Abstract: A device for supporting at least one arm of an operating person during a surgical or medical operation comprises at least one supporting element for supporting the at least one arm of the operating person, the supporting element being arranged at a carrying structure for carrying the at least one supporting element, wherein the carrying structure is configured such that the at least one supporting element can be lowered or raised for adjusting the height of the operating person's arm. The carrying structure comprises at least one carrying arm, which is pivotable about at least one at least approximately horizontal pivot axis such that pivoting of the carrying arm raises or lowers the at least one supporting element. The carrying structure further comprises a mechanical control system acting on the pivotability of the at least one carrying arm in the upward direction differently from the downward direction.

Abstract: A process for increasing the optical purity of a mixture of enantiomers of mefloquine, used a substantially single entantiomer of a O,O-di-p-aroyltartaric acid as a resolving agent.

Abstract: Electron beam welding of a thin layer to a substrate is accomplished using controlled volumetric heating of the respective substrate layers, thus minimizing gradients due to heat conduction. Electron beam penetration of the layers and velocity across the surface creates a rapidly translating weld pool within the substrates. The control parameters for the electron beam source are dependent on the heat characteristics of the substrate materials, their thickness, available electron beam power and speed, and desired finished weld geometry. The Peclet number maintained during the process is greater than about 1 and less than about 10.

Abstract: The invention relates to a medical gripping and/or cutting instrument with an instrument shaft (1), with a handle (3) that can be fixed movably on the instrument shaft (1), and with a tool (2) mounted on the distal end of the instrument shaft (1) and consisting of two jaw member (2a, 2b), where at least one jaw member (2a or 2b) of the tool (2) can move in relation to the other jaw member (2b or 2a). In order to provide a medical instrument that, along with good cleaning properties and compact structure, also ensures simple and safe operation, the invention proposes that the handle (3) should include a coupling mechanism both to fix the handle (3) to the instrument shaft (1) and also to operate the at least one movable jaw member (2a or 2b) of the tool (2).

Abstract: A valve is provided with a peripheral attachment portion by which the valve may be attached to a dispensing structure through which can be discharged a product from a supply of the product. The valve includes a flexible, peripheral sleeve extending from the peripheral attachment portion. The sleeve has a central elongate portion and two shorter end portions at opposite ends of the elongate portion so that the central elongate portion and the two shorter end portions together define an interior volume. The valve also has a flexible, elongate head extending from the peripheral sleeve. The head includes at least one elongate slit defining two, opposed, elongate, openable regions in the head which are normally closed and which open to permit the discharge of the product therethrough in response to a pressure differential across the head.

Abstract: A downhole tool includes a device to be activated by electrical energy and a micro-switch that includes conductors and an element between the first and second conductors selected from the group consisting of: a dielectric element capable of being modulated to provide a conductive path in response to receipt of electrical energy; and an element moveable in response to application of an electrical energy. The micro-switch may be formed of microelectromechanical system (MEMS) technology or microelectronics technology.

Abstract: A device for supporting at least one arm of an operating person during a surgical or medical operation comprises at least one supporting element for supporting the at least one arm of the operating person, the supporting element being arranged at a carrying structure for carrying the at least one supporting element. The carrying structure is configured such that the at least one supporting element can be lowered or raised for adjusting the height of the operating person's arm. The carrying structure comprises a control mechanism for lowering or raising the at least one supporting element, wherein the control mechanism includes a force load switch for activating the lