A toroidal x-ray tube (I) is supported (II) for rotation about a horizontal axis (170), translation along a vertical axis (172), and translation along a horizontal axis (174). The x-ray tube includes a toroidal housing (A), an annular anode (B), and a cathode (0) which rotates a beam of electrons around the annular anode. A plurality of parallel connected voltage sources (90.sub.1, 90.sub.2, . . . , 90.sub.n) provide a sufficiently high bias voltage between the electron source and the anode that x-rays are generated. The x-ray beam passes through a compensator crystal (62), an annular window (20), a collimator (132), through a subject received in a central bore (26) of the x-ray tube, and impacts an arc segment of radiation detectors (130). The x-ray detectors are stationarily mounted outside of the plane of the annular window (FIGS. 2 and 7), nutate into the plane of the windows opposite of the origin of the x-ray beam (FIG. 6 ), rotate in part (FIG. 9 ) or rotate in full (FIG. 8 ) Angular position monitors (58, 154) determine the angular position of the cathode assembly, hence the x-ray beam, and the angular position of the detectors in the rotating detector embodiment.

The present invention pertains to the art of diagnostic imaging. It finds particular application in conjunction with CT scanners for generating images of interior regions of human patients and will be described with particular reference thereto. However, it is to be appreciated, that the present invention will also find application in conjunction with industrial CT, quality assurance, and other types of x-ray diagnostic imaging, x-ray generation applications, and the like.
Typically, a patient is positioned in a prone position on a horizontal couch through a central bore of a CT scanner. An x-ray tube mounted on a rotatable gantry portion is rotated around the patient at a high rate of speed. For faster scans, the x-ray tube is rotated more quickly. However, rotating the x-ray tube more quickly decreases the net radiation per image unless the x-ray output of the x-ray tube is increased. As CT scanners have become faster, larger x-ray tubes which generate more radiation per unit time have been required. The high gantry rotational speeds, of course, cause high inertial forces during rotation.
High performance x-ray tubes for CT scanners and the like commonly include a stationary cathode and a rotating anode disk, both enclosed within an evacuated housing. When higher intensity x-ray beams are generated, there is more heating of the anode disk. In order to provide sufficient time for the anode disk to cool by radiating heat through the vacuum to surrounding fluids, x-ray tubes with progressively larger anode disks have been built.
The larger anode disks require larger x-ray tubes which do not readily fit in the small confined spaces of existing CT scanner gantries In a fourth generation scanner, the incorporation of a larger x-ray tube and heavier duty support structure requires moving the radiation detectors to a larger diameter. If the distance from the x-ray focal spot to the collimator is too short, the x-ray penumbra and beam divergence cause a degradation in image quality. Not only is a larger x-ray tube required, larger heat exchange structures are required to remove the larger amount of heat which is generated. Thus, as the CT scanners have become faster, they have become more massive, hence more difficult to move and install.
Rather than rotating a single x-ray tube around the subject, others have proposed using a switchable array of x-ray tubes, e.g. five or six x-ray tubes in a ring around the subject. However, unless the tubes rotate only limited data is generated and only limited image resolution is achieved. If the x-ray tubes rotate, similar mechanical problems are encountered trying to move all the tubes quickly.
Still others have proposed constructing an essentially bell-shaped, evacuated x-ray tube envelope with a mouth that is sufficiently large that the patient can be received in the well of the tube. An x-ray beam source is disposed at the apex of the bell to generate an electron beam which impinges on an anode ring at the mouth to the bell. Electronics are provided for scanning the x-ray beam around the evacuated bell-shaped envelope. One problem with this design is that it is only capable of scanning about 210.degree.. Another problem is that the very large evacuated space required for containing the scanning electron beam is difficult to maintain in an evacuated state. Troublesome and complex vacuum pumping systems are required. Another problem is that no provision can be made for off-focus radiation. Another problem resides in its large physical size.
Messrs. Mayden, Shepp, and Cho in "A New Design For High-Speed Computerized Tomography", IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science, Vol. NS-26, No. 2, April 1979, proposed reducing the size of the conical or bell-shaped tube discussed above by rotating the cathode around the large diameter anode ring. However, their design had several engineering deficiencies and was not commercially produced.
The present invention contemplates a new and improved CT scanner which overcomes the above-referenced problems and others.

Computerized tomographic scanner having a toroidal x-ray tube with a stationary annular anode and a rotating cathode assembly


A semiconductor device includes a substrate having a first area and a second area adjacent to the first area, a first silicon layer provided on the substrate in the first area, a relaxed layer which is provided on the substrate in the second area and which has a lattice constant greater than a lattice constant of the first silicon layer, and a strained-Si layer which is provided on the relaxed layer and which has a lattice constant substantially equivalent to the lattice constant of the relaxed layer.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a semiconductor device and a manufacturing method thereof and, more particularly, to a semiconductor device comprising a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) device, a memory device and the like on the same substrate and a manufacturing method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, a faster semiconductor device and a lower power consumption thereof have been increasingly required. For example, faster operations of a CMOS device provided in a semiconductor device and lower power consumption thereof have been achieved by a finer device structure.
However, as the device structure becomes finer, a pattern smaller than an exposure wavelength needs to be formed by lithography. For this reason, an adequate margin of process can hardly be maintained in the lithographic step. Thus, there is a limit to satisfying the requirement of faster semiconductor device and a lower power consumption thereof by the finer device structure.
To improve a current driving power of the MOS transistor, development of providing a strained-Si layer on a semiconductor substrate and forming a MOS transistor on the strained-Si layer has been carried out. In the strained-Si layer, a banded structure of Si is varied by applying a tensile strain to Si.
The strained-Si layer is formed by forming, for example, a Si1−xGex layer (hereinafter called a SiGe layer) having a greater lattice constant than Si on a semiconductor substrate and forming a Si layer thereon by epitaxial growth, to apply a sufficiently great tensile strain to Si. If a MOS transistor is formed on the strained-Si layer thus formed, carrier mobility is improved.
In accordance with high integration of a semiconductor device, a semiconductor device having a CMOS device with a memory device or an analog device on the same substrate is manufactured. If a semiconductor substrate having a strained-Si layer is used in such a semiconductor device, the carrier mobility of the CMOS device can be improved as explained above.
In the memory device or analog device, however, current leak or noise occurs due to influences of the strained-Si layer whose lattice constant is made greater than that of Si and the SiGe layer whose lattice constant is greater than that of Si. The characteristics of the memory device or the analog device are thereby deteriorated.
Moreover, if a small-leak type transistor or capacitor in which the current leak from a capacitor dielectric film or junction leak causes problems is formed on a strained-Si layer, the device characteristics are deteriorated. This is serious for the analog device or DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) including such a device.
As for a related technique of this kind, a CMOS device capable of compensating for high charge carrier mobility by using strained silicon is disclosed (see Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 10-107294).

Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof


A method of manufacturing a multi-display panel comprises mounting a plurality of display elements on a substrate, covering the substrate and the display elements with a glass cover having walls for partitioning each of the display elements; and cutting the substrate and the glass cover along the walls and separating the display elements to respectively form image units. Thus, the width of a connection portion between the image units is less than half of that in the conventional art and a display image formed by two separate images looks natural.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a multi-panel display manufacturing method, and more particularly, to a multi-panel display manufacturing method in which a connecting portion width between panels of the multi-panel display is reduced.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, a plurality of display panels are connected in a multi-panel display device to form a large image display. In the past, a large image display was formed by connecting a plurality of cathode-ray tubes ("CRTs") such as television sets. Recently, however, a large image display is formed by connecting flat display panels such as liquid crystal displays ("LCDs"), field emission displays ("FEDs"), plasma display panels ("PDPs"), or electro luminescent displays ("ELDs") according to the type of an image to be displayed on the multi-panel display device.
When manufacturing a multi-panel display device including flat display panels, generally, panel units having the flat display panels are formed separately, and the panel units are connected to each other in a folding manner using hinges or adhesives in order to form a large image display. For example, when two panel units are used, two display panels are respectively prepared by separate manufacturing processes. Then, the large image display is formed by connecting the two display panels with hinges in a folding manner or by applying an adhesive to one edge of the two panels and adhering an edge of the other panel thereto.
However, this manufacturing problem has several disadvantages. First, since the connecting portion width of the two panels is very large, the images displayed by each display panel are not smoothly connected and a discontinued image is generated in the connecting portion. That is, as shown in FIG. 1, a flat display panel is constructed by mounting a display element 4 on a substrate 1 and sealing the display element 4 with a glass cover 2. Basically, the glass cover 2 has an edge thickness t1 and furthermore an adhesive is applied to the connecting portion. Thus, when adjacent panels are attached to each other using the adhesive, the width of the connecting portion is very large. The width W of the connecting portion is defined by twice the edge thickness t1 of the glass cover 2 plus twice the thickness t2 of the adhesive. In this manner, a discontinued image is displayed in the connection portion defined by width W. When the panels are connected in a folding manner using a hinge, the minimum width of the connecting portion is twice the edge thickness t1 of the glass cover 2, so that a discontinued image is displayed in this case too.
Second, the total number of the processes is increased since the panel units are produced through separate processes and then the panels are subsequently connected to each other. That is, when two panels are used, after each panel has been formed by a separate process, they are subsequently connected in a folding manner by using an adhesive, thus increasing the manufacturing time.
Third, since the panels are formed by separate processes and subsequently connected to each other, the quality of the multi-panel display device may suffer due to characteristic differences between the panels as a result of being formed by the separate processes.
Thus, in order to address these problems, a new manufacturing method for a multi-panel display device is desired.

Method of manufacturing multi-panel display device


An electric motor assembly including an electric motor and a flywheel assembly. The electric motor includes a rotatable shaft, at least a portion of the shaft being tapered as the shaft extends from the electric motor to an outer end of the shaft, the outer end of the shaft being threaded to receive a securing member. The flywheel assembly, which optionally includes a pulley and/or fan, includes a bore extending through a center of the flywheel assembly, at least a portion of the bore being tapered as the bore extends from an inner periphery facing the electric motor to the outer periphery of the flywheel assembly. The shaft of the electric motor extends through the bore of the flywheel assembly such that the taper of the shaft and the bore center the flywheel-pulley assembly on the shaft and create a self-holding taper arrangement. A securing member can be secured onto the outer end of the shaft to fix the flywheel assembly axially. Methods of forming and use are also provided.

Flywheel assemblies are typically coupled to an armature shaft of an electric motor to maintain rotational speed of the motor by virtue of the inertia of the flywheel. In addition, combination assemblies, including a flywheel, a fan to cool the electric motor, and a pulley to transfer torque from the electric motor to other components, can be coupled to a shaft to perform these multiple functions.
There are currently several known methods for attaching a flywheel to a shaft of an electric motor. These methods include a slip fit arrangement, illustrated in FIG. 1, in which a bore of a flywheel 10 includes a threaded portion 11 and an end 20 of a shaft 21 of an electric motor 15 includes complementary threads. The flywheel 10 is coupled to the shaft 21 by screwing the flywheel onto the shaft. Another method is a keyed shaft arrangement, as shown in FIG. 2, in which a keyway 112 is cut through a hub 111 of the flywheel 110 and a complementary key 113 is provided in the shaft 120 of the electric motor 115 to hold the flywheel 110 in position relative to the shaft 120. A hole 114 for a set screw (not shown) can also be provided to secure the flywheel 110 to the shaft 120.
However, the current methods for coupling a flywheel to a shaft of an electric motor can be disadvantageous for several reasons. The methods require added coupling hardware such as bolts and set screws, or require keyways to be cut in the flywheel and the shaft, both adding to manufacturing time and cost. In addition, the methods rely on a slip fit between the flywheel and the shaft, which may result in the flywheel becoming unbalanced with respect to the shaft, resulting in higher noise and oscillations.
Accordingly, there is a need for a system for coupling a flywheel assembly to a shaft of an electric motor, the system being simple and reliable.

Method and system for coupling a flywheel assembly onto a shaft of an electric motor using a self-holding taper


Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. A wireless device, such as a user equipment (UE), may receive a wakeup signal (WUS) from a network node, such as a base station, before listening for a paging message. The UE may assume a maximum duration (Wmax) for the WUS based on a dependency on variables associated with the base station and WUS. In some cases, the UE may determine not to monitor a WUS for the Wmax and may engage in an early termination based on the determination. That is, the UE may monitor the WUS for a time shorter than Wmax. The UE may assume the shorter time has a dependency on variables associated with the base station and WUS. The base station may indicate this dependency to the UE either implicitly or explicitly.

The following relates generally to wireless communications, and more specifically to wakeup signal configurations for wireless communications.
Wireless communications systems are widely deployed to provide various types of communication content such as voice, video, packet data, messaging, broadcast, and so on. These systems may be capable of supporting communication with multiple users by sharing the available system resources (e.g., time, frequency, and power). Examples of such multiple-access systems include fourth generation (4G) systems such as Long Term Evolution (LTE) systems, LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) systems, or LTE-A Pro systems, and fifth generation (5G) systems which may be referred to as New Radio (NR) systems. These systems may employ technologies such as code division multiple access (CDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA), frequency division multiple access (FDMA), orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA), or discrete Fourier transform-spread-OFDM (DFT-S-OFDM). A wireless multiple-access communications system may include a number of base stations or network access nodes, each simultaneously supporting communication for multiple communication devices, which may be otherwise known as user equipment (UE).
In some wireless communications systems (e.g., Internet of Things (IoT) or enhanced machine type communication (eMTC)), a base station may transmit data to a UE on an intermittent basis. Accordingly, the base station may signal to the UE that data and/or control information is available for the UE by transmitting a paging message in a downlink channel prior to a data and/or system information transmission. In some cases, the base station and UE may utilize a power saving signal, such as a wakeup signal (WUS), for idle mode paging. For example, the UE may wake from a sleep state upon receiving the WUS and monitor for downlink transmissions (such as the paging message) from the base station. The WUS may have a maximum duration to indicate how long the UE may monitor the downlink channel before going back into the sleep state (e.g., if the paging message is not received). However, waiting the maximum duration may shorten the battery life of the UE. Improved techniques are desired for indicating a duration of the WUS that may help extend battery life and reduce power consumption at wireless devices.

Wake up signal configurations for wireless communications


A control circuit for a delay-lock loop having a delay line and a phase detector is used in a memory device. In a standby mode, the control circuit isolates a reference clock signal from the delay-lock loop to save power unless a clock signal generated by the loop is needed for a memory operation. However, the reference signal is periodically coupled to the delay line for a sufficient period to achieve a locked condition. As a result, the phase of the output signal from delay-lock loop can be quickly locked to the phase of the reference signal when a memory operation is to occur during a normal operating mode. When transitioning between the standby mode and the normal operating mode, the control circuit couples the reference clock signal to the delay line for at least a predetermined period of time.

Periodic digital signals are commonly used in a variety of electronic devices, such as memory devices. Probably the most common of periodic digital signals are clock signals that are typically used to establish the timing of a digital signal or the timing at which an operation is performed on a digital signal. For example, data signals are typically coupled to and from memory devices, such as synchronous dynamic random access memory ("SDRAM") devices, in synchronism with a clock or data strobe signal.
As the speed of memory devices and other devices continue to increase, the "eye" or period in which a digital signal, such as a data signal, is valid becomes smaller and smaller, thus making the timing of a strobe signal or other clock signal used to capture the digital signal even more critical. In particular, as the size of the eye becomes smaller, the propagation delay of the strobe signal can be different from the propagation delay of the captured digital signal(s). As a result, the skew of the strobe signal relative to the digital signal can increase to the point where a transition of the strobe signal is no longer within the eye of the captured signal.
One technique that has been used to ensure the correct timing of a strobe signal relative to captured digital signals is to use a locked loop, such as a delay-lock loop ("DLL"), to generate the strobe signal in particular, a delay-lock loop allows the timing of the strobe signal to be adjusted to minimize the phase error between the strobe signal and the valid eye of the digital signal. A typical delay-lock loop uses a delay line (not shown) consisting of a large number of delay stages. A reference clock signal is applied to the delay line, and it propagates through the delay line to the final delay stage, which outputs a delayed clock signal. The phase of the delayed clock signal is compared to the phase of the reference clock signal to generate a phase error signal. The phase error signal is used to adjust the delay provided by the delay stages in the delay line until the phase of the delayed clock signal is equal to the phase of the reference clock signal.
Another problem associated with the high operating speed of memory and other devices is excessive power consumption, particularly for portable electronic devices like notebook or other portable computers. A significant amount of power consumption in portable computers is the result of power consumed by DRAM devices, which are normally used as system memory. It is therefore important to minimize the power consumed by DRAM devices so that such computers can be powered by batteries over an extended period. Excessive power consumption can also create problems even where DRAM devices are not powered by batteries. For example, the heat generated by excessive power consumption can damage the DRAM devices, and it can be difficult and/or expensive to maintain the temperature of electronic equipment containing the DRAM devices at an acceptably low value.
Power is consumed each time a digital circuit is switched to change the logic level of a digital signal. The rate at which power is consumed by DRAM and other memory devices therefore increases with both the operating speed of such devices and the number of circuits being switched. Thus, the demands for ever increasing operating speeds and memory capacity are inconsistent with the demands for ever decreasing memory power consumption.
Various circuits in DRAM devices consume power at various rates. A significant amount of power is consumed by locked loops, particularly delay-lock loops, which, as explained above are commonly used in DRAM devices. Delay-lock loops consume a great deal of power because the delay lines used in such loops often contain a large number of delay stages, all of which are switched as a reference clock signal propagates through the delay line. The higher reference clock signal frequencies need to operate the DRAM devices at higher speed causes these large number delay stages to be switched at a rapid rate, thereby consuming power at a rapid rate.
A number of techniques have been used to reduce power consumption in DRAM devices while allowing for increases in operating speeds and memory capacity. One approach has been to prevent digital circuits from switching when such circuits are not active since, as mentioned above, power is consumed each time a component in the digital circuit is switched from one state to another. While this approach can significantly reduce the power consumed by DRAM devices, there are circuits in DRAM devices that cannot be rendered inactive without compromising the speed and/or operability of the DRAM devices. Delay-lock loops, for example, often cannot be switched off because of the amount of time needed for the loops to achieve a locked condition after they have been powered down for a considerable period. For these reasons, the coupling of a reference clock signals to delay-lock loops have traditionally been terminated to reduce power consumption only when there is some assurance that it will not be necessary for the DRAM device to read or write data for a considerable period. For example, DRAM devices have been placed in a power-down state when the DRAM device switches to a self-refresh mode or when a computer system containing the DRAM devices switches to a low power standby mode. However, there are other times where the clock signals produced by delay-lock loops are not actually needed, and additional power savings could be achieved. Furthermore, removing the reference clock signals from delay-lock loops for long periods even during extended periods like self-refresh allows the delay of the delay lines used in the delay-lock loops to change considerably, thus requiring an undesirably long period for the delay-lock loop to again achieve a locked condition.
There is therefore a need for a method and system for allowing a reference clock signal to be removed from delay-lock loops to a greater extent, thereby further reducing power consumption, without sacrificing operating speed or performance resulting from the time needed for the loop to achieve a locked condition.

Circuit and method for operating a delay-lock loop in a power saving manner


An oral pharmaceutical dosage form that comprises both acetaminophen and a glutathione replenishing agent, such as N-acetylcysteine. This allows co-administering the glutathione replenishing agent along with acetaminophen, which may be beneficial in rapidly counteracting the toxic effects of acetaminophen overdose. The oral dosage form could be in the form of a tablet or capsule. The dosage form may be designed to compartmentally separate the glutathione replenishing agent from having chemical interaction with the acetaminophen. The dosage form may be designed to mask the taste or smell of the glutathione replenishing agent.

Acetaminophen (or paracetamol) is one of the most widely used analgesic and antipyretic drugs. Acetaminophen is also present in many combination drug products. Of particular note are the opioid/acetaminophen combination products, such as the combination hydrocodone and acetaminophen in Vicodin®. Although considered to be highly safe, one of the major problems with acetaminophen is its liver toxicity (hepatoxicity). Acetaminophen overdose is responsible for about 50% of the cases of acute liver failure in the United States. In parallel with the epidemic of opioid abuse and the popularity of acetaminophen/opioid combination products, the incidence of acetaminophen overdose has been on the rise.
Upon ingestion, acetaminophen is metabolized in the liver, where most of the drug is conjugated with glucuronide and sulphate so that it can be eliminated via bile or urine excretion. A small fraction, about 5%, is metabolized in the liver by the cytochrome P450 mixed-function oxygenase system, which converts the drug to N-acetyl-p-benzoquinone imine (NAPQI). This NAPQI metabolite is toxic to the hepatocytes in the liver, where it damages proteins by covalently binding to nucleophilic cysteine residues. NAPQI is detoxified by conjugation with glutathione, a sulfhydryl donor, so that it can be excreted into bile or further metabolized into less harmful products. However, in acetaminophen overdose, the supply of glutathione is rapidly depleted. Without the ability to detoxify NAPQI, the hepatocytes die and the liver undergoes necrosis.
Acetaminophen overdose is treated by administering sulfhydryl compounds as an antidote, in particular, N-acetylcysteine (NAC). There are other less commonly used sulfhydryl compounds, such as glutathione, methionine, cysteine, and cysteamine. NAC counteracts the toxic effect of NAPQI by replenishing the supply of glutathione. Early administration of the antidote after overdose is critical. The optimal time for administration of NAC as a protective antidote is within 8 hours after the overdose. Thus, NAC should be given as soon as possible after acetaminophen overdose.

Acetaminophen formulation with protection against toxic effects of overdose


An inflatable intraluminal stent for attachment to the interior surface of a tubular structure within the human body is disclosed. The stent features a cuff having an inflatable chamber and a friction-enhancing outer surface. The friction-enhancing outer surface engages the interior surface of the tubular structure without penetration when the inflatable cuff is in an inflated condition. An intraluminal medical device may be attached to the inner surface of the stent. A valve is integral with the inflatable cuff and allows for the inflation, deflation and sealing of the inflatable cuff.

Various tubular structures within the human body, such as the biliary duct system, excretory system and vascular system, may deteriorate so that medical repair is necessary. For example, weaknesses in the walls of the tubular structures or deteriorative diseases may affect the ability of the tubular structures to conduct fluids and, in turn, may be life threatening. Surgical and interventional radiological techniques have been a primary means of providing treatment for such problems. Such surgical and interventional radiological techniques involve inserting a catheter and other medical devices into the tubular structures through an incision in the patient's skin.
As an example, degenerative effects on blood vessels may cause a narrowing or constriction of the lumen of the vessel so that blood flow is restricted. Such a condition is known as "stenosis". Treatment of stenosis involves the use a stent to permanently widen the portion of the vessel that is obstructed.
The use of stents in the treatment of stenosis is well known. Stents are tubular bodies having a diameter which may be increased once they are properly positioned within the tubular structure. There are a variety of different stent designs, but by far most are made of metal wire or ribbon. The most widely used method of deploying a stent involves the use of a dilation catheter having an inflatable balloon at its distal end. The stent, its diameter at a minimum, is positioned over the uninflated balloon portion of the dilation catheter. With the aid of fluoroscopy, the physician then positions the catheter and stent at the proper location within the tubular structure. The balloon is then expanded which in turn expands the stent in a radial fashion so that the stent, now having an enlarged diameter, supports the wall of the tubular structure. Next, the balloon is deflated and the catheter is removed. By virtue of its deformable metal construction, the stent remains positioned in tension against, and in support of the tubular structure wail upon removal of the balloon and catheter.
Problems exist with such an arrangement, however, in that the irregular surfaces of most metallic stents are likely to damage the endothelial walls of healthy arteries during delivery. Furthermore, once the stent is positioned, repositioning is difficult if not impossible. To further complicate matters, misplacement of the stent can lead to catastrophic results such as the complete occlusion of the tubular structure. Finally, the stent may ultimately loose its tension against the wall and migrate to an undesired location.
Some stent designs feature anchoring pins, surgical staple-like clips or exposed barbs to secure the stent to the tube walls via penetration of the walls. Damage to the tubular wall may occur when a such device is being positioned within the tube. Furthermore, repositioning of such stents cannot be accomplished without damaging the tube walls.
Due to the above problems, extensive fluoroscopic examination is required to ensure the correct placement of existing stent designs to minimize the risk of misplacement and tissue damage.
Accordingly, it is an objective of the present invention to provide a stent, and a method of placing it, that allows for repositioning of the stent within a tubular structure of the body. It is also an object of the present invention to provide a stent, and a method of placing it, that allows for the stent to be affixed to the tubular structure inner walls in a manner that prevents both damage to the walls and migration of the stent after it has been affixed.
A further problem with existing stent designs is that they do not allow for the stent to be used to secure other medical devices to the tube walls. Many interventional radiology procedures require the insertion of medical devices, other than a stent, into the lumen of the tubular structures of a patient.
As an example, aneurysms may occur in blood vessels having weakened walls. An aneurysm is a ballooning of the wall of an artery. Left untreated, the aneurysm will frequently rupture resulting in a loss of blood through the rupture. Aneurysm repair involves inserting a vascular prosthesis, also known as a graft or stent-graft, into the lumen of the damaged vessel to reconstruct the section that is in need of repair. Such grafts must be anchored within the lumen of the blood vessel at the location of the aneurysm. The utility of a stent would be greatly increased if it could be used for such a purpose.
As such, it is also an object of the present invention to provide a stent that may be utilized to secure other medical devices to the inner walls of the tubular structure.

