The following text should not be construed as an admission of knowledge in the prior art. Furthermore, citation or identification of any document in this application is not an admission that such document is available as prior art to the present invention, or that any reference forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art.
Touchless automated hand-washing devices that incorporate rotating cylinders are known and have been in use for some time. These devices are designed to wash and/or provide a proper amount of anti-microbial solution to a person's hand and forearm within in a set time. The cylinders can be mounted in a free standing device and are adapted to receive the person's hand and forearm. The cylinders include an annulus or inner cavity that, in operation, is filled with cleaning fluid. As the inner cavity is filled, the cleaning fluid is forced out of a nozzle arrangement on the inner surface of the cylinder and into the interior of the cylinder. In order to provide greater coverage of the hand and forearm, the cylinders are rotated to provide a spray pattern.
A nozzle arrangement known in the prior art is disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 4,817,651 (“the '651 patent”). This patent discloses a three-set grouping of nozzles positioned on the interior surface of the rotating cylinder. A first set of nozzles is positioned on a closed end of the cylinder opposite from an open end through which a person's hands are placed. The closed end includes a frusto-conical shape that allows the first set of nozzles to be positioned such that cleaning fluid is sprayed toward the user's hand. Additionally, the frusto-conical end portion may include a drain through which spent cleaning fluid may exit the cylinder. A second set of nozzles are arranged in a ring on the inner surface of the cylinder just inside the open end. The second set of nozzles are angled downward, such that their spray is directed into the cylinder. A third set of nozzles are positioned in a helical array along the length of the cylinder.
As described in the '651 patent, the three-set nozzle arrangement has several advantages. Firstly, the fingernails and the ends of the fingers receive a direct spray from the first set of nozzles. Secondly, the spray pattern that results from the second set of nozzles produces a “curtain” that prevents the cleaning fluid from being splashed or sprayed out of the cylinder. Lastly, the helical arrangement of nozzles along the length of the cylinder in combination the rotation of the cylinders results in debris and spent cleaning fluid being swept downward, toward the closed end of the cylinder. In particular, the third set of nozzles are disposed in a left-hand helical pattern which, when combined with the clock-wise rotation of the cylinders, results in a succession of sprays that travel down the arm from above the wrist towards the fingertips.
The spray pattern that results from the nozzle arrangement depends in part on the orientation and spray pattern of the individual nozzles. While the '651 patent contains little discussion of these details, U.S. Pat. No. 5,823,447 (“the '447 patent”) is directed to an angled fan nozzle for use with a rotating cleaning cylinder. The nozzle construction disclosed in the '447 patent produces a flat “fan” pattern. In particular, cleaning fluid is ejected into the interior of the cylinder from a nozzle having a small square aperture. The spray of cleaning fluid spreads out through an angle while remaining substantially in a single plane. The nozzle is constructed such that the plane of the fan spray pattern is angled at 15 degrees with respect to the axis of the nozzle. As described by in the '447 patent, the nozzle may be positioned on the interior of the cylinder at a 15 degree tilt towards the closed end of the cylinder. The 15 degree angle of the fan spray combines with the 15 degrees tilt of the nozzle, resulting in a fan spray directed partially downwards, towards the closed end of the cylinder. With respect to the plane of the cylinder opening, the fan spray is directed downward at a 30 degree angle. This downwardly angled fan spray operates to direct spent cleaning fluid downwards, towards the closed end of the cylinder.
While the '447 patent discloses an angle of the flat fan spray with respect to the plane of the cylinder opening, this reference is silent as to the rotational orientation of the fan spray pattern around with respect to the normal of the inner wall (or “roll” angle as defined later herein). For example, a particular nozzle may be positioned in a 0 degree rotational orientation, such that the flat fan spray is ejected from the nozzle “horizontally,” that is, in a plane parallel with the plane of the cylinder opening. Alternatively, a particular nozzle may be positioned in the 90 degree orientation such that the flat fan spray is ejected “vertically,” that is, in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the cylinder opening. As can be appreciated, a particular nozzle can be positioned at any angle between 0 and 90 degrees such that the flat fan spray has both a vertical and horizontal component.
It has been found that particular orientations and arrangements of nozzles not disclosed or suggested by the '651 patent or the '447 patent, such as the rotational orientation of particular nozzles, produce a novel spray pattern having increased coverage of the hand and forearm of the user. Additionally, the prior art fails to disclose other novel features associated with the cylinders that allow for faster and more reliable completion of wash cycles, safer operation, and easier assembly.
Nothing herein is to be construed as an admission that the present invention is not entitled to antedate a patent, publication or invention by another by virtue of prior invention.


The subject matter described herein relates generally to wind turbines and, more particularly, to blades for use on a wind turbine.
Many known wind turbines include a tower and a rotor mounted on the tower using a nacelle. The rotor includes a number of blades that rotate to drive a generator through a gearbox using a rotor shaft, and the gearbox steps up the inherently low rotational speed of the rotor shaft such that the generator may convert the mechanical energy to electrical energy.
The swept area of the rotor is directly correlated with the power output of the wind turbine. Given that the swept area is essentially equal to the area of a circle (as calculated by the formula πr2) for which the length of each blade essentially defines the radius, an increase in the blade length tends to increase the power output potential of the wind turbine, and a decrease in the blade length tends to decrease the power output potential of the wind turbine. As such, increasing the blade length is sometimes desirable. However, the blades are often manufactured away from the installation site of the wind turbine, and blade transportation costs have been known to constrain the blade length increase and, therefore, the swept area and the power output potential of a wind turbine.


1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to methods of manufacture of neckties, and, particularly, means and methods for manufacturing an improved apparatus to anchor a four-in-hand necktie to a shirt so that it remains properly restrained and centered when adorned.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A conventional "four-in-hand" necktie is tied about the neck with a knot at a shirt collar and generally has an outward facing section passing down the shirt front to conceal shirt buttons and a somewhat narrower tail section which hangs down from the knot and is concealed by the outward facing section. Normally, a wearer might use one of a number of possible methods to control a tie, including: letting both the outward section and the tail section hang free; passing the tail section through a manufacturer's label regularly provided on the back of the outward facing section so that the two sections of the tie hang as a unit; or attaching the two sections to the shirt by use of various forms of jewelry, such as a tie-tack, a tie bar or a tie pin to keep the tie in place.
The problem with the non-restrained methods of wearing a tie mentioned above is that the tie sections hang free. This not only regularly presents disarray in appearance, but the tie sections frequently interfere with work, are soiled or ruined by dragging through food or other staining material, and may be quite hazardous if accidentally caught in a doorway or machinery.
The use of jewelry holding devices is common, but also suffers from a number of drawbacks. First, these devices often pass in and out of favor depending on preference and fashion trends. Second, they are often expensive and regularly cause damage to the fabric by creating permanent holes, creases, and blemishes in the tie. Finally, these jewelry devices anchor the tie to the shirt and often do not permit vertical movement of the tie relative to the shirt. Torso movements of the wearer cause the anchored tie to pull on the knot causing displacement of the knot and general disarray so as not to present an elegant appearance.
Not surprisingly, a number of solutions have been proposed to attempt to avoid the above problems, but none is believed wholly satisfactory. U.S. Pat. No. 4,920,579 to Swain describes an apparatus to restrain necktie tails of a four-in-hand tie at the front of the shirt by relying on the manufacturer's sewn-in-place label on the back of the outward facing section and a flat plastic loop threaded through that label and attached to buttons on the shirt front. The plastic loop is somewhat stiff and has button holes at each end with a fixed distance between them. This arrangement is believed to have numerous drawbacks, including that it is awkward to employ--requiring keeping track of the loop, re-positioning the loop each time a new tie is worn, and often re-tying of the tie to center the device properly. Further, this device relies on the distance between buttons fixed by the manufacturer of the shirt which is not always the same from shirt to shirt. Moreover, this device may cause tie damage through constant pulling on the manufacturer's label--a use for which the label is not designed. Finally, the stiff plastic loop may prove uncomfortable to wear.
Another approach is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,827,576 to Prince, Jr. There a button-slot neck tie fastener is permanently affixed to the manufacturer's label and a stiff portion having button slots is affixed to a shirt button. Apparently the tie's vertical movement relative to the shirt is permitted by the slot engaging the button. This device is believed to suffer from most of the same drawbacks as the Swain device, and may have the additional problem of possibly wearing out the shirt front where it contacts the device and the button stitching--thus possibly damaging both the tie and the shirt.
Still another solution to keeping a conventional tie in proper position is disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 4,972,523 to Begg. Begg contemplates the use of complementary VELCRO.RTM.-type loop-and-hook material, with a first element thereof on the back of the outward facing section and a second element thereof on a loop around the tail section. The second element has a slot on its opposite side for engagement with a shirt button. The two hook-and-loop elements engage each other to hold the tie in position and the tail section of the tie is threaded through the loop. Although this arrangement solves some of the problems presented by the Swain and Prince devices, its separate elements are believed to be somewhat awkward to use and the loop element may be prone to loss. More importantly, this design does not allow vertical movement of the tie relative to the shirt to follow movement of the torso of the wearer--leading to some of the same presentation problems as conventional jewelry restraining devices.
Applicant's device disclosed in the parent application solves all of these problems. The invention disclosed in the parent application employs a tie restraint apparatus with a vertical member attached at its top and bottom to the back of the front section of the tie, and a horizontal member which surrounds the vertical member and slides between the vertical member's top and bottom positions. The horizontal member includes one or more openings in it which attach to buttons on the shirt.
In operation, once the necktie is tied in a conventional manner, the horizontal member is easily slid into a position on the vertical member which aligns with an opening with a button on the shirt. The button is then secured within the opening to provide an anchor for the tie. The concealed tail section of the tie may be inserted through the horizontal member to keep it safely secure. This entire apparatus may be permanently affixed to a tie and constructed from material identical or similar to the tie's so that it is completely concealed from vision and its presence is not evident to the wearer.
The attachment of the horizontal member to the shirt has proven to be a very secure method of retaining the tie in place. This is due in part to the free movement of the horizontal member on the vertical member which assures that the tie always stays in a straight and low-stress orientation. Moreover, the invention of the parent application is extremely simple and reliable in operation, may be instantly attached without complicated positioning of the tie relative to shirt buttons, may be inexpensively incorporated as original equipment on any conventional tie, and, due to its automatic adjustability, always presents an orderly appearance regardless of a wearer's torso movement.
Despite the many advantages of the invention of the parent application, further improvements are considered to be possible, particularly in the method of manufacture. Although the invention of the parent application may be constructed from virtually any material, it has been determined that the apparatus functions significantly better if the material is stiffened to provide for smoother sliding between the vertical and horizontal members. Although this can be readily accomplished by employing a relatively stiff fabric for the apparatus, this tends to make the apparatus stand out from the tie in an undesirable manner.
A problem which then emerges is how to employ the same material as the tie itself, so as to camouflage the apparatus, while providing a suitably stiff apparatus. Experimentation with lining the tie material has proven somewhat effective to this end, but is viewed to be far too cumbersome for full scale production.
Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a fabric apparatus for maintaining a necktie in place which is stiffened to assure smooth operation.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a method of manufacture of such an apparatus which readily provides full camouflage of the apparatus during use.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method of manufacture of a necktie restraining means which is as simple and straightforward as possible to be readily adapted for full scale production.
These and other objects of the present invention will become evident from review of the following specification.


