Glycolic acid (HOCH2COOH; CAS Registry Number is 79-14-1) is the simplest member of the α-hydroxy acid family of carboxylic acids. Its properties make it ideal for a broad spectrum of consumer and industrial applications, including use in water well rehabilitation, the leather industry, the oil and gas industry, the laundry and textile industry, as a monomer in the preparation of polyglycolic acid (PGA), and as a component in personal care products. Glycolic acid also is a principle ingredient for cleaners in a variety of industries (dairy and food processing equipment cleaners, household and institutional cleaners, industrial cleaners [for transportation equipment, masonry, printed circuit boards, stainless steel boiler and process equipment, cooling tower/heat exchangers], and metals processing [for metal pickling, copper brightening, etching, electroplating, electropolishing]). It has also been reported that polyglycolic acid is useful as a gas barrier material (i.e., exhibits high oxygen barrier characteristics) for packing foods and carbonated drinks (WO 2005/106005 A1). However, traditional chemical synthesis of glycolic acid produces a significant amount of impurities that must be removed prior to use. New technology to commercially produce glycolic acid, especially one that produces glycolic acid in high purity and at low cost, would be eagerly received by industry.
Microbial enzyme catalysts can hydrolyze a nitrile (e.g., glycolonitrile) directly to the corresponding carboxylic acids (e.g., glycolic acid) using a nitrilase (EC 3.5.5.7), where there is no intermediate production of the corresponding amide (Equation 1), or by a combination of nitrile hydratase (EC 4.2.1.84) and amidase (EC 3.5.1.4) enzymes, where a nitrile hydratase (NHase) initially converts a nitrile to an amide, and then the amide is subsequently converted by the amidase to the corresponding carboxylic acid (Equation 2):

It has been demonstrated that the enzyme catalyst specific activity measured as micromoles glycolic acid produced per minute per g dry cell weight of catalyst, decreases by from 35% to 50% of initial activity after a single use in consecutive batch reactions with biocatalyst recycle. This represents a significant loss in specific activity of the enzyme catalyst in batch reactions, and, in turn, overall enzyme activity and productivity. For a commercially feasible enzymatic process for producing glycolic acid, this loss in enzyme activity needs to be addressed.
One aspect of the loss of enzyme activity may be attributable to impurities and other components present when reacting the enzyme catalyst with glycolonitrile for glycolic acid production. Methods to synthesize glycolonitrile by reacting aqueous solutions of formaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide have previously been reported (U.S. Pat. No. 2,175,805; U.S. Pat. No. 2,890,238; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,187,301; Equation 3).

However, these methods typically result in an aqueous glycolonitrile reaction product that requires significant purification (e.g., distillative purification) as many of the impurities and/or byproducts of the reaction (including excess reactive formaldehyde) may interfere with the enzymatic conversion of glycolonitrile to glycolic acid, including suppression of catalyst activity (i.e., decreased specific activity). In particular, it is well known that formaldehyde can create undesirable modifications in proteins by reacting with amino groups from N-terminal amino acid residues and the side chains of arginine, cysteine, histidine, and lysine residues (Metz et al., J. Biol. Chem., 279 (8): 6235-6243 (2004)). Suppression of catalyst activity decreases the overall productivity of the catalyst (i.e., total grams of glycolic acid formed per gram of catalyst), adding a significant cost to the overall process that may make enzymatic production economically non-viable when compared to chemical synthesis. As such, reaction conditions are needed that can help to protect the enzymatic activity against undesirable impurities that decrease the activity of the catalyst.
A method of producing high purity glycolonitrile has been reported by subjecting the formaldehyde to a heat treatment prior to the glycolonitrile synthesis reaction (U.S. application Ser. No. 11/3143865 and U.S. application Ser. No. 11/314905; Equation 3). However, glycolonitrile can reversibly disassociate into formaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide. As such, there remains a need to protect nitrilase activity against the undesirable effects of both formaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide produced by dissociation of glycolonitrile.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,508,181 also describes similar difficulties related to rapid enzyme catalyst inactivation when converting nitrile compounds to α-hydroxy acids. Specifically, U.S. Pat. No. 5,508,181 provides that α-hydroxy nitrile compounds partially disassociate into the corresponding aldehydes, according to the disassociation equilibrium. These aldehydes were reported to inactivate the enzyme within a short period of time by binding to the protein, thus making it difficult to obtain α-hydroxy acid or α-hydroxy amide in a high concentration with high productivity from α-hydroxy nitriles (col. 2, lines 16-29). As a solution to prevent enzyme inactivation due to accumulation of aldehydes, phosphate or hypophosphite ions were added to the reaction mixture. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,326,702 describes the use of sulfite, disulfite, or dithionite ions to sequester aldehyde and prevent enzyme inactivation, but concludes that the concentration of α-hydroxy acid produced and accumulated even by using such additives is not sufficient for most commercial purposes.
Moreover, U.S. Pat. No. 6,037,155 teaches that low accumulation of α-hydroxy acid product is related to enzyme inactivation within a short time due to the disassociated-aldehyde accumulation. These inventors suggest that enzymatic activity is inhibited in the presence of hydrogen cyanide (Asano et al., Agricultural Biological Chemistry, Vol. 46, pages 1165-1174 (1982)) generated in the partial disassociation of the α-hydroxy nitrile in water together with the corresponding aldehyde or ketone (Mowry, David T., Chemical Reviews, Vol. 42, pages 189-283 (1948)). The inventors address the problem of aldehyde-induced enzyme inactivation by using microorganisms whose enzyme activity could be improved by adding a cyanide substance to the reaction mixture. The addition of a cyanide substance limited the disassociation of α-hydroxy nitrile to aldehyde and hydrogen cyanide. While this tactic provides a benefit to the system, it only addresses one aspect associated with enzyme inactivation in conversion of glycolonitrile to glycolic acid, in that, as stated above, glycolonitrile is known to reversibly disassociate to hydrogen cyanide and formaldehyde, and both are known to negatively effect enzyme catalyst activity.
A separate process has been developed to protect the specific activity of an enzyme catalyst having nitrilase activity when converting glycolonitrile to glycolic acid in the presence of formaldehyde (see copending U.S. application Ser. No. 11/931,069 incorporated herein by reference), where significant improvements in catalyst activity and stability were achieved by adding an amine protectant to the reaction mixture, or by immobilization of the nitrilase catalyst in or on a matrix that is comprised of an amine protectant, e.g. PEI, polyallylamine, PVOH/polyvinylamine, etc. In that system, the specific activity of the catalyst in the presence of formaldehyde is improved, but does not address, altogether, issues related to the loss in specific activity of recovered catalyst activity in consecutive batch reactions with catalyst recycle.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,288,552 discloses (column 1, lines 46-49, and column 2, lines 50-55) that glutaraldehyde-sensitive enzymes (such as thiol-enzymes (e.g, nitrilase) and others with an SH group in or very near the active site of the enzyme molecule) are inactivated by thiol-reactive agents such as glutaraldehyde. Therefore, use of glutaraldehyde to improve the retention of initial catalyst activity during hydrolysis of glycolonitrile to glycolic acid was heretofore unpredictable. Said unpredictable benefit is demonstrated herein.
Therefore there is a need for a process that provides improved retention of initial nitrilase activity during hydrolysis of glycolonitrile to glycolic acid, thereby improving overall catalyst activity, catalyst productivity, and volumetric productivity for the conversion of glycolonitrile to glycolic acid.