Inflatable intraluminal stent and method for affixing same within the human body


In a zoom lens having a lens unit of negative refractive power most adjacent to the object side, distortion can be corrected better and an excellent imaging performance is maintained. In a zoom lens having a lens unit of negative refractive power most adjacent to the object side, a negative lens whose image side surface in contact with air is formed by a concave surface is provided in the lens unit of negative refractive power, and the shape of the concave surface of the negative lens is made into an aspherical surface which satisfies the condition that -5<.kappa.<0.75 with regard to a cone constant .kappa. and of which the curvature monotonically decreases away from the optical axis.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a zoom lens for use, for example, in a single-lens reflex camera, an electronic still camera, a video camera or the like.
2. Related Background Art
Some of zoom lenses in which a lens unit having negative refractive power precedes have a relatively great angle of view. In order to obtain a great back focal length, this forward negative refractive power has the action of decrease the angle of view relative to a rearward lens unit and turning the correction of curvature of image field and Petzval sum to the negative, and is suitable for aberration correction of a wide angle of view. Therefore, a lens construction in which a lens unit of negative refractive power is disposed most adjacent to the object side is adopted as a lens for a wide angle of view.
In this case, however, negative distortion occurs due to the negative refractive power most adjacent to the object side, and the angle of view increases and the bad influence thereof appears more remarkably. Therefore, use is made of a technique of disposing a positive lens near a negative lens to thereby mitigate the turning of distortion to the negative and correct distortion. This technique is considerably effective for aberration correction, but the addition of the positive lens increases the number of lenses and increases the volume of the lens, and this has led to the problem that the construction of the lens becomes complicated and the manufacturing cost is increased. Also, in a super-wide angle zoom lens, the correction of distortion is still insufficient even with the above-described correcting method, and the designing thereof has been extremely difficult and it has been difficult to maintain a good imaging performance.


A personal cart for easily transporting several shopping articles when shopping or small packages, files, tools, and other small articles by other users such as professionals. The personal cart includes a lower frame structure having a lower frame extending vertically and a lower platform pivotally connected to and extending at an angle to the lower frame. A lower platform face extends about the lower platform when the personal cart is in an open position and forms a shelf resting an object. An upper frame structure extends from and is supported by one end of the lower frame structure. The upper frame structure includes an upper frame and an upper platform pivotally connected to and extending at an angle from the upper frame. An upper platform face extends about the upper platform when the personal cart is in an open position and forms a shelf for resting additional objects. The upper platform is completely collapsible within the upper frame and lays flush with the upper frame in the collapsed position. The entire upper frame structure is then telescopically collapsible within the lower frame structure. A portable carrying case is provided for carrying the personal cart when the cart is in a completely collapsed position.

I. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a personal cart for aiding shoppers to easily transport several shopping articles when shopping. The personal cart is also suitable for easily transporting small packages, files, tools and other small articles by other users such as professionals.
II. Description of the Related Art
Personal carts of the type used for carrying luggage at airports or the like are well known. Such personal carts either encompass a piece of luggage with an attached extendable handle at one end and wheels at the opposing end or are a separate cart for supporting luggage. Some of these carts are collapsible while others, such as the luggage with handle, although somewhat collapsible, take the shape no smaller than the perimeter of the luggage piece.
Alternative personal carts have been developed, however, like the personal luggage with extendable handle, these personal carts do not collapse into a shape and size small enough for carrying by the user. In fact, many airports are now preventing the personal luggage with carrier from being carried onto the airplane.
Another disadvantage of this previously known personal carts is that they provide only a single shelf for supporting and transporting objects. This becomes a great disadvantage when the objects to be transported are fragile, such as china, or fungible, such as fresh fruit or vegetables, and would be damaged if other articles were piled atop of them.
Another disadvantage of these previously known personal carts is that once filled with packages the cart must be angled onto its wheels and pulled by the user. Because the center of gravity of the cart is within the structure, the user may be strained to tilt the cart and pull the cart where the cart may be unstable and have a tendency to fall forward or sideways.


A field emission display with a first substrate and a second substrate which are arranged opposite to each other and have a specific distance between them. At least one first electrode is formed on the first substrate and at least one second electrode is formed on the second substrate. At least one third electrode is insulated from the first electrode and an electron emission source is connected to the third electrode. A fourth electrode controls the electrons emitted from the electron emission source so that they reach the second electrode. A driver detects a current flowing through the fourth electrode and controls a driving voltage applied to the fourth electrode based on the detected current.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a field emission display and a device for driving the field emission display.
2. Description of the Related Art
A field emission display is a display device that forms images using cold cathode electrons as an electron emission source. The quality of the field emission display depends on characteristics of the electron emission source, such as the material and the structure of the electron emission source.
In general, a field emission display has a triode structure with a cathode electrode, an anode, and gate electrode. The field emission display is constructed such that the cathode electrode is formed on a substrate on which the electron emission source is placed and an insulating layer and the gate electrode are formed on the cathode electrode. The insulating layer has a contact hold and the electron emission source is formed in the contact hole whereby the electron emission source is coupled with the cathode electrode.
In a field emission display with such a structure, when electrons emitted from the electron emission source from an electron beam and go toward a corresponding phosphor, accurate focusing of the electron beam may not be achieved.
For accurate focusing, a structure has been proposed in which a mesh-type or grid-type electrode (referred to as grid electrode hereinafter) is located between the cathode electrode and the anode electrode. Voltage is applied to the grid electrode to allow the electrons emitted from the electron emission source to go toward a corresponding phosphor.
However, if the grid electrode is not provided with a proper voltage, the gate voltage influences the grid electrode to generate divergence. As such, the electrons emitted from the electron emission source reach not only the phosphor, but also other parts of the display.
Accordingly, all the electrons emitted from the electron emission source do not flow into the anode electrode, but some go into the grid electrode while the field emission display is operating. Electron emission to the grid electrode induces undesired electron flow, which may generate a surge current in the event of arcing, turning on the field emission display or timing off the field emission display, and thereby damage the device for driving the field emission display.

