been toward providing an increasing number of narrow antenna beams to improve spectral efficiency, link quality, and improve subscriber equipment characteristics (e.g. size, weight, power, channel throughput, etc.). Thus, satellites are configured with an array of antenna beams that can provide hundreds of signals to predetermined areas of the satellite footprint. This technique provides a means to deal with increased antenna complexity while providing complete coverage within the satellite footprint.
Implementation of narrow beamforming, however, has been inflexible and has failed to make sufficient use of information regarding the service area. For example, link margins and service areas change drastically from region to region while conventional beam configurations remain fixed as the satellite orbits the earth. This is an issue of considerable concern because processing power is wasted in areas of sparse population such as uninhabited rain forests. In order for narrow beamforming to be a viable alternative, the satellite must be able to adjust the size, location, and content of each beam in the footprint as the communication requirements change. Providing such a real-time response to consumer demand is crucial in closing the gap between satellite and terrestrial quality and grade of service.
It is therefore desirable to provide maximum coverage at the necessary link margins. It is further desirable to provide variable link margin services in areas capable of supporting these margins and or willing to pay premium prices for higher link margin services. Another concern with the use of multiple beams is due to the effect of the number of beams on the size of the antenna array. Conventional approaches have effectively xe2x80x9cblanketedxe2x80x9d the satellite footprint with beams of fixed strength and thereby required the use of large, bulky antenna arrays. The use of digital beamforming technology would allow selective formation of beam sizes and significantly reduce power and processing consumption by reducing the number of required beams.

Snap to grid variable beam size digital beamforming system


An indwelling needle includes a cylindrical main body to be fixed to a fitted body, a cylindrical hub for holding a needle, and a cylindrical protective cover which surround the needle and is provided slidably along the needle. In the usage state, the hub and the needle are advanced to the tip end side with respect to the main body and the protective cover is retreated to the rear end side with respect to the main body to project a cutting edge of the needle. In the housed state, the hub is retreated to the rear end side with respect to the main body, and the protective cover is advanced to the tip end side and the cutting edge of the needle is housed within the protective cover. Erroneous sticking into medical staff is prevented, and the burden on a patient is reduced.

The present invention relates to an indwelling needle, more specifically, to an indwelling needle constructed so that a needle is housed within a protective cover in a housed state.
Nowadays, an indwelling needle is inserted into a patient for a drip or dialysis, and in this case, accidents involving erroneously sticking of the indwelling needle pulled out from the patient into medical staff must be prevented.
Therefore, there are known indwelling needles which include a needle having a cutting edge formed on its tip end, a cylindrical hub for holding the rear end of the needle, and a cylindrical protective cover provided so as to advance and retreat along the needle (for example, Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. H10-85333, Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. 2002-330945 and Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. 2003-180829).
The indwelling needle of Patent Application No. H10-85333 is composed of a hub for holding the rear end of a cannula and a holder cylinder which houses and holds the hub inside, and the cannula is housed in the holder cylinder by advancing or retreating the holder cylinder.
The indwelling needle of Patent Application No. 2002-330945 is composed of a hub provided on the rear end of a needle cannula and a safety shield which houses the hub slidably, and when an actuator is operated from a usage state, a spring elastically installed between the hub and the safety shield expands and the safety shield houses the needle cannula.
The indwelling needle of Patent Application No. 2003-180829 is composed of a needle assembly including a needle cannula and a needle hub, and a body which houses the needle assembly in a manner enabling the needle assembly to advance and retreat, and when medical treatment is finished, a sticking element is put into the body due to an elastic force of the spring by operating an operating button.
Thus, according to the indwelling needles of Patent Documents mentioned above, after use, the needle is housed within the protective cover to prevent the above-described accident.