Abstract: An extendible flexible electrical conduit with a telescoping section connected between two spiral gooseneck sections and having insulated electrical conductors extending through the conduit. The conductors are helically wound inside the inner tube of the telescoping section so as to allow them to extend and contract to accommodate extension and contraction of the telescoping section. The outer tube of the telescoping section is oval along most of its length and the sliding end of the inner tube is also oval. The length of the telescoping section may be locked by rotating the inner tube with respect to the outer tube.

Abstract: The present invention relates to imidazole derivatives of the general formula 1

Abstract: The present invention relates to imidazole derivatives of formula I 1

Abstract: The present invention provides 4-[1-Aryl-imidazol-4-ylethynyl]-2-alkyl-pyridine and 1-heteroaryl-imidazol-4-ylethynyl]-2-alkyl-pyridine derivatives and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof for the treatment or prevention of disorders mediated in full or in part by metabotropic glutamate receptor 5. These disorders include, e.g. acute, traumatic and chronic degenerative processes of the nervous system, such as Alzheimer's disease, senile dementia, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's chorea, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and multiple sclerosis, psychiatric diseases, such as schizophrenia and anxiety, depression, pain and drug dependency.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a disposable covering sheet which is moisture vapour permeable and liquid impermeable and has odour control properties and, if desired, also active agent releasing properties. The disposable covering sheet comprises at least a moisture vapour permeable layer and a liquid impermeable but moisture vapour permeable film layer of thermoplastic compositions. The disposable covering sheet such as, for example, a mattress cover or a pillow cover gives a better comfort to the user by providing odour control properties and, if desired, also active agent releasing properties. The disposable covering sheet of the present invention can find a variety of applications wherein moisture vapour permeability and liquid imperviousness combined with specific odour control properties and preferably also active agent releasing properties are desirable.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a disposable covering sheet which is moisture vapour permeable and liquid impermeable and contains active agent or agents. The disposable covering sheet comprises at least a moisture vapour permeable layer and a liquid impermeable but moisture vapour permeable film layer of thermoplastic compositions. The disposable covering sheet such as, for example, a mattress cover or a pillow cover gives a better comfort to the user by providing active agent releasing properties. The disposable covering sheet of the present invention can find a variety of applications wherein moisture vapour permeability and liquid imperviousness combined with long lasting active agent releasing properties are desirable.

Abstract: There is disclosed a system for making reservations, in which the system includes a central on-line reservation provider through which reservations for one or more individual service providers may be made, one or more individual service providers through which reservations for the respective individual service providers may be made directly, and means for communicating between the central reservation provider and the respective individual service providers, wherein a first portion of the available reservations from each individual service provider are held by the central reservation provider and a second portion of the available reservations from each individual service provider are held by each respective individual service provider and, if a reservation requested from either the central reservation provider or an individual service provider is not available from that provider, available reservations are transferred from the other of the central reservation provider or the individual service provider to the

Abstract: A process for carrying out a specific binding assay (for example an immunoassay) in which (a) a sample under assay, possibly containing a substance being tested for, is reacted with (b) a specific binding partner for the substance being tested for, immobilised on a solid support, and (c) a specific binding partner for the substance being tested for which is conjugated to a detectable marker, thereby to form a complex by reaction between whatever quantities are present of the substance being tested for with reagents (b) and (c), in which the marker is immobilised to the support via the substance being tested for, and is detected or assayed as an index of the quantity present in the sample (a) of any of the substance being tested for; characterised in that reaction ingredients (a), (b) and (c) are all mixed in a single step for reaction in a single reaction liquid, and competitive interference between the binding reactions of the substance being tested for and reagents (b) and (c) is avoided either by use of an

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of detecting the presence of an analyte of interest in a sample, the method comprising the steps of: providing a binding partner reversibly immobilised on a solid support, said binding partner having binding specificity for the analyte; contacting the sample with the solid support; specifically displacing the binding partner from the solid support in response to the presence of the analyte of interest in the sample, said displacement causing a reduction in the mass of material immobilised on the solid support, thereby generating a detectable change in a mass-dependent property of the solid support; and detecting said change. Also disclosed is an assay device for performing the method of the invention.