Field emission display and driving device thereof


A protocol that enables an 802 mobile host to obtain a “home IP address,” and other configuration parameters via DHCP or BOOTP, while attached to either its home subnet or a foreign subnet. Inner and outer encapsulation headers are used to forward DHCP messages from a DHCP server outbound through a “forward tunnel,” to a mobile host on a foreign subnet and are also used to forward DHCP messages from a mobile host on a foreign subnet inbound through a “reverse tunnel” to the home subnet. A mobile host must add an inner encapsulation header to inbound DHCP packets with the source IP address set to 0 to indicate that the packet is from a mobile host that does not have a registered home IP address. Outer encapsulation headers contain the home address and the care-of address for the mobile host.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to mobile communications, more particularly to mobile Internet communications.
(2) Description of the Related Art
The Internet Protocol ("IP" or "TCP/IP") has become the de facto standard for most network communication. The earliest networks required all the devices be connected to each other by wired connections, and the device needed an IP address that uniquely identified the device's point of attachment to the Internet. The device was required to be located on the network indicated by its IP address in order to receive datagrams destined to it; otherwise, datagrams destined to the device would be undeliverable. For a device to change its point of attachment without losing its ability to communicate, the device either had to change its IP address whenever it changed its point of attachment, or host-specific routes had to be propagated throughout much of the Internet routing fabric. Furthermore, because IP unlike other networking protocols such as IPX, needs addresses and configuration settings to be defined on each device on the network, there may be an immense amount of system administration work.
The Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol ("DHCP") was developed to ease the amount of work and administration required to manage IP networks. DHCP allowed "pools" of TCP/IP addresses to be assigned to a DHCP server which are then allocated to client devices by the DHCP server. The pools are called scopes in DHCP terminology. Furthermore, DHCP not only assigned TCP/IP addresses, but also enabled required configuration settings such as subnet, mask, default router, and DNS server which are required for TCP/IP to work properly to be set. DHCP works across most routers and allocates IP addresses according to the subnet where the request initiated, eliminating the need to re-configure a device that moved from one subnet to another. Another feature of DHCP is that addresses can be leased for periods of time. When the address expires, the device may either request a renewal, otherwise, the IP address is put back into the pool of unallocated addresses which helps to recover unused IP addresses.
The procedure for using DHCP is quite simple. When a DHCP client is first switched on, it sends a broadcast packet on the network with a DHCP request. This is picked up by a DHCP server, which allocates an IP address to the device from one of the scopes (the pools of addresses) it has available.
Each DHCP scope is used for a different TCP/IP network segment. On net-works with routers that support DHCP, extra information is added to the request by the router to tell the server which network the request came from. The DHCP server uses this information to pick an address from the correct scope. The server replies to the client, allocating it the TCP/IP address and settings required.
However, DHCP doesn't allocate the address permanently. It tells the client that it has "leased" the address to it for a specific time period, which the administrator can control. By default DHCP is installed with a three-day lease period. When the lease expires, the client can ask the server to renew the lease. If the DHCP server doesn't hear from the client beyond the expiration of the lease period, it will put that address back in the pool ready to be re-used.
Recently, mobile, usually wireless, devices have gained popularity. It is desired that these devices also use the IP protocol. Because mobile devices change locations, the device may be located on either its home or a foreign network. Presently, each mobile device is always identified by its home address, regardless of its current point of attachment to the Internet. A standard protocol, Mobile IP, is used to forward IP packets between a mobile host on a foreign network and the home network for the mobile host. While situated away from its home network, a mobile device is associated with a care-of address, which provides information about its current point of attachment to the Internet.
A mobile host that boots on its home subnet can use DHCP to obtain a home IP address on its home subnet. By default, a DHCP server will allocate an IP address for the subnet where a DHCP request originates. Therefore, a mobile host that boots on a foreign subnet cannot simply broadcast a DHCP request on the local subnet to obtain an IP address for its home subnet. Standard Mobile IP requires that a mobile host must have a permanent IP address for its home subnet. Therefore, a mobile host, without an IP address, cannot use Mobile IP to forward a DHCP request to a DHCP server on its home subnet because it does not have a home IP address. Therefore, a mobile device cannot use DHCP when booting on a foreign network. Thus, the need exists for a mobile host to be able to access a DHCP server on its home network from a foreign network to obtain its home address.
In one proposed solution a mobile host can send a Mobile IP Registration Request, with a "home address" of zero to a "home agent" on its home subnet, obtain a "temporary home IP address" from the home agent and then send inbound requests to the home DHCP server, therefore the home DHCP server services the request. The solution assumes that the corresponding DHCP Reply will be sent to a broadcast MAC address (i.e. Ethernet address). However, the DHCP standard recommends that a DHCP reply be sent to a unicast MAC address. A Mobile IP home agent in a router can only receive frames with the unicast destination 802 address of the router interface. Therefore, a DHCP Reply with a unicast 802 destination address cannot be forwarded to the mobile host by the home agent.
A proposed solution for the previous problem has been to enter the temporary IP address assigned to the mobile host into the giaddr field of a DHCP request. However, this proposal is in conflict with current DHCP/BOOTP forwarding rules. BOOTP rules require that when a BOOTP relay agent receives a request, if the giaddr field is zero, the BOOTP relay agent inserts its address and then forwards the request; however, if the giaddr field is nonzero, the BOOTP relay agent cannot forward the request. Therefore, this proposed solution will not work because the BOOTP relay agent cannot forward a BOOTP or DHCP request with a nonzero giaddr field.
Additional objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned by practice of the invention.


A coated molded article having good adhesion to a coating film and resistance to gasohol as well as excellent appearance can be obtained by applying a primer coating to the surface of a molded article or irradiating the surface with plasma without applying any washing-treatment with a halogen atom-containing organic solvent and then applying a top coat onto the article, if the molded article is formed from a resin composition comprising (A)a polypropylene; (B)a specific ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer rubber; (C) a specific ethylene-propylene copolymer rubber; and (D) a specific polyhydroxypolyolefin, the amounts of these components (A) to (D) satisfying the following relations: EQU 10.ltoreq.[(B)+(C)]/[(A)+(B)+(C)].ltoreq.60 (% by weight) EQU 1.ltoreq.(C)/[(B)+(C)].ltoreq.50 (% by weight) EQU 0.5.ltoreq.(D)/[(A)+(B)+(C)+(D)].ltoreq.10 (% by weight)

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a polypropylene resin composition excellent in coating properties and more particularly to an impact-resistant polypropylene resin composition preferably used in the production of exterior equipment for automobiles such as bumpers, a method for coating a molded article formed from the polypropylene resin composition, in particular, exterior equipment for automobiles such as bumpers, and the coated molded article.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Polypropylene resins have a wide variety of applications because of low density, high rigidity, high heat resistance and high resistance to chemicals. However, it is known that the polypropylene resins are essentially non-polar and accordingly, inferior in coating properties. For instance, when polypropylene bumpers for automobiles are coated, it is necessary to pre-treat the article with a halogen atom-containing organic solvent such as 1,1,1-trichloroethane and then apply an under coat of a primer thereto, or to subject it to plasma-irradiation, prior to the application of a top coat in order to ensure sufficient adhesive strength of the coated film.
However, the conventional methods as described above require a large number of steps and it takes a long time for practicing these steps. Moreover, it has been feared that the halogen atom-containing organic solvents used in the pre-treatment may adversely affect the human body and environments and accordingly a countermeasure therefore must be urgently considered. For this reason, there has been required the improvement of the coating method conventionally employed while also taking into consideration time and expenses required for the treatments of waste liquor generated.
There have been proposed methods for improving the coating properties of molded articles formed from compositions mainly comprising polypropylene resins and elastomers which comprise adding, to the composition, a diene polymer having terminal hydroxyl groups or a hydrogenated product thereof [see, for instance, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (hereinafter referred to as "J.P. KOKAI") Nos. Hei 3-157168, Hei 4-77567, Hei 4-93330 and Hei 3-277636]. The purpose of these methods is to apply a coating without application of any primer coating and/or plasma-irradiation. However, when an article to be coated is not degreased and washed with 1,1,1-trichloroethane, various problems arise in more severe evaluation of coating properties of the resulting coated article. For instance, the coating film is insufficient in resistance to solvent and the coated film near gate portions is peeled off in the X-shaped cross hatch mark test.
The so-called X-shaped cross hatch mark test has been practiced as a means for evaluating the adhesion of a coated film. There have been known the normal cross hatch mark test and more strict X-shaped cross hatch mark test. The normal cross hatch mark test comprises making cuts on the coated film so that two sets of parallel lines which are perpendicular (90.degree.) to one another are formed. On the other hand, the X-shaped cross hatch mark test comprises making cuts on the coated film so that two sets of parallel lines cross one another in the X-shaped form, i.e., at an angle of 45.degree.. In case of the conventional coated articles which are pre-treated with 1,1,1-trichloroethane, adequate results are obtained in the X-shaped cross hatch mark test. On the other hand, in the case of those which are not pre-treated with the organic solvent, adequate results are obtained in the normal cross hatch mark test, but insufficient results are often obtained in the more strict X-shaped cross hatch mark test. Accordingly, there has been desired to provide coated articles which are not pre-treated with 1,1,1-trichloroethane and can provide good results even in the X-shaped cross hatch mark test.
Moreover, it has been a recent tendency, in North America, South America, Europe or the like to use a so-called gasohol which is a mixture of gasoline for automobiles and lower alcohols such as methanol, ethanol and butanol for the purposes of saving natural resources and reduction of cost. The gasohol exerts severe influence on the peeling properties of coating films as compared with the gasoline per se and, therefore, there has been desired for the improvement of these polypropylene molded article in the resistance to gasohol.

