Abstract: The invention relates to PCR-based clonality studies for among others early diagnosis of lymphoproliferative disorders. Provided is a set of nucleic acid amplification primers comprising a forward primer, or a variant thereof, and a reverse primer, or a variant thereof, capable of amplifying a rearrangement selected from the group consisting of a VH-JH IGH rearrangement, a DH-JH IGH rearrangement, a VK-JK IGK rearrangement, a VK/intron-Kde IGK rearrangement, a V?-J? IGL rearrangement, a V?-J? TCRB rearrangement, a D?-J? TCRB rearrangement, a V?-J? TCRG rearrangement, a V?-J? TCRD rearrangement, a D?-D? TCRD rearrangement, a D?-J? TCRD rearrangement, a V?-D? TCRD rearrangement, or a translocation selected from t(11;14)(BCL1-IGH) and t(14;18)(BCL2-IGH). The primers can be used in PCR-based clonality studies for early diagnosis of lymphoproliferative disorders and detection of minimal residual disease (MRD). Also provided is a kit comprising at least one set of primers of the invention.

Abstract: A method for producing a plait-like portion on a tubular packaging casing which accommodates a filling material, wherein the plait-like portion is at least approximately free of filling material and comprises a longitudinal plait-axis, including the steps: constricting a filled tubular packaging casing by moving a first pair of displacer elements of a first displacer unit and a second pair of displacer elements of a second displacer unit from an opened into a closed position by means of a first drive unit, creating a displacer clearance between the first and second pair of displacer elements, producing a plait-like portion by moving the second displacer unit parallel to the longitudinal plait-axis away from a narrow position in which the second displacer unit is adjacent to the first displacer unit, into a spread position in which the second displacer unit is away from the first displacer unit.

Abstract: An apparatus and method producing a plait-like portion on a tubular packaging casing, which accommodates a filling material includes a plait-like portion at least approximately free of filling material, extending along a longitudinal plait-axis. The apparatus comprises a first displacer unit with a first pair of displacer elements reversibly movable between an opened and a closed position perpendicular to the longitudinal plait-axis. A displacer clearance is created between the first pair of displacer elements, which surrounds the longitudinal plait-axis, in which the tubular packaging casing is being gathered, when the first pair of displacer elements is in the closed position. The apparatus comprises a second displacer unit with a second pair of displacer elements also being reversibly movable between an opened and a closed position perpendicular to the longitudinal plait-axis. A displacer clearance is created between the second pair of displacer elements, similar to first pair of displacer elements.

Abstract: The invention relates to a clipping machine for partitioning and closing a tubular packaging casing accommodating a filing material, and in particular sausage meat. The clipping machine comprises at least a first and second displacer element pair which in relation to an axis of the tubular packaging casing are arranged axially one after the other, and, which comprise each an upper displacer element and a lower displacer element. Each pair of the displacer elements are linearly reversibly movable in a first and second plane from an open position to a closed position. A first linear guidance comprises a first and second guiding rod for guiding the two pairs of the displacer elements. The first and second guiding rods are positioned in a plane parallel to the first and second plane of the first and second pairs of the displacer elements.

Abstract: System and method to compress data records by providing data records with a binary structure; dividing the data records into several bit vectors; reducing the size of each bit vector by dividing the bit vector into consecutive partial areas of equal size, each partial area consisting of n bits, classifying the partial areas as trivial partial areas, quasi-trivial partial areas and non-trivial partial areas, combining one non-trivial or several consecutive non-trivial partial areas into one so named R block, and removing the trivial partial areas; as well as combining one quasi-trivial or several consecutive quasi-trivial partial areas into one so named O block.

Abstract: An apparatus and method producing a plait-like portion on a tubular packaging casing, which accommodates a filling material includes a plait-like portion at least approximately free of filling material, extending along a longitudinal plait-axis. The apparatus comprises a first displacer unit with a first pair of displacer elements reversibly movable between an opened and a closed position perpendicular to the longitudinal plait-axis. A displacer clearance is created between the first pair of displacer elements, which surrounds the longitudinal plait-axis, in which the tubular packaging casing is being gathered, when the first pair of displacer elements is in the closed position. The apparatus comprises a second displacer unit with a second pair of displacer elements also being reversibly movable between an opened and a closed position perpendicular to the longitudinal plait-axis. A displacer clearance is created between the second pair of displacer elements, similar to first pair of displacer elements.