Abstract: Compositions for a hand and body creme made substantially of naturally occurring ingredients are described. Such compositions are highly effective in clearing eczema and other common skin ailments. One embodiment, in which the hand and body creme is a creamy solid, is made by forming an admixture of cocoa butter, almond oil, jojoba oil, vitamin E oil, a commercially available beeswax derivative, hydrogenated soybean flakes, pure beeswax and vitamin A oil. In alternate embodiments, water, shea butter and honey are added to vary the consistency and moisturizing properties of the composition. In still other embodiments, essential oils from a variety of plant sources are added for a range of fragrances.

Abstract: An antibody specific for a target analyte is purified by affinity chromatography on a substrate bearing a low-affinity analogue of the target analyte. The antibody is displaced from the substrate by contact with a second analogue of intermediate affinity, which remains complexed with the antibody. This complex can be used in a conventional assay for the target analyte, which displaces the intermediate-affinity analogue. The complexed antibody is rendered more storage-stable because the second analogue protects the antibody binding reagion.

Abstract: A strain of Enterococcus faecium, deposited as NCIMB 40371, has valuable probiotic properties and is particularly effective in alleviating symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in human patients. The strain can be used in the manufacture of human foodstuffs.

Abstract: A method of monitoring the ovulation cycle of a female mammal, involving regular measurement of basal body temperature throughout a current ovulation cycle and occasional measurement of the level of at least one urinary component of significance in the cycle, the measurement of the urinary component being conducted at predetermined stages in the cycle to check that the level is consistent with a predicted level and thus confirm that the cycle as a whole is consistent with a prediction.

Abstract: A process for carrying out a specific binding assay by reacting (a) a sample under assay for the possible presence of a substance being tested for, (b) a specific binding partner for the substance being tested for, immobilised on a solid support, and (c) a specific binding partner for the substance being tested for which is conjugated to a detectable marker, to thereby form a complex by reacting between whatever quantities are present of the substance being tested for in (a) with reagents (b) and (c). The marker is immobilised to the support via the substance being tested for, and is detected or assayed as an index of the quantity present in the sample (a) of any of the substance. The reaction ingredients (a), (b) and (c) are all mixed in a single step for reaction in a single reaction liquid.

Abstract: A novel strain of Enterococcus faecium, deposited as NCIMB 40371, has valuable probiotic properties and is particularly effective in alleviating symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome in human patients. The novel strain can be used in the manufacture of human foodstuffs.

Abstract: In a simultaneous marking specific binding assay for an analyte is a liquid sample, such as urine during pregnancy or fertile period test, wherein the liquid sample is simultaneously incubated with a first specific binding reagent immobilized on a solid phase carrier surface and with a second specific binding reagent dissolved or dispersed in the liquid sample and which bears a label by means of which the result of the assay can be determined, the improvement that prior to the incubation the second specific binding reagent is contained within a layer (2a) of readily soluble or dispersible solid material superimposed on the solid phase carrier surface (2a) on which the first specific binding reagent is immobilized.

Abstract: Antibodies are produced by hyperimmunizing a mammal, such as cow, with a vaccine derived from E. coli bacteria. The bacterial strains in the vaccine are selected on the basis of their virulence characteristics, especially adhesion factors (pili), associated with gastroenteric disease in humans. The antibodies can be recovered from the mammal's milk or serum, and used in human foods.

Abstract: An immunoassay for an analyte is disclosed in which (a) sample, (b) an immobilized specific binding partner for the analyte and (c) the specific binding partner for the analyte conjugated to a detectable marker are reacted together in a single step. Competitive interference of the reagents is avoided by using reagent (c) in a slow-release form as a glaze coated on a surface in contact with the reaction liquid.

Abstract: A process for the recovery of immunoglobulins of high purity and potency from milk, in which process milk is passed through a re-usable immunoadsorbent column comprising an insoluble carrier material to which is bound a low-affinity monoclonal antibody specific to one or more milk immunoglobulins but not specific to any other common constituent of milk, the antibody bind immunoglobulin molecules are released by eluting the immunoadsorbent.

Abstract: A vaccine comprising an antigen selectively adsorbed onto erythrocytes possessing their natural surface characteristics. When the antigen is the K88a,b/adhesion factor of E. coli and the erythrocytes are chicken erythrocytes, the vaccine is especially suitable for reducing the incidence of neonatal diarrhoea in pigs if it is administered parenterally to a sow about three weeks prior to parturition.