This invention relates to a method and apparatus for performing capillary electrophoresis. More particularly, this invention relates to an improved method and apparatus for capillary electrophoresis that permits concentration of solutes from a solution prior to separating the solutes by capillary electrophoresis.
Capillary electrophoresis (CE) is an efficient analytical separation technique for analysis of minute amounts of sample. CE separations are performed in a narrow diameter capillary tube, which is filled with an electrically conductive medium termed the "carrier electrolyte." An electric field is applied between the two ends of the capillary tube, and species in the sample move from one electrode toward the other electrode at a rate which is dependent on the electrophoretic mobility of each species as well as on the rate of fluid movement in the tube. CE may be performed using gels or liquids, such as buffers, in the capillary. In one liquid mode, known as free zone electrophoresis, separations are based on differences in the free solution mobility of sample species. In another liquid made, micelles are used to effect separations based on differences in hydrophobicity. This is known as Micellar Electrokinetic Capillary Chromatography (MECC).
CE is advantageous for several reasons. These include fast separation speed, high resolution and small sample size. For example, separation speeds using CE can be 10 to 20 times faster than conventional gel electrophoresis, and no post-run staining is necessary. In part, high resolution can be obtained through the use of high voltages because of the rapid dissipation of heat by the capillary. Further, band broadening is minimized due to the narrow capillary inner diameter In free-zone electrophoresis, the phenomenon of electroosmosis, or electroosmotic flow (EOF) occurs. This is a bulk flow of liquid which affects all of the sample molecules regardless of charge. Under certain conditions EOF can contribute to improved resolution and separation speed in free-zone CE.
In order to achieve the high resolution that CE is capable of, it is necessary that the sample be confined to a narrow starting zone when the electrophoretic process begins. This limits the volume of sample that can be introduced into the capillary to a very small fraction of the total capillary volume. Further, the lowest concentration of material that can be detected in CE by ultraviolet and visible absorbance detection is severely limited by the small inner diameter of the capillary, since absorbance detection is generally carried out with a beam of radiation that is transverse to the axis of the capillary. These facts, taken together, mean that CE has not been able to analyze samples at concentrations as low as those that can be analyzed by other techniques such as liquid chromatography. One approach to overcome this limitation has been described by several investigators. This approach involves dissolving the sample in a buffer or electrolyte having an ionic strength substantially lower than the carrier electrolyte used to carry out the electrophoretic separation. The sample so dissolved is introduced into the capillary in the normal fashion although a larger sample volume is now permitted. When the electric field is applied to begin the electrophoretic separation, the field strength in the sample zone will be higher than in the surrounding carrier electrolyte because the ionic strength and hence the conductivity is lower in the sample zone. As a result of the higher field strength in the sample zone, the ions in the sample will migrate at a higher speed than ions in the carrier electrolyte. Thus the sample ions will tend to pile up at the interface of the low conductivity sample zone and the carrier electrolyte because they will slow down once they enter the carrier electrolyte. This process effectively produces a narrow sample zone and has allowed an improvement of perhaps a factor of five in the lowest concentration of sample that can be analyzed.
A technique for preconcentrating a sample prior to electrophoretic separation was reported by Aebersold and Morrison at the High Performance Capillary Electrophoresis Symposium in January 1990. The inner surface of a short piece of a capillary tubing was coated with an adsorptive coating. This tube was then butted up against the end of an uncoated capillary tube. This arrangement permitted a large volume of sample (which would normally have caused severely broadened peaks) to be injected into the coated length of tube and then into the uncoated tube. The sample molecules adsorbed on the coating while the solvent passed through the tube and was washed out of the capillary tube with electrolyte. A small volume of organic solvent was then introduced into the butted capillary tubes. This solvent caused the sample molecules to desorb from the coating so that they entered the uncoated tube in concentrated form. Because the organic solvent had lower conductivity than the carrier electrolyte, the previously mentioned zone narrowing then occurred. With both ends of the capillary tube in electrolyte, capillary electrophoretic separation was then performed in normal fashion. It was reported that this preconcentration step allows the use of CE with samples 5 to 10 times lower in concentration than was previously possible with CE.
Packed capillary columns have been used in liquid chromatography to effect sample separations. Such columns have been constructed in various ways. One way of making such a column is disclosed by Jorgenson, et al in Journal of Chromatography, Vol. 218 (1981) pgs. 209-216. The column is formed by filling one end of a capillary tube with a particulate packing. The filled end then is heated in a flame to sinter the packing to form a porous frit. A slurry of chromatographic separation particles is introduced into the end of the capillary opposite to the fritted end until the capillary is filled with these particles. A second frit then is formed in the open end of the capillary in the same manner as was the first frit.
As disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,793,920 to Cortes et al, a packed silica capillary chromatography column is produced by casting a plug of ceramic material in one end of the capillary to form a porous plug which is fused such as with heat. The chromatographic packing then is introduced into the remainder of the tube. U.S. Pat. No. 4,483,773 to Yang also discloses a means for forming a Plug and chromatographic packing within a capillary chromatographic column.
It would be desirable to provide a means whereby dilute sample solution can be analyzed by CE at concentrations far lower than can be analyzed by presently available CE processes.


This invention relates to power tools and particularly to an application mechanism for a power tool of the type comprising a housing, a motor mounted in said housing, a gearbox having an input end mounted on said motor and an output end adjacent an aperture in the housing, the gearbox being epicyclical and including a torque control ring which, when held stationery with respect to said housing, permits the gearbox to transmit torque and which, when permitted to rotate in the housing, disables torque transmission by the gearbox.
In such power tools it is known to dispose an application mechanism on the output end of the gearbox, which mechanism comprises a resiliently biased, adjustable actuating means mounted on said body to selectively engage said torque control clutch ring.
Adjustment of the actuating means varies the engagement with said torque control clutch ring thereby varying the torque at which it begins to slip and at which transmission by the gearbox to its output shaft is stopped.
It is also known to lock the torque control ring so that it is not employed and so that no torque limitation is provided. In this instance, it is also known to dispose an application mechanism on the output end of the gearbox, which mechanism comprises a hammer arrangement whereby oscillating axial vibration can selectively be imposed on the rotary drive supplied by the gearbox.
Finally, it is also known from DE 4038502 to provide an arrangement as first described above, i.e. a tool having a torque control mechanism mounted on the output end of the gearbox, but where a hammer mechanism is added on the front end of the torque control mechanism. Such an arrangement is versatile because it can be employed in various different ways. However, it suffers from being somewhat long having first a motor, then a gearbox, then a torque control mechanism, then a hammer mechanism, all one after the other.
It is also known to employ electronic torque control whereby the torque applied is fed back to an electronic control module and, if the applied torque exceeds the torque preset in the control module, power is disconnected from the motor. Thus if a hammer mechanism is on the front of the gearbox there is no penalty in terms of compactness in providing both torque control and a hammer facility but, of course, the electronics do add cost and complexity.
It is therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a power tool which has this versatility and yet remains compact but which is still simple and relatively inexpensive.
In accordance with the present invention there is provided a power tool comprising a housing, a motor mounted in said housing, a gearbox having an input end mounted on said motor and an output end adjacent an aperture in the housing, the gearbox being epicyclical and including a torque control ring which, when held stationery with respect to said housing, permits the gearbox to transmit torque and which, when permitted to rotate in the housing, disables torque transmission by the gearbox; and an application mechanism driven by said gearbox, which mechanism comprises:
a) a substantially cylindrical hollow body;
b) a chuck drive spindle journalled in said body and defining therebetween an annular space;
c) means limiting axial movement of said spindle in said body towards said gearbox;
d) a rotary ratchet plate fixed on said spindle;
e) a facing fixed ratchet plate in said body;
f) means to engage said ratchet plates together such that on rotation of the spindle a reciprocating action is imposed thereon, said means including a lever projecting through a slot in said body;
g) resiliently biased, adjustable actuating means mounted on said body to selectively engage said torque control clutch ring, said lever projecting through said actuating means.


The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of substituted dimethyl-(3-aryl-butyl)-amine compounds by means of homogeneous catalytic hydrogenation of dimethyl-(3-aryl-but-3-enyl)-amines.
Dimethyl-(3-aryl-butyl)-amine compounds have proved to be pharmaceutically active compounds exhibiting excellent analgesic activity and very good tolerability, see EP-A1-0 693 475. WO 2005/000788 A1 describes a process for the preparation of such compounds in which, in a first stage, substituted dimethyl-(3-aryl-but-3-enyl)-amine compounds are prepared by elimination of the tertiary hydroxyl group in substituted 4-dimethylamino-2-aryl-butan-2-ol compounds. These dimethyl-(3-aryl-but-3-enyl)-amine compounds are then hydrogenated in a second stage in the presence of metal catalysts. The heterogeneous hydrogenation proceeds in good yields with adequate activities. As expected, the stereoselectivity is not very pronounced. According to the examples in WO 2005/000788 A1, if two adjacent asymmetric C atoms are present diastereomeric ratios of from 2:1 to a maximum of 3:1 can be obtained for the trans diastereomer: cis diastereomer, that is to say always in favor of the trans diastereomer. The ratio is established automatically, essentially depends on the substrate, and can be influenced by the choice of reaction conditions to only a small extent.


The area of miniaturized microfluidic technology, also known as “lab-on-a-chip” or “micro total analysis systems”, is rapidly expanding with the promise of revolutionizing chemical analysis and offering enabling tools and technologies for the life sciences. The majority of molecules and compounds of interest in the life sciences are in the liquid phase and typically analytical measurements are used to conduct quantitative and qualitative trace analysis of these analytes in solution. However, due to the nature and origin of the materials under analysis, sample amounts and volumes are historically in short supply and these amounts are constantly decreasing. Moreover, as seen in drug discovery and drug development, including pharmacokinetic and proteomics applications, the need for better analytical measurements that require smaller amounts and volumes of sample is growing. Inherently, microfluidics are a “good fit” for the move to both smaller sample and volume requirements. In fact, a primary reason for miniaturization has been to enhance analytical performance of the device rather than reduce its physical size. Additionally, the ability to miniaturize the analysis with the use of microfluidics allows for integration of multiple separation techniques that enable parallel processing and also for the incorporation of several types of analytical measurements in a single device (sample handling, injections, 2D separations, reaction chambers etc.). Inherently, there are other benefits that accompany miniaturization, such as reduction in reagent and waste disposal, as well as, the reduction of the device footprint.
The first analytical miniaturized device was a gas chromatograph fabricated in silicon over 25 years ago. This device was designed for separating components in the gas phase. A decade later, components of a liquid chromatography column were fabricated on a silicon chip. Most early work related to miniaturization on silicon and the research focused on the fabrication of components such as microvalves, micropumps, and chemical sensors. None of the early systems implemented integrated electronics or electric fields for operation, but rather the silicon was used as a substrate for micromachining desired shapes/geometry.
Most methods used in microfabrication were developed in the 1970's and 1980's in the silicon microprocessor industry. Typically, initial research developments were fabricated in silicon because of the extensive knowledge and tools available for silicon processing. This approach works satisfactorily for devices used for “dry” analyses, however, many microfluidic devices require the integration of on-chip electronics and/or the ability to apply electric fields to device. Because most applications in the life sciences involve samples contained in the liquid phase, the majority of micro analysis systems being developed/designed are for analysis of analytes contained in solution. The need for the ability to apply electric fields to the device becomes a serious issue when processing samples contained in the liquid phase on silicon substrates.
A difficult scenario is encountered due to the opposing objectives of the micro total analysis system and the microprocessor technology used to make them. Typically, the microprocessor industry strives to keep microdevices “dry” and “clean” as liquids, moisture, and contaminates interfere with the device performance and operation. This highly contrasts the needs of micro total analysis systems where liquids and foreign substances (analytes, including salts) are deliberately introduced to the device. Again, this does not pose a problem for a silicon device that does not involve electronic or electrical field generation where only specific geometries are micromachined. However, major issues arise when electronics are incorporated in the devices and especially when potentials are applied for the generation of electric fields (semiconductor must be insulated for controlled electric field generation).
There is currently a move to perform chemical separations on-chip with the use of electric fields, for example applications such as CE, CEC, charged analyte manipulation, and charged solution manipulation. Because of the relatively strong fields needed for the separation process, research has moved to considering non-conductive substrates such as glass, quartz, and non-conducting polymers as opposed to the use of silicon as in the manufacture of semiconductors. This shift in materials is warranted because in order to form the electric fields, the substrates must be insulated in the desired areas.
Although there are conventional techniques for insulating silicon substrates, the dielectric coatings currently available are designed for the electronics industry and operate under “dry” conditions. Much effort in the microprocessor industry has been expended on keeping devices dry or isolated from liquids. Additionally, the microprocessor industry has gone to great lengths to avoid contact of the electronic device with mobile ions such as salts due to the destructive nature they pose to dielectric coatings used to insulate the silicon used in microprocessors.
Microfluidic devices requiring the application of relatively high voltages and electric fields for the manipulation of liquids and samples are mainly fabricated on insulating substrates because of their insulating properties. Application of high voltages to liquids on insulators on conductor substrates often leads to shorting or drastically reduced performance and lifetime of desired electrical properties.
Accordingly, the art needs dielectric coatings that do not degrade, but rather maintain their electrical properties when exposed to direct voltage application and high electric field strengths while in the presence of high humidity and/or direct liquid contact (wet). The art needs to overcome current coating technology limitations and provide appropriate solutions for microfluidic device applications. The art needs microfluidic devices that take advantage of the highly developed silicon processing techniques for silicon and other substrates including micromachining as well as electronic circuit integration and electric field definition. The art lacks the ability to incorporate microfluidics and electronics in the same substrate allowing for fully integrated systems.