Abstract: The invention concerns a clip conveyor apparatus for conveying a clip line (2) comprising a plurality of clips in a clipping machine, in particular a sausage clipping machine, comprising a drive unit (10) and an advance element (20) which is coupled with its drive end (22) to the drive unit (10) and is drivable by the drive unit (10) in such a way that its conveyor end (24) describes an elliptical path and for stepwise conveyance of the clip line (2) engages into intermediate spaces between two clips of the clip line (2) and conveys same stepwise in the advance direction (V), wherein there is provided an adjusting device (30) having a pivot axis (36) about which the transport element (20) is pivotable and which is adjustable in its position without a tool in such a way that at least one of the axes of the elliptical path described by the conveyor end (24) is variable.

Abstract: In the case of a multi-part oil scraper ring (10) for internal combustion engines, having a U-shaped expanding-spring ring (1), which is provided with axial indentations (2), for forming radially outwardly aligned resilient limbs (3, 4) which are connected to one another by means of radially inwardly situated webs (5), and having at least two annular lamellae (7, 8) which are provided with in each case parallel flanks (7a, 7b; 8a, 8b) and are stacked via their flanks as stacking planes (SE) to a height (hL) and are arranged between the resilient limbs of the expanding-spring ring in order to define a nominal height of the oil scraper ring, according to the invention, an at least three-part oil scraper ring of a minimum axial installation height and with an improved oil-scraping effect should be obtained in that at least in each case one of the flanks (7a, 7b; 8a, 8b) of the lamellae has, in its radially inwardly situated wall region, a cut-out (11) which has a support face (12) for the engagement of the resil

Abstract: A clip machine for dividing and sealing tubular-shaped packaging filled with stuffing having at least two axially spaced pairs of radially opposed displacement elements, relating to the axis of the packaging tube, which are linked to and equipped with a linear guide, to be compressed radially towards one another and then separated axially in pairs, for the local constriction of the filled packaging and the formation of a tubular braid radially-linearly, and a pivotably arranged first sealing tool and a second sealing tool, with the first and second sealing tools being equipped to set and close at least one clamp fastener around the formed tubular braid, to be compressed radially between the axially separated displacement element pairs, the radial movement direction of displacement element pairs coincides with the radial movement direction of sealing tools.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing a plaited portion on a packaging casing material which accommodates a filling material, in particular sausage meat, wherein the plaited portion is at least approximately filling material-free at least during the formation thereof, including: a first displacer unit and a second displacer unit which is displaceable reversibly in a linear movement with respect to the first displacer unit, and a drive unit for at least the drive for the linear movement of the second displacer unit, wherein provided between the drive unit and the second displacer unit is at least one drive force transmission unit which transmits the drive force produced by the drive unit to the second displacer unit and which is pivotable reversibly about a pivot point, the position of which is adjustable.

Abstract: In the case of a two-part oil scraper ring (10) for internal combustion engines, having a U-shaped expanding-spring ring (1), which is provided with axial indentations (2), for forming radially outwardly aligned resilient limbs (3, 4) which are connected to one another by means of radially inwardly situated webs (5), and having an annular body (7) which is provided with in each case parallel flanks (7a, 7b) and a running face (9), according to the invention, a minimum axial installation height with an improved oil-scraping effect should be obtained in that the flanks (7a, 7b) of the annular body have, in their radially inwardly situated wall region, cut-outs (11) which have a support face (12) for the engagement of the resilient limbs (3, 4) of the expanding-spring ring and are shaped such that the nominal height of the oil scraper ring is determined exclusively by the height of the annular body (7).

