The present disclosure discloses an optical imaging lens assembly including, sequentially from an object side to an image side along an optical axis, a first lens, a second lens, a third lens, a fourth lens, a fifth lens and a sixth lens. The first lens has a positive refractive power, and an object-side surface thereof is a convex surface and an image-side surface thereof is a concave surface; the second lens has a negative refractive power, and an image-side surface thereof is a concave surface; the third lens has a positive refractive power or a negative refractive power; the fourth lens has a negative refractive power; the fifth lens has a positive refractive power, and an image-side surface thereof is a convex surface; the sixth lens has a negative refractive power, and both of an object-side surface and an image-side surface thereof are concave surfaces.

With the development of science and technology, the electronic products with imaging function are developed rapidly, and the requirement of imaging lens assembly suitable for portable electronic products is gradually improved. At the same time, with the advancement of image sensors such as Charge Coupled Device (CCD) or Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS), the number of pixels on the chip is increased while the size of the single pixel is reduced, and thus high imaging performance of the corresponding imaging lens assembly is required.
Therefore, there is a need for an optical imaging lens assembly having characteristics such as large image plane, large aperture, ultra-thin, and the like.

Optical imaging lens assembly including six lenses of +−−−+− or +−+−+− refractive powers


A talar implant is disclosed. The implant comprises a body comprising a bone contact surface and an articulation surface. A stem extends longitudinally from the bone contact surface. The stem comprises one or more features sized and configured to prevent rotational movement, anterior/posterior movement, and medial/lateral movement. The stem is configured to be received within a hole a talus.

An ankle joint may become severely damaged and painful due to arthritis, prior ankle surgery, bone fracture, osteoarthritis, and/or one or more additional conditions. Options for treating the injured ankle have included anti-inflammatory and pain medications, braces, physical therapy, joint arthrodesis, and total ankle replacement.
Total ankle replacement generally comprises two or more components—one portion coupled to the tibia and one portion coupled to the talus. The components comprise articulation surfaces sized and configured to mimic the range of motion of the ankle joint. For example, the talar portion may comprise a component sized and configured to mimic the talar dome and the tibial portion may comprise an articulation surface configured to mimic articulation of the tibia.
Installation of the total ankle replacement may comprise forming one or more holes, slots or cuts in a bone. For example, a hole may be drilled through the talus and into the tibia to create a channel for inserting a tibial stem. As another example, slots can be reamed with an end mill or punch having a guide. In some installations, additional bone is removed from the talus to make space for a talar stem extending from the talar portion.


A composition comprising a 1,2-dialkylidenecyclobutane such as 1,2-dimethylenecyclobutane, a polyacrylate monomer and an optional polyimide such as a bismaleimide can be thermally cured to a tough copolymer having a high glass transition temperature.

This invention relates to thermosettable resin compositions. In one embodiment, the invention relates to enhancement of the properties of acrylic and bisimide/acrylic compositions.
Advanced composites are high-performance materials made up of a fiber-reinforced thermoplastic or thermosettable material. Thermosettable materials useful in advanced composites applications must meet a set of demanding property requirements. For example, such materials optimally have good high-temperature properties such as high (above 200.degree. C.) cured glass transition temperature and good mechanical strength. For ease of processing in preparing prepregs for composite parts, the uncured material will ideally have a low (below 120.degree. C.) melting temperature and a wide temperature range of processable viscosity (a wide "processing window").
Polymers of multifunctional acrylic monomers tend to be very brittle, especially if high in Tg. Bismaleimide resins have superior high-temperature properties but are also very brittle and further tend, because of their high softening points, to require solvents in order to be readily processable. In addition, standard cured bismaleimide resins tend to have high (in the 5-7% range) 93.degree. C. water absorption. Addition of thermoplastic or cyanate-terminated oligomers increases the toughness but produces uncured mixtures so high in viscosity that fiber impregnation and processing by standard thermoset techniques are difficult.
It is thus an object of the invention to provide new thermoset resin materials. In one aspect, it is an object of the invention to provide comonomers which provide low-melting bismaleimides which cure to high-Tg, tough resins. In one embodiment, it is an object of the invention to provide toughened polymers of multifunctional acrylic monomers.


A unique integrated circuit device and method for using same is disclosed. The integrated circuit includes a plurality of bonding pads. Coupled to each bonding pads is a ferromagnetic material and an external connector, such as a solder bump. The ferromagnetic material is isolated to an area associated with each bonding pad. When the ferromagnetic material is magnetized, it is capable of aligning the solder bump to a connection point of another device, as long as the connection point is magnetically attracted. The other device may be a second integrated circuit device or a circuit board. As a result, the bonding pad aligns with and connects to the connection point.

The invention relates generally to integrated circuits, and more particularly, to a system and method for assembling the integrated circuits for mounting them to devices or other circuit boards.
Conventional integrated circuits, or "chips," are formed from a flat surface semiconductor wafer. The semiconductor wafer is first manufactured in a semiconductor material manufacturing facility and is then provided to a fabrication facility. At the latter fabrication facility, several layers are processed onto the semiconductor wafer surface. Once completed, the wafer is then cut into one or more chips and assembled into packages.
A chip is fabricated with a plurality of bonding pads, usually made of aluminum, for connecting the chip to other devices (e.g., other chips or circuit boards). For very tight, low-profile chips, a solder bump is placed on the aluminum bonding pad and then connected directly to the other device. This technology has several variances, such as flip chip technology, tape-automated bonding, ball-grid array and so forth.
In these technologies, the device to which the chip is connecting may also include a plurality of bonding pads, which may in turn include a plurality of solder bumps. It is important that each of the pads/bumps of the chip are properly aligned with the corresponding pads/bumps of the connecting device. However, as chip size decreases, and as the number of pads/bumps increases, the margin of error for aligning these devices becomes extremely limiting.
This problem is exacerbated when multiple chips must simultaneously align for mounting. Consider for example, co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/858,004 filed on May 16, 1997, assigned to the same assignee as the present application and hereby incorporated by reference as if reproduced in its entirety. This application describes a spherical shaped integrated circuit which may be clustered with other spherical shaped integrated circuits to form a single, large-scale device. However, it is very difficult to perform such clustering because of the tight margin of error between the devices.
Therefore, what is needed is a system and method for aligning the bonding pads or solder bumps of devices such as chips or spherical shaped integrated circuits to facilitate their connection with other devices and/or circuit boards.

Magnetic alignment system for bumps on an integrated circuit device


A medical suction system comprising a medical suction canister used in draining bodily fluid from a patient, and a cleaning station for automatically draining and cleaning the suction canister and for automatically providing a visible indication that the canister has been cleaned.

Medical suction systems are used in hospital environments and particularly during various surgical procedures to drain bodily fluid from a patient. In general, medical suction systems employ a collection or suction canister and a vacuum source which enables bodily fluid to be drained from the patient. Each canister generally includes a receptacle for holding the bodily fluid, a lid with a suction port and a patient port, a suction conduit connecting the suction port to a hospital vacuum system, and a patient conduit for conveying the bodily fluid from the patient into the receptacle through the patient port. When the vacuum is applied to the suction conduit, a negative pressure gradient is created in the interior of the receptacle so that the bodily fluid is drawn from the patient and into the suction canister via the patient conduit. In order to prevent the bodily fluid from entering and contaminating the hospital vacuum system, a shutoff valve is normally used to close or block the suction port when the fluid within the canister rises to a predetermined level.
Conventional suction canisters are often disposable, which leads to increased hospital costs for the purchase of new canisters and increased hospital costs for the disposal of the canisters and their bodily fluid contents after use. Suction canisters can also be reusable. However, such reusable canisters must be cleaned by hospital employees, and the bodily fluid collected in suction canisters is considered hazardous and infectious waste. In recent years, it has become important in hospital environments to eliminate the handling and thus reduce employee exposure to bodily fluids. Currently, hospitals dispose of such bodily fluid in three ways. The fluid is either poured from the suction canister down the hospital sink, the fluid is incinerated in a hospital-owned and operated pathological incinerator, or expensive contracts are negotiated with a licensed hauler for the disposal of the fluid at an approved hazardous waste incinerator. In every case, hospital employees have to handle the bodily fluid. Spattering of the bodily fluid can result in hospital employees contacting the hazardous fluid and thus increasing the possibility of contacting HIV, Hepatitis B or other blood borne diseases.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


The present invention provides a most suitable prodrug of a cinnamide compound. The prodrug is represented by Formula (I)