It is common in the processing of silicon semiconductor wafers to remove or etch portions of a layer of silicon dioxide using an etchant. A common etchant is hydrofluoric acid. This is typically done using an immersion process wherein a wafer, or one or more carriers containing a number of wafers, are immersed in the desired hydrofluoric acid containing processing fluid.
One of the disadvantages of immersion etching processes is that the wafers typically exhibit an increase in the numbers of particulates which become adhered to or imbedded in the wafer. As the feature size of semiconductor wafers continues to decrease into the sub-micron sizes, now typically in the range of 0.1-0.5 micron, the need for minimizing contamination becomes even more acute. These small feature sizes also create additional problems for immersion processing because surface tension effects can reduce etching uniformity and resulting product quality.
It has previously been recognized that silicon wafers can be processed by using etchant gases, including gases which contain hydrofluoric acid (HF). In an article entitled, "Etching of Thin SiO.sub.2 Layers Using Wet HF Gas" authors P. A. M. van der Heide et al., describe the etching of silicon dioxide layers by using vapor mixtures of HF, water and nitrogen. The article describes using a flow of nitrogen carrier gas through a vessel containing a 10% hydrofluoric aqueous solution. The nitrogen carrier produced a flow of etchant gas which was directed through a nozzle against the surface of a small silicon wafer being etched. A flow of dry nitrogen was passed over the opposite side of the wafer to reduce the effects of ambient atmospheric water which was present in the essentially open atmospheric process. Temperatures from 25.degree.-40.degree. C. were indicated for the HF solution and from 25.degree. C. to about 60.degree. C. for the wafer. The authors also reported that high temperature treatment under vacuum conditions following the etch provided complete removal of oxygen.
One deficiency of the process described is the continuation of etching after the intended process exposure period has finished. This results in uneven etching rates and problems in the resulting integrated circuit devices due to variations in feature sizes across the device. Etching uniformity is also deficient in that the process arrangement may not provide assurance of homogeneous presentation of the reactant gas to the wafer being processed. Variations in the uptake of the vapors by the incoming carrier gas stream can result in instantaneous variations in the etchant gas stream which can affect processing. This deficiency may not have been as significant in the reported processing because of the substantial diluting effect of the carrier gas which also resulted in very slow etching rates.
Another serious deficiency of the processing described by van der Heide is that the etching rates are very slow and accordingly not practical from a commercial processing standpoint where high volume production rates must be maintained. Therein the authors describe the need to produce an initial wetting time and then periods of 3.5-5 minutes were reported as acceptable for removing very thin layers of only 1.2-3.5 nanometers. The resulting indicated etching rates were about 1 minute per nanometer (1 minute per 10 Angstroms). These relatively slow etching rates would provide commercially unfeasible processing times of 5-100 minutes where layers of 50-1000 Angstroms are to be removed. Such processing times are sufficiently slow to prevent acceptance of the van der Heide vapor processing as a substitute to the faster processing times possible using the prevalent immersion processing.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,749,440 to Blackwood et al. shows a gaseous process for removing films from substrates which utilizes an anhydrous HF supply. The process is described to involve passing a flow of dry nitrogen over the wafer and then introducing a flow of reactive gas which is preferably an anhydrous hydrogen halide gas such as anhydrous hydrogen fluoride gas. A flow of water vapor laden nitrogen is also passed over the wafer before the anhydrous HF gas flow is begun and this is continued until after the anhydrous HF gas flow has been stopped. This type of processing leads to nonhomogeneous mixing occurring during the brief processing period of approximately 5-30 seconds. During the initial period exclusively water laden carrier gas is first introduced. This subjects the surface of the wafer to a high gradient moisture increase over a very short period of time. This is immediately followed by anhydrous HF gas which is incapable of reaching any effectively uniform homogeneous or equilibrium condition with the water vapor because of the prior introduction of the water vapor and the quickly terminated introduction of the HF which creates a highly reactive combination varying from point to point across the wafer surface. The resulting highly reactive but nonhomogeneous etchant gas is capable of high etch rates. Unfortunately, the results using this process have proven to be highly variable with nonuniform etching on the same device being a common problem as well as nonuniformity from one device to the next. Acceptance of this processing system was initially enthusiastic but has been nearly abandoned by chip manufacturers because of the seriousness of the nonuniformity problem in etching rates.
The nonuniformity problem also results from variations in the amount of water present in the matrix of the material being processed which can have very significant effects on the effective localized HF-water concentrations on the surface of the chip during the high speed etching reaction which occurs during this type of processing. Wafers otherwise processed in a similar manner may exhibit highly differing etch rates merely because they have been allowed to sit for hours under ambient conditions thereby uptaking atmospheric moisture to a substantially greater degree than other wafers processed soon out of a furnace or other moisture eliminating processing. Such variations in moisture content of the wafers are typical and any special pre-atmospheric treatment necessarily increases processing time, processing logistics, or both.
Another more recent approach to vapor etching of wafers using HF is incorporated into the processing machine referred to as the EDGE 2000 from Advantage Production Technology. This system utilizes a specially configured processing chamber which vacuum treats the wafer prior to processing with the etchant. This approach attempts to remove residual moisture from the wafer to address the nonuniform etching rate problem discussed above. The relatively short duration vacuum processing cannot remove all moisture content variations. The wafer is exposed to a highly reactive HF-water gas stream which is directed at the wafer in a vertical orientation from one or both sides. The jet of incoming reactant gas impinges upon the surface or surfaces of the wafer at localized central areas and typically results in nonuniformities in mass transfer due to this localized impingement despite the vacuum processing directed toward water removal.
The inventor hereof has discovered that vapor processing of semiconductor wafers, substrates and similar units using the novel processing described herein can result in the formation of undesirable particulate in some types of processing. The particulate has been manifested in localized deposits, or alternatively, in relatively diffuse layers generally deposited over the entire treated surface of the wafer. In some cases the particulate will be sufficiently concentrated to form a visible haze. In other cases the particulate will only be observable using magnifying instrumentation.
The exact nature of the particulate or particulates which form on the surface of the wafer is not known with certainty. However, it is believed to be one or more fluorosilicates formed by competing side reactions to the removal of silicon oxides by hydrofluoric acid. One possible fluorosilicate which may be formed is H.sub.2 SiF.sub.6, hydrogen hexafluorosilicate. Others compounds or solid phase mixtures may also be present or the primary particulate being formed.
Thus there remains a strong need in the art for gaseous HF and other chemical processing which will provide uniform and repeatable results with highly effective etching rates while achieving low contamination and particle counts. Other objectives and advantages of the invention are also indicated herein.


A radio apparatus that performs communications using a random access method, such as a wireless LAN, is required to keep awaiting a signal, since it is not known when the signal is transmitted. In general, a period of time for awaiting a signal is longer than period of time for receiving a signal. In order to reduce power consumption of the whole radio apparatus, it is important to reduce power consumption during standby time.
As a method for reducing power consumption of a radio apparatus, for example, a method for improving a configuration of a synchronizing circuit in a digital demodulating unit is known (see for example, Milos Krstic, et. al., “Optimized low-power synchronizer design for the IEEE 802.11a standard,” ICASSP 2003 pp. 333-336.).
However, the method described in the Non-Patent Document 1 has a problem such that power consumption of an analog demodulating unit in a receiving unit, cannot be reduced while power consumption of a digital demodulating unit in the radio apparatus can be reduced.
The analog demodulating unit consumes as much power during standby time as when receiving a signal. Therefore, it is desired to reduce power consumption when the analog demodulating unit is in standby state in order to attain lower power consumption of the radio apparatus.


The present invention generally relates to the deglycerolization of blood, and more particularly, to a system which controls the deglycerolization of blood by monitoring the segregation of erythrocytes by size.
The Armed Services Blood Program Office (ASBPO) has established a policy of maintaining pre-positioned stockpiles of frozen red blood cells, and utilizing these stockpiles in times of conflict for U.S. combat casualties. In order to implement this policy, glycerol is allowed to be absorbed by red blood cells, which then are frozen and stored. The glycerol prevents damage to the erythrocytes. Presently, the only method approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for processing thawed-frozen red blood cells uses an open, nonsterile wash system that is manually monitored and operated. This system generally requires about 11/2 to 2 hours to thaw and deglycerolize red blood cells from a cryogenic state. Because this system is not sterile, the FDA mandates that thawed-frozen red blood cells processed this way must be transfused within 24 hours or discarded. However, the time restrictions and requirement to discard the blood are not compatible with the logistics of the ASBPO policy. Therefore, a need exist for a sterile, automated method for monitoring and controlling the deglycerolization of thawed red blood cells in a more timely manner compared to the processing time of the standard method.


1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a computer power supply, and particularly to a computer power supply mounting apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Many types of electronic devices, such as computers, include a power supply which is mounted in a housing or chassis along with the other circuits, components, and peripheral devices. Since the power supply receives alternating current electrical power and converts the alternating current to direct current for operating the various electrical components, safety regulations require that the power supply be completely enclosed in a case to prevent access to potentially harmful high voltages. In the past, most power supplies were mounted to the chassis using several screws, making it difficult and time consuming to replace or remove the power supply for repair.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,790,372, an improved power supply mounting apparatus is disclosed. A computer includes a chassis and a power supply mounted in the chassis. One or more hooks are provided on the chassis and the power supply, so that the power supply can be placed in the chassis and moved relative to the chassis to engage the hooks and secure the power supply in the chassis against movement in a first plane. A screw is provided for engaging the chassis and the power supply for securing the power supply against movement in a plane perpendicular to the first plane. A tab on a wall of the chassis guides the power supply.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,270,046, another improved power supply mounting apparatus is disclosed. A computer system includes a chassis which is formed by assembling front, rear and bottom panels together. An apparatus for mounting a switching power supply to the computer system includes a bracket and a drive cage with a pair of hooks. The drive cage bridges between the front and rear panels. The bracket includes a hinge portion and a supporting portion adapted to support the switching power supply. The hinge portion of the bracket is slidably engaged with the hooks for fixing the switching power supply to the rear panel of the chassis with screws.
Therefore, what is needed is an screwless apparatus for mounting a power supply, thereby to enable easy and convenient installation and removal of the power supply.


An X-ray CT (Computed Tomography) apparatus calculates an X-ray absorption coefficient at each point from the measured projection data that is obtained by imaging a subject from multi-directions, and obtains as a tomographic image of a subject, an X-ray absorption coefficient distribution image (hereinafter, referred to as “CT image”) made up of plural pixels. The CT image acquired through this apparatus allows a patient's disease condition to be diagnosed accurately and immediately in medical practice, and it is clinically effective. However, a constant amount of radiation exposure is unavoidable in order to acquire an image of high quality necessary for diagnosis by a doctor. On the other hand, if the radiation dose is lowered in order to implement low dose scanning, a noise ratio increases to the signals being detected, and a large amount of linear streak artifact and/or graininess noise may occur, causing erroneous diagnosis. Therefore, it is desired to reduce such streak artifact and noise in the low dose scanning, and to achieve compatibility between high-quality diagnosis and low dose scanning.
In view of the situation above, the Patent Document 1 describes that there is employed an iterative approximate reconstruction method to iteratively correct a CT image so as to satisfy the condition that the calculated projection data is equal to the measured projection data, and reduce the noise. In the iterative approximate reconstruction method, firstly, a reconstructing process is performed on the region for reconstruction (hereinafter, referred to as “FOV”) including the subject, and an image (FOV image) is obtained. Next, projection data is calculated from the reconstructed image (FOV image) (hereinafter, referred to as “forward projection calculation”), and iterates the operation for correcting the CT image, in comparison to the aforementioned measured projection data. This may enhance the precision of the CT image within the FOV. The iterative approximate reconstruction method requires the condition that the FOV incorporates the subject therein, and therefore, if the correction of the subject is unrelated to the diagnosis, it may cause increase of the calculation amount.
As a publicly known analytical reconstruction method, an extensive reconstruction method is suggested to perform reconstruction operation on a local region, so as to reduce the calculation amount. In view of this, it is conceivable to apply the extensive reconstruction technique to the iterative approximate reconstruction method, and reduce the calculation amount. However, in the iterative approximate reconstruction method, it is difficult to perform the reconstruction operation only on the local region out of the measured projection data, and therefore, it is necessary to extract from the measured projection data, projection data being included in the local region (hereinafter, referred to as “local measured projection data”).
The Non Patent Document 1 discloses a technique that applies the extensive reconstruction technique to the iterative approximate reconstruction method. This technique reconstructs a CT image on the FOV incorporating the subject with a table, a fixture, and the like (hereinafter, referred to as “large FOV image”). Next, an image of a background region other than the local region is extracted from the large FOV image, and thus extracted image of the background region is subjected to the forward projection calculation, thereby obtaining background projection data. Thus obtained background projection data is subtracted from the measured projection data, thereby extracting local measured projection data, and calculating the CT image of the local region (hereinafter, referred to as “small FOV image”). Accordingly, it is possible to apply the iterative approximate reconstruction method to the local measured projection data, and improve the precision of the small FOV image.
On the other hand, in the analytical reconstruction method, when data obtained at some projection angles fails to be measured on the periphery of the FOV, it is known that the precision of the CT image of the FOV is remarkably deteriorated (incomplete reconstruction). The Patent Document 2 advises to estimate the subject within the region where data is unmeasurable on the periphery of the FOV, thereby improving the precision of a CT value (X-ray absorption value) in the FOV image.


The present invention generally relates to data processing. The invention relates more specifically to a mechanism that determines the order of execution among a plurality of code modules.
Computer networks have become ubiquitous in the home, office, and industrial environment. As computer networks have grown ever complex, automated mechanisms for organizing and managing the networks have emerged. These mechanisms are generally implemented in the form of one or more computer programs, and are generically known as network management systems or applications.
FIG. 1 is a simplified diagram of a network 100 that is managed by a network management station 10. The network 100 comprises one or more network devices 102, such as switches, routers, bridges, gateways, and other devices. Each network device 102 is coupled to another network device 102, or to one or more end stations 120. Each end station 120 is a terminal node of the network 100 at which some type of work is carried out. For example, an end station 120 is a workstation, a printer, a server, or similar device.
Each network device 102 executes a network-oriented operating system 110. An example of a network-oriented operating system is the Internetworking Operating System (IOS) commercially available from Cisco Systems, Inc. Each network device 102 also executes one or more applications 112 under control of the operating system 110. The operating system 110 supervises operation of the applications 112 and communicates over network connections 104 using an agree-upon network communication protocol, such as Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP).
Each device 102 stores information about its current configuration, and other information, in a Management Information Base (MIB) 114. Information in the MIB 114 is organized in one or more MIB variables. The network management station 10 can send xe2x80x9cfetchxe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9csetxe2x80x9d commands to the device 102 in order to retrieve or set values of MIB variables. Examples of MIB variables include sysObjectID and sysDescr.
Preferably the network management station 10 is a general-purpose computer system of the type shown and described further herein in connection with FIG. 10. The network management station 10 executes one or more software components that carry out the functions shown in block diagram form in FIG. 1. For example, the network management station 10 executes a basic input/output system (BIOS) 20 that controls and governs interaction of upper logical layers of the software components with hardware of the network management station. An example of a suitable BIOS is the Phoenix ROM BIOS. The network management station 10 also executes an operating system 30 that supervises and controls operation of upper-level application programs. An example of a suitable operating system is the Microsoft Windows NT(copyright) operating system. The network management station 10 may also execute other operating systems that may not require a BIOS 20, such as UNIX-type operating systems, microkernel-based operating systems, etc.
The network management station 10 executes an asynchronous network interface (ANI) 50 under control of the operating system 30. The ANI 50 provides an interface to the network 100 and communicates with the network using SNMP or another agreed-upon protocol. The ANI 50 provides numerous low-level services and functions for use by higher-level applications.
The network management station 10 executes a network management system 40 that interacts with a database 60 containing information about the managed network 100. The network management system 40 is an example of a network management application. Using a network management application, a manager can monitor and control network components. For example, a network management application enables a manager to interrogate devices such as host computers, routers, switches, and bridges to determine their status, and to obtain statistics about the networks to which they attach. The network management application also enables a manager to control such devices by changing routes and configuring network interfaces. Examples network management applications are Cisco Works, CiscoWorks for Switched Internetworks (CWSI), and Cisco View, each of which is commercially available from Cisco Systems, Inc.
The ANI 50 and network management system 40 need not execute or reside on the same physical computer. They may execute on different machines.
A requirement of many network management applications is the ability to rapidly adapt to new kinds of network devices, such as switches, routers, and other hardware and software. Often, it is necessary to support a new kind of device that is introduced into the network, released or shipped by the device vendor other than when the network management application is updated, released or shipped. Thus, it is necessary to support new devices and new services when the network management application is installed in the field or running in a managed network.
Accordingly, the network management application must accept new requirements in the field. In particular, the execution environment of the network management application must be able to accommodate new processes and services to be executed. Existing processes must be adapted to new devices.
In past approaches, there has been no simple way to integrate a new process, service, or software component and its execution into the existing network management application. Generally, in past approaches, the existing network management application must be patched or updated.
Based on the foregoing, there is a clear need in this field for a network management system that can accept field updates of new executable processes or services.
There is also a need for such a system that can integrate the new executable processes or services into the existing execution flow of the network management system.
In particular, there is a need for a system that can determine, at execution time, the order of execution of a plurality of modules that represent a process or service to be executed with respect to one or more network devices.
There is also a need for such a system that can resolve the run-time execution order of a plurality of executable components based upon interdependencies of the executable components.
There is also a need for such a system that can resolve the run-time execution order of executable components based upon requirements such as time of execution, type of function to be executed, and resources that are required to be available before a particular component can execute.
The foregoing needs, and other needs and objects that will become apparent in the following description, are fulfilled in the present invention, which comprises, in one aspect, a method of dynamically determining an execution order of a plurality of executable components, the method comprising the steps of associating, with a first component of the plurality of executable components, one or more preconditions to execution of the first component; storing a partial order of execution of the plurality of executable components based on the pre-conditions; and generating a final order of execution of the plurality of executable components based on the partial order.
One aspect of this feature is that the step of associating further comprises the steps of associating a time base with the first executable component. According to another feature, the step of associating further comprises the steps of associating a precondition value that represents a category of service to be executed before the first executable component is executed. In another feature, the step of associating a precondition value further comprises the steps of associating a time of execution and a category with the first executable component.
According to another feature, the step of associating a precondition value further comprises the steps of associating, with a first service module function of an asynchronous network interface in a network management system, an execution time, a name of a second service module function, and a type of the second service module function. In another feature, the step of associating a precondition value further comprises the steps of associating a time of execution value indicating that the first executable component is to be executed during device discovery processing.
Another feature is that the step of associating a precondition value further comprises the steps of associating a time of execution value indicating that the first executable component is to be executed at a fixed pre-determined time. Still another feature is that the step of associating a precondition value further comprises the steps of associating a time of execution value indicating that the first executable component is to be executed upon request by an external process.
In another feature, the step of storing further comprises the steps of storing a directed acyclic graph in a memory, in which the directed acyclic graph comprises a plurality of nodes, each node comprising information representing one of the preconditions. Still another feature is that the step of generating a final order of execution further comprises the steps of conducting a breadth-first traversal to each of the plurality of nodes of the directed acyclic graph, and building the final order of execution based on an order in which the nodes are traversed.
Yet another feature is that each node is associated with a level of the graph, and further comprising the steps of deleting one of the nodes when such node is encountered at more than one level of the graph. Still another feature is that one of the pre-conditions is a unit value that represents a data set that is required to be available before the first executable component is executed.


