Abstract: A method of treating osteoarthritis, which is effective not only at targeting the symptoms of the disease, but also in interrupting, preventing, and controlling cartilage destruction, to thereby favorably alter the course of the disease, comprising the administration of an effective amount of rhein or a rhein derivative, preferably diacerein, either alone or in combination with at least one member selected from the group consisting of analgesics, antipyretics, cortico-steroids, anti-inflammatory agents, cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors, and inflammatory cytokine inhibitors, to a subject in need of such treatment.

Abstract: An improved panel type color display device and system for processing image information includes a combiner circuit for combining, in correspondence, line address information, data selector address information, and plotting information to vary a transmittance level by applying a pulses to each pixel, each pulse having a duration shorter than that which would cause the pixel to reach its maximum transmittance level.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed which allows the non-invasive monitoring of a subject's carboxyhemoglobin level, thereby allowing the detection of possible carbon monoxide poisoning. The subject breathes oxygen to saturate his blood hemoglobin and eliminate reduced hemoglobin, thus allowing the detection and differentiation between oxy- and carboxyhemoglobin by modification of a conventional pulse oximeter. Preferably the device works in two modes. The first mode is a conventional pulse oximeter capable of determining the level of oxy-hemoglobin in the subject's arterial blood. Upon the achievement of certain criteria the preferred embodiment of the inventive device would switch to a second mode, in which mode the device would be capable of determining carboxyhemoglobin levels. Alternatively, carboxyhemoglobin can be measured using two devices and two different pairs of wavelengths transilluminating two different body parts.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an air filter having an inorganic material layer in which the following adsorbent is fixed on the surface of the supporter using powder of an inorganic substance as a binder. That is, the adsorbent is prepared by impregnating a salt of an inorganic acid to powder of an inorganic substance consisting of at least one of diatom earth, silica, alumina, a mixture of silica and alumina, aluminum silicate, activated alumina, porous glass, activated clay, activated bentonite, or synthetic zeolite. The air filter according to the present invention can adsorb and remove both of gaseous basic impurities and gaseous organic impurities, thus making a very effective filter for manufacturing semiconductor and LCD.

Abstract: A projectile can be used to administer pesticides such as one or more from the group consisting of 4-allylanisole, anisole, allylbenzene, 4-isopropylanisole, p-anisaldehyde, ethylbenzene, cumene, 4-methoxyacetophenone, 4-methylstyrene, 2-propylphenol, phenetole, and toluene, for scolytid infestation. Conifers, which are a target for scolytids, are protected by the application of the pesticides by use of a projectile containing the compound which explodes upon contact with the conifer thereby emitting the compound.

Abstract: According to the present invention, there is proposed a laminating apparatus for laminating materials to be laminated. The apparatus includes at least one laminating section (9). Each laminating section (9) comprises an upper chamber (5) and an under chamber (6) wherein both chambers are divided with a diaphragm means (4). The apparatus further includes a heating stage (10) for heating the materials put on the stage in the under chamber (6). The stage (10) is movable between an upward position and a downward position. Further the apparatus includes a supporting means (13) which can support the materials in a position above and apart form the upper surface of the stage (10) when the stage locates in its downward position.

Abstract: An air filter, a method for manufacturing the same, and also a high efficiency air cleaning apparatus employing the same are disclosed. The air filter includes a supporter and an inorganic material layer that is formed by fixing the powder of the fraipontite mineral to the surface of the supporter, using the powder of an inorganic substance as a binder. The method for manufacturing the filter includes the steps of immersing a supporter in a suspension in which the powder of the fraipontite mineral and the powder of an inorganic substance as a binder are dispersed as the suspensoid, and drying the supporter impregnated with the suspensoid, thereby forming an inorganic material layer fixed to the surface of the supporter. The fraipontite mineral adsorbs and removes gaseous acid or basic impurities in the air while the inorganic substance as a component of the inorganic material layer works as an adsorbent against gaseous organic impurities contained in the space of the air cleaning apparatus.