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to novel prodrugs of cinnamide compounds and drugs containing the same as active ingredients. The prodrugs and the drugs are useful for treating diseases caused by amyloid β (hereinafter referred to as Aβ), which are represented by Alzheimer's disease, and are suitable for oral or parenteral administration. More specifically, the present invention relates to novel prodrugs of cinnamide compounds, pharmacologically acceptable salts thereof, and drugs containing the same as active ingredients, wherein water solubility of the cinnamide compounds is increased by converting the imidazole moiety of cinnamide compound molecules into a quaternary salt form.
(2) Description of Related Art
Aβ proteins, which are metabolites of amyloid precursor proteins (hereinafter referred to as APP), are thought to be highly involved in alteration or exfoliation of nerve cells and also in expression of dementia. The main components of the Aβ proteins are Aβ40 consisting of 40 amino acids and Aβ42 having additional two amino acids at the C-terminal of the Aβ40. These Aβ40 and Aβ42 are highly aggregative and are main components of senile plaques. Further, it is known that mutation in APP or a presenilin gene, which is observed in familial Alzheimer's disease, increases the amounts of these Aβ40 and Aβ42. Therefore, a compound which can inhibit the synthesis of Aβ40 and Aβ42 from APP is expected as a therapeutic or preventive agent for diseases caused by Aβ, such as Alzheimer's disease. The present inventors have found cinnamide compounds as non-peptide compounds inhibiting the synthesis of Aβ40 and Aβ42 and having excellent drug activity (for example, International Publication No. WO05/115990).
Generally, in some compounds, the usefulness as a drug is restricted by their low water solubility. For example, it is broadly known that some azole compounds, which are famous antifungal agents, have low water solubility and thereby are prevented from development as parenteral agents.
A method for solving this problem is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,235,728, for example. According to this, the water solubility of an azole antifungal agent can be increased by binding a phosphonooxymethyl group to the azole moiety. In addition, prodrugs having a similar phosphonooxymethyl group or derivatives thereof represented by the following formula are disclosed in Yasutsugu Ueda and 21 others, Phosphonomethyl Prodrugs of the Broad Spectrum antifungal Azole, Ravuconazole: Synthesis and Biological Properties. Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters 2003, 13, 3669-3672.

Further, Professor Stella Valentino's team from the University of Kansas discloses in International Publication No. WO99/33846 (Claims, page 48, lines 3 to 10) the compound represented by the formula (VIa),
wherein, R1, R2 and R3 represent substituents containing the tertiary or secondary amine of a parent compound, and R4 and R5 are an organic or an inorganic residue. This compound is generally described as having an external anion (A) associated with a quaternary amine center and an external cation associated with a phosphate dual anionic charge (page 18, line 28 to page 24, line 11 in the specification). Among such compounds, examples of medicinal compounds having a quaternary amine classified as an aromatic species are illustrated in the specification at page 22, line 1 to page 23, line 3. Illustrated examples include, for instance, miconazole having an imidazolyl group.
However, this publication lacks any disclosure either in the illustrated compounds or in the compounds described in the Examples of a cinnamide derivative containing an imidazolyl group, which is a characteristic feature of the present invention, and fails to either disclose or suggest the compound according to the present invention.
In addition, in International Publication No. WO98/43970, compounds, for example, represented by the following formula are disclosed as prodrugs of antifungal compounds,
wherein R1 denotes an alkyl group or the like, R2 denotes a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, or the like, and R7 denotes a triazolyl group, a tetrazolyl group, or the like.
As described above, though quaternary ammonium prodrugs of azole antifungal agents have been reported, quaternary salt prodrugs of phenylimidazole derivatives which are commonly observed in a cinnamide compound structure have not been reported yet.

Abstract: wherein Ra and Rb each denote a C1-6 alkyl group or the like; Xa denotes a methoxy group or a fluorine atom; Y denotes a phosphono group or the like; and A denotes a cyclic lactam derivative.


An electric storage device that includes a first electrode body and a second electrode body. The first electrode body includes a first wound body part and an extension part. The first wound body part includes a laminated body having a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator disposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. The second electrode body is on the extension part. The length of the second electrode body is different from that of the first wound body part of the first electrode body in a direction in which a central axis of the first wound body part extends.

Recently, the sizes and thicknesses of electronic devices have been reduced. Accordingly, restrictions on the disposition space of an electric storage device mounted in an electronic device have become stricter. For example, there is a desire to dispose an electric storage device in a space that is not rectangular parallelepiped. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an electric storage device (battery assembly) not having a rectangular parallelepiped shape. The battery assembly disclosed in Patent Document 1 does not have a rectangular shape in side view.
Patent Document 1: Published Japanese Translation of PCT Application No. 2014-524131

Electric storage device having a wound body with an extension part


A cement plant for the production of cement clinker from cement raw meal has a flat plate shaped control element for distributing and/or transporting-feeding a stream of hot flour-like material which is subjected to severe thermochemical and abrasive ware. the service life of the control element is greatly increased by constructing it as a hollow body (19, 22) through which coolant flows from at least one inlet opening to at least one discharge opening.

In installations for the production of cement clinker from raw meal, which is preheated and calcined before the burning operation, it is often necessary to divide a stream of hot cement raw meal into two meal discharges, that is, to convey hot raw meal into one and/or another meal discharge. Thus, for example, in the installation for the production of cement clinker from cement raw meal as shown in European patent document EP-B 0222 044 published Mar. 8, 1989, the preheated raw meal exiting downward from the next-to-last (second-lowest) cyclone stage must be divided in a controlled way into a calcination zone lying in the clinker-cooler off-gas line (tertiary air line), on the one hand, and a calcination zone lying in the rotary-kiln off-gas line, on the other. What is more, in certain dual-train installations (twin installations) where the cement raw meal of one train, precalcined in the rotary-kiln off-gas line, undergoes final calcination in the calcination zone of the other train, operated on hot clinker-cooler off-gas, after the installation has been started up, precalcined cement raw meal exiting from the lowest cyclone stage of the rotary-kiln off-gas train must be admitted by means of a changeover flap not to the rotary kiln but to the secondary calcination zone of the other train, which is ready for operation.
The distribution or changeover of the stream of hot raw meal has heretofore been effected with a distributor housing, to the top of which the hot meal delivery line can be connected and to the bottom of which two hot meal discharges can be connected, so that the distributor housing is also called a "breeches pipe" because of its shape. In the breeches pipe, a flap is pivotably arranged, by means of the pivot actuation of which flap the stream of hot cement raw meal, which can exhibit a temperature of, for example, 800 to 900.degree. C., is distributed or changed over. The pivotable flap in particular is obviously subjected to severe thermochemical and abrasive wear.
Also subjected to severe wear are "impingement gates," which in cement plants are built transversely into a hot-gas line coming from the rotary kiln and/or from the clinker cooler and have the task of uniformly distributing or suspending, over the hot-gas cross section, preheated cement raw meal, which is introduced into the hot-gas line from the side.
What is more, in cyclone suspension-type preheater trains having cyclones arranged one above another through which hot gas flows in order to heat cement raw meal, "flap boxes" or "oscillating feeders" and also double oscillating feeders are built into the meal downpipes, in which boxes one or two weighted oscillating flaps are integrated, which have the task of holding back the stream of hot gas on the one hand, and on the other hand, by means of pivoting of the flaps, of allowing the stream of hot raw meal to pass downward through the meal downpipe after a certain solids burden. These oscillating flaps are also subjected to severe wear.

Device for distributing and/or feeding a hot flour-like material


The present invention discloses a multi-dimensional surface electromyogram signal prosthetic hand control method based on principal component analysis. The method comprises the following steps. Wear an armlet provided with a 24-channel array electromyography sensor to a front arm of a subject, and respectively wear five finger joint attitude sensors at a distal phalanx of a thumb and at middle phalanxes of remaining fingers of the subject. Perform independent bending and stretching training on the five fingers of the subject, and meanwhile, collect data of an array electromyography sensor and data of the finger joint attitude sensors. Decouple the data of the array electromyography sensor by principal component analysis to form a finger motion training set. Perform data fitting on the finger motion training set by a neural network method, and construct a finger continuous motion prediction model. Predict a current bending angle of the finger through the finger continuous motion model.

A bio-mechatronic dexterously manipulated prosthesis is an intelligent interaction device that can cooperate with environment, human and other robots, and can recognize a motion intention of an operator through collecting bioelectric signals of a human body. The study on artificial prosthesis can promote technological innovation in the field of rehabilitation engineering for functional reconstruction of the disabled, and extend and develop the scientific connotation of equipment manufacturing. The scientific and technological achievements can be radiately applied to high-end medical equipment, bio-mechatronic intelligent robots, hazardous environment exploration and disaster rescue equipment, national defense equipment, and other major fields related to the national economy and people's livelihood, with important strategic significance.
The surface electromyogram signal is a bio-electric signal that has captured wide attention at present. The surface electromyogram signal is favored by many researchers since it contains abundant information and is noninvasively collected. To recognize patterns of a discrete gesture motion is the most mature method to apply the surface electromyography to the interaction field. Compared with the classification of discrete motions, a continuous motion estimation of a joint is more valuable to realize smooth control over robot motions, but there are relatively fewer published research results in this field.
Since different subjects have different forearm muscle development degrees and different operating habits, it is often difficult to extract universal movement rules for all individuals.
The finger motions of human are very complicated, and the existing research mainly focuses on recognizing isolated gestures and rarely recognize continuous gestures. Principal component analysis is used in the technology to decouple the complicated muscle activity of the hand, and can analyze the continuous activity of each finger. At present, there is no literature to study the continuous motion estimation of the finger.

Multi-dimensional surface electromyogram signal prosthetic hand control method based on principal component analysis


An activities module is positioned on a support surface, such as the floor of a room, to provide activity stations with horizontal work surfaces. The module includes an upright post member that has at least two vertical grooves. A flat panel has an opening sized to receive the post member when the flat panel is oriented horizontally, and upright partition panels are provided corresponding to the vertical grooves in the post member. Each partition panel has an inner edge fitted into the groove, an outer edge and a bottom edge that rests on the support surface. The partition panels each have a slot to receive the flat, horizontal panel, and fasteners secure the module together. A second flat, horizontal panel may similarly be mounted below the first flat panel, and a third flat, horizontal panel may provide a shelf or bench. Preferably, the first flat panel is circular and the upright post is located centrally thereof; four partition panels are spaced around the center post to divide the module into four activity stations.

In recent years, there has been a trend to create more pleasing work spaces for the activities of adults and children, alike. The structural design of furniture becomes a natural part of these work spaces. In other applications, furniture structures can themselves form the work or activity station. This application specially concerns the present invention.
As part of trend of interior design is to avoid the break-up of large spaces into separate, enclosed offices. Rather, more efficient and pleasant utilization of large spaces involves the creation of semi-private areas by means of divider panels that do not extend from floor to ceiling. This design has been found to be less psychologically confining when compared to small enclosed rooms. One example of such structures, then, is the use of modular desk systems with divider panels that are often employed in office environments as secretarial spaces, work stations, computer stations, etc. Another example is the use of divider panels or especially constructed semi-private desk units as reading/work stations in libraries and other records research facilities. These examples, of course, are by no means exhaustive.
While substantial attention has been directed to the structural design of modular facilities, less attention is believed to have been directed to providing modular activity centers for children. While there is a need in such applications to separate large, open rooms into defined activity areas, typically office-type modular units do not readily adapt to children's environments and are further often too expensive to be cost effective in many child-related situations. Additionally, while all applications of modular activity areas and work stations need to be utilitarian, there is a greater need with children to provide artistic integration into the design for purposes of stimulating a child's imagination. Also, it is an advantage in the construction of children's activity centers to provide structures which may be relatively quickly and simply assembled and disassembled whereby the modular activity structures can be knocked down and stored when it is desired to use a room in situations necessitating more openness, such as parties, meetings and the like.


The present invention relates to a processing solution supply cartridge that utilizes a single developer solution holding area having interconnected compartments for a single-part developer concentrate. The holding area has interconnected compartments and includes valves that permit the cartridge to be utilized on an existing processor or processing machine. The design of the present invention assures a complete emptying of the cartridge by permitting the simultaneous replenishment of single-part developer through the valves into the processing machine.

Conventional film and paper processing machines have difficulty in completely emptying the chemical cartridges associated with the machines. This is due to the highly coupled nature of the system since the processing machines are associated with a solution supply cartridge or arrangement that includes four independent containers that need to empty simultaneously. If a container of the cartridge contains significant retained chemistry following use, there is a possibility that the cartridge must be handled as hazardous waste.
FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of one type of conventional solution cartridge 200. As shown in FIG. 1, solution cartridge 200 includes an outer container 2 that is adapted to hold four inner containers 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d. Each of containers 4a–4d is dedicated to a specific type of solution or chemical concentrate, for example, container 4a holds a first part of a color developer; container 4b holds a second part of a color developer; container 4d holds a stabilizer; and container 4c holds a third part of a color developer. Each of containers 4a–4d respectively includes valves or necks 6a, 6b, 6c, and 6d that extend from each of containers 4a–4d and pass through appropriate openings in outer container 2. In the arrangement of FIG. 1, it is preferable that the different parts of the color developer be held in separate containers (4a–4c) prior to being supplied to a processor or processing machine, since any mixture of the different parts of the developers prior to usage will degrade and adversely affect the properties of the developers.
In a conventional arrangement, cartridge 200 is adapted to be fluidly associated with a processor 10 which includes entry points or valves 12a, 12b, 12d, 12c that are adapted to be associated with each of valves or necks 6a, 6b, 6d, and 6c. Therefore this type of cartridge package as noted above has four necks or valves 6a, 6b, 6d and 6c that associate with four corresponding valves or entry points 12a, 12b, 12d and 12c of processing machine 10. The full/empty state of cartridge 200 is sensed by the presence or absence of float, indicated by reference numerals 14a, 14b, 14d and 14c in FIG. 1, which are associated with each of valves 6a, 6b, 6d and 6c. In one embodiment, an infrared beam can pass through valves 6a–6d of the cartridge 200 to detect the presence or absence of a float 14a–14d to determine the full/empty state of the individual container 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d. As further described above, four chemical concentrates are contained in four separate containers 4a–4d housed in a common outer container 2.
A drawback with the arrangement noted above is that during use of cartridge 200, developer or chemical concentrate exiting from each container 4a, 4b, and 4c through respective valves 6a, 6b and 6c is constantly metered and observed so as to assure that each of containers 4a–4c empty together. If they do not empty together as noted above, then at least one of the containers will include residual chemistry following use, which leads to the characterization of the handling of the container as hazardous waste. A further drawback with conventional arrangements such as the arrangement shown in FIG. 1 is that the individual containers in some instances are held in a clamshell type arrangement. The use of a clamshell may reduce the available volume for liquid in the cartridge.

Photographic processing arrangement and a processing solution supply cartridge for the processing arrangement


A lateral duct 15 for interconnecting a riser 1 and a cyclone separator 2 has an introduction portion 16 at the connection with the riser 1 which has a cross-sectional area equal to that of the riser 1, and a throttled portion 17 between the introduction portion 16 and the cyclone separator 2 which has cross-sectional areas gradually reduced from the introduction portion 16 to the cyclone separator 2 so as to increase a flow velocity of combustion gas.

There is a conventional circulating fluidized bed furnace wherein circulation medium is heated by combustion in a riser (a fluidized combustion furnace) and combustion gas blown up is laterally introduced through a lateral duct into a cyclone separator for capture of the circulation medium, the captured circulation medium being guided to and stored in a storage. The stored circulation medium is fluidized for circulation into the riser (see Patent Literature 1).
In Patent Literature 1, the fluidization of the circulation medium stored in the storage is controlled to control a flow rate of the circulation medium to be circulated to the riser. In Patent Literature 1, the amount of the circulation medium taken out from the riser and supplied to the storage is controlled, for example, by regulating a superficial velocity in the riser through control of the supply of air to the riser.
Meanwhile, nowadays, there is a circulating fluidized bed gasification furnace wherein circulation medium is heated in a riser and the heated circulation medium is captured in a cyclone separator. The captured circulation medium is guided to the fluidized bed gasification furnace where heat possessed by the guided circulation medium is utilized for a gasification reaction (endothermic reaction) of a raw material. The circulation medium lowered in temperature due to the gasification and ungasified unreacted char are circulated to the riser where the char is burned to heat the circulation medium (see Patent Literature 2).
FIGS. 1 and 2 are schematic views showing an example of the above-mentioned circulating fluidized bed gasification furnace. Reference numeral 1 denotes a riser to which air 12 is supplied for combustion; 2, a cyclone separator to which combustion gas 4 taken out through a top of the riser 1 via a lateral duct 3 is guided, circulation medium admixed in the combustion gas 4 being captured while exhaust gas 6 is discharged; 7, a fluidized bed gasification furnace to which the circulation medium 5 captured by the separator 2 and raw material 8 such as coal are guided and to which a gasifying agent 9 such as steam or air is introduced from below, heat of the circulation medium 5 being utilized for gasification of the raw material 8 to produce gasification gas 10; 11, a circulation passage for returning the circulation medium and ungasified unreacted char in the fluidized bed gasification furnace 7 to the riser 1 where the char supplied through the passage 11 is burned to heat the circulation medium. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 13 designates auxiliary fuel.
In the circulating fluidized bed gasification furnace shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, plenty of heat must be supplied by the riser 1 for the gasification reaction in the fluidized bed gasification furnace 7. To this end, a supply of the circulation medium 5 from the riser 1 to the fluidized bed gasification furnace 7, i.e., an amount of the circulation medium 5 taken out from the riser 1 is required to be increased to balance heat budget in the riser 1 and gasification furnace 7 to thereby enable gasification.
Thus, it is conceivable also in the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 that, just like Patent Literature 1, the supply of air 12 to the riser 1 is increased to enhance superficial velocity in the riser 1 to thereby increase the supply of the circulation medium 5 from the riser 1 to the fluidized bed gasification furnace 7.
However, a given reaction time is required for combustion of char in the riser 1; mere enhancement of the superficial velocity in the riser 1 by increase of the air amount would bring about deteriorated combustion quality, possibly resulting in the insufficiently heated circulation medium. Thus, even if the supply of air 12 to the riser 1 is controlled to obtain an utmost superficial velocity which ensures sufficient combustion quality, increase in supply of the circulation medium from the riser 1 to the fluidized bed gasification furnace 7 is limited. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in order to increase a flow velocity of the combustion gas 4 tangentially supplied to the cyclone separator 2 for separation of the circulation medium 5, the lateral duct 3 interconnecting the riser 1 and the cyclone separator 2 must have a reduced cross-sectional area and thus has a cross-sectional area smaller than that of the riser 1.
As a result, the circulation medium blown up to an upper end of the riser 1 has difficulty in orientation to the lateral duct 3, and may drop in the riser 1 by itself or through collision against a top wall of the riser 1, failing to increase a circulated amount of the circulation medium from the riser 1 to the fluidized bed gasification furnace 7. Such failure of the increased circulation medium 5 from the riser 1 to the fluidized bed gasification furnace 7 may result in lack of heat necessary for gasification of the raw material 8 in the fluidized bed gasification furnace 7. In order to overcome this, the auxiliary fuel 13 must be supplied to the riser 1 to enhance a heating temperature of the circulation medium; alternatively, the riser 1 must be increased in size to increase the circulated amount of the circulation medium 5 through increase of a total amount of the circulation medium. As a result, disadvantageously, running or equipment cost will increase.
In order to overcome such problem, there has been proposed an apparatus wherein at least a reduced-diameter intermediate cylinder is arranged on a top of a riser to increase a flow velocity of combustion gas in the riser to thereby increase an amount of the circulation medium discharged to a cyclone separator (see Patent Literature 3).