The present invention relates to an axial-flow turbine, and more particularly to a turbine nozzle and a moving blade forming an fluid passage of the axial-flow turbine.
A variety of techniques relating to the axial-flow turbine have been employed to improve an internal efficiency of the turbine so as to improve the performance of the same. Since a secondary flow loss among internal losses experienced with the axial-flow turbine is a loss of a type common to all stages of the turbine, a contrivance that is capable of preventing the above-mentioned loss has been required.
FIG. 19 shows cross sections of turbine stages of a usual axial-flow turbine including nozzle blades and moving blades. Referring to FIG. 19, a plurality of nozzle blades 4 are radially secured between an outer diaphragm ring 2 and an inner diaphragm ring 3 which are fit to a turbine casing 1 so that a nozzle blade passage is formed. A plurality of moving blades 6 is disposed at a downstream side of the nozzle blade passage. Each of moving blades 6 is sequentially implanted in the outer surface of the rotor wheel 5 at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction of the rotor wheel 5. The tip of the moving blades 6 are attached to a cover 7 so that leakage of working fluid is prevented. Both the nozzle blades 4 and the moving blades 6 form a working fluid passage of this stage of the turbine.
A next (second) stage of the turbine, which is located at a downstream side of the above (first) stage, has a rapidly enlarged passage for the working fluid. This passage is composed of a nozzle blade passage and a moving blade passage as well as the above working fluid passage. The nozzle blade passage is formed by an outer diaphragm ring 8, an inner diaphragm ring 9 and nozzle blades 10. The moving blade passage is formed by both moving blades 12 implanted in a rotor wheel 11 and a cover 13 attached to the tip of the moving blades 12.
In the second stage, the working fluid expands from a high-pressure condition to a low-pressure condition trough the passage, so the specific capacity (volume) of the fluid enlarges. To correspond to such enlargement of specific capacity, the inner wall of the passage is inclined in such a manner that the area of the passage is enlarged in the downstream direction.
Through the above-mentioned passage of the two stages, the working fluid generate a secondary flow at the nozzle blades 4 and 10. This mechanism of generating the secondary flow will now be described with reference to FIG. 20.
When the working fluid, which is high-pressure steam or the like, flows in the nozzle blade passage between the nozzle blades, the working fluid is curved into a circular arc form in the nozzle blade passage as indicated with a two-dot chain line shown in FIG. 20. At this time, centrifugal components are generated in a direction from an extrados E of the nozzle blade 4 to an intrados F of another nozzle blade 4. Since the centrifugal components and the pressure in the nozzle blade passage are in equilibrium, the static pressure at the intrados F of the nozzle blade 4 is raised.
On the other hand, the pressure at the extrados E of the nozzle blade 4 is lowered because the flow velocity of the working fluid is high along the extrados E. As a result, a pressure gradient is generated in a region of the nozzle blade passage from the intrados F of the nozzle blade 4 to the extrados E of the another nozzle blades 4. As shown in FIG. 20, also a pressure gradient of the foregoing type is generated between the inner wall of the root of the nozzle blades and a layer adjacent to the outer surface of the tip of the nozzle blades in which the flow velocity is low, that is, in the boundary layer. In the portions adjacent to the boundary layer, the flow velocity is low and the acting centrifugal component is weak. Therefore, the flow of the working fluid cannot withstand the pressure gradient generated in a direction from the intrados F of the nozzle blade 4 to the extrados E of the another blade. As a result, the flows are generated in a direction from the intrados F of the nozzle blade 4 to the extrados E of the another nozzle blade, as indicated with symbols f1 and f2 shown in FIG. 20. The flows f1 and f2 collide with the extrados E of the nozzle blade 4 and curl up. As a result, secondary flow eddies 14a and 14b are generated adjacent to the inner wall of the root of the nozzle blades 4 and the outer wall of the tip of the same.
FIG. 21 is a diagram showing a mechanism of the moving blades 6 disposed downstream from the nozzle blades 4 to generate a secondary flow. Since the mechanism of the secondary flow the moving blades 6 is substantially the same as the mechanism of the nozzle blades 4 to generate eddies in the secondary flow, the same functions as those shown in FIG. 20 are given the same reference numerals and symbols. As can be understood from FIGS. 22 and 23 showing losses of the nozzle blades 4 and the moving blades 6, eddy losses are caused from the secondary flow eddies. Thus, excessive losses are produced in the portions adjacent to the inner and outer walls of the turbine blades.
If secondary flow eddies 14a and 14b are generated, a portion of energy of the working fluid is dispersed. Moreover, nonuniform flows of the working fluid are formed, thus causing a problem to arise in that losses of the nozzle blades and the moving blades are enlarged and the performance of the stages to deteriorate excessively.
To prevent the secondary flow loss caused from the secondary flow eddies 14a and 14b generated in the above-mentioned passage (stages), a variety of techniques have been researched and developed. For example, a nozzle blade having a reduced outer surface has been employed. This reduced outer surface has a irregularities formed in the tip of the nozzle blade to reduce the height of the flow passage in the downstream direction. FIG. 24 is a cross sectional view showing a turbine nozzle having the nozzle blade 15 having a reduced outer surface. The nozzle blade 15 having the reduced outer surface causes flows along the outer surface of the nozzle blade 15. Thus, the flow line is shifted toward the inside portion (toward the central portion) of the nozzle blade passage as indicated with an arrow ft. It leads to a fact that the flow lines in the central portion and the root (inside) portion, similarly to those along the outer surface, are shifted inwards (toward the central portion), as indicated by arrows fp and fr. As a result, the flow lines pushes the flows to the inner wall of the nozzle blade 15 in portions adjacent to the root of the nozzle blade 15. Thus, enlargement of the boundary along the inner wall can be prevented so that enlargement of the loss caused from the secondary flow eddies is prevented.
FIG. 25 shows a distribution of losses reduced attributable to an effect of the conventional nozzle blade 15 having the reduced outer surface to prevent enlargement of losses caused from eddies in the secondary flow. As can be understood from FIG. 25, losses can significantly be reduced in the portions adjacent to the root of the nozzle blade. Improvement in the performance has been confirmed also in overall efficiency experiments of the turbine stages.
The fact that the nozzle blade 15 having the reduced outer surface is able to improve the performance has been confirmed in the above-mentioned stage efficiency experiments. However, local separation of the flow at the tip of the nozzle blade takes place attributable to a rapid shift of the flow line, as shown in the distribution of losses in the trailing edge of the nozzle blade. Therefore, the secondary flow cannot satisfactorily be improved.
Moreover, a great portion of the working fluid flows adjacent to the root of the nozzle blade. Therefore, considerable change in the flow rate occurs in the direction of the height of the nozzle blade.
Therefore, the stage performance realized by the nozzle blade 15 having the reduced outer surface can furthermore be improved. That is, a nozzle blade passage is required which is capable of preventing separation of flows of the working fluid and improving the flow rate characteristic at the tip of the nozzle blade.
In view of the foregoing an object of the present invention is to provide a turbine nozzle and a turbine moving blades of an axial-flow turbine capable of reducing a loss in the secondary flow with a simple structure.
This object can be achieved according to the present invention by providing an axial-flow turbine comprising: an outer diaphragm ring and an inner diaphragm ring forming together an annular fluid passage; and a plurality of nozzle blades disposed in the annular passage, each of the nozzle blades being formed into a warped shape such that a central portion in a lengthwise direction of the nozzle blade maximally projects in a downstream direction.
In preferred embodiments, the annular fluid passage has a stepped portion at an inner surface of the outer diaphragm ring and an outer surface of the inner diaphragm ring, the stepped portion having a curvature surface so that the height of the fluid passage is reduced in a downstream direction thereof.
The stepped portion has a height in a radial direction of the fluid passage, the height being described by the relationships:
0xe2x89xa6h1/L1 less than 0.05
0.1 less than h2/L1 less than 0.2
where L1 is the height of an leading edge of the nozzle blades, h1 the height of the stepped portion provided for the inner diaphragm ring and h2 is the height of the stepped portion provided for the outer diaphragm ring.
Each of said turbine blades has an axial distance from the leading edge of the diaphragm to the trailing edge of the nozzle blades, the distance being described by the relationships:
Zt less than Zr less than Zp
where Zt is the distance at the outermost end of the nozzle blades, Zr is the distance at the innermost end of the same and Zp is the distance at the central portion of the same.
The height L2 of the nozzle blades at a trailing edge is made to be smaller than the height L1 of the nozzle blades at a leading edge (that is L1 greater than L2).
The fluid passage is structured such that the inner surface of the outer diaphragm ring and the outer surface of the inner diaphragm ring are outwards inclined in the downstream direction.
An angle of inclination of said fluid passage is descried by the relationships:
0xc2x0xe2x89xa6xcex81 less than xcex83 less than xcex82
where xcex81 is an angle of inclination of the outer surface of the inner diaphragm ring, xcex82 is an angle of inclination of the inner surface of the outer diaphragm ring in the leading edge of the nozzle blades and xcex83 is an angle of inclination of a portion of the inner surface of the outer diaphragm ring following the tailing edge of the nozzle blades.
The height L2 of the nozzle blades at an trailing edge is made to be larger than the height L1 of the nozzle blades at an leading edge (that is, L1xe2x89xa6L2).
The fluid passage is structured such that the inner surface of the outer diaphragm ring is outwards inclined in the downstream direction and the outer surface of the inner diaphragm ring is inwards inclined in the downstream direction.
An angle of inclination of said fluid passage is descried
xcex81 less than 0xc2x0 less than xcex83 less than xcex82
where xcex81 is an angle of inclination of the outer surface of the inner diaphragm ring is, xcex82 is an angle of inclination of the inner surface of the outer diaphragm ring in the leading edge of the nozzle blades and xcex83 is an angle of inclination of a portion of the inner surface of the outer diaphragm ring following the trailing edge of the nozzle blades.
The fluid passage is structured such that the cross sections of the nozzle blades at the tip and the root of the nozzle blades are shifted in the circumferential direction of the annular fluid passage.
A throat width between adjacent two nozzle blades is determined by the relationships:
Spxe2x89xa6Sr less than St
where Sp is the throat width at the central portion in the lengthwise direction of the nozzle blades, Sr is that at the root and St is that at the tip.
In other side of the present invention, an axial-flow turbine comprising: an outer diaphragm ring and an inner diaphragm ring forming together an annular fluid passage; and a plurality of nozzle blades disposed in the annular passage, wherein said annular fluid passage has a stepped portion at an inner surface of the outer diaphragm ring and an outer surface of the inner diaphragm ring, the stepped portion having a curvature surface so that the height of the fluid passage is reduced in a downstream direction thereof.
In preferred embodiments, the fluid passage is structured such that the cross sections of the nozzle blades at the tip and the root of the nozzle blades are shifted in the circumferential direction of the annular fluid passage.
A throat width between adjacent two nozzle blades is determined by the relationships:
Spxe2x89xa6Sr less than St
where Sp is the throat width at the central portion in the lengthwise direction of the nozzle blades, Sr is that at the root and St is that at the tip.
In other side of the present invention, the axial-flow turbine comprising: an outer diaphragm ring and an inner diaphragm ring forming together an annular fluid passage; and a plurality of nozzle blades disposed in the annular passage,
wherein the height of the nozzle blades at a trailing edge is made to be larger than the height of the nozzle blades at a leading edge,
the annular fluid passage having a stepped portion at an inner surface of the outer diaphragm ring, the stepped portion having a curvature surface so that the height of the fluid passage is reduced in a downstream direction thereof, the height of the fluid passage being enlarged at a position adjacent to he trailing edge of the nozzle blades,
the inner trailing edge of the nozzle blades being positioned in the most downstream position and the outer trailing edge being positioned in the most upstream position.
In preferred embodiments, the stepped portion has a height in a radial direction of the fluid passage, the height being described by the relationships:
0.1 less than h2/L1 less than 0.2
where L1 is the height of a leading edge of the nozzle blades and h2 is te height of the stepped portion provided for the outer diaphragm ring.
The above object can be achieved according to the present invention by providing an axial-flow turbine comprising: a rotor wheel; a plurality of moving blades disposed on an outer surface of the rotor wheel; and an annular cover attached to a tip each of the moving blades, the annular cover and the rotor wheel forming a annular fluid passage,
wherein the moving blades are formed into a warped shape in such a manner that the lengthwise directional central portion of the moving blades at the trailing edge of the moving blades is lower than a straight line connecting an trailing edge at the root and a trailing edge at the tip to each other.
In preferred embodiments, the annular fluid passage has a stepped portion at an outer surface of the rotor wheel and an inner surface of the cover, the stepped portion having a curvature surface so that the height of the fluid passage is reduced in a downstream direction thereof.
The stepped portion has a height in a radial direction of the fluid passage, the height being described by the relationships:
0xe2x89xa6h3/L3 less than 0.05
0.1 less than h4/L3 less than 0.2
where L3 is the height of the leading edge of the moving blades, L4 is the height of the trailing edge of the moving blades, h3 is the height of the stepped portion provided for the rotor wheel and h4 is the height of the stepped portion provided for the cover.
Each of said moving blades is structured such that an axial distance from points on a line connecting an trailing edge of a root of the moving blades to a trailing edge at the tip to points on a curved line forming a trailing edge of the moving blades are longest in the central portion of the lengthwise direction of the moving blades at the trailing edge of the moving blades.
The fluid passage is structured such that the inner surface of the cover and the outer surface of the rotor wheel are outwards inclined in the downstream direction.
An angle of inclination of said fluid passage is descried by the relationships:
0xc2x0xe2x89xa6xcex81 less than xcex83 less than xcex82
where xcex81 is an angle of inclination of the outer surface of the rotor wheel, xcex82 is an angle of inclination of the inner surface of the cover at the leading edge of the moving blades and xcex83 is an angle of inclination of a portion of the inner surface of the cover following the trailing edge of the moving blades.
The height L4 of the moving blades at the trailing edge is made to be larger than the height L3 of the moving blades at the leading edge (L3xe2x89xa6L4).
The fluid passage is structured such that the inner surface of the cover is outwards inclined in the downstream direction and the outer surface of the rotor wheel is inwards inclined in the downstream direction.
An angle of inclination of said fluid passage is descried by the relationships:
xcex81 less than 0xc2x0 less than xcex83 less than xcex82
where xcex81 is an angle of inclination of the outer surface of the rotor wheel is, xcex82 is an angle of inclination of the inner surface of the cover at the leading edge of the moving blades and xcex83 is an angle of inclination of a portion of the inner surface of the cover following the trailing edge of the moving blades.
The fluid passage is structured such that the cross sections of the outer and inner portions of the moving blades are shifted in the circumferential direction of the rotor wheel.
A throat width between adjacent two moving blades is determined by the relationships:
Sr greater than Sp less than St
where Sp is the width of the central portion in the lengthwise direction of the moving blades, Sr is that at the root and St is that at the tip.
In other side of the present invention, an axial-flow turbine comprising: a rotor wheel; a plurality of moving blades disposed on an outer surface of the rotor wheel; and an annular cover attached to an outer end each of the moving blades, the annular cover and the rotor wheel forming a annular fluid passage,
wherein said annular fluid passage has a stepped portion at an outer surface of the rotor wheel and an inner surface of the cover, the stepped portion having a curvature surface so that the height of the fluid passage is reduced in a downstream direction thereof.
In preferred embodiments, the fluid passage is structured such that the cross sections of the outer and inner portions of the moving blades are shifted in the circumferential direction of the rotor wheel.
A throat width between adjacent two moving blades is determined by the relationships:
Sr greater than Sp less than St
where Sp is the width of the central portion in the lengthwise direction of the moving blades, Sr is that at the root and St is that at the tip.
The turbine nozzle or the turbine moving blades having the above-mentioned structure of the present invention causes the working fluid introduced to the portions adjacent to the tip and root portions of the fluid passage by the nozzle blade or the moving blade to be narrowed by the stage of the wall of the fluid passage. Thus, eddies in the secondary flow between blades can be prevented and the secondary loss can be reduced.
Since the trailing edge of the nozzle blade and that of the moving blade are disposed downstream in the central portion of the blade, the flow lines of the portions of the working fluid in each of the nozzle blade and the moving blade are shifted to the tip and root portions. As a result, the distribution of the flows in the lengthwise direction of the blade can be uniformed. Thus, energy can effectively be converted by the moving blades. Therefore, the above-mentioned functions improve the performances of the turbine stages.