1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to a method and apparatus for selling merchandise, and particularly to a method and apparatus for selling duty free merchandise in combination with travel tickets.
2. Description of the Related Art
Duty free shopping is a multi-national business with substantial revenues. In the year 2000 alone, worldwide duty free sales are estimated at $21 billion. While the market for duty free goods is substantial and growing, duty free shopping is a relatively recent development, having its origins in so-called “export stores” first established in Ireland in the 1940s. In the ensuing years, most governments enacted laws authorizing and regulating duty free shopping within their borders. Initially, duty free shops offered only items that were subject to high import taxes, such as liquor and cigarettes. However, duty free merchants soon recognized the potential for selling a wide range of luxury goods to international travelers, and over time many additional items have become available as duty free merchandise, including jewelry, watches, perfume, cosmetics, cameras, electronic goods, etc. With help form world-renowned fashion houses such as Dior® and Chanel®, today duty free shops are international showcases for first class luxury goods. International travelers, in turn, have come to appreciate the quality of the shops and often take advantage of them during airport delays and even preplanned duty free shopping trips.
Initially, most duty free operators were local merchants who secured space at airports through personal contacts. However, airports came to realize the revenue potential of such shops and began enlarging the shopping areas for international travelers. To maximize revenue, airport management eventually began issuing requests for proposals (RFP) from persons seeking to operate duty free airport shops. The response was substantial and since then the size and number of duty free shops has expanded significantly at airports throughout the world. The potential value of a particular duty free shop will, of course, depend on a number of factors, such as the total number of international passengers enplaning at that airport, the number of international routes, the frequency of flights, the airlines that utilize the facility, e.g., upscale, leisure, charter, the location of the store relative to the gate area where passengers enplane, the local prices for comparable merchandise, the prices for the goods at the usual travel destinations, the duty or tax, if any, which the passenger may have to pay at the travel destination, the projected increase or decrease in international travelers at the airport, and the length of the lease. The revenue paid by the operator of the duty free store to the airport varies widely depending on these and other factors. Oftentimes the arrangement includes a minimum rent plus a percentage of sales.
Airlines have also sought to profit from the duty free shopping boom by selling duty free merchandise in-flight. Typically the duty free merchandise is retained on one or more trolleys which are wheeled up and down the aisles by flight personnel at preset times. The merchandise and pricing may be in a brochure shown by flight personnel to passengers expressing an interest, or it may be in a catalog at each passenger seat, or both. Travelers purchasing merchandise typically pay in cash, checks or by credit card, though checks and credit card sales carry a risk as in-flight verification that an account is in good standing is difficult.
The particular assortment of goods on the trolleys varies depending on the carrier and the route. For example, presently one airline's most expensive item is a Hermes scarf which sells for $265.00, whereas another airline lists a Bvlgari watch which sells for about $1,000.00 at current exchange rates. Some airlines operate their own in-flight trolleys and keep the revenue, though typically a percentage of sales is paid to flight personnel as a commission. Other airlines, particularly those in North and South America, outsource their in-flight duty free sales programs, just as they do with other services, such as meal preparation. When in-flight duty free sales are operated by a third party provider, the provider typically pays the airline a negotiated percentage of sales depending on the commission paid to the flight crew and other factors.
Some in-flight programs offer passengers the option of pre-ordering merchandise from a special catalog of duty free merchandise. In one variation, catalogs are forwarded to international travelers sufficiently in advance of departure such that orders can be placed and fulfilled by the departure date, with the merchandise being delivered to the passenger during flight. In another variation, catalogs are presented to international travelers on their outbound flights, and ordered merchandise is awaiting them on their return flights. These programs have the advantage that the program provider can offer the traveler a wider range of merchandise than is available on the trolley, and it minimizes the amount of inventory that the provider must maintain While all these modes of duty free shopping have had various degrees of success, they also have inherent shortcomings. For example, duty free shops face the problem of late arriving passengers, international travelers spending more time clearing security, and increased pressure on airlines to meet scheduled departure times, all of which contribute to international travelers spending less time in airport duty free shops. In-flight trolleys have a limited amount of space for showcasing goods and can carry only a limited amount of merchandise. Such trolleys also face strong competition from duty free shops, which can display and inventory a much wider range of goods. Duty free catalogs forwarded to passengers before flight face passengers who may not be at the mailing address when the catalog arrives, difficulty distinguishing their catalogs from the multitude of other catalogs which flood the mails, passengers who purchase their tickets too close to flight time to receive the catalog before departure, and passengers who subsequently cancel their flights, all of which reduce sales and/or increase expenses. Catalogs delivered in-flight for product delivery upon return solve some of these problems, but this approach is useless for passengers traveling one way or those purchasing gifts for persons at the flight destination, and also fail to satisfy the traveler's desire for immediate gratification. Furthermore, all duty free shopping suffers from the perception among many travelers that duty free prices are high, which, excepting for catalogs forwarded to the traveler prior to flight, results, in part, from the traveler's inability to compare the duty free price with prevailing retail prices.
While much duty free shopping targets international airline travelers, duty free shopping is also available to international travelers traveling by boat and even land. Cruise lines, for example, market duty free goods using many of the same techniques employed by the airlines. Techniques for marketing to persons traveling internationally by land (e.g., train, bus, etc.) are necessarily more limited, and typically focus on shops at the exit point from the country where the goods are sold.
Most countries have enacted detailed laws and regulations which enable and regulate duty free shopping within their borders. Essentially, duty free shopping works as follows. A merchant desiring to sell foreign made or domestic duty free goods purchases such goods from the manufacturer, either directly or through a distributor. As long as such goods are retained for export only, they are exempt from customs duties and as well as federal, state and local taxes. The shops from which merchants sell such goods are known as duty free or tax free shops, however both are the same, the former referring to the exemption from customs' duties upon export, and the latter referring to the exemption from government taxes imposed by the country in which the shop is situated. As used herein, “duty free” refers to sales which are exempt from customs' duties and/or taxes.
For example, the merchant may purchase foreign-made ties, jewelry, watches, liquor, handbags, etc. and then import those goods into the country from which the duty free sales will be made. Upon export following sale, no duty or tax is paid by the merchant on such imported goods provided, prior to sale, the goods are maintained in a bonded facility sanctioned for that purpose by the government and provided the merchant complies with all applicable regulations governing such facilities. Alternatively, or in addition, the merchant may purchase domestic goods. While domestic goods would not, in any event, be subject to duty upon sale, they are typically taxed when sold. However, provided they are maintained in a bonded facility of the type described above, domestic goods are exempt from tax upon export, which is particularly attractive in the case of goods which command a luxury tax when sold domestically, such as alcohol and cigarettes. In fact, merchants selling domestic goods duty free can typically acquire such goods from manufacturers at prices below, and sometimes well below, the prices at which the manufacturers sell such goods to conventional retail outlets, which makes such sales particularly attractive for duty free merchants. Typically, government regulations will govern the manner is which goods may be brought into and taken out of bonded facilities, and will include strict inventory and record keeping requirements to insure that duty free goods in the bonded facility do not find their way into local commerce.
To maintain duty free status, duty free merchandise may only be delivered to travelers departing the country from which the goods are sold for use and/or consumption outside that country, though such goods may be reimported without duty or tax, provided their value does not exceed the entry exemption allowed for imported goods. To insure that duty free merchandise is exported, most countries have regulations governing where duty free shops may be located and where duty free merchandise may be delivered to the traveler. Although a duty or tax may be due to the destination country upon arrival, many countries exempt a predetermined monetary value of imported goods intended for personal use, i.e., not intended for resale. Consequently, if the traveler purchases duty free goods for personal use under the limit set by the destination country, no duty or tax will be payable either to the country where the goods were purchased or to the destination country. And even if the purchases exceed the exemption allowed by the destination country, a duty and/or tax is only due on the overage.
In the United States, jurisdiction over duty free sales is relegated to the Treasury Department and implemented by the United States Customs Service, which, in turn, has authority to relegate certain responsibilities to port directors at airports and seaports. The current regulations governing duty free facilities and delivery of duty free merchandise to international travelers is found in Title 19 of the Code of Federal Regulations, §§19.35 et seq. These regulations provide, among other things, that “conditionally duty-free merchandise” (defined as merchandise sold by a duty free store on which duties and/or internal revenue taxes, if any are applicable, have not been paid) for export at airport, seaport or land exit points may only be sold and delivered to persons displaying tickets or other proof of imminent departure from the country. To insure that duty free merchandise in fact leaves the country, the regulations also include strict limitations on where duty free merchandise may be delivered to international travelers, with such delivery generally limited to at or beyond the “exit point”, which is defined in the regulations as an area in close proximity to an actual exit for departing the country. In the case of an airport the regulations provide that the exit point may be a gate holding area if the gate holding area is sufficiently secure that there is a reasonable assurance that conditionally duty-free merchandise delivered there will be exported from the country. In the case of a seaport or land border, the exit point is defined in the regulations as the point at which a departing individual has no practical alternative but to continue on to a foreign country or to return to the country of departure by returning through a U.S. Customs inspection facility. The regulations also provide that conditionally duty-free merchandise brought back into the country is subject to U.S. duty and tax, subject, however, to the personal exemption afforded international travelers arriving in the United States, which is currently $400.00 per person, though this exemption can be pooled among multiple travelers for more expensive goods and in some cases, such as goods imported from the U.S. Virgin Islands, the exemption is higher. Most other countries have restrictions on duty free sales similar to those enacted in the United States.
It will be apparent, therefore, that new and creative methods of generating duty free sales are limited by the restrictive government regulations governing such sales, and also by the above-discussed limitations inherent in the current methods for effecting such sales.