Riser top structure for circulating fluidized bed gasification furnace


A bouquet of flowers is wrapped with a leaf-shaped sheet that creates a floral presentation having a common floral theme.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to an ornamental wrapper for a bouquet of cut flowers.
2. Description of the Related Art
Rectangular boxes, with and without windows, are used by florists to package and ship slender floral presentations, but are unsuitable for fan-shaped floral bouquets. Florists disfavor stacking bulky floral boxes, as well as assembling such boxes from flat, die-cut stock.
To provide an effective fan-shaped bouquet, florists will sometimes arrange the cut flowers in a vase, and surround the upper portions of the flowers extending upwardly from the vase with a temporary, transparent, protective sheet of film. However, vases are more expensive than boxes, are more fragile, and require more room to maintain an adequate inventory.
Although not as effective as boxes and vases are in protecting the flowers, the most economical way of packaging and wrapping a fan-shaped floral bouquet is to curl or roll a rectangular sheet of paper and/or a sheet of plastic film into the general form of a cone, and to hold the conical form together by staples, tape, or other conventional fasteners. Each rectangular sheet is typically cut from a cylindrical roll of sheet material. The sheet material is typically a plain white sheet, or may be printed with decorations. Even so, the floral presentation suffers, because the wrapper is not an integrally related design element of the entire floral presentation.


The invention concerns a method for building a three-dimensional (3D) cellular partition covering a 3D geological domain by defining the cells of the partition, characterized in that said method comprises the following steps A “3D screen construction step” for constructing a 3D screen which is a 3D elementary partition covering the geological domain, said 3D screen being composed of a plurality of voxels (Vi) which are elementary volume elements, A “voxel painting step” for associating a cell identifier (Cell-id) to each voxel, A “cell definition step” for defining the cells of the geological domain, each cell of the geological domain being defined as the subset of voxels of the 3D screen associated to the same cell identifier, thereby allowing the definition of the cells of the geological domain without having to code the geometry and/or topology of said cells in said geological volume. The invention further provides a “parametric” method and a “cookiecutter” method using such method for building a 3D cellular partition.

Geological volumes (or reservoirs) are defined as 3D domains which contain fluids (such as oil, gas and/or water).
It is specified that such geological volumes often include singular topological surfaces such as faults, horizons and/or the limits of the reservoir itself.
An "horizon" is defined as an interface between two subdomains of a geological volume—these subdomains being typically two layers made of different materials.
These singular surfaces can furthermore be irregular.
The modelling of the behaviour of geological volumes aims in particular at simulating the flow of fluids through and within the geological volume.
Such simulation is carried out by software programs which compute the behaviour of finite volumes (called "cells"), which cells form a partition of the geological volume.
This partition (also called "grid") represents the geological volume in the "geological domain" (i.e. in the actual physical domain where the geological volume is).
Software programs such as mentioned above are referred to as "flow simulators".
In order to run a flow simulator, it is therefore necessary to build cells which form a partition of the geological volume.
Each cell of such a partition is associated to some information which has to be memorized in the computer system which runs the flow simulator.
This information typically include for any given cell C0:                The volume of C0,        The permeability tensor of C0,        The list of the cells which are adjacent to C0,        For each cell C1 adjacent to C0, the parameters defining the common face shared by C0 and C1.
Until recently, two types of known methods have been used for building 3D partitioning (or 3D "grids") consisting of sets of adjacent cells as mentioned above.
Such 3D grids can be "structured" (as illustrated in FIG. 1) or "non-structured" (as illustrated in FIG. 2).
In both cases, it is necessary to adapt the geometry of the cells in order to run the flow simulator as efficiently as possible.
In particular, the geometry of the cells has to be defined so as to avoid undesirable effects such as having cells intersecting singular surfaces (such as mentioned above) of the geological volume.
Other constraints are associated to the definition of such cells defined in the geological domain: among others, these cells must be aligned with minimal distortion and/or size variation.
Such construction of the cells in the geological domain therefore implies constraints associated to the definition of the geometry and topology of the cells.
These constraints can make the process of building the cells very complex, in particular because the construction of the cells as mentioned above implies coding:                the geometry of the cells (in particular the geometry of the faces of each cell), and        the topology of the cells (in particular information describing the faces of the cells and information allowing the identification of the cells adjacent to any cell).
This constitutes a drawback of such construction of the cells.
Furthermore, to be honored, these constraints often necessitate to make approximations and/or simplifications on the geometry/topology of the singular surfaces of the geological volume.
Also, they imply that the geometry and topology of the cells has to be memorized, in association with the information mentioned above. This increases the memory space which is required in the computer system used for running the flow simulator.
Moreover, when considering a given point of the geological volume, the process of finding which cell said point is associated to typically necessitate to scan all (or a large number of) cells to find out if the point is contained in the cell. This makes the exploitation of the cell grid burdensome.
Finally, the determination of the permeability tensor of a cell can reveal quite difficult, specially in the case of a non structured grid.
It thus appears that the known methods for building cells are associated to some drawbacks and limitations.
It is to be noted that an advanced approach has been proposed recently for modelling the properties of the cells (but not for building said cells).
This approach has been described in "Space-time mathematical framework for sedimentary geology" (Mathematical Geology, Vol. 36, No 1, 2004).
This advanced approach implies the association of the geological domain with a parametric domain where singular surfaces such as faults and horizons can be managed in a simple manner.
And WO 03/050766 discloses a method for the 3D modelling of a geological volume which presents a variant which can be used in combination with the advanced approach mentioned above.
However, the method disclosed in WO 03/050766 still requires the definition of the cells in the geological domain in order to model the geological volume.
Thus, the method disclosed in WO 03/050766 does not resolve in itself the drawbacks and limitations mentioned above.
An objective of the invention is to avoid these drawbacks and limitations.

Method for building a three dimensional cellular partition of a geological domain


To provide a polishing technique with which in production of a semiconductor integrated circuit device, when a plane to be polished is polished, an appropriate polishing rate ratio of a polysilicon film to another material can be obtained, whereby high level planarization of a plane to be polished including a polysilicon film can be realized.