The placement of synthetic meshes into the body of a patient has become routine in the field of surgical practice. The most common use for mesh implants is the placement into the abdominal cavity for the repair of ventral and incisional hernias. The meshes are either placed extraperitoneally in onlay or sublay technique or intraperitoneally in intraperitoneal onlay mesh technique (IPOM). Inlay technique also played a role in the past. IPOM technique is indicated in multiple defect hernias (also known as Swiss cheese hernias) as well as for the treatment of large abdominal wall defects with loss of domain in obese patients. The implants are usually fixed by sutures, tacks or anchors. Complications found with IPOM technique are seroma formation, impaired functionality of the abdominal wall, chronic pain and adhesion formation. Chronic pain (continuous or intermittent pain persisting for more than 3 months postoperatively is mainly caused by perforating fixation devices with a reported incidence of 5-15% in open and laparoscopic hernia repair operations.
Clinical and experimental studies have shown that synthetic meshes as well as fixation devices can evoke a foreign body reaction. Unspecific tissue inflammation provokes tissue adhesions often elicited by protruding tacks, sutures or sharp mesh margins. These adhesions are potentially resulting in major complications like bowel adhesion, bowel obstruction or perforation.
Different mesh concepts for adhesion prevention have been developed including coated meshes, developed for separation of peritoneal defects and used for the individual coating of meshes. Large pores and high flexibility increase mesh integration into the abdominal wall and provide good biomechanical function. Examples for coated meshes are Parietex Composite®, Sepramesh® and Proceed®. The idea of integrating mesh and antiadhesive layer in the implant is to separate implant and viscera until the mesh is covered by neomesothelium (after approximately 10 days) and in the following to reduce the foreign body reaction and adhesion formation triggered by the implant.
However, using coated meshes may still trigger adverse reaction due to the use of mechanical fixation means such as sutures, tacks and anchors, which may extend from the implant. It is therefore a goal of the present invention to provide improved means to prevent or minimize all causes of unwanted tissue adhesion to the implant or its fixtures.