1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an endoscope having an insertion portion provided with a first and a second bendable sections and a method for inserting the endoscope into a colon.
2. Description of the Related Art
An endoscope in the medical field can be used by inserting an elongated insertion portion into a body cavity for observation of organs and the like in the body cavity or performing various treatments using a treatment instrument inserted into a treatment instrument insertion channel as necessary. In this endoscope insertion portion, a tip end (constituting) portion, a bendable section and a flexible tube portion in order from the tip end are disposed.
When the insertion portion of the endoscope is to be inserted into a body cavity, an operator grips the flexible tube portion and operates an operation knob disposed at an operation portion of the endoscope by a predetermined amount so as to bend the bendable section in a desired direction while pushing it into the body cavity. This type of insertion portion of the endoscope has various improvements to reinforce insertion ability into a curved body cavity.
For example, in the insertion portion of the endoscope described in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 1-22641, a first bendable section which can be actively operated from outside to be bent in four directions and a second bendable section which is provided with a stay coil and a joint ring and is very easily bent and in a structure passively bent in four directions are provided consecutively in order from the tip end side.
Also, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-143084 discloses an endoscope provided with a first bendable section and a second bendable section with hardness larger than that of the first bendable section.


Oil wells and natural gas are generally drilled into the earth and the underground oil or gas deposits are forced to the surface along the well bore by the underground pressure, or, pumped up using one or more pumps (often in a series). The well-bore is drilled from an oil-rig on the surface of earth using a rotating drilling bit. When the rotating drilling bit is driven into the earth, it cuts through layers of soil and rocks using a continuous flow of compressed drilling fluid (also known as “drilling mud”) supplied through a conduit, which can be coiled tubing or a drill string (composed of a contiguous series of pipes).
During drilling, hollow metallic tubes (also known as “casings”) are inserted within the drilled bore to prevent the walls of bore from collapsing. In a deep enough bore, multiple hollow casings are installed vertically one above the other by screwing ends of adjacent sections with each other, thus forming a “bore casing.” For reliable installation of bore casings (and for proper functioning of equipment set-up within it), the well-bore should be kept clean by efficiently removing mud, rock debris and dirt generated during drilling, and it should also be periodically cleaned to maintain reliable functioning of the in-well equipment.
Various tools and methods have been proposed for cleaning of an oil well-bore. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,686,102 and 8,151,908 (both incorporated by reference) disclose well-bore cleaning devices which use jets of pressurized fluid ejecting from one end of a tool to dislodge mud, dirt or rock debris in an oil well-bore. While drilling the oil well-bore, these tools are not very efficient in removing mud/dirt stuck on inner walls of the bore casing at positions already passed by the end of the tool from which jets of pressurized fluid are ejected. So in order to clean such portions, the tools may be required to pass multiple times up and down the oil well-bore. Hence, there's need for an improved cleaning device which more efficiently and effectively cleans the base and internal walls of a well-bore without multiple passes up and down being required.


There are communication devices that are capable of performing proximity wireless communication. An example of such device is disclosed in JP-A-2005-045557 (counterpart U.S. publications are: US 2005/0064814 A1 and US 2007/0232232 A1). When information is transmitted to and received from another device, the communication device described in the publication JP-A-2005-045557 determines a transmission/reception direction by an operation button and transmits/receives the information. This information has a relatively small information amount and information contents displayed on the other device are directly transmitted and received.
The communication device described in the publication JP-A-2005-045557 has a special operation button for determining an information transmission/reception direction, which is operated by the user. In the case where a plurality of contents of a relatively large amount of information are stored, a content list needs to be first displayed before displaying the contents. However, in this case, a user interface, which sets one of the communication device and the other device to display the content list, is not disclosed.


The present invention relates to a titanium article having a protective coating and a method of applying a protective coating to a titanium article, particularly to a titanium aluminide article having a protective coating and a method of applying a protective coating to a titanium aluminide article.
Titanium aluminide alloys have potential for use in gas turbine engines, particularly for turbine blades and turbine vanes in the low pressure turbine and compressor blades and vanes in the high pressure compressor and the combustion chamber diffuser section. The gamma titanium aluminides provide a weight reduction compared to the alloys currently used for these purposes.
However, titanium aluminide alloys and gamma titanium aluminide alloys will require environmental protective coatings, above a certain temperature, in a similar manner to conventional nickel base alloys or cobalt base alloys.
Convention environmental protective coatings for nickel base alloys and cobalt base alloys include aluminide coatings, platinum coatings, chromium coatings, MCrAlY coatings, silicide coatings, platinum modified aluminide coatings, chromium modified aluminide coatings, platinum and chromium modified aluminide coatings, silicide modified aluminide coatings, platinum and silicide modified aluminide coatings and platinum, silicide and chromium modified aluminide coatings etc. Aluminide coatings are generally applied by the well known pack aluminising, out of pack, vapour, aluminising or slurry aluminising processes. Platinum coatings are generally applied by electroplating or sputtering. Chromium coatings are generally applied by pack chromising or vapour chromising. Silicide coatings are generally applied by slurry aluminising. MCrAlY coatings are generally applied by plasma spraying or electron beam physical vapour deposition.
Thermal barrier coatings include yttria stabilised zirconia and magnesia stabilised zirconia etc. Thermal barrier coatings are generally applied by plasma spraying or electron beam physical vapour deposition.
However, these conventional protective coatings are not as adherent to titanium aluminide alloys in particular, or titanium alloys in general, as they are to nickel base alloys or cobalt base alloys. This is due, we believe, to the titanium oxide formed on the titanium aluminide or titanium alloy.
Accordingly the present invention seeks to provide a novel protective coating for a titanium article and a novel method of applying a protective coating to a titanium article.
Accordingly the present invention provides a titanium alloy article having a protective coating on the titanium alloy article, the protective coating comprising a coating of silicate glass having a chromium oxide filler.
Preferably the protective coating comprises an oxide layer on the titanium alloy article and the coating of silicate glass having the chromium oxide filler on the oxide layer.
Preferably the titanium alloy article comprises a titanium aluminide, more preferably the titanium alloy article comprises a gamma titanium aluminide.
Preferably the oxide layer comprises titanium oxide.
Preferably the protective coating comprises a boron titanate silicate glass having a chromium oxide filler.
Preferably the titanium alloy article comprises a turbine blade, a turbine vane, a compressor blade, or a compressor vane.
The present invention also provides a method of applying a protective coating to a titanium alloy article comprising depositing a coating comprising a silicate glass having a chromium oxide filler.
Preferably the method comprises forming an oxide layer on the titanium alloy article and depositing the coating comprising silicate glass having a chromium oxide filler on the oxide layer.
Preferably the titanium alloy article comprises a titanium aluminide, more preferably the titanium alloy article comprises a gamma titanium aluminide.
Preferably the oxide layer comprises titanium oxide.
Preferably the protective coating comprises a boron titanate silicate glass having a chromium oxide filler.
Preferably the titanium alloy article comprises a turbine blade, a turbine vane, a compressor blade, or a compressor vane.
Preferably the method comprises depositing the boron titanate glass and chromium oxide filler by spraying with a binder.
Preferably the method comprises drying the protective coating, heating the protective coating at 100xc2x0 C. for 1 hour and heating the protective coating at 1030xc2x0 C. for 10 to 20 minutes to fuse the protective coating.


Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is a curative therapy for hematological malignancies as well as refractory autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) (Shizuru 2004; Sullivan 2004; Sykes 2005). HCT results in allogeneic hematopoietic chimerism. For subjects with hematological malignancies, HCT allows for administration of higher and more potentially effective dosages of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. For subjects with abnormal nonmalignant lymphohematopoietic systems, HCT allows for replacement of the abnormal lymphohematopoietic system with a healthy one. HCT is often referred to as bone marrow transplantation (BMT). However, hematopoietic stem cells for use in HCT can be collected from bone marrow, peripheral blood, or umbilical cord blood.
In classical HCT, recipients are conditioned with total body irradiation (TBI) and/or high dose chemotherapy. However, both TBI and chemotherapy are highly toxic, even at reduced intensity. In addition, TBI and chemotherapy play a critical role in initiating graft versus host disease (GVHD) (Ferrara 2004). Toxicity and GVHD have limited the application of HCT. Therefore, there is a need for improved methods of conditioning a recipient for HCT.


The present invention relates to aerial lift platform apparatus, and more particularly to such apparatus which is mounted on a chassis having endless tracks or treads which engage the ground.
Aerial lift platform apparatus have been provided in the past, and their use has recently been significantly increasing. Such apparatus is in the form of a self-propelled vehicle having a chassis which is mounted on ground engaging wheels. Smaller units often have three wheels, while larger units, having a vertical reach of between approximately forty feet and one hundred and twenty-five feet, are mounted on four wheels. The chassis supports a rotatable upper works, which is capable of rotating through 360 degrees. A boom is carried by the upper works, having at or adjacent its outer end a workman's platform, usually provided with upstanding walls so as to form a basket-like structure, for purposes of safety. The boom is often extensible, and is caused to rotate through 360 degrees, due to its mounting on the upper works. In addition, the boom may be raised and lowered about a horizontal pivot. The upper works usually contains a prime mover, such as an internal combustion engine, which drives one or more pumps, to thereby deliver power to rotary motors positioned at one or more of the wheels in order to propel the vehicle, and also to deliver hydraulic fluid under pressure to various cylinders, such as for steering and boom extension and retraction. Rotation of the upper works is also effected by a hydraulic motor driven by the pump. All controls are provided in duplicate, so that there is a set of controls accessible to a person standing by the machine, and also a set of controls is provided at the platform, so as to be accessible to the operator or workman in the platform.
An aerial lift platform has been provided, mounted on a tracked vehicle chassis, instead of wheels. There was thereby gained the advantage of permitting operation where the supporting surface was relatively soft, and could not sustain a vehicle of such weight when mounted on wheels. This construction was a known crawler type construction which provided a steel driving sprocket and a steel idler at the ends, and intermediate steel rollers which were rigidly mounted to the chassis. This construction, while suitable for use in terrain of a relatively soft nature, provided no shock absorbing or cushioning for the operator, who could only drive the vehicle from the the operator's platform.
In another embodiment, an aerial lift platform was provided which was mounted on tracks, and was provided with a cab on the vehicle, which cab had controls for moving the vehicle. The operator's platform was not provided with controls for moving the vehicle, so that the operator, when the vehicle was moving, could only be in the cab which was mounted directly on the vehicle. Once the aerial lift platform was set in position, an operator occupied the platform, and by manipulation of the controls in the platform on the boom, was able to rotate the upper works, raise and lower the boom and extend and retract the boom, but could not, as noted, cause the vehicle to move. In this construction, pneumatic tires were provided, for both drive and intermediate or idler wheels, and the idler wheels were mounted on independent spring loaded axles. That is, one or more of the idlers on one side of the chassis could be moved upwardly, or downwardly, relative to a reference point on the chassis, without causing movement of any idler on the opposite side, relative to the same or a corresponding reference point on the chassis.
The aerial lift platform apparatus having rigid suspension also had a cab on the chassis, and thus required two operator's stations, one at the cab and one at the platform, and there was thereby required extra cost; in addition there was the problem that the vehicle could not be moved by the operator in the cab and thus was more expensive from the point of view of personnel cost, and was somewhat less efficient. On the other hand, where the shock absorbing or cushioning type suspension was utilized, including pneumatic tires and spring loaded intermediate wheels, stability was not as great as desired, particularly when the boom was extended over one side. It has been found that with the boom extended over one side, there is produced an over-turning moment tending to tilt the machine and overturn it to the side over which the boom extends. The problem is known to be more severe where there is a shock absorbing or cushioning or so-called "sprung" chassis, and this has been solved in the past, for instance in connection with truck mounted cranes, by the use of outriggers. Thus, the truck mounted cranes have the outriggers in stored, non-use position during movement of the truck mounted cranes from one place to another, but when relatively heavy loads are to be lifted, the outriggers are utilized, and their positioning in effect renders the spring mounting of the chassis on the ground engaging wheels inoperative. That is, during the lifting of loads near the capacity of the truck mounted crane, the spring suspension of the chassis is made inoperative and the supporting of the chassis is by the outriggers, which bypass the spring suspension of the chassis. Of course, with such cranes, it is not possible to move them when the outriggers are positioned.
There are known, also, mobile cranes which are intended to lift and move a load by movement of the entire truck mounted crane. In such units, however, although outriggers are not used, movement of the entire truck mounted crane is effected with the load and the boom centered, and not extending over the side.
Various vehicles are known which utilize tracks, and have pneumatic tires, together with spring-loaded independently movable intermediate or idler wheels. In these constructions, however, there is no boom, and therefore no overturning moment resulting from a boom positioned over the side.


A conventional wrench with a box end is used for a long time and the box end includes a toothed inner periphery so as to engage a polygonal object such as a nut. The object is enclosed by the box end and cannot be slid from the box end during rotation of the wrench. Nevertheless, if there is an obstacle located beside the object, the handle of the wrench cannot be rotated freely, the user has to remove the box end from the nut completely and then re-engage the nut after the handle is arranged to a proper position. This increases the time required to tighten or loosen the nut and is not an efficient tool. To improve the problem, a ratchet box end tool is developed and allows the user to reciprocally operate the box end wrench without removing the box end from the nut. However, the ratchet wrench involves too many parts and the assembling processes are complicated.
The present invention intends to provide a box end wrench without ratchet mechanism and can be used as a ratchet wrench.


A common type of human injury occurs when a finger or toe is smashed, such as by an inadvertent hammer blow, door slam, etc. A result of these accidents is a very painful bruise and swelling under the nail, called a subungual hematoma.
In order to relieve the swelling under the nail, the nail is perforated to permit blood or other body fluids to ooze out to relieve pressure. By directing the pooling blood out of the restricted space under the nail, several beneficial results occur. First, the pressure under the nail is relieved so that the swelling and throbbing pain is reduced. Second, discoloration of the nail is lessened. Finally, premature loss of the nail is avoided. In the prior art, the nail has been perforated by burning the nail with a red-hot wire, or by puncturing with the tip of a hypodermic needle. A problem is lack of control: the delicate tissue under the nail can also be perforated, which can lead to additional pain and worsening of the wound.
Nail boring devices (called trephinators) are known in the art. U.S. Pat. No. 6,015,418 and US Patent Application 2006/0225757 describe hand drills for drilling a pressure-relief hole in the nail (2006/0225757 also has an electrically powered drill). However, there is no provision of making sure the drill does not inadvertently puncture the tissue under the nail.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,645,554 attempts to provide depth controlling means so that the drill does not inadvertently puncture the tissue under the nail. The depth controlling means is a tube which is added to a standard drill bit. It is placed around the bit and has an internal circular side wall, which is engaged with one or more flutes of the drill. The enables the tube to move longitudinally along the drill as the tube rotates on the drill.


As metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs) scale down in size, higher performance can be achieved by bringing metal silicide contacts closer to the gate conductor. There are difficulties however in forming self-aligned metal silicide contacts close to the gate conductor edge. For example, relatively thick silicides (on the order of about 20 nm or greater), which are required to meet sheet resistivity in the diffusion and polycide, will consume silicon and can interfere with the integrity of an ultra shallow junction that is typically present near the gate edge under the spacer.
For ultra-thin body MOSFETs in which the device channel has a thickness of about 20 nm or less, the thickness of the silicon available to form a silicide contact is limited. So-called raised source/drain regions (RSD, or also called elevated source/drain regions) can mitigate this problem. However, RSD regions that are positioned close to the gate conductor edge will increase the capacitance between the gate and the source/drain regions.
In view of the above, there is a need for providing a MOSFET structure having self-aligned metal suicide contacts that are close to the gate conductor edge that do not consume sufficient silicon such that the integrity of the ultra shallow junction is not effected. Moreover, a MOSFET structure is needed in which the silicide located in proximity to the gate conductor edge does not increase the capacitance between the gate and the source/drain regions.