In recent years, development of miniaturization technique to achieve miniaturization and high densification is required along with high integration and high functionality of a semiconductor integrated circuit device. Particularly, importance of a planarization technique by chemical mechanical polishing (hereinafter referred to as CMP) has been increasing.
For example, along with miniaturization and multilayered structures of wiring of a semiconductor integrated circuit device, unevenness on the surface of each layer in production steps tends to be significant. In order to prevent such problems that the unevenness exceeds the depth of focus of photolithography, whereby no sufficient resolution will be obtained, CMP is an essential technique. CMP is employed, specifically, for planarization of an interlevel dielectric (ILD) film, shallow trench isolation (STI), tungsten plug formation, formation of multilayered wiring comprising copper and a low dielectric film, etc. In such cases, a polysilicon film is used for a capacitor, a gate electrode, etc. in many cases, and CMP is employed also for planarization of a plane to be polished including the polysilicon film.
Heretofore, in production of a semiconductor integrated circuit device, when the plane to be polished including a polysilicon film is planarized, usually, a silicon dioxide film or a silicon nitride film as a stopper layer is formed as an underlayer of the polysilicon film to be polished, and the ratio of the polishing rate of the polysilicon film to the polishing rate of the silicon dioxide film or the silicon nitride film (hereinafter (polishing rate of A)/(polishing rate of B) will sometimes be referred to as a "polishing rate ratio of A to B") is adjusted to be high, so that the plane to be polished is planarized upon exposure of the stopper layer.
For planarization of the plane to be polished including a polysilicon film, a SS series polishing compound containing fumed silica, water and potassium hydroxide manufactured by Cabot Corporation, has been used. However, this polishing compound is used also for polishing a silicon dioxide film for planarization of ILD, and accordingly when it is used for planarization of a plane to be polished with the stopper layer being a silicon dioxide film, the polishing rate of the silicon dioxide film is high, whereby the polishing rate ratio of the polysilicon film to the silicon dioxide film tends to be low. Further, with this polishing compound, the polishing rate ratio of the polysilicon film to a silicon nitride film is also low, and use of this polishing compound for planarization of a plane to be polished including a polysilicon film with the stopper layer being a silicon nitride film, is problematic.
To solve the above problems, Patent Document 1 proposes a polishing composition comprising at least one type of abrasive particles selected from fumed silica and colloidal silica as a polishing compound and an amine as a basic compound, as a polishing composition suitable for planarization of a plane to be polished including a polysilicon film. The polishing composition disclosed in this Patent Document is considered to be a polishing compound suitable for planarization of a plane to be polished including a polysilicon film, since when a silicon dioxide film is used as the stopper layer, the polishing rate ratio of a polysilicon film to a silicon dioxide film is high. Further, with this polishing composition, the polishing rate ratio of a polysilicon film to a silicon nitride film is also high, and this polishing composition is considered to make it possible to planarize a plane to be polished with the stopper layer being a silicon nitride film.
However, a polishing compound having such properties is unsuitable for planarization of a plane to be polished including a polysilicon film to be used for a capacitor, a gate electrode, etc. in formation of multilayered wiring, wherein a silicon nitride film is used as the stopper layer, and a polysilicon film and a silicon dioxide film on the silicon nitride film are to be polished. Namely, since the polishing rate of the silicon dioxide film is low as compared with the polishing rate of the polysilicon film, removal of the silicon dioxide film by polishing before the polishing compound reaches the silicon nitride film as the stopper layer will not sufficiently be conducted. In such a layer structure, it is required that the polishing rate of a silicon dioxide film is sufficiently high so as to be equal to the polishing rate of the polysilicon film and that the polishing rate of the silicon nitride film is sufficiently small as compared with the polishing rate of the polysilicon film, but the polishing compound having the above properties can not meet such requirements.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent No. 3457144
Patent Document 2: JP-A-11-12561
Patent Document 3: JP-A-2001-35818

Polishing compound for semiconductor integrated circuit device, polishing method and method for producing semiconductor integrated circuit device

Abstract: A polishing compound for chemical mechanical polishing, containing cerium oxide particles, a water-soluble polyamine and water and having a pH within a range of from 10 to 13, is used.


Microcapsules are prepared by encapsulating a core material with a capsule shell wall containing glutamldehyde crosslinked gelatin and at least one water soluble plasticizer that reduces the permeability of the Crosslinked gelatin. Optionally, the capsule shell wall also contains a feeding deterrent that dissuades accidental ingestion of the microcapsule. Upon exposing the microcapsules to water, the plasticizer is removed malting the shell wall permeable whereby the encapsulated core material is released. Materials such as insecticides, herbicides, plant growth regulating agents, and fungicides may be encapsulated and released at a controlled location, time and rate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a microencapsulation shell system which provides for the controlled release of the material encapsulated thereby. Microcapsules, methods of manufacture, and methods of using the microcapsules are particularly contemplated by the invention.
2. Description of Related Art
Timing is everything in many technologies. That is particularly true for chemically-based technologies such as agriculture, insecticides, and fungicides where contact or inadvertent ingestion may pose serious health risks to humans and animals. Paraquat is one example of a useful chemical that poses a serious health risk due to inadvertent ingestion, inhalation, or contact. Such chemicals should be enclosed and protected from at least the point of manufacture, through transport, and until the chemical is loaded into some form of wet or dry product applicator. Because such contact has been generally unavoidable for most chemical products, a complex scheme of regulation has been established to control the handling and exposure risks to humans as well as nontarget animals. The art has faced a long standing need for a means of preventing contact between useful but potentially hazardous chemicals and nontarget organisms without reducing the efficacy of the chemical agent.
Another situation where timing is important is where chemically active agents must maintain an extended presence to be effective or must migrate from an applied position to a more desired location. An example of such a chemical is the soil insecticide diazinon which is a contact pesticide that used to be available for application to sod farms and golf courses in the form of solid granules on a corn cob grit carrier. Contact with water would dissolve the granule from the carrier and wash the pesticide into the soil. Diazinon was quite effective at controlling soil-home pests that would otherwise damage the grass.
Unfortunately, the diazinon-containing granules were applied during the day and exhibited a particle size that was large enough to sit on top of the turf thatch. Birds flying overhead in search of food could still see the granules and would mistakenly them as food. The Environmental Protection Agency recently prohibited further use of diazinon for sod farms and golf courses due to the unacceptably high level of avian mortality from these uses. It would be desirable to have a means for applying granulated contact insecticides during normal daylight hours with protection against avian feeding but yet be able to release the insecticide when avian feeding does not pose a risk of mortality due to accidental consumption.
One possible approach suggested by Michael U.S. Pat. No. 4,946,624 for laundry products is a crosslinked glutamldehyde microcapsule having a core material, preferably perfume, surrounded by a capsule shell wall of coacervated gelatin and gum arabic that have been crosslinked with glutaraldehyde. This shell wall can have small "particles" of 0.1-25 % of the core diameter can be "activated" with heat from the drier or warm water from the wash or rinse cycle in a clothes washing machine to form discrete holes in the shell. The particles can be liquids that will volatilize from heat or solids that will dissolve in wash or rinse water to form pores or holes through which the hydrophobic core material escapes. No specific list of solid inclusion particles is provided. Perfumes, flavors, pharmaceutical materials and agricultural chemicals in general are taught to be useful for the encapsulation.
In many applications, however, the core material must be and is desirably hydrophobic. The wall of the microcapsule must be able to form porosity in ambient or cold water and do so without affecting the viscosity of the solution or leave residues that could clog spray nozzles or tubing.
In other applications, microcapsule walls made of gelatin and gum arabic crosslinked with glutaraldehyde are not sufficiently impermeable to restrain the core material and remain compatible with a water carrier. This is particularly true for some hydrophobic materials including herbicides and plant growth regulating agents, insecticides, and fungicides that have a particularly strong solvation ability. Some form of better encapsulation system is needed to form such materials into microcapsules that will be impermeable to the core material.
It would be desirable to have a microencapsulated system that could be used for herbicides and plant growth regulating agents, insecticides, and fungicides without modification of the handling, mixing, or application methods currently in use.
It would also be useful to have a microencapsulation system that would encapsulate hydrophilic materials as well as a broad spectrum of hydrophobic materials including those of high solvation ability yet permit release of the encapsulated material upon contact with water having a temperature of less than about 100.degree. F. (38.degree. C.).


A liquid level monitor using a pressure actuated sensor to replace the open bubble tube. Air flows down the supply tube as in the bubbler, but rather than being released into the water, the air enters a chamber that has one movable wall, such as a diaphragm, that is acted on from the inside by pressurized air and from the outside by the hydrostatic head of the water. When the water pressure exceeds the chamber air pressure, the movable wall is pressed against an air outlet and does not allow air in the chamber to escape through the air outlet. One embodiment uses a diaphragm disposed over the air outlet; however, the concept may be extended to several other movable members, such as a piston with low actuation force. When the air chamber pressure exceeds the water pressure, the movable member moves away from the air outlet, releasing air and causing the chamber pressure to drop down to the water pressure.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to level monitors, and more particularly to a liquid level monitor.
2. Description of Related Art
Liquid level monitors are used in many applications including uses in combination with other components to measure fluid flow variables in open channel flow arrangements. One such level monitor is referred to as a bubble flow meter or bubbler. The bubbler is suitable for various environmental operating conditions since it is unaffected by wind, fluctuation in air or liquid temperatures, turbulence, steam, foam on the surface, corrosive chemicals, debris, oil, floating grease , or lightning.
Known bubblers are instruments that compress air into a reservoir, slowly release that air through an orifice and allow it to flow out the end of an unrestricted tube placed at the bottom of a channel of water. The instrument has a pressure transducer that measures the air pressure after the orifice which pressure is equal to the water head above the end of the tube.
These bubble flow meters are a popular meter, but are not used for certain applications because of some shortcomings. For example, if there is considerable sediment in the channel, the tube may plug. Also, when the fluid head changes dramatically during short intervals of time, some water may enter the bubble tube then exit either when the level drops or when the bubble pressure increases. This wetted tube with an air supply grows algae which can eventually plug the tube. These plugging situations are somewhat alleviated by using a purge valve which is opened at timed intervals to bypass the orifice and release a high pressure stream of air to clear the end of the tube.
Further, since the meter is constantly bringing in air, a desiccant system is required to reduce the relative humidity of the air coming in so as not to damage the mechanics and electronics of the meter. This desiccant has a finite capacity and therefore requires periodic servicing. The compression of air, the need to continuously have air flow to keep water out of the end of the tube even though pressure readings may not be taking place, and the need to periodically purge, all raise the power consumption level to a point where a long term data logging meter using a bubbler is not feasible.
Those concerned with these and other problems recognize the need for an improved liquid level monitor.