Polypropylene resin compositions, coating process for moldings thereof and its coated moldings


Disclosed herein is a method for producing a roll-shaped carbonaceous film by polymer pyrolyzis while suppressing the occurrence of fusion bonding in the roll-shaped carbonaceous film. The carbonaceous film production method includes the step of heat-treating a polymer film wound into a roll, wherein, at a temperature equal to or higher than the pyrolyzis onset temperature of the polymer film but equal to or lower than a temperature at which the weight of the polymer film is reduced by 40% as compared to that before heat treatment, the roll-shaped polymer film has (2-1) a gap between layers of the polymer film so that a value determined for the whole roll-shaped polymer film by dividing the thickness of the gap between adjacent layers of the polymer film (Ts) by the thickness of the polymer film (Tf) (Ts/Tf) satisfies a relationship of 0.33≦Ts/Tf≦1.50 and/or (2-2) a space inside a 50% cross-sectional circle of the roll-shaped polymer film so that the area of the space inside the 50% cross-sectional circle is 25% or more of the cross-sectional area of the 50% cross-sectional circle.

A graphite film is a material having excellent characteristics such as high heat conductivity, and is therefore widely used in electronic parts and the like. A commonly-available high heat-conductive graphite film is produced by, for example, an expansion method in which expanded graphite is rolled into a sheet or a polymer pyrolysis method.
For example, a graphite film production method has been disclosed, in which a POD film having a width of 180 mm and a thickness of 50 μm is wound as a polymer film three turns around a graphitic carbon cylinder having an outer diameter of 68 mm, an inner diameter of 64 mm, and a length of 200 mm, and is then heated in an inert gas or vacuum at 1800° C. or higher to obtain a long graphite film (Patent Document 1).
Patent Document 1: JP-A-63-256508

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method for producing carbonaceous film and method for producing graphite film


A micelle formable from at least one nanotube in a process of self-assembly, the nanotube comprising an amphophilic nanotube (2, 8, 14) made from one or more species selected from the group of carbon, silicon, a noble metal, silicon dioxide and titanium dioxide. A part of the nanotube (2, 8, 14) is functionalised and a surfactant molecule or emulsifying agent is attached to the functionalised part. The nanotube (2, 8, 14) may have magnetic properties. A therapeutic agent may be incorporated in the micelle. The micelle may be coated to form a capsule (24). The capsule (24) can be introduced to the human or animal body for treatment of tumors or targeted drug delivery when a magnetic field or near-IR radiation is applied.

A micelle is an aggregate of surfactant molecules (typically organic molecules that are amphiphilic, meaning that they have a hydrophobic or lipophobic end and a hydrophilic or lipophilic end) dispersed in a liquid colloid. Micelles are often spherical or globular in shape, but can adopt other shapes such as shells, vesicles, clusters, bi-layers, cylinders and ellipsoids.
Micelle formation is affected by several factors. However, micelles will only form by themselves in a process of self-assembly when the concentration of the surfactant is greater than a minimum limit known as the critical micelle concentration (CMC). The CMC can be measured by known phase-change monitoring techniques such as absorption or scattering of radiation.
Nanotubes can be defined generally as substantially tubular structures with a diameter on the nanoscale, for example less than 100 nm. They are typically made from atomic carbon bonded in a sp2 structure, although they have been made from other species. The present invention can include single- and multi-walled nanotubes, coated nanotubes, nanotubes that are open-ended and nanotubes that have one or both of their ends closed.
It is known to functionalise nanotubes and attach drug molecules to the nanotubes for use in drug delivery in the human body. However, the area of functionalisation is not controlled, resulting in a variety of nanotubes with molecules attached in random locations. These nanotubes cannot form micelles.

Amphiphilic nanotubes and micelles and method of delivery of biologically active agents


The invention relates to the cloning of a gene encoding rat liver ribonuclease inhibitor (RI), and its expression in a cellular host. In addition, the invention relates to the successful cloning of a gene encoding porcine liver RI, and its expression in a cellular host.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to the successful cloning of a full length cDNA of porcine liver ribonuclease inhibitor (RI) gene and its expression in a cellular host. In addition, the invention relates to the cloning of full length rat liver RI, and its expression in a cellular host.
2. Related Art
RI is a cytoplasmic protein ubiquitously present in a variety of mammalian tissues. It inhibits a variety of ribonucleases (RNases) by binding tightly to both intracellular and extracellular RNases by forming a 1: I complex (Roth, J. S., Methods Cancer Res. 3:153-243 (1967); Blackburn, P. et al., J. Biol. Chem. 252:5904-5910 (1977); Blackburn, P., J. Biol. Chem. 254:12484-12487 (1979); Blackburn, P and Moore, S., Enzymes, 3rd Ed. (1982), vol. 15, pp. 317-433; Lee, F. S. et al., Biochemistry 27:8545-8553 (1988)). Some evidence indicates that tissues which are highly active in protein synthesis have a high excess of RI over RNase. Conversely, in catabolically active tissues that do not accumulate RNA, the ratio of RI to RNase is low (Kraft, N. and Shortman, K., Biochim. Biophys. Acta. 217:164-175 (1970)). The biological function of RI has been implicated to be in (a) regulation of RNA turnover by controlling cytoplasmic RNase activity, (b) safeguarding against non-cytoplasmic RNases that mislocalized to the cytoplasm, and (c) regulation of angiogenin, a protein that induces blood vessel growth and contains RNase activity. In vitro, RI is useful in a variety of molecular biology applications where RNase contamination is a potential problem. Examples of these applications include reverse transcription of mRNA, cell-free translation systems, preparation of RNase-free antibodies, and in vitro virus replication. Ideally, RI to be used in these kinds of applications will be capable of inhibiting a large number of RNases, such as eukaryotic RNase A, RNase B and RNase C, as well as prokaryotic RNases.
RI has been purified to homogeneity from several tissues, including placenta (Blackburn, P. et al., J. Biol. Chem. 252:5904-5910 (1977); Blackburn, P., J. Biol. Chem. 254:12484-12487 (1979)), brain (Burton, L. E. et al., Int. J. Pept. Protein Res. 16:359-364 (1980)), and liver (Burton, L. E. and Fucci, N. P., Int. J. Pept. Protein Res. 18:372-379 (1982); Hofsteenge, J. et al., Biochemistry 27:8537-8544 (1988)). The protein has an apparent molecular mass of approximately 50 kilodaltons (kD). The primary amino acid sequence of various RIs, such as human placental (Lee, F. S. et al., Biochemistry 27:8545-8553 (1988)), porcine liver (Hofsteenge, J. et al., Biochemistry 27:8537-8544 (1988)) and rat lung (Kawanomoto, M. et al., Biochim. Biophys. Acta. 1129:335-338 (1992)) is known. The crystal structure of porcine RI has been published (Kobe, B. and Deisenhofer, J., Nature 366:751-756 (1993)). The human placental RI has been successfully cloned and expressed in E. coli (Lee, F. S. et al., Biochemistry 27:8545-8553 (1988); Promega Catalog 1993/1994). A complete rat lung RI cDNA has been described by Kawanomoto et al. (Biochim. Biophys. Acta. 1129:335-338 (1992)); this cDNA has been used to study the distribution of the mRNA in various tissues.
The complete coding sequence of rat lung RI is known, but recombinant rat lung RI has not been expressed in either E. coli or any other known expression host (Kawanomoto, M., et al., Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1129:335-338 (1992)). Several attempts to isolate a cDNA clone for rat liver RI have been unsuccessful (Id).
The complete amino acid sequence of porcine RI has been determined by direct sequencing of the purified protein. In addition, a partial cDNA sequence of porcine kidney RI has been described by Vicentini, A. M. et al. (Biochemistry 29:8827-8834 (1990)). The cDNA lacks 241 nucleotides at the 5'-end of the coding sequence corresponding to the first 81 amino acids of porcine kidney RI. However, a synthetic complete porcine kidney RI coding sequence has been prepared by ligating a synthetic oligonucleotide encoding amino acid residues 1-81 of porcine RI, the sequence of which is based on the amino acid sequence of porcine liver RI, to a restriction fragment of the incomplete cDNA which corresponds to amino acid residues 82-456 of the abovementioned cDNA. This protein has been expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
From the foregoing, it will be clear that there is a need in the art for recombinantly produced RNase inhibitors that are active against a broad range of RNases from both eukaryotic and prokaryotic sources.