This invention relates to an optical disk recording thereon compressed data of an image, and to an optical disk reproduction apparatus for reproducing the image data from the optical disk.
A so-called xe2x80x9cCD-ROMxe2x80x9d is a typical example of those systems which reproduce digital data by using an optical disk. The CD-ROM records data for a computer on an optical disk having the same physical format as CDs for audio use, and has the data format to be next described. A data string recorded on the optical disk comprises the smallest unit referred to as a xe2x80x9cframexe2x80x9d, and each frame contains digital data such as sync data, subcode, main information and an error correction code.
Further, the CD-ROM employs the sector structure in which 98 frames (2,352 bytes) are gathered into 1 sector, and each sector comprises a 12-byte sync data, a 4-byte header data representing an address and a mode, a 2,048-byte digital data and a 288-byte error detection/correction code.
On the other hand, a system comprising the combination of an inter-frame prediction with orthogonal transform, quantitization and variable-length encoding is well known as an encoding system of moving picture, and an MPEG system of the ISO (International Organization of Standardization) is also based on this system. In the case of MPEG2, for example, the bit stream of the encoded image data is divided into six hierarchical layers, i.e. a sequence layer, a GOP (Group of Pictures) layer, a picture layer, a slice layer, a macro-block layer and a block layer. Among them, the GOP layer contains three kinds of data, that is, an I picture encoded from the information alone without using inter-frame prediction, a P picture generated by executing prediction from the I picture or P picture and a B picture generated by bidirectional prediction. The sequence layer comprises a GOP containing image data starting from the I picture and obtained by gathering the I picture, the P picture and B picture into one group, and an SH (Sequence Header) added to the leading part of the GOP.
When moving picture are converted to compressed image data by high efficiency encoding, there is known a system which encodes the signal by reducing a compression ratio for scenes having vigorous motion, or in other words, at a high transfer rate, and by increasing the compression ratio for scenes having small motion, or in other words, at a low transfer rate. The variable transfer rate compressed image data so encoded can reduce image deterioration due to compression in comparison with compressed image data of a fixed transfer rate obtained by fixing the compression ratio at a mean value.
An apparatus for recording the compressed image data having the variable transfer rate or the fixed transfer rate into the optical disk such as the CD-ROM and reproducing the data has been announced already.
The prior art technology described above does not particularly consider so-called xe2x80x9ctrick playxe2x80x9d such as n-time speed variable speed reproduction with respect to standard speed reproduction or reverse reproduction of the image data recorded on the optical disk. In reproduction of the image data, for example, n-time speed variable speed reproduction or reverse reproduction is generally required besides continuous reproduction of a standard speed, and a reproduction apparatus which satisfies these requirements becomes necessary. High speed retrieval is also required for the retrieval operation.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an optical disk and an optical disk reproduction apparatus each of which can conduct various kinds of trick play of the optical disk recording thereon compressed image data, and can make a retrieval operation at a high speed.
To accomplish the object described above, the optical disk according to the present invention records specific information necessary for trick play into an arbitrary area such as a TOC (Table of Contents) or a leading sector (sector 0) of the optical disk, and adds a sector address to each sector.
The optical disk reproduction apparatus according to the present invention includes means for extracting and reproducing an I picture, a P picture and a B picture contained in a GOP layer inside a bit stream of compressed image data by looking up a trick play table.
After the optical disk is loaded to the optical disk reproduction apparatus, a system microcomputer first reads the trick play table recorded on the optical disk and stores it into a work area. When trick play is effected, the address of the sector to be read out is determined by looking up the necessary trick play table, and the address is retrieved on the optical disk so as to reproduce an image.
Because the address of the sector to be read out is determined by looking up the trick play table during trick play other than normal reproduction, trick play can be easily executed, and a retrieved reproduction image can be quickly obtained in the retrieval operation.


Worldwide demand for cooling and refrigeration systems are rising exponentially. Driven by a warming planet and a rapidly expanding middle class in developing economies, the use of cooling systems (e.g., air conditioners, cold storage units, beverage coolers, bulk milk coolers, etc.) is surging. In most countries, energy consumed by cooling systems account for a substantial portion of the total power used. Almost all current cooling systems operate on the vapor-compression thermodynamic cycle, where a circulating liquid refrigerant absorbs and removes heat from a cooled space (such as, for example, an enclosed room, cabinet, etc.), and rejects the heat elsewhere. However, such cooling systems consume large amounts of power. A recent intergovernmental study estimates that power consumption for residential air conditioning alone will increase over thirty-fold by the year 2100.
Furthermore, cooling systems (such as air conditioners) in a geographic area tend to turn on at the same time causing a surge in power use. To accommodate this demand surge, utilities in developed countries use “pecker plants” (gas turbines, etc.) which can provide instantaneous power at a significantly higher cost. Since consumers are unwilling to pay the higher rates, many parts of the developing world encounter blackouts as the demand exceeds supply. To reduce the cost of peak power, and the inconvenience of blackouts, it is desirable to shift some of the high electricity loads to non-peak time (e.g., morning, night, etc.). One way to accomplish this is by storing the energy needed to operate the cooling systems in batteries. However, electric battery cost is very high. Embodiments of the current disclosure provide systems and methods to alleviate some of these deficiencies. The scope of the current disclosure, however, is defined by the attached claims, and not by the ability to solve any specific problem.


A security dongle is a piece of hardware to be used in physical connection with a computer as a security mechanism for a piece of software on the computer. The security dongle can be used for copy prevention and/or software feature enablement. Typically, the security dongle authenticates the piece of software based on a unique identifier of the security dongle. Without the security dongle, the piece of software will run in a restricted mode or not run at all.


Power storage technology is an important technology for efficient use over the whole fields of energy such as efficiency of power use, enhancing ability or reliability of power supply systems, expanding introduction of new and renewable energy having large fluctuation depending on time, and energy regeneration of moving bodies, and its potential and demands for social contribution have gradually increased.
Studies on secondary batteries have been actively conducted in order for adjusting the balance of demand and supply in semi-autonomous regional power supply systems such as micro-grid, properly distributing non-uniform outputs of new and renewable energy generation such as wind power or solar power generation, and controlling affects such as voltage and frequency changes occurring from differences with existing power systems, and expectations for the use of secondary batteries have increased in such fields.
Particularly, when examining properties required for secondary batteries used for high capacity power storage, energy storage density needs to be high, and as high capacity and high efficiency secondary batteries suited for such properties, redox flow batteries (RFB) have recently received attention.
Like general secondary batteries, redox flow batteries store electric energy inputted through a charging process after converting to chemical energy, and output the stored chemical energy after converting to electric energy through a discharge process. However, such redox flow batteries are different from general secondary batteries in that electrode active materials storing energy are present in a liquid state instead of a solid state, and therefore, a tank or a storage container storing the electrode active materials is required.
As described above, redox flow batteries have properties such as capable of being manufactured to have large capacity, requiring lower maintenance costs, operable at room temperature, and capable of designing capacity and output each independently, and therefore, considerable studies on redox flow batteries as high capacity secondary batteries have been currently conducted.
Among these, vanadium redox flow batteries using vanadium ions have received attention as a next generation energy storage device, however, there are problems of capacity decrease in the redox flow battery due to phenomena such as separator (or ion-exchange membrane) cross-over of vanadium ions, generation of hydrogen in an anode, and oxidation reaction of vanadium ions when exposed to air, and studies for improving these have been consistently ongoing.
Among these, a separator cross-over phenomenon of vanadium ions is caused by ion imbalance between an anode electrolyte and a cathode electrolyte occurring by the anode electrolyte and the cathode electrolyte having different oxidation numbers, and as a result, a problem of causing deterioration in the battery capacity occurs.
Specifically, V2+ and V3+ ions of the anode electrolyte permeate the membrane in a relatively higher rate compared to V5+ and V4+ ions of the cathode electrolyte, and as a cycle progresses, the vanadium ion concentration rapidly increases in the cathode electrolyte. Accordingly, the concentration of vanadium ions decreases in the anode electrolyte, and as a result, ion balance between the anode and cathode electrolytes is broken causing a problem of cycle deterioration when operating a battery.