A multi-level waveguide to transmit light through a series of substrates. The multi-level waveguide is made up of stacked substrates, each containing a two dimensional array of transparent material filled vias. Transparent materials such as optical fiber, cladding, and gas may be used to provide a pathway for light. Optionally, a conductive layer may be deposited on a substrate in the multi-level waveguide. The conductive layer can then interact with the multi-level waveguide through light detecting devices such as photodetectors.

Optical circuits provide many advantages over traditional electrical circuits. They are much faster and potentially much smaller than Controlled Collapse Chip Connector (C4) and Multi-Chip Module (MCM) packages. Optical circuits may also be used in conjunction with electronic MCMs.
Optical circuits typically use laser light transmitted by optical fiber. For example, many optical circuits use edge-emitting lasers (EELs) aligned with optical fiber lying in horizontal grooves on a substrate. This configuration of lasers and optical fiber requires significant area on an optical circuit substrate.
Optical fiber is typically composed of an outer layer and an inner core. The outer layer generally has a slightly lower refraction angle (index of refraction) than the inner core. The different refraction angle keeps light traveling in the centrally-aligned core. An end of each optical fiber is typically aligned on the substrate with an EEL. The other end of the optical fiber may be aligned with a photodetector. Typically, in manufacturing these optical circuits, optical fiber and EELs have to be aligned manually. This may take 30 to 40 minutes per alignment according to current techniques.
While EELs are capable of emitting many wavelengths of light and capable of emitting wavelengths in single and multi modes, they are difficult to manufacture and have high power requirements. Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Lasers (VCSELs) are much easier to manufacture and have lower power requirements. While some VCSELs may only be able to emit a limited number of wavelengths in multimode emissions, they may be used to direct laser light signals in a vertical direction (i.e., orthogonal to the substrate).
Conventional products are difficult to align with a VCSEL and guide light vertically through one or more substrates with minimal dispersion losses.


An ophthalmic instrument for removal of the natural cataractogenious lens includes a distal end portion configured to be received through a small incision into the anterior capsule of the eye. This distal end portion includes a pair of opposed jaw portions movable by manual manipulation of a pair of handle portions defined on a proximal portion of the instrument. One of the opposed jaw portions is perforate to more effectively fracture the cataractogenious lens. One of the opposed jaws may include a conduit allowing irrigation liquid to be supplied into the eye, while the other opposed jaw may include a conduit allowing aspiration of irrigation liquid and fractured particles of the lens. Because the small incision may fit relatively tightly around the instrument, fluid loss from the eye is minimized.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to ophthalmic instruments for use in cataract surgery. More particularly, the invention relates to an instrument which is usable to remove the natural lens from the eye, and which may also provide irrigation to the eye and aspiration of irrigation liquid and fragments of the fractured natural lens during surgery.
2. Related Technology
During ophthalmic surgery, it is often necessary to perform various functions within the eye. For example, during cataract surgery, these functions include breaking up of the natural lens of the eye, irrigating the eye and aspirating the natural lens particles and irrigation liquid from the eye.
A conventional device for breaking up the natural cataractogenious lens is a phacoemulsifier. This device uses a tubular cutting tip vibrated by ultrasonic energy and centrally provided with vacuum aspiration to remove the natural lens in fragments. However, the conventional phacoemulsifier has a significant risk of damage to surrounding eye tissues because of the vigor of its action.
To carry out surgical procedures within the eye, it is necessary to make one or more incisions in the eye. To minimize trauma and to speed the healing process, it is desirable that the incisions be as small as possible. The ophthalmic instruments are then inserted through the incisions into the interior of the eye. Once inserted, it is desirable to limit movement of the instruments at the sclera and the posterior capsule to calm the eye. Unfortunately, restricting movement of the instruments within the eye is often inconsistent with the task that the surgical instruments must perform. In addition, the function to be performed may require movement of the tip of the instrument (such as the cutting and aspirating tip of the phacoemulsifier) to various different locations in the eye, some of which are relatively inaccessible. Because of the vigorous action of the conventional phacoemulsifier, surrounding eye tissues which may be inadvertently contacted by this tip during movements of the instrument in the eye are at risk of damage or destruction.
It would be desirable to provide ophthalmic surgeons with an instrument capable of easily removing the natural cataractogenious lens via a small incision, but which is easier to control and less likely to do damage to surrounding tissues than the conventional phacoemulsifier.

Ophthalmic instrument for cataract surgery


Method and apparatus for synthesizing an F-18 labeled radioactive pharmaceutical by labeling a precursor with an F-18 radioactive isotope, by reacting the labeled precursor to obtain a labeled pharmaceutical, by separating impurities from the labeled pharmaceutical to provide a purified labeled pharmaceutical, and by collecting the purified labeled pharmaceutical. The apparatus includes a labeling cartridge that contains the precursor, receives the isotope, and causes a labeling reaction to provide the labeled precursor; a synthesizing container that receives the labeled precursor, receives at least one reagent effective to hydrolyze the labeled precursor, and within which the labeled precursor undergoes a hydrolysis reaction to provide the labeled pharmaceutical; and a separation cartridge that receives the labeled pharmaceutical, and contains a polymer compound that separates impurities into polar compounds and nonpolar compounds to provide the purified labeled pharmaceutical. The labeling and separation cartridges may be contained in a removable cassette.

Synthesis of radioactive pharmaceutical having short half-life is performed by an apparatus in which a radioactive isotope and a reagent are reacted together and the obtained product material is purified. Certain parts comprising such an apparatus may be sensitive to radioactivity or chemical corrosion.
Synthesis of radioactive pharmaceutical for PET (positron emission tomography) which is an example of radioactive pharmaceuticals is performed by labeling a radioactive isotope which is formed by a cyclotron onto a precursor. An automatic synthesizing apparatus is inevitable for such a synthesis, and since a radiation is emitted continuously during synthesizing process it is impossible to synthesize manually by a person.
However, since a conventional radioactive pharmaceutical synthesizing apparatus has a complicated synthesizing process, there is a problem in that it is hard to expect a high yield and radiation exposure of a worker may be increased. In addition, a specific apparatus for a specific radioactive pharmaceutical designed to obtain a certain purpose cannot support various kinds of radioactive pharmaceutical and there is a limitation in applying such apparatus to development of a various new medicines.

Apparatus and method for synthesizing F-18 labeled radioactive pharmaceuticals


A field-effect transistor has a channel region in a bulk semiconductor substrate, a first source/drain region on a first side of the channel region, a second source/drain region on a second side of the channel region, and an extension of epitaxial monocrystalline material formed on the bulk semiconductor substrate so as to extend away from each side of the channel region.

Semiconductor processors continue to strive to reduce the size of individual electrical components, thereby enabling smaller and denser integrated circuitry. One typical device is a field-effect transistor. Such typically includes opposing semiconductive source/drain regions of one conductivity type having a semiconductive channel region of opposite conductivity type therebetween. A gate construction is received over the channel region. Current can be caused to flow between the source/drain regions through the channel region by applying a suitable voltage to the gate.
The channel region is in some cases composed of background doped bulk semiconductive substrate or well material, which is also received immediately beneath the opposite type doped source/drain regions. This results in a parasitic capacitance developing between the bulk substrate/well and the source/drain regions. This can adversely affect speed and device operation, and becomes an increasingly adverse factor as device dimensions continue to decrease.
Field-effect transistors have been described having channel regions formed separately from the source/drain regions. Such separate formation can result in a grain boundary between the source/drain regions and the channel region, which can produce a junction leakage problem when the grain boundary crosses the source/drain junction.
For the reasons stated above, and for other reasons stated below that will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the present specification, there is a need in the art for alternative methods for producing field-effect transistors, and their resulting devices.


Delivery vehicles comprising an outer biocompatible encapsulating layer, an inner amphiphilic active ingredient-associated layer and an active ingredient are described. The delivery vehicles are biocompatible and are capable of solubilizing the active ingredient for in vivo delivery to bodily tissue or other bodily systems. Uses include nuclear magnetic resonance imaging and therapeutic drug delivery.