Cloning and expression of rat liver and porcine liver ribonuclease inhibitor


An electric and electronic part copper alloy sheet with excellent bending workability and stress relaxation resistance is made from a copper alloy containing 1.5 to 4.0 percent by mass of Ni, Si satisfying a Ni/Si mass ratio of 4.0 to 5.0, 0.01 to 1.3 percent by mass of Sn, and the remainder composed of copper and incidental impurities, wherein the average crystal grain size is 5 to 20 μm, the standard deviation of the crystal grain size satisfies 2σ<10 μm, and the proportion of the number of particles having a particle diameter of 90 to 300 nm in Ni—Si dispersed particles having a particle diameter of 30 to 300 nm is 20% or more, where the particles are observed in a cross-section defined by a direction perpendicular to a sheet surface and a direction parallel to a rolling direction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an copper alloy sheet used for electric and electronic parts, e.g., terminal-connectors and relays, materials for semiconductors (lead frames, heat sinks), materials for electric circuits (automobile junction blocks, consumer electric part circuits), and the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
In an automobile field, many electric and electronic parts have become mounted in order to comply with environmental regulation and pursuit the comfortableness and the safety, and narrowing pitches and miniaturization have been required of terminal-connectors, relays, and the like employed. In addition, the same have been required in information communications and consumer-oriented fields. Consequently, materials having higher 0.2% proof stress, electrical conductivity, bending workability, stress relaxation resistance have been required as electric and electronic part copper alloy sheets.
The 0.2% proof stress refers to a force required for inducing 0.2% of plastic deformation of the material. If the 0.2% proof stress is high, it is possible to keep contact while a strong force is applied to a contact point. Furthermore, the same contact pressure can be obtained by a small sheet width or a thin sheet.
The electrical conductivity refers to ease of passing of electricity and is represented by a ratio (% IACS), where the electrical conductivity of pure copper (IACS) is specified to be 100%. The electrical conductivity and the volume resistivity (μΩ·cm) are in inverse proportion. In copper alloy whose electrical conductivity is high, the volume resistivity is low, and Joule heat generation can be suppressed.
The bending workability is evaluated by the ratio (R/t) of the minimum bend radius R, at which cracking does not occur, to the sheet thickness t. A material having good bending workability contributes to stabilization of the quality and, in addition, improves the design flexibility in pressing. Severe bending has been performed with a bend line perpendicular to a rolling direction (G.W.) previously. However, cases in which bending is performed with a bend line parallel to a rolling direction (B.W.) have increased because of diversification in design technique.
The stress relaxation resistance refers to the durability to a phenomenon in which the contact pressure is reduced with time under a high-temperature environment, that is, stress relaxation. The stress relaxation resistance is indicated by a stress relaxation ratio or a residual stress expressed in "%" after holding under predetermined load stress, temperature, and time conditions. A material having good stress relaxation resistance can be used, for example, in the vicinity of an automobile engine room and, therefore, contributes to improvements in design flexibility and reliability of electric equipment to a great extent.
A Cu—Ni—Si base copper alloy has all of these characteristics and is widely used as electric and electronic part copper alloy sheets at present. The Cu—Ni—Si base alloy is an alloy having increased 0.2% proof stress and electrical conductivity by aging precipitation of a Ni—Si compound from a supersaturated solid solution. In the case where the Cu—Ni—Si base alloy is subjected to a high-temperature short-time heat treatment referred to as a solution treatment, a recrystallized grain structure can be formed. The bending workability of a material having a recrystallized grain structure is considerably improved as compared with the bending workability of a material having a worked structure.
In addition, the Cu—Ni—Si base alloy is a precipitation strengthening alloy and, therefore, can obtain a high 0.2% proof stress while the working strain is kept at a low level as compared with a solution strengthening alloy in the related art. If much working strain is accumulated, dislocation in a material structure is relaxed easily, and the stress relaxation resistance is degraded. That is, the Cu—Ni—Si base alloy is superior to other alloy systems in the stress relaxation resistance as well.
Meanwhile, there is a so-called trade-off relationship in which if any one of the characteristics of the 0.2% proof stress, the electrical conductivity, the bending workability, and the stress relaxation resistance of the above-described Cu—Ni—Si base alloy is further improved, the other characteristics are degraded. Consequently, in many cases, improvements of the characteristics are prevented. It is particularly difficult to ensure compatibility between the bending workability and the stress relaxation resistance because the bending workability becomes good when the crystal grain size is small and the stress relaxation resistance becomes good when the crystal grain size is large. Therefore, there is a previously proposed technique in which the bending workability is improved mainly by controlling the crystal grain size and the stress relaxation resistance is improved mainly by adding an element or elements.
In Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2008-75152, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2008-196042, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2008-266783, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2007-146293, and Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 11-335756 disclose methods for improving the bending workability or the stress relaxation resistance of Cu—Ni—Si base copper alloys. Among them, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2008-75152, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2008-196042, and Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2008-266783 disclose methods for improving the bending workability of the Cu—Ni—Si base copper alloys by controlling the crystal grain sizes. Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2007-146293 discloses a method for improving the stress relaxation resistance of the Cu—Ni—Si base copper alloy by controlling additional elements. Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 11-335756 discloses a method for improving the stress relaxation resistance by controlling additional elements and improving the bending workability by controlling the crystal grain size.
As shown in the above-described five patent literatures, the bending workability of the Cu—Ni—Si base alloy has been improved mainly by controlling the crystal grain size and the stress relaxation resistance has been improved mainly by controlling the addition of elements. However, there are problems in that an improvement in bending workability by control of the crystal grain size, specifically, reduction in the crystal grain size, is accompanied by degradation in stress relaxation resistance, and an improvement in stress relaxation resistance by the additional elements is accompanied by degradation in electrical conductivity and bending workability, although not described in the above-described five patent literatures. In addition, in order to obtain predetermined bending workability and stress relaxation resistance, it is required that the crystal grain size falls within a predetermined range through the recrystallization by a solution treatment. However, there is a problem in that crystal grains become coarse sharply in accordance with changes in treatment temperature depending on a desired crystal grain size and variations occur in the characteristics of a product.

Electric and electronic part copper alloy sheet with excellent bending workability and stress relaxation resistance


A catgut suture includes a dehydrothermal cross-linked collagen coating which is insoluble in tubing solution. The collagen coating is formed by immersing the gut suture in a solution of collagen in acidified water. Optionally, a plasticizer may be included in the coating solution. The suture is then heated in a vacuum to effect cross-linking of the collagen.