Typical fluorescent lamps contain electrodes that, when operated at the lamp's rated discharge current, are heated to cause thermionic emission of electrons. Such lamps typically contain two electrodes. Each electrode serves as an anode during a first half-cycle of the alternating current (AC) provided to the electrodes, while the other electrode serves as cathode. During the subsequent half-cycle, the electrodes swap roles. Thus, each electrode serves as cathode and anode on alternating half-cycles.
Such fluorescent lamps may be dimmed by reducing the current supplied to the electrodes. Reducing the current, however, also reduces the electrode temperature. If the cathode, for example, is not sufficiently hot, it may not have sufficient thermionic emission to maintain the discharge as a thermionic arc. Rather, it may be forced to operate in a “cold-cathode” (i.e., high cathode-fall, high sputtering) mode. The resulting sputtering damage may cause the cathode, and thus the lamp, to fail within a few hours. Less destructive, but equally fatal in the long run, is the fact that a not-quite-hot-enough cathode will have a higher-than-normal cathode fall even though the cathode continues to operate in the thermionic-arc mode. If the cathode fall exceeds the so-called “disintegration voltage” or “sputter voltage,” incoming mercury ions bombard the cathode with sufficient energy to dislodge (i.e., “sputter”) surface atoms, bringing about increased rate-of-loss of cathode coating and short life.
In order to avoid these effects in fluorescent lamp dimming, an auxiliary electrode heating current may be supplied to the electrode filament to heat the filament sufficiently, by Ohmic heating, to cause thermionic emission. At low dimming currents with minimal heating of the cathode from the discharge current, the auxiliary supply may be the only heat source available to maintain cathode temperature. The auxiliary supply may be a low voltage, typically <6 volts, AC supply connected to the two ends of the filament structure holding the emissive coating. Resistive heating in the filament then furnishes the necessary heating power to maintain the cathode temperature at a desired level. The heating level and corresponding cathode temperature may be controlled by adjustments in the voltage or current furnished by the auxiliary heating power supply.
Obviously, the lower the dimming level at which the lamp is operated, the higher the auxiliary electrode heating current that will be required. If the voltage of the auxiliary heat supply is too low, then the cathode is too cold, the thermionic-arc cathode fall is too high, sputtering occurs with accelerated loss of cathode coating, and short lamp life results. Accordingly, it would be desirable to define a lower limit for the auxiliary electrode heating current in order to keep the lamp life within a reasonable range. On the other hand, if the voltage of the auxiliary heat supply is too high, the cathode temperature is too high, and excessive evaporation of cathode coating leads to short lamp life, even though the cathode fall is maintained well below the disintegration voltage. Steering a course between the Scylla and Charybdis perils represented by sputtering or excess evaporation is therefore desirable in selecting an appropriate cathode-heating-voltage profile as a function of discharge current. Such considerations may be particularly useful in the design of dimming ballasts.
By techniques known in the art, cathode temperature may be measured with an optical pyrometer, provided special lamps with phosphor wiped away from the ends are used to render the cathode visible. Alternatively, average cathode temperature may be determined in lamps without wiped ends by measuring the ratio of hot-to-cold-resistance of the cathode tungsten coil.
A technique is known for determining heater current as a function of discharge current in one particular lamp type of one particular wattage (see F. S. Ligthart, H. Ter Heyden, and L. Kastelein (Paper 17L, 5th International Symposium on Science and Technology of Light Sources, York, England 1989). This technique, however, involves life-testing a number of lamps at various values of heater current and discharge current for a long period of time. Examination of the resulting discolorations on the ends of the lamps could discriminate between sputtering, which may lead to so-called “end band” discoloration, excess evaporation, which may lead to so-called “cathode spotting” discoloration, and satisfactory heater voltage, which exhibits little or no discoloration.
FIG. 1 provides typical sputter and vaporization curves obtained using this technique. Heater-current versus lamp-current points where excessive evaporation was found are identified with a □; points where excessive sputtering was found are identified with a o; points where neither excessive evaporation nor excessive sputtering were found are marked with an x. Points lying between the two curves may be considered acceptable. Points lying below the sputter curve may lead to sputtering. Points lying above the vaporization curve may lead to excessive evaporation.
Though such a technique may provide information that is useful in determining the correct heater-current profile versus dimming current, it is far too cumbersome for an electronic ballast manufacturer to employ efficiently. To provide comprehensive results, it would have to be repeated for every different wattage of every different lamp type. In addition, cathode designs employed by different lamp manufacturers for the same lamp type are different, requiring testing of a number of different versions of the same lamp type.
FIG. 2 provides a plot of cathode fall as a function of phase angle for a typical fluorescent lamp. Specifically, FIG. 2 shows cathode fall as a function of phase angle in a typical T12 Rapid Start fluorescent lamp operating at rated current and heater voltage. Measurements of cathode fall were made using special lamps equipped with so-called “Langmuir Probes” (see John F. Waymouth, “Electric Discharge Lamps,” MIT Press 1971, Chapter IV and Appendix B). It should be understood that, as the data provided in FIG. 2 is on an absolute, rather than relative, basis, the plot of FIG. 2 provides a standard against which other methods for measuring cathode fall may be compared.
FIG. 3A provides a plot of cathode and anode falls for a typical fluorescent lamp. FIG. 3B provides a plot of arc current supplied to produce the cathode and anode falls plotted in FIG. 3A. Cathode fall in 60-Hz AC operated fluorescent lamps was measured via a method, attributable to Hammer, et al., wherein a capacitive probe, which may be a foil sheet, for example, is wrapped around a portion of the lamp that contains the electrode (see, for example, E. E. Hammer, “Comparative Starting Characteristics in Typical F40 Systems”, Preprint, IESNA Conference Minneapolis Minn. 1988, and its published version, JIES Winter 1989, p 64; and E. E. Hammer, “Cathode Fall Relationships in Fluorescent Lamps”, Preprint #69, IESNA Conference, Miami Beach Fla., 1994, and its published version, JIES, Winter 1995, p116). The probe picks up fluctuations of plasma potential in proximity to the electrode, and presents them to an oscilloscope for detection. As the negative glow in front of the cathode is approximately an equipotential blob of high-density plasma at a potential (positive relative to the cathode) that is equal to the cathode fall, fluctuations of plasma potential on the cathode half cycle may be interpreted as the signature of fluctuations of cathode fall during the half cycle.
Positive swings of potential are attributed to cathode fall (negative glow plasma that is positive with respect to the electrode) while negative swings are identified with anode fall (negative glow plasma that is negative with respect to the electrode). When allowance is made for the difference in lamp-current waveform, the shape of the curve agrees well with that shown in FIG. 2. The jagged fluctuations seen in FIG. 3A on the anode half cycle are so-called “anode oscillations.”
Because capacitive coupling causes a loss of DC reference, the Hammer method provides no information as to the value of the zero of potential. Thus, although the Hammer method may provide qualitative information about the shape of the cathode and anode fall waveforms, and about the peak-to-peak difference between peak cathode fall and peak anode fall, it does not provide the magnitude of either. Further, fluctuating potential signals from the cathode heater voltage may be picked up. Also, a very high input impedance is required for the measuring oscilloscope, which precludes the use of the Hammer method on small-diameter, compact fluorescent lamps. Additionally, capacitance between the signal lead and the shielded cable shunts the signal to ground, which reduces the apparent amplitude of the cathode fall variation. It would be desirable, therefore, if apparatus and methods were available for making capacitive measurements of the magnitude of cathode fall in fluorescent lamps, without the limitations exhibited by the Hammer method.


The quantitative determination of analytes in biological fluids is useful in the diagnosis and treatment of physiological abnormalities. For example, determining the glucose level in biological fluids, such as blood, is important to diabetic individuals who must frequently check their blood glucose level to regulate their diets and/or medication.
Electrochemical methods have been used for such purposes. An electrochemical biosensor may use an analyte specific enzyme, such as glucose oxidase or glucose dehydrogenase, to catalyze the oxidation of glucose in a whole blood sample. During the catalytic oxidation by the enzyme, the redox center of the enzyme accepts the electrons from the analyte.
This redox center could be the flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) of glucose oxidase, or the enzyme's cofactor such as pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) for the glucose dehydrogenase. The electrons acquired by the enzyme then may be moved to the electrode by a mediator, which is converted to a reduced form through oxidation of the enzyme. Finally, the reduced form of the mediator, such as the ferrocyanide species of the ferricyanide/ferrocyanide redox pair, is oxidized at the electrode to generate a measurable current.
This process may be represented by the following equations:Glucose+EOx==ERed+Product  (1)ERed+nMedOx==nMedRed+EOx  (2)MedRed==MedOx+ne−  (3)where EOx and ERed are the oxidized and reduced forms of the redox center of the enzyme, respectively, while MedOx and MedRed are the oxidized and reduced forms of the mediator, respectively. The product of the enzymatic reaction may be gluconic acid or gluconolactone.
One electrochemical method, which has been used to quantify analytes in biological fluids, is coulometry. For example, Heller et al. described the coulometric method for whole blood glucose measurements in U.S. Pat. No. 6,120,676. In coulometry, the analyte (glucose) concentration is quantified by exhaustively oxidizing the analyte within a small volume and integrating the current over the time of oxidation to produce the electrical charge representing the analyte concentration. In other words, coulometry captures the total amount of glucose within the sensor strip.
An important aspect of coulometry is that towards the end of the integration curve of charge vs. time, the rate at which the charge changes becomes relatively constant to yield a steady-state condition. This steady-state portion of the coulometric curve forms a relatively flat plateau region in the curve, thus allowing accurate determination of the corresponding current. However, the coulometric method requires the complete conversion of the entire volume of analyte. As a result, this method is time consuming and does not provide the fast results which users of electrochemical devices, such as glucose-monitoring products, demand. Another problem with coulometry is that the small volume of the sensor cell must be controlled in order to provide accurate results, which can be difficult with a mass produced device.
Another electrochemical method which has been used to quantify analytes in biological fluids is amperometry. In amperometry, current is measured at the end of a period at a constant potential (voltage) across the working and counter electrodes of the sensor strip. The current is used to quantify the analyte in the biological sample. Amperometry measures the rate at which the electrochemically active species, and thus the analyte, is being oxidized or reduced. Many variations of the amperometric method for biosensors have been described, for example in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,620,579; 5,653,863; 6,153,069; and 6,413,411. The amperometric method samples the analyte concentration near the electrode surface by measuring the current that is proportional to the diffusion rate and the bulk concentration of the analyte.
A disadvantage of the amperometric method is the non-steady-state nature of the current after applying a potential. The rate of current change with respect to time is very fast initially and becomes slower as the analysis proceeds due to the changing nature of the underlying diffusion process. Until the consumption rate of the reduced mediator at the electrode surface equals the diffusion rate, a steady-state current cannot be obtained. Thus, measuring a current during a non-steady-state time period may be associated with more inaccuracy than a measurement taken at a steady-state time period.
One important aspect of measuring analytes in whole blood samples is the effect of hematocrit. Hematocrit is the volume of red blood cells (RBC) expressed as a percentage of the volume of RBC in a whole blood sample. The hematocrit value for whole blood samples ranges from about 20 to 60% and is typically about 40%.
Reagent biosensors include any system that can detect glucose in a blood specimen via an electrochemical reaction. Examples of reagent biosensors include Ascensia AUTODISC® and Elite® biosensors available from Bayer HealthCare, LLC of Elkhart, Ind.; Precision® biosensors available from Abbott in Abbott Park, Ill.; Accucheck® biosensors available from Roche in Indianapolis, Ind.; and OneTouch Ultra® biosensors available from Lifescan in Milpitas, Calif.
Typical electrochemical sensor strips contain a working electrode, a counter electrode, and an optional third electrode. A reference potential may be provided to the system by the counter electrode, if configured appropriately, or by the optional third electrode. A reagent layer with an enzyme such as glucose oxidase or glucose dehydrogenase and a mediator such as ferricyanide or ruthenium hexaamine is printed or deposited onto the working electrode or onto the working and counter electrodes with a polymer as the binder.
Examples of polymers used as the binder of the reagents include CMC (carboxyl methyl cellulose) and PEO (polyethylene oxide). The addition of various types and molecular weights of polymers to the reagent layer may assist in filtering red blood cells, preventing them from coating the electrode surface.
Preferably, the sensor strip is made by printing electrodes on an insulating substrate using multiple techniques, such as those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,531,040; 5,798,031; and 5,120,420. The reagent can be co-printed onto the working and counter electrodes with a mixture of a glucose oxidizing enzyme such as glucose oxidase, a mediator such as ferricyanide, a hydrophilic polymer such as polyethylene oxide (PEO) and an appropriate buffer, such as a citrate buffer.
Alternatively, a different reagent chemistry can be either printed or micro-deposited separately onto the working and counter electrodes using the method described in a U.S. provisional patent application filed Oct. 24, 2003, Ser. No. 60/513,817 with the reagent on the working electrode containing the enzyme, the mediator, the polymer and that on the counter electrode containing a soluble redox species, which could be the same as the mediator or different, and a polymer. In one embodiment, the polymer used in micro-deposition is carboxyl methyl cellulose.
Examples of suitable bench-top electrochemical instruments which may be used for reading reagent biosensors according to the present invention include, but are not limited to, the BAS 100B Analyzer available from BAS Instruments in West Lafayette, Ind.; the CH Instrument Analyzer available from CH Instruments in Austin, Tex.; the Cypress Electrochemical Workstation available from Cypress Systems in Lawrence, Kans.; and the EG&G Electrochemical Instrument available from Princeton Research Instruments in Princeton, N.J. Examples of portable instruments include the Ascensia Breeze® and Elite® meters of Bayer Corporation.
A biosensor for glucose may have an enzyme and a mediator deposited on the electrodes. The ability of this sensor to measure glucose is affected as the RBC block the diffusion of the relevant reagents within the blood sample. Since the amperometric current is directly proportional to the diffusion of the reduced form of the mediator, the hematocrit will have a significant impact on the accuracy of the glucose measurements. Depending on the hematocrit level in a whole blood sample, the RBC cause a bias in the glucose readings.
Various methods and techniques have been proposed in an attempt to reduce the hematocrit effect of the whole blood on the resulting glucose measurements. For example, Ohara et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 6,475,372 disclosed a method of using the ratio of currents from a forward and a reverse potential pulse to compensate for the hematocrit effect in electrochemical glucose measurements. McAleer et al. in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,708,247 and 5,951,836 disclosed a reagent formulation using silica particles to filter the RBC from the electrode surface, thus reducing the hematocrit effect. Carter et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 5,628,890 disclosed a method of using a wide spacing of the electrodes combined with mesh layers to distribute the blood sample for the hematocrit effect.
These conventional techniques for reducing the bias attributable to the hematocrit effect include (a) co-deposition of a polymer to minimize the hematocrit effect, (b) addition of various kinds of fused silica to enforce the filter effect for the polymer layer, (c) compensation coefficients based on the ratio of currents from a forward and a reverse potential pulse, and (d) self-compensation by utilizing the existing solution resistance of the whole blood samples. Although these methods may be useful, conventional glucose sensors continue to exhibit significant analytical bias attributable to the hematocrit effect. Thus, it would be desirable to provide systems for quantifying analytes in biological fluids, in particular the glucose content of whole blood, which reduces bias from the hematocrit effect.


As current molecular target drugs against malignant tumors, there have been developed and used, in practical clinic, many agents such as sorafenib used for liver cancer and renal cancer, cetuximab and bevacizumab used for large intestine cancer, erlotinib and gefitinib used for lung cancer, and trastuzumab used for breast cancer. As target substances of each agent, there can be exemplified cancer kinase, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), HER2 protein, and the like. However, in relation to molecular target drugs against malignant tumors, there have also been reported skin disorder, gastrointestinal perforation, interstitial pneumonia, and deaths due to severe side effects such as liver failure. Therefore, appearance of a safer molecular target drug is desired. Meanwhile, although it is said that even healthy persons have thousands of malignant tumor (cancer) cells every day, everyone does not necessarily develop disease. It has been reported that incidence of liver cancer in autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is about 0.7%/year (Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2006; 24:1197) and is obviously lower than 3%/year in chronic hepatitis C (Ann Intern Med 1999; 131:174).
It has been reported that a ribosomal protein RPL29 (Ribosomal protein L29) shows increased expression in cells of various malignant tumors such as large intestine cancer (Non Patent Literature 1), liver cancer (Non Patent Literature 2), gastric cancer (Non Patent Literature 3), thyroid cancer (Non Patent Literature 4) and breast cancer (Non Patent Literature 5). The RPL29 is a membrane protein expressed on a cell surface, and it has been reported that when the expression of the RPL29 is lowered, cells causing apoptosis are increased (Non Patent Literature 6), and cellular differentiation is induced (Non Patent Literature 1). In addition, it has been reported that a ribosomal protein RPS4X (Ribosomal protein S4, X-linked) shows increased expression in cells of various malignant tumors such as large intestine cancer (Non Patent Literature 7) and breast cancer (Non Patent Literature 8). However, it has not been reported that a substance targeting the ribosomal proteins RPL29 and RPS4X improved tumors.


The present invention is directed to street and highway posts generally used to support a signboard and more specifically to a connection adapted to be mounted between a lower post section and an upper post section. The connection is particularly adapted to prevent damage to the lower post section when the post is hit by a vehichle, and in many instances to also prevent damages to the upper post section.
The invention is particularly directed to a specific type of connection having a corrugated cross-section and more specifically, to a U-shape channel having two lateral flanges extending outwardly from the U-shaped channel. The connection is provided with a weakened linear section extending partly through the cross-section of the channel so as to allow the tilting of the upper post section relative to the lower post section and a subsequent tearing apart of the connection to maintain the upper post section linked to the lower post section.


This invention relates to an emanator device for delivering an air treatment agent into the surrounding air.
The invention relates in particular to an emanator device for delivering an air treatment agent into the surrounding air, for use in an environment which is alternately wet and dry.
WO 2004/069982 A1 describes an emanator for emanating one or more active component(s), which preferably comprises a surfactant and fragrance. Typically the emanator is for use in a dishwashing machine. The emanator comprises a blister which contains the active component(s) as a concentrated liquid, within a permeable polymeric membrane, through which the active component(s) gradually diffuses. The blister is retained in a cage-like retaining structure. The arrangement, in such a device, is such that the blister is washed over by water in “wet phases” of the dishwashing cycle; and at other times is dispensed into the ambient air. Thus, emanation of the active component(s) occurs without interruption, whether into the ambient air or into the ambient water.
WO 2005/102141 A1 describes an emanator of a similar type, having an aperture or apertures whose size may be varied, in order to provide different rates of release of the active component(s). As in the device of WO 2004/069982 A1, the emanation of the active component(s) is into the ambient environment, whether into water or into air, and 25 thus proceeds without interruption.
It is desirable to fragrance the air in a dishwashing device, to mask the chemical smell sometimes found in a dishwasher, and the odour of dirty dishes and cutlery waiting to be washed. However it is undesirable to add fragrance to the water in the wash cycle, because the crockery and cutlery may have a taint which some users can detect.
WO 2008/141473 A1 describes a malodour-counteracting device for use in an automatic dishwashing machine. The device addresses a problem, that there is increased evaporation of fragrance during the wash cycle, followed by reduced evaporation between washes. The latter time is often when more, rather than less, fragrance is needed, given that dirty dishes and cutlery are loaded into the dishwashing machine, and may be kept there for some hours, before the dishwashing machine is operated. To solve this problem a device is described having a downwardly-open body holding a gradually-releasable fragrance source, and a larger, upwardly open, dish. The body and the dish overlap, but are not sealed to one another; fragranced air can leave the device though a space between the dish and the body. However, during the wet phase of a dishwasher cycle water collects in the dish and thereby rises over the space, preventing fragranced air from leaving the device. However the fragrance source is not itself immersed in water. Fragranced air can not escape from the device until the level of water in the dish falls, by evaporation, to open the space.
The device of WO 2008/141473 A1 achieves the objective of preventing fragrance release during the wet phase, by use of a collected water barrier. However, the device described is aesthetically unappealing, and has functional limitations. The “dish” of the device needs to retain a substantial volume of water in order for the water to close the passage through which fragrance could otherwise escape. To open the passage to its maximum degree appears to require the complete absence of water in the dish. Moreover it is sometimes found that water collected in upwardly-open formations, such as the bases of cups, can contain residues of dirty water, in certain makes of dishwashing machine. This can be expected to occur on occasion, in the upwardly open “dish” of the device of WO 2008/141473 A1. Providing a device which relies upon an upwardly-open dish for alternating closure and non-closure of an emission port or ports is not an optimal technical solution.