Phospholipid micellar particles in the form of unilamellar or multilamellar vesicles, also known as liposomes, have been used in a number of contexts as vehicles for the solubilization and delivery of active ingredient materials. Liposomes have proven in some cases to be highly advantageous in in vivo delivery systems in terms of biological compatibility, ability to isolate and solubilize otherwise insoluble and/or toxic active ingredients and ability selectively to deliver active ingredients to specific tissues or systems of interest.
Efforts have been made to solubilize ferromagnetic materials in liquid carriers in order to achieve ferromagnetic fluids since at least the early 1960's. One such example is that of magnetite, a ferromagnetic material of formula Fe.sub.3 O.sub.4 often formed by precipitation from alkaline solution of iron (II) and iron (III) chlorides. Examples of such precipitation methods include those described in Mann et al J.C.S. Chem. Comm. 1979, pp. 1067-1068, Khalafalla et al., IEEE Trans. Magnetics, Vol. MAG-16, No. 2, pp. 178-183 (March 1980) and Molday et al., J. Immunological Methods, Vol. 52, pp. 353-367 (1982). The ability of magnetite to act as a T.sub.2 relaxation enhancer in nuclear magnetic resonance has been recognized in the literature. See Ohgushi et al , J Magn. Res., Vol 29, pp. 599-601 (1978).
A number of successful techniques for solubilizing magnetite have been developed, but none prior to the present invention has been demonstrated as being suitable for in vivo use as a delivery vehicle for magnetite having extended circulation time, serum stability and biocompatibility. For example, particulate magnetite, whether uncoated or with coatings known in the prior art, is typically removed from the blood within a very short time, usually in less than one hour and in many cases within five minutes. Moreover, lack of proper solubilization of such particles may lead to aggregation in the body and resultant deleterious effects.
Solubilization of magnetite in non-aqueous solution has been achieved by ball-milling the material in the presence of a surfactant such as oleic acid, by peptization into the desired solvent with a surfactant, and by related methods. In this regard, see Charles et al., IEEE Trans. Magnetics, Vol. MAG-16, No. 2, pp. 172-177 (March 1980), Khalafalla et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,764,540 (1973), and Reimers et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,843,540 (1974). Characteristic of such non-aqueous, non-polar solvent suspensions of magnetite are vehicles comprising a monolayer coating of surfactant with the polar head thereof associated with the ferrite surface and the lipophilic hydrocarbon tail thereof exposed outwardly to achieve compatibility with the non-polar carrier solvent. Such compositions are not suitable for solubilization in the aqueous environment of the body.
Aqueous or polar solvent suspensions of magnetite have also been achieved. Monolayer surfactant coats of dodecylamine or dodecanoic acid on magnetite have been shown to yield dispersions of the ferromagnetic material, the latter surfactant giving a dilution-stable dispersion. Khalafalla et al., IEEE Trans. Magnetics, Vol. MAG-16, No. 2, pp. 178-183 (March 1980). Aqueous ferrofluids using petroleum sulfonates as dispersing agents have been decribed. Kelley, U.S. Pat. No. 4,019,994 (1977). The structure of such monolayer surfactant-coated particles is similar to that of the non-aqueous solubilized magnetite particles discussed above, with prevention of aggregation but retention of water solubility being achieved by virtue of shorter (less hydrophobic) hydrocarbon tails exposed to the solvent phase.
Stable aqueous suspensions of magnetite particles have also been achieved using ionic and non-ionic surfactants to produce a surface double layer. Such structures involve an inner layer of amphiphilic molecules coated on the magnetite particle as in the monolayer case, and an outer surfactant layer oriented with lipophilic tails disposed inwardly and hydrophilic heads exposed outwardly to the aqueous/polar solvent. The inner layer frequently is composed of oleic acid. Materials used as outer surfactants include fatty acids and their salts, long chain ethers or esters, and alkylaromatics such as alkylaryl polyethers. Examples of such bilayer compositions are given in Shimoiizaka, Japanese Patent No. 51-44580 (1976) and Sambucetti, IEEE Trans. Magnetics, Vol. MAG-16, No. 2, pp. 364-367 (March 1980). The outer layer surfactants which have thus far been shown to be useful in solubilizing magnetite particles are not, however, suitable for in vivo use inasmuch as they are themselves toxic and are, moreover, rapidly broken down in the blood environment potentially to allow harmful aggregation of the encapsulated materials.
Alternate means of preparing magnetite for in vivo administration include attachment of the particles to micrometer-sized carbohydrate matrices (Olsson et al., Proc. Soc. Magn. Res. Med., p. 889 (4th Ann. Mtg. Aug. 1985) and Olsson et al., Magn. Res. Imaging, Vol. 4, No. 2, pp. 142-143 (1986)) and coating of magnetite with the mucopolysaccharide chitosan (Yen et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,285,819 (1981)). It is believed that such compositions, although possibly stable in serum, would quickly be removed from circulation by the reticuloendothelial system. Magnetically localizable polymerized liposomes containing pharmaceuticals and a ferrite material have been described in Chang, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 714,411 (March 12, 1985) now U.S. Pat. No. 4,652,257. In addition, the encapsulation of magnetite within the enclosed volume of a single bilayer phosphatidylcholine vesicle and a proposal for use in nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy is disclosed in Mann et al., J.C.S. Chem. Comm. 1979, pp. 1067-1068 (1979). The utility and safety of such a vesicle in this regard is not demonstrated. Furthermore, the composition described would have limited in vivo stability, making it undesirable as an imaging agent. In contrast, the delivery vehicles of the present invention have high stability in serum at 37.degree. C., are capable of extended circulation time, and are biocompatible.
The problems inherent in achieving a solubilized form of magnetite suitable for in vivo use are often applicable to other active ingredients. In particular, such ingredients may be particulate, aqueous-insoluble or toxic in nature, or it may be useful or necessary to deliver them to specific bodily sites. Furthermore, prior art delivery vehicles frequently do not have sufficient serum-stability to achieve optimal results in a safe manner.
Accordingly, the present invention addresses the need to develop improved compositions and methods capable of safely and specifically delivering active ingredients, such as therapeutic agents or diagnostic agents, including magnetic or other imaging agents, to the body in amounts effective to achieve beneficial results.

Delivery vehicles with amphiphile-associated active ingredient


A resin molded product includes a plate portion having a plate-like shape and having assembly locations in which a mating member is assembled on both surfaces of the plate portion in a plate thickness direction, a reference portion provided on one surface of the plate portion and used for alignment with the mating member, and a through hole which penetrates the reference portion in the plate thickness direction and opens on the both surfaces of the plate portion. The reference portion has a columnar shape extending in the plate thickness direction, and the through hole opens at an extending end of the reference portion and extends in the plate thickness direction to open on the other surface of the plate portion. The plate portion further includes a terminal provided so as to extend in the plate thickness direction at the assembly location on the other surface.

In a recent year, a resin molded product used as various components mounted on a vehicle and the like has been proposed. For example, one of the resin molded product of the related art has a plate portion having a plate-like shape and includes a connector portion (assembly location) in which a mating connector (mating member) is assembled to one surface of the plate portion and which holds a terminal and an equipment accommodating portion and a substrate accommodating portion (assembly location) where equipment and a circuit board (mating member) are respectively assembled on one surface and the other surface of the plate portion (see, for example, Patent Literature 1). This resin molded product of the related art is used as a component of an ABS unit for a vehicle.


There is provided a rolling die and a method for forming a thread or worm and a spline having a small number of teeth whose number is thirteen or less simultaneously by rolling. By use of rolling dies, the formation of a worm by rolling by use of a thread rolling die starts, and after that, the formation of a spline having a small number of teeth by rolling starts by use of a spline rolling die while continuing the formation of the worm. Accordingly, a rolled material can be rolled forcibly by a driving source from the worm rolled using the thread rolling die. As a result, the spline having a small number of teeth whose number is thirteen or less can be formed by rolling onto the rolled material at the same time as the formation of the worm.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a rolling die and a method for forming a thread or worm and a spline having a small number of teeth by rolling simultaneously. More particularly, the present invention relates to a rolling die and a method for forming a thread or worm and a spline having a small number of teeth whose number is thirteen or less simultaneously by rolling.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, a shaft member having a thread or worm and a spline coaxially is formed by rolling using a thread rolling die for threads or worms and a spline rolling die for splines. The thread rolling die and spline rolling die are disposed to different positions laterally and linearly. In this rolling, the thread or worm and spline are formed by rolling at different timings. Accordingly, the rolling takes long time, and the rolling machine increases in size.
In recent years, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Examined Patent Application Publication No. H01-41419 (lines 20th to 22nd of the 4th column, FIGS. 3 to 6, etc.) and Japanese Patent No. 2902101 (lines 7th to 10th of the 5th column, FIGS. 1 to 4, etc.), a thread rolling die and a spline rolling die are disposed parallel to each other to form a thread or worm and spline simultaneously by rolling.
In the above conventional method, a spline having a small number of teeth whose number is thirteen or less cannot be formed by rolling together with a thread or worm.
In other words, when a small number of teeth are formed by rolling onto a rolled material to form a shape of a gear such as a spline (the number of teeth of the spline is thirteen or less), teeth of a rolling die can be out of contact with teeth of the rolled material. Accordingly, the rolled material cannot be rolled, disabling the rolling.
Conventionally, the spline having a small number of teeth needs to be formed by gear cutting (machining), while the thread or worm is formed by rolling. This is extremely inefficient.
On the other hand, there are a method (the so-called zigzag rolling) in which the spline having a small number of teeth is formed by rolling onto two portions out of phase by a half pitch, and a method in which a rolled material is rolled forcibly by use of a guide block for the rolling. The latter method is disclosed in Japanese Examined Patent Application Publication S60-187. In the former, one of the rolled splines needs to be cut and deleted. In the latter, a portion formed by rolling by use of the guide block needs to be cut and deleted. These are extremely inefficient.

Rolling die and method for forming thread or worm and spline having small number of teeth by rolling simultaneously


A computer-implemented method, as well as a system, is for evaluating dose events of at least one medical imaging exam. In an embodiment, the method includes receiving at least one list of dose events of the at least one medical imaging exam; providing a body region counter value indicating a number of body regions; determining whether the body region counter value is 1 or larger than 1; associating, upon the body region counter value provided being 1, all of the dose events with a standardized body region based protocol identifier; and associating, upon the value being larger than 1, each dose event with at least one standardized body region based protocol identifier, each of the dose events being respectively associated with a number of different standardized body region based protocol identifiers, with which each of the dose events are associated, is equal to the body region counter value provided.

Nowadays, a large number of non-invasive medical imaging techniques is available to better investigate and diagnose the medical status of a patient.
Most non-invasive medical imaging techniques subject the patient to a dose of electromagnetic radiation in individual scans, which can therefore be designated as "dose events". Accordingly, there is a demand to keep track of such dose events in order to maintain awareness of the total amount of electromagnetic radiation applied to a patient over time. Dose amounts can be accumulated and compared to reference values to determine whether additional dose amounts may be applied or not.
Medical imaging modalities such as computer tomography (CT) scanners, mammography scanners, Molecular-Imaging scanners, x-ray devices and so on usually provide lists of individual dose events (or: scans) that have been performed. However, an increasing level of detail in most medical imaging techniques and an increasingly large number of precise anatomic locations that can be examined (or: scanned) lead to a sometimes confusing multitude of dose event lists and codes.
Ontologies such as the RadLex ontology have been introduced in order to standardize data recording formats such that dose events can be noted and archived even if they stem from different modalities at different tenants using different scanning equipment.
For example, the "RadLex Playbook" (registered trademark) introduced by the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) constitutes a portion of the RadLex ontology (meanwhile also part of the more general LOINC standard). The RadLex Playbook aims to provide a standard system for naming radiology procedures, based on the elements which define an imaging exam such as modality and body part, among others. By providing standard names and codes for radiologic studies, the RadLex Playbook is intended to facilitate a variety of operational and quality improvement efforts, including radiation dose tracking and image exchange.
Whenever mention is made herein of the RadLex (registered trademark) ontology, it is referred to the current RadLex version 2.5 released in February 2018. However, the concepts described herein may be equally applicable for future version of the standard. More information about the RadLex Playbook can e.g. be obtained from https://www.rsna.org/RadLex_Playbook.aspx.
Other projects include, e.g., the LOINC-RSNA Radiology Playbook which is jointly managed by the Regenstrief Institute (publisher of LOINC) and RSNA. This harmonized Playbook defines a new information model for describing imaging procedures, and identifies correspondences between RadLex Playbook codes and LOINC codes.
Whenever mention is made herein of LOINC (registered trademark) herein, it is referred to the LOINC version 2.64 released on Jun. 15, 2018, as is available e.g. from https://loinc.org/. However, the concepts described herein may be equally applicable for future version of the standard.
When dose events are applied, i.e. when electromagnetic radiation is applied to a patient, often merely a small body part ("anatomic focus") is of interest.
An anatomic focus may e.g. be, or comprise, an internal organ, a bone, a blood vessel, a gland, a muscle, a sinew and/or a limb.
For example, the anatomic focus may comprise, or consist of, an abdomen wall, an acetabulum, an acromioclavicular joint, additional gestation, an adrenal gland, an airway, an ankle, an aorta, an aortic root, an appendix, an aqueduct, an arm, an arterial anastomosis, an artery or multiple arteries, arteriovenous fistulae, an axilla, an axillary lymph node, biliary ducts, a biliary system, a bladder, bone marrow, a brachial artery, a brachial plexus, a brachiocephalic artery, a brain, a brainstem, a calcaneus, a calf, a carotid artery, a carpal bone, a carpal canal, a carpal tunnel, a celiac plexus, cerebral arteries, cerebral cisterns, cerebral sinuses, cervical arteries, a cervix, a chest wall, cholangiopancreatic ducts, cholecystokinin, a circle of willis, a clavicle, a coccys, coronary arteries, coronary veins, a cortex, a cyst, a deep cervical lymph node, a diaphragm, a DMSA, a duodenum, a dural venous sinus, an ear, an elbow, an endoleak, an endoscopy, an epidural space, an esophagography, an esophagus, an external auditory canal, a facet joint, facial bones, a fallopian tube, a femoral artery, a femur, a fetus, a fibula, a digit, a finger, a foot, a forearm, a gallbladder, a ganglion cyst, a gastrointestinal tract, genitals, a groin, a groin lymph node, a guide wire placement, a hallux, a hand, a heart, a hepatic vein, HIP, a humerus, an ileal conduit, an iliac artery, iliac vessels, an inferior vena cava, intercostal arteries, intercostal nerves, an intermediate joint, an internal auditory canal, an internal mammary artery, an intervertebral disc, an intra-articular contrast, a jaw, a joint, a jugular vein, a kidney, kidney vessels, a knee, a large intestine, a larynx, a left atrium, a ligament, a liver and/or the like.
However, due to the nature of electromagnetic radiation, a whole body region (e.g. the entire head, or the entire abdomen) might be affected by the same scan. When a medical imaging exam comprises a number of individual dose events, it is generally tried to determine a body region to which the dose events, or a majority of dose events, have been applied, and to associate the individual dose events with said determined body region. The exam is often performed with the help of a local exam protocol which is not standardized and different among scanner manufacturers, modalities and institutions which are using the scanner devices. In order to be able to compare exams and protocols among manufacturers and institutions the local protocols used are advantageously mapped to a standardized set of protocols. This is sometimes called an association with a standard protocol.
For example, all scans of an exam may be associated with a single body region (e.g. hand or abdomen or pelvis or neck or extremities et cetera) and the results may be stored in a single "study" according to the DICOM standard.
DICOM (registered trademark) refers to "Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine" and is an international standard to transmit, store, retrieve, print, process and display medical imaging information. Whenever mention is made of DICOM herein, it is referred to the DICOM version DICOM PS3.1 2018c. However, the concepts described herein may be equally applicable for future version of the standard.
However, especially when medical imaging exams consist of a long list of individual dose events, it is potentially challenging to correctly associate all of the individual dose events with a single body region.
Such associating of dose events with body regions is important, however: national agencies as well as institutions have defined dose reference values for body regions with the intention that the accumulated dose values of the combined individual scans of the exam shall not, or at least not with good cause, exceed the reference values.
If, for a planned dose event, dose values are predicted for that would exceed the corresponding reference values, typically a dose alert is often created in order to strengthen awareness dose management to protect patients from too high dose values. Such a dose alert may prevent a medical technician or physician from performing an additional medical imaging scan.
Dose management products supporting benchmarking functionality usually need to map local exam protocols to a standard or ontology as described in the foregoing. Based on standardised body region based protocol identifiers (e.g. RPID 315 of the RadLex Playbook) a comparison between different exams (e.g. head exams) from different tenants with different scanner devices from different manufacturers can be accomplished when the individual exam has been mapped to the standard protocol before the comparison is to start. The mapping between exam and protocol is typically 1:1.
Additionally, situations may arise where a specific dose reference value is given for a certain exam but does not take into account that said exam is performed over a plurality of separate body regions. In that case, a dose alert may be automatically provided by a system because a total dose value is estimated to be too high even though actually the dose values applied to the different body regions would, each by themselves, be well below the provided reference value for those individual body regions separately.
An example mapping (or: associating) is performed e.g. by the "Exam Name Mapping Tool" of the US-American Dose Index Registry (DIR), see also the US-American National Radiology Data Registry Support (NRDR).

Evaluating dose events of medical imaging exams