1. Technical Field
The subject matter disclosed and described herein relates to a surgical suture fabricated from gut and coated with collagen, and a method for making same.
2. Background of the Art
Sutures are well known in the art and are often used in surgical procedures for holding cut tissue surfaces in apposition for a period of time sufficient for healing. Non-absorbable sutures, e.g. sutures made from non-bioabsorbable materials such as polyolefins, nylon, cotton, and the like, are generally removed from the tissue after a period of time. Absorbable sutures, e.g. those fabricated from bioabsorbable materials such as polymers of lactide and glycolide, collagen, and the like, are gradually degraded and absorbed by the body, and do not require subsequent removal. Gut sutures are made from the submucosa layer of the intestines of certain mammals (e.g., sheep, beef, etc.) which consist mainly of collagen. In preparing gut sutures and ligatures, animal intestinal tubes are split longitudinally, cleaned and spun or twisted to form strands. Such strands are termed plain catgut and when implanted in animal tissues are normally absorbed within a period of several days by enzymolysis. For many surgical procedures it is necessary for the sutures to retain their strength for a longer period of time to permit a wound or incision to heal properly. Therefore, such sutures are tanned by immersion in a solution of tanning agent such as a chromium salt. Tanning increases the resistance of collagenous material to degradation. Such sutures are termed "chromic catgut".
Surgeons need sutures which are pliable and instantly usable. Unless catgut sutures are stored in a tubing solution, from which they are removed by the surgeon just prior to use, they will dry out and become too hard for use. Such storage solutions are well known in the art and typically include water and alcohol, for example ethyl and/or isopropyl alcohols, and optionally triethanolamine.


A method and apparatus for protocol-independent extension of data services through a broadband packet network packs legacy data streams associated with the data services into containers which are in turn encapsulated in protocol data units (PDUs) that are launched into the broadband packet network. The apparatus optimally supports idle suppression to efficiently utilize packet network resources. If idle indications are not provided by subtending sources, idle patterns may be detected by examining the serial data stream for repeating data patterns. The containers have headers dependent on the data stream type. Thus data is only transported across the packet network as required, further improving efficiency.

Communication networks are constructed using network models and transfer protocols as guides. Network models and transfer protocols have proliferated over the past few years as new networks have been developed (and existing networks have evolved) to accommodate new end-user, device and application requirements.
The proliferation of network models has focused on monolithic, highly integrated network and network component architectures. Data services (e.g. functionality and products) developed for a network that supports a target group of end-users, devices or applications are usually available only within the geographical reach of that network, and are not easily extendible to another network without extensive modification or complete re-creation. Adding new functionality to installed networks requires complex modifications or overlays to the existing functionality. Conversely, new networks cannot capitalize on functionality and protocols developed for legacy networks, because monolithic integrated designs do not permit porting without complex protocol conversion interfaces. The time required to implement such modifications is incompatible with the modern competitive communications business environment, where the time to market can significantly influence market share. At the same time, the costs associated with installing new network equipment can pose a significant impediment to the deployment of modern network services. For example, many firms (typically those with multiple branch locations) have deployed enterprise networks linking their various branches via lines leased from a network service provider. Legacy enterprise networks of this type were commonly constructed based on any of the X.25, Frame Relay (FR), or Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) protocols, and usually involved substantial investment in networking equipment. This investment may make the firm reluctant to incur the cost of new equipment required to utilize modern broadband packet network architectures (e.g. ATM or XGb Ethernet or Internet Protocol [IP]), in spite of the various advantages offered by the newer architecture to the firm and/or the network service provider.
As a result, the present communications network space is a patchwork of modern and legacy networks, each operating under respective network models and transfer protocols (e.g. Ethernet, Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), frame relay (FR), synchronous transfer mode (STM), asynchronous transfer mode (ATM), X.25, SNA, Video, Transfer Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) etc.); utilizing different transport media (e.g. copper, fiber, wireless etc.); and frequently owned by different business entities. Networks may be edge-connected by means of gateway interfaces, permitting transport of data between the networks. However, where such networks are dissimilar, adaptation is required to facilitate the transport of data across the networks. In the context of the present invention, adjoining networks are considered to be "dissimilar" or "heterogeneous" if their respective network models, transfer protocols and/or media are sufficiently different that data streams originating in one network cannot be transported by an adjoining network without conversion or reformatting. Such conversion, referred to herein as "adaptation", is an automated process to enable the transfer of data across the heterogeneous networks.
For example, a firm may operate a legacy enterprise network comprising a site network at each of its various branch locations, and utilizing frame relay for inter-site communications over leased lines provided by a network service provider. The network service provider may wish to extend the frame relay service through an ATM backbone network, in order to take advantage of the superior data transport capabilities of the ATM backbone. Such service extension requires adaptation of data at gateways between the ATM network and each of the involved site networks. Thus data originating in each site network (and conforming to the FR protocol) must be adapted to conform to the ATM protocol before it can be transported across the ATM backbone. Similarly, data arriving at a site network through the ATM backbone must be adapted to conform to the FR protocol before the data is delivered to the site network.
Adaptation to facilitate data service extension scenarios of this type is typically performed in gateway servers provided for that purpose, usually as part of a data services solution specifically engineered to the requirements of the customer. Both of these factors tend to increase costs and reduce flexibility, thereby creating an impediment to their widespread deployment.
Applicants co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/158,855, entitled TRANSIT TRUNK SUBNETWORK, which was filed on Sep. 23, 1998, teaches a method of inter-office trunking of PCM signals through an ATM backbone. A PCM data stream received at an ingress gateway is packed into ATM cells having a predetermined length. The ATM cells are transported through the ATM backbone, e.g. over a switched virtual circuit (SVC), to an egress gateway. The egress gateway extracts the data from the ATM cells to recover the original PCM signal.
ATM SVCs are particularly adapted for trunking circuit-switched data streams, because ATM guarantees delivery of each cell, and ensures that cell-ordering is maintained. Thus ATM can readily satisfy the QoS requirements of connection-oriented traffic without excess overhead. However, in some cases it may be desirable to provide trunking through other packet-based networks (such as IP, Ethernet or wireless), in which QoS guarantees may not necessarily be provided. Additionally, the efficiency of utilization of resources within a data packet network used to transport circuit-switched data can also be comparatively low. In particular, trunking facilities are normally provisioned for peak utilization periods. This means that at any given time, some, or possibly most of the channels within a circuit-switched trunk may be idle. However, in order to facilitate recovery of the circuit-switched signals at an egress gateway, the entire trunk signal, including the idle channels, must be transported across the packet data network. This means that at least some of the packets (e.g. ATM cells, IP packets or Ethernet frames) carry null data.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,936,965, which issued to Doshi et al. on Aug. 10, 1999 teaches a system for supporting the transmission of multiple application-layer protocols through a single link using a single byte-stream. The multiple application-layer protocol types supported include asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) protocol data units (PDUs), synchronous transfer mode (STM) PDUs, and variable length (VL) PDUs, as well as subtypes included within these protocol types. Application-layer PDUs are processed at three intermediate protocol layers where the application layer PDUs are prepared, segmented, and repacked as asynchronous block multiplexing (ABM) PDUs. ABM PDUs include a type identification field. Cyclical redundancy checks and other error detection/correction techniques are optionally supported. ABM PDUs are multiplexed within a multiple protocol byte-stream. Multiple protocol byte-stream support is provided through a single link between a transmitter and receiver using a plurality of media, including coaxial cable, wireless, optical fiber, hybrid fiber/coax, satellite, and twisted pair.
Thus the system taught by Doshi et al. is designed to operate in modern networks constructed using a data packet model and a layered architecture. Furthermore, Doshi et al. propose a proprietary ABM PDU format that is not supported by current network standards. Accordingly, the system of Doshi et al. can only operate on proprietary PHY-layer equipment, and thus is incapable of transporting data using the existing network infrastructure. Finally, Doshi et al. do not address the problem of adapting multiple legacy circuit-switched data streams for transport through a data packet network.
Accordingly, a method and apparatus that enables the protocol-independent extension of data services through a broadband packet network with efficient utilization of packet network resources, remains highly desirable.

Method and apparatus for efficient protocol-independent trunking of data signals