The so-called MIMO technology (multiple-input and multiple-output), which may be used in wireless radio frequency telecommunications, relates to the use of multiple send and receive antennas for a wireless communication at for example a base station or a user equipment. The MIMO technology forms the basis for coding methods which use the temporal as well as the spatial dimension for transmitting information enabling therefore a space and time coding. Thus, a quality and data rate of the wireless communication may be increased.
In a so-called massive MIMO system a plurality of user equipments may be arranged within a cell served by a base station having a plurality of antennas. In the massive MIMO system a configuration of individual antenna transceivers of the base station may vary depending on a location of each of the user equipments and transmission conditions in an environment of the base station and the user equipment.
The massive MIMO system may be used in connection with a time division duplex (TDD) system in which a transmission of an information stream between the base station and a user equipment is split up in time slots. Different time slots for uplink (UL) communication and downlink (DL) communication may be provided for communicating information from the user equipment up to the base station and for communicating information from the base station down to the user equipment. For such a combined massive MIMO TDD system there is a need for an additional time slot which may be called “header”. The header is used to send a training signal or training sequence from the user equipment to the base station. Based on the received training sequence, the base station may configure the transceivers of its antenna array. Thus, high antenna gain for the payload transmitted in the following time slots can be achieved. The payload may be transmitted in a number of uplink and downlink time slots. However, when the user equipment is moving, the channel quality may degrade due to a change of the spatial arrangement between the base station and the user equipment. The faster the user equipment is moving, the faster the channel quality may degrade. The channel quality may be measured as a bit error rate (BER). If there are multiple UL/DL slots within one frame, depending on the moving speed of the user equipment, only the first time slots of the frame may be adapted to be used before being degraded significantly by the increased bit error rate. To avoid this problem, the header rate may be increased such that the training sequence is transmitted more frequent. However, this will have impact on the system capacity, especially as all user equipments in the cell and in neighboring cells need to be synchronized.
Therefore, there is a need to improve a data transmission in a massive MIMO system to mitigate deterioration due to mobility of a user equipment.


1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a device for transporting people by a spreader having a vertically movable head beam with horizontally extendable long bars.
2. Description of the Related Art
When unloading containers transported on ships, at first the containers have to be unshipped which are positioned on the hatch covers. In order to protect them against falling off during the journey the containers are locked against each other and relative to the hatch covers by means of so-called “twistlocks” (interlocking elements to be provided at the corners of the containers). Prior to the unloading procedure, said twistlocks have to be unlocked manually. In the case of twistlocks which must be handled completely manually, they are put first, also for the loading procedure, on the hatch cover or on the containers already loaded, whereupon they are also manually interlocked. As the containers are often stacked up to five layers on the hatch covers, it is extremely difficult to reach them from the deck or from the gangways between the container stacks. The lower two layers are locked or unlocked by rods from the deck or the gangway, whereas the upper layers have to be unlocked from above, using the afore mentioned rods. As in many cases salient containers hinder accessibility, the before mentioned operations are extremely dangerous and often result in fatal accidents. This is why in many States legal provisions have been issued generally prohibiting any operation from the upper surface of the containers. However, said provisions cannot be followed in practice because, up to now, suitable devices are missing which could safely transport the staff on the spot to open the twistlocks.
In view of these problems various producers are trying to find a solution and offer appropriate devices. Said devices (so-called personnel cages) are used to transport the staff as near as possible to their point of intervention. Personal cages are known which—when hanging under the spreader—are positioned on the uppermost container. From here, the staff operates using the already mentioned rods. In a further known device, two cages occupied by operators and also hanging underneath the spreader, hang down along the front parts of the containers, such that they make it possible to safely reach at least the twistlocks of the uppermost layer. A further known device facilitates, by means of three personnel cages interconnected through ladders, the locking and unlocking of the three uppermost layers. However, this device, due to its overall height, is only fit for limited use (necessary hoisting height and salient containers). A further important requirement to facilitate an efficient routine of loading and unloading is the necessity to mount said device directly on the bridge crane use for ship loading. Due to the specific construction of these very expensive bulk devices there is no place suitable for such a device.


Operation of turbine engines is well known and involves the use of a combustor in order to combust a fuel and therefore provide rotary power for the prime mover engine. Turbine engines are used in a wide variety of situations and the present invention has particular applicability to stationary engines utilised for electrical power generation and providing power for pumping operations etc. It will be understood that turbine engines are utilised in situations such as oil platforms where a local electricity generator and possibly pumping operations are required. In these situations generally natural gas drawn from production will be used in normal operation. However, during construction of the platform and during periods of no gas production the turbine engine must still remain operational at least to provide an electrical power source. Of particular advantage in situations such as oil platforms where there is little space is the high thermal efficiency of turbine engine with low emissions and package size. In such circumstances turbine engines are generally optimized for gas combustion and it is difficult to provide dual fuel operations due to the limited package space available for the fuel injection arrangement as well as costs if intrusive techniques are required to convert between fuels.


A concrete slab is a common structural element in buildings, where slabs of steel-reinforced concrete, e.g., between about 4 and about 20 inches thick, are used to construct floors and ceilings in buildings. For example, in many domestic and industrial buildings, a thick concrete slab (e.g., supported on foundations or directly on the subsoil) is used to construct the ground floor of a building. Thinner slabs of concrete (e.g., between about 2 and about 6 inches) may be used for exterior pavings and the like. Also, in high-rise buildings and skyscrapers, thinner concrete slabs may form the floors and ceilings on each level.
A concrete slab may be prefabricated or poured in situ. In situ concrete slabs are typically built on a construction site using formwork (also referred to herein as a “concrete form”), which may include a type of boxing or framing into which wet concrete is poured. If a concrete slab is to be reinforced, reinforcing bars (commonly referred to as “rebars”) may be positioned within the formwork before the concrete is poured. Plastic tipped metal, or plastic bar chairs may be used to hold the rebar away from the bottom and sides of the formwork, so that, when the concrete sets, the concrete completely envelops the reinforcements. For a ground slab, the formwork may include sidewalls pushed into the ground or otherwise braced/supported. For a suspended slab, the formwork may be shaped like a tray, often supported by a temporary scaffold or the like until the concrete sets. The concrete form may be built using wooden planks and boards, plastic, steel, and the like.
The concrete form may use “kickers” or the like to hold the form in place, i.e., to stabilize or brace the concrete form. Kickers may include a wood block or board that is attached to the outside of a formwork member in a concrete form to provide stability to the structure. In formwork, a kicker may act as a haunch to take the thrust of another member. Kickers are often used once, or a relatively limited number of times, and then discarded. And because kickers often include wooden blocks or boards that could have otherwise been used in construction, discarding kickers after one use may waste valuable building material.
There remains a need for improved devices, systems, and methods for stabilizing a concrete form or other structure.