Abstract: The invention concerns a clip conveyor apparatus for conveying a clip line (2) comprising a plurality of clips in a clipping machine, in particular a sausage clipping machine, comprising a drive unit (10) and an advance element (20) which is coupled with its drive end (22) to the drive unit (10) and is drivable by the drive unit (10) in such a way that its conveyor end (24) describes an elliptical path and for stepwise conveyance of the clip line (2) engages into intermediate spaces between two clips of the clip line (2) and conveys same stepwise in the advance direction (V), wherein there is provided an adjusting device (30) having a pivot axis (36) about which the transport element (20) is pivotable and which is adjustable in its position without a tool in such a way that at least one of the axes of the elliptical path described by the conveyor end (24) is variable.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing a plaited portion on a packaging casing material which accommodates a filling material, in particular sausage meat, wherein the plaited portion is at least approximately filling material-free at least during the formation thereof, including: a first displacer unit and a second displacer unit which is displaceable reversibly in a linear movement with respect to the first displacer unit, and a drive unit for at least the drive for the linear movement of the second displacer unit, wherein provided between the drive unit and the second displacer unit is at least one drive force transmission unit which transmits the drive force produced by the drive unit to the second displacer unit and which is pivotable reversibly about a pivot point, the position of which is adjustable.

Abstract: A billboard fall arrest system comprises a track member which attaches with mounting brackets to either the vertical upright members of the billboard or to the horizontal ledger members. The track member may further comprise extended curved sections which extend into the area of the walkaround catwalk, thereby allowing a worker to be secured to the fall arrest system with a single lanyard while moving to the ladder at the walkaround catwalk. A sliding member slidably engages the track member, where the sliding member travels along or in the track member as the worker moves relative to the track member. A safety line is attached at one end to the sliding member and attached at the other end to a safety harness worn by the worker.

Abstract: A clip machine for dividing and sealing tubular-shaped packaging filled with stuffing having at least two axially spaced pairs of radially opposed displacement elements, relating to the axis of the packaging tube, which are linked to and equipped with a linear guide, to be compressed radially towards one another and then separated axially in pairs, for the local constriction of the filled packaging and the formation of a tubular braid radially-linearly, and a pivotably arranged first sealing tool and a second sealing tool, with the first and second sealing tools being equipped to set and close at least one clamp fastener around the formed tubular braid, to be compressed radially between the axially separated displacement element pairs, the radial movement direction of displacement element pairs coincides with the radial movement direction of sealing tools.

Abstract: A game (10) includes a game board (16), a plurality of cards (14), a first figure (12A) and a second figure (12B). The game board (16) is formed from a plurality of separate panels (18) that are movable relative to one another. The first and second figures (12A, 12B) are movably positioned on the game board (16). The first figure (12A) includes two first figure components (220A, 220B) that move relative to one another to form a plurality of different poses. The first figure (12A) can initiate a confrontation with the second figure (12B) when the first figure (12A) is in one of the poses. In addition, the first figure (12A) can initiate the confrontation when the first figure (12A) has a predetermined position on the game board (16) relative to the second figure (12B). Alternatively, the pose that the first figure (12A) must be in to initiate the confrontation depends upon the relative positioning between the figures (12A, 12B) on the game board (16).

Abstract: The invention relates to PCR-based clonality studies for among others early diagnosis of lymphoproliferative disorders. Provided is a set of nucleic acid amplification primers comprising a forward primer, or a variant thereof, and a reverse primer, or a variant thereof, capable of amplifying a rearrangement selected from the group consisting of a VH-JH IGH rearrangement, a DH-JH IGH rearrangement, a VK-JK IGK rearrangement, a VK/intron-Kde IGK rearrangement, a V?-J? IGL rearrangement, a V?-J? TCRB rearrangement, a D?-J? TCRB rearrangement, a V?-J? TCRG rearrangement, a V?-J? TCRD rearrangement, a D?-D? TCRD rearrangement, a D?-J? TCRD rearrangement, a V?-D? TCRD rearrangement, or a translocation selected from t(11; 14)(BCL1-IGH) and t(14;18)(BCL2-IGH). The primers can be used in PCR-based clonality studies for early diagnosis of lymphoproliferative disorders and detection of minimal residual disease (MRD). Also provided is a kit comprising at least one set of primers of the invention.

Abstract: A pallet is formed of two or more sections formed of plastic materials. The sections are adjustably fixed together using elongated connectors dimensioned to fit closely in channels with each of the connectors extending between a channel of one section and a channel of an adjoining section. The sections and the connectors are adjustably secured together by means of mechanical fasteners. Spaced apertures are provided through each of the channels and similarly spaced apertures are provided through each of the connectors whereby the dimensions of the pallet are adjustable. Pallets are provided that can be nested in an inverted orientation without increasing the thickness of the inverted pair greater than the thickness of a single pallet.