Abstract: An air cleaning apparatus such as a clean room or the like having an air circulation mechanism which circulates the humidity controlled air through a predetermined air circulation path, wherein the air circulation path is provided with a filter which has a hydrophobic zeolite layer formed on its base filter media surface and another filter which is disposed downstream from the filter having a hydrophobic zeolite layer and is used for removing particulate impurities contained in the circulating air. According to this air cleaning apparatus, gaseous organic impurities and particulate impurities contained in the air circulating in the air cleaning apparatus can be removed without lowering the humidity of the circulating air. Furthermore, since this air cleaning apparatus includes no activated charcoal which is inflammable, the apparatus is excellent from the standpoint of disaster prevention.

Abstract: A non-invasive blood component analyzer using spectrophotometry, with systole/diastole corrections for tissue absorbance, and with built-in monitoring of light path length to allow its accurate use in subjects with widely varying finger size and/or varying pulse amplitude. Blood components that are able to be analyzed include oxy-hemoglobin, total hemoglobin, bilirubin, glucose, hormone levels and a variety of drugs.

Abstract: An electrical-installation system comprising flat cable and connectors. Power-supply and data-transmission functions are combined in essentially the same plane. The data-transmission wires are not twisted. Contact can be established with the cores inside the connectors by piercing their insulation without stripping it.

Abstract: A method of subliming material is provided for use in a CVD film preparation method wherein a CVD precursor is sublimed from its solid state by heating to a temperature not exceeding its melting point, thereby producing a vapor of the precursor, and the vapor of the precursor is transported to a reactor. The method of subliming material comprises the steps of forming the solid-state compound into a film, covering a back surface of the film with a non-reactive support and exposing a front surface of the film to an atmosphere as a sublimation surface. The method maintains the exposed surface area of the solid compound constant during processing.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method for evaluating the contamination over the surface of a substrate for use in manufacturing semiconductor devices, liquid crystal devices and so on, said contamination being caused by contaminants, for instance airborne organic substances or the equivalent in the clean room atmosphere. For evaluation, there is measured with passage of time in the atmosphere having a substantially constant relative humidity the surface resistivity (R) of the substrate 104 by bringing electrodes 106 into close contact with an insulating film as formed on said substrate surface, or a contact angle (.alpha.) of a liquid-drop 207 dropped on the substrate 206. From this measurement, the degree of said contamination is judged by comparing the value of the surface resistivity or contact angle as measured immediately after rinsing the substrate, with the values of the same as measured after exposing the substrate to the objective atmosphere to be evaluated.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed which allows the non-invasive monitoring of a subject's carboxyhemoglobin level, thereby allowing the detection of possible carbon monoxide poisoning. The subject breathes oxygen to saturate his blood hemoglobin and eliminate reduced hemoglobin, thus allowing the detection and differentiation between oxy- and carboxyhemoglobin by modification of a conventional pulse oximeter. Preferably the device works in two modes. The first mode is a conventional pulse oximeter capable of determining the level of oxy-hemoglobin in the subject's arterial blood. Upon the achievement of certain criteria the preferred embodiment of the inventive device would switch to a second mode, in which mode the device would be capable of determining carboxyhemoglobin levels.

Abstract: A conveyor is provided with at least one flexible elongated transporter which is movable lengthwise by a driving mechanism. Overlapping platforms are coupled to the transporter mechanism by mechanism of supports. At least some of the supports connecting the platforms to the transport mechanism are capable of pivoting movement with respect to the transport mechanism about pivot pins extending parallel to the longitudinal direction of the transport. Mechanism are provided for causing selected supports and the platforms connected thereto to pivot about associated pivot pins in at least one predetermined place. The supports are arranged in spaced-apart groups of two supports disposed near each other, whereby the platforms connected to the supports of one group extended from the respective supports in a direction away from each other.

Abstract: Disclosed are 9-hydrazone erythromycin and 9-azine erythromycin derivatives and the processes for making the same. The compounds are useful intermediates for conversion into 6-O-alkyl erythromycin. Also disclosed are the processes for converting the compounds into 6-O-alkyl erythromycin.

Abstract: Erythromycin A derivatives represented by the general formula wherein R1 is a 2-alkenyl group having 3 to 15 carbon atoms, an arylmethyl group, or an arylmethyl group substituted by 1 to 3 of a halogen atom, an alkoxy group 1 to 4 carbon atoms, a nitro group or an alkoxycarbonyl group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms, R2 is a substituted silyl group and R3 is a hydrogen atom or R2, are disclosed. These compounds are useful as intermediates of the anti-bacterial agents.