Pseudaletia unipunctra, the true armyworm, is endemic on all continents, being an indiscriminate pest of field crops and horticultural species. The moth is known to be migratory and in Canada (and some other temperate regions) the species enters afresh each spring from the south. Because of this behaviour, the pest may appear suddenly in large numbers. The moths lay eggs in May/June which hatch into the damaging larval (armyworm) stage during June/July. There are two generations per year in most places. Each generation consists of an egg stage, which hatches into ti larvae, which when fully grown, enter the pupal stage, during which metamorphosis occurs giving rise to the adult moth. These then mate and lay eggs so that the cycle begins over again. Thus, if moths are present in a locale, eggs and armyworms can be expected to appear there subsequently.
The presence of the moth in a locality is usually assessed by light trapping, wherein a bright light is used to lure the moths to a trap at night, during the periods when the moth is in flight. This technique has long been known and remains in wide use today. However, light lures indiscriminately bring many other moths, along with beetles and other insects, to the trap also; sorting is thus necessary. In practice, comparative light trapping is expensive and time-consuming, and expertise is required. A more convenient method of sampling local populations would use a simpler, cheap trap and a specific lure.
The compound (Z)-11-hexadecen-1-yl acetate (Z11-16:Ac) has been found in abdominal tip extracts and in effluvium from female moths of the common armyworm and has been confirmed as the primary sex pheromone component for P. unipuncta (see Hill and Roelofs "Environmental Entomology", Vol. 9, No. 4, p. 408-411, August 1980). McDonough et al, J. of Chem. Ecology, Vol. 6, No. 3, p. 565-572, 1980, also identified Z11-16:Ac, a hexadecen-1-o1 (believed to be (Z)-11 isomer), and possible (Z)-9-hexadecen-1-yl acetate, in extracts of the female armyworm moths. In field tests, no combination of compounds was found to be more attractive than Z11-16:Ac alone. Farine et al confirmed the presence of Z11-16:OH in the natural extract and found (in addition to Z11-16:Ac) that hexadecanyl acetate and Z9-16:Ac were also present (see C.R. Acad. Sc. Paris, t. 292, Series III, p. 101-104, Jan. 5, 1981).
In early tests, we had found that Z11-16:Ac with 0.1-0.5% (Z)-11-hexadecenol produced a reasonably effective and specific lure for the male armyworm moths. The attraction was increased on adding trace amounts (e.g. 0.01%) of (Z)-9-tetradecen-1-yl acetate (Z9-14:Ac). (See W. Steck et al, "Environmental Entomology", Vol. 9, No. 5, p. 583-585, October 1980). In tests on Polia atlantica we had tried the ternary mixture Z11-16:Ac+Z11-16:OH+Z11-16:Ald in the weight ratios 200:1:1 and found it ineffective for this species (see Table 2 in this latter reference). Some or all of these latter three compounds are known to be present in attractants for other species but the ratios are vastly different and the previously described mixtures are substantially nonattractive to armyworm moths.


1. Technical Field
The present invention relates, generally, to a control system for maintaining optimum efficiency of a backlight and, more particularly in a preferred embodiment, to a closed loop temperature controller for adjusting the temperature within a fluorescent lamp to thereby optimize lamp arc drive for a given predetermined brightness set point.
2. Background Art and Technical Problems
Screen displays which employ fluorescent lamp backlights are used extensively in commercial, military, and consumer electronic applications. For example, such backlights are commonly used in desktop computers, laptop computers, screen displays for industrial equipment, and in connection with "heads up" or other screen displays in the cockpits in both commercial and military aircraft.
Conventional fluorescent lamps are commonly employed in backlit Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) applications. In a typical LCD, alphanumeric characters and other graphical images are produced on the viewing screen by selectively energizing or de-energizing preselected pixels in a two dimensional matrix to display the information. In a normally black screen display, predetermined pixels are illuminated to display the data or information as illuminated characters on a black (or other dark shade) background. In a normally white display, on the other hand, the desired data and/or information corresponds to the non-illuminated pixels, such that the information appears as black (or other dark color) images on a white (or other light color) background. In either case, a bright, consistent "background" light is necessary to achieve desirable contrast on the flat screen display. Indeed, in certain applications (e.g., military avionics), the high contrast provided by a bright backlight is essential to proper operation of the display.
It is also desirable to obtain a desired brightness while minimizing power consumption. This is particularly important in portable electronics, for example laptop computers and the like, where battery life is an important product feature.
Presently known systems for controlling the brightness of a fluorescent backlight lamp typically involve a control system for supplying lamp arc drive to the backlight, to thereby excite the gas atoms within the sealed lamp enclosure to create visible light. The amount of visible light emitted by the lamp is sensed, for example by a photodiode, and a feedback signal indicative of the brightness output of the lamp is fed back to a control circuit. This feedback signal (indicative of actual brightness) is compared to an input signal representative of a desired brightness level, and presently known control systems drive the difference between this actual signal and the desired signal to a minimum. Under this control regime, if the actual brightness is less than the desired brightness, the controller increases the lamp arc drive applied to the lamp until the actual brightness equals the desired brightness. If, on the other hand, the actual brightness is greater than the desired brightness, the controller circuit reduces the magnitude of the lamp arc drive applied to the lamp until the actual brightness emitted from the lamp again equals the desired brightness level for the lamp. Presently known prior art brightness control systems typically employ a "cold spot" at a predetermined point on the lamp which functions to keep a certain amount of the gas (typically mercury) within the lamp in a condensed state. Such "cold spot" systems employ the well known principle that maintaining the temperature of the cold spot in a specified range allows for very efficient operation of the lamp. Presently known systems, however, often require expensive components to maintain the cold spot, and do not adequately compensate for drifting or degradation over time of some of the parameters which influence the efficiency of the lamp.
A fluorescent lamp control system is thus needed which overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art.


The present invention relates to a tip turbine engine, and more particularly to mounting the tip turbine engine along a single mounting plane.
An aircraft gas turbine engine of the conventional turbofan type generally includes a forward bypass fan and a low pressure compressor, a middle core engine including a combustor, and an aft low pressure turbine all located along a common longitudinal axis. Although highly efficient, conventional turbofan engines operate in an axial flow relationship. The axial flow relationship results in a relatively complicated elongated engine structure and therefore requires multiple mounting planes along the elongated engine structure to support the engine and mount the engine on an aircraft. Utilizing multiple mounting planes may complicate the mounting process, add weight, and make assembly laborious and expensive.
A recent development in gas turbine engines is the more longitudinally compact tip turbine engine. Tip turbine engines locate an axial compressor forward of a bypass fan, which includes hollow fan blades that receive airflow from the axial compressor therethrough such that the hollow fan blades operate as a centrifugal compressor. Compressed core airflow from the hollow fan blades is mixed with fuel in an annular combustor located radially outward from the fan. The combustor ignites the fuel mixture to form a high energy gas stream which drives turbine blades that are integrated onto the tips of the hollow bypass fan blades for rotation therewith as disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos.: 2003192303; 20030192304; and 20040025490. The tip turbine engine provides a thrust to weight ratio equivalent to conventional turbofan engines of the same class within a package of significantly shorter longitudinal length.
Accordingly and because of the unique architecture and shorter longitudinal length of the tip turbine engine, it is desirable to provide more efficient and simplified mounting assemblies for the tip turbine engine.


The present invention relates to a document with anti-counterfeiting means to prevent reproducibility by photocopying.
It is known that photocopying machines capable of reproducing any document in the finest of details are currently commercially available. These machines have already been used for the fraudulent duplication of documents, such as for example checks and the like, obtaining a photocopy that is substantially identical to the original and cannot therefore be distinguished easily.
In order to solve this problem, various methods have already been marketed which, for example, produce on the document regions that are not visible within the normal spectrum of visible light but instead appear in the photocopy, thus making the counterfeiting evident.
However, these methods entail considerable complexity during production of the document and accordingly so far they have not been widely adopted.


The present invention relates to charge forming systems, and more particularly to a system which automatically and continuously seeks an optimum air/fuel mixture.
The provision of an instantaneously correct fuel/air mixture to an internal combustion engine over a full range of speeds and loads has for years occupied countless engineers, technicians and inventors. Accordingly, the charge forming apparatus have progressed over the years from crude mixing devices to complex, sophisticated carburetion and fuel injection systems. Nonetheless, it is recognized that to date no charge forming system has been implemented which will provide the ideal fuel/air mixture to an internal combustion engine over a complete operating range.
Of the various approaches to charge forming systems, two basic lines of attack may be discerned. With one approach, air inflow is controlled by a throttle or the like and fuel is caused to be entrained with the passing air, in response to the air flow characteristics. The metering of the mixing apparatus is such that a relatively constant, predictable mixture results over the anticipated air flow range. This is the basic rule of operation of the carburetor, which is of course the predominant charge forming mechanism used with internal combustion engines. The same thesis, however, has also been implemented in many forms of fuel injection apparatus.
The second approach referred to above may be referred to as a "programmed" approach inasmuch as the charge forming system is "programmed" or adjusted to respond to certain stimuli to effect a desired fuel/air ratio. The stimuli applied to such systems may include temperature, pressure, engine speed, and the like. Conventionally, such systems make use of not one but a plurality of stimuli in order to more accurately react to inferred engine operating conditions. Charge forming systems of this type thus react to given types of stimuli in a predetermined manner, effecting a fuel/air ratio which is assumed to be the "correct" one for the engine. In theory this approach should work well, assuming that a great number of preprogrammed responses are available to correspond to the almost limitless combinations of stimuli which occur over the full range of operation for most internal combustion engines, especially those used in vehicles.
In recent years the increased recognition of environmental degradation caused by internal combustion engine exhaust, along with the need for economical operation, has caused renewed interest in more efficient and sophisticated charge forming control systems. Generally, the approach taken in developing more responsive charge control systems has been to make use of the most modern and sophisticated technology, particularly in the field of electronics, to accommodate the functional complexities which are inherent in the "programmed" type of system. Accordingly, control systems which are in effect small analog or digital computers are created which can "tailor" a fuel/air ratio to a given operating condition, as evidenced by various stimuli. The stimuli or sensed parameters include exhaust gas temperature and composition, engine temperature, combustion pressure, inlet manifold and/or venturi vacuum, engine speed, along with many other operating parameters. However, inasmuch as these systems all provide a fixed, predetermined response to a given set of stimuli, they cannot be flexible enough to find the true optimum fuel/air ratio for all operating conditions, but rather provide mixture ratios which are only assumed to be correct.
Accordingly, it will be appreciated that it would be desirable to provide an improved charge forming system which consistently achieves the actual optimum fuel/air ratio for any given operating condition.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved charge forming system for optimizing the mixture ingested by an internal combustion engine over a broad operating range.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved charge forming system which does not provide a predetermined or programmed mixture to an internal combustion engine.
Yet another object is to provide an improved fuel metering system for supplying vaporized fuel to an internal combustion engine.
It is a further object to provide a charge forming system for an internal combustion engine which effects a marked reduction in the output of pollutants by the engine.


[Metallocene Compounds]
In recent years, metallocene compounds are well known as homogeneous catalysts for olefin polymerization. After the report of isotactic polymerization by W. Kaminsky et al. (see Non Patent Literature 1), many studies have been made on olefin polymerization, in particular, stereoregular α-olefin polymerization using metallocene compounds.
In α-olefin polymerization using metallocene compounds, it is known that the stereoregularity and the molecular weights of the obtainable α-olefin polymers are greatly varied by the introduction of substituents into the cyclopentadienyl ring ligands of the metallocene compounds or by the bridging of the two cyclopentadienyl rings.
[Bridged Metallocene Compounds]
For example, there are the following reports as to propylene polymerization catalyzed by metallocene compounds which have a ligand in which a cyclopentadienyl ring and a fluorenyl ring is bridged to each other.
From the viewpoint of stereoregularity, dimethylmethylene(cyclopentadienyl) (fluorenyl)zirconium dichloride affords syndiotactic polypropylene (see Non Patent Literature 2); dimethylmethylene(3-methylcyclopentadienyl) (fluorenyl)zirconium dichloride having a methyl group at the 3-position of the cyclopentadienyl ring affords hemiisotactic polypropylene (see Patent Literature 1); and dimethylmethylene(3-tert-butylcyclopentadienyl)(fluorenyl) zirconium dichloride having a tert-butyl group at the 3-position of the cyclopentadienyl ring affords isotactic polypropylene (see Patent Literature 2).
Dimethylmethylene(3-tert-butyl-5-methylcyclopentadienyl)(3,6-di-tert-butylfluorenyl)zirconium dichloride having tert-butyl groups at the 3- and 6-positions of the fluorenyl ring affords polypropylene with higher isotactic stereoregularity than obtained with dimethylmethylene(3-tert-butyl-5-methylcyclopentadienyl) (fluorenyl)zirconium dichloride (see Patent Literature 3).
From the viewpoint of molecular weights, diphenylmethylene(cyclopentadienyl) (fluorenyl)zirconium dichloride having a cyclopentadienyl ring and a fluorenyl ring bridged via diphenylmethylene affords syndiotactic polypropylene having a higher molecular weight than obtained with dimethylmethylene(cyclopentadienyl) (fluorenyl)zirconium dichloride (see Patent Literature 4); diphenylmethylene(3-(2-adamantyl)-cyclopentadienyl)(fluorenyl)zirconium dichloride having a diphenylmethylene bridge affords isotactic-hemiisotactic polypropylene having a higher molecular weight than obtained with dimethylmethylene(3-(2-adamantyl)-cyclopentadienyl)(fluorenyl)zirconium dichloride (see Non Patent Literature 3); and dimethylmethylene(3-tert-butyl-5-methylcyclopentadienyl) (fluorenyl)zirconium dichloride having a methyl group at the 5-position of the cyclopentadienyl ring (the α-position relative to the bridge) affords isotactic polypropylene having a higher molecular weight than obtained with dimethylmethylene(3-tert-butylcyclopentadienyl)(fluorenyl) zirconium dichloride (see Patent Literature 5).
Further, dimethylmethylene(3-tert-butyl-2-methylcyclopentadienyl) (fluorenyl)zirconium dichloride and diphenylmethylene(3,4-dimethylcyclopentadienyl) (fluorenyl) zirconium dichloride having substituents at two adjacent positions on the cyclopentadienyl ring afford polypropylene having a lower molecular weight than obtained with dimethylmethylene(3-tert-butyl-5-methylcyclopentadienyl) (fluorenyl)zirconium dichloride and diphenylmethylene(3-methylcyclopentadienyl) (fluorenyl)zirconium dichloride, respectively (see Patent Literatures 5 and 6).
[5-Membered Ring-Bridged Metallocene Compounds]
A study reports the polymerization of propylene catalyzed by a metallocene compound in which a cyclopentadienyl ring and a fluorenyl ring are bridged via a 5-membered ring. However, such metallocene compounds have low usefulness in industry because of the fact that the stereoregularity of the obtainable polypropylenes is very low (see Non Patent Literature 4).
A recent study reports a metallocene compound having a cyclopentadienyl ring and a fluorenyl ring bridged via a 5-membered ring which can afford polypropylene having relatively high stereoregularity (see Patent Literature 7).
These metallocene compounds mentioned above exhibit excellent polymerization performance. In some applications, however, the catalysts are often required to afford polymers having still higher stereoregularity or still higher molecular weight with higher economic efficiency, namely, with high catalytic activity even under high-temperature polymerization conditions. Improvements are thus required.
[Metallocene Compounds Having Substituted Indenyl Ligands]
According to reports, metallocene compounds having substituted indenyl ligands afford relatively high stereoregularity or molecular weight (see Patent Literatures 8 and 9). However, such compounds are unsatisfactory in terms of performance under economically efficient polymerization conditions.
Because metallocene compounds are soluble in reaction media, they are generally used to catalyze polymerization in the form of supported catalyst systems in slurry polymerization or gas phase polymerization. Specifically, the metallocene compounds are supported on solid carriers. However, it is known that the polymerization performances such as stereoregularity control of the aforementioned compounds are markedly decreased when they are used in the supported form on carriers as compared to in the absence of carriers.
[Metallocene Compounds Having Substituted Azulenyl Groups]
To solve such problems, for example, a recent study reports a metallocene compound having a substituted azulenyl group as a ligand (see Patent Literature 10). However, even such catalysts do not achieve sufficient performances such as stereoregularity control when the polymerization temperature is elevated to obtain economic efficiency or when the compounds are supported on solid carriers.
Under these circumstances, there have been demands for further improvements in the catalytic performances such as polymerization activity, stereoregularity control and molecular weight control of polymerization catalysts including metallocene compounds (hereinafter, also written as “metallocene catalysts”).
[Reports of Polymerization Using Metallocene Catalysts]
Regarding the polymerization of monomers other than propylene with use of metallocene catalysts, for example, there are studies reporting the polymerization of 1-butene catalyzed by a metallocene compound having an indene ring as a ligand (see Patent Literatures 11 and 12).
Further, the polymerization of 1-butene catalyzed by a metallocene compound having a fluorene ring as a ligand has been reported. Specifically, the polymerization using isopropylidene (3-t-butyl-5-methylcyclopentadienyl) (fluorenyl)zirconium dichloride has been disclosed (see Patent Literature 13). According to this report, the obtainable polybutene has lower regioirregularity due to 4,1-insertions and exhibits higher heat resistance and mechanical strength as compared to when the polymerization is catalyzed by a metallocene compound having an indene ring as a ligand. In some applications, however, the catalysts are often required to afford polymers having still higher stereoregularity or still higher molecular weight under more economically efficient conditions. Improvements are thus required.
A study reports the polymerization of 4-methyl-1-pentene as a main monomer (see Patent Literature 14). Patent Literature 14 describes that metallocene-catalyzed polymers outperform conventional Ziegler-Natta-catalyzed polymers in the balance of properties such as heat resistance and are thus highly useful in industry. However, applications sometimes require that the polymers have a still higher melting point/stereoregularity or have a still higher molecular weight.
In general, increasing the polymerization temperature enhances economic efficiency but at the same time tends to decrease the molecular weight or the melting point/stereoregularity of the obtainable polymers. Thus, there have been demands for the development of novel polymerization processes capable of producing polymers having a higher molecular weight and a higher melting point/higher stereoregularity.


In ophthalmic surgery such as treatment of cataract, corneal transplantation, or vitreous surgery, an intraocular irrigating solution is used to protect the intraocular tissue during the surgery.
An intraocular irrigating solution containing a glutathione derivative has been developed as such an intraocular irrigating solution and has been considered to be a very stable intraocular irrigating solution that effectively suppresses precipitation of calcium (see Patent Literature 1).
Moreover, an intraocular irrigating solution containing a phosphoric diester of ascorbic acid and the tocopherol has also been developed and considered to be excellent in protection of corneal cells and to enable ophthalmic surgery to be safely performed (see Patent Literature 2).
However, cysteine persulfide (CysSSH) as an active sulfur molecule has been reported to be produced in vivo. For example, pyridoxal phosphate (PLP) well known as a coenzyme such as a deaminase has been reported to directly react with cystine to produce CysSSH. Moreover, a cysteine residue in the active center of a certain enzyme, particularly rhodanese known as an enzyme for detoxifying cyan (CN−), has been known to receive a sulfur molecule supplied from a thiosulfate ion to form a persulfide, which reacts with a cyanide ion and subjected to metabolic detoxification into a thiocyanate ion (SCN−).
Commonly, CysSSH had been recognized as an unstable metabolic intermediate responsible for the catalytic activity of such a special enzyme. However, the present inventor found that an active sulfur molecule such as CysSSH in vivo exhibits high antioxidant activity and the function of controlling a redox signal (see Non Patent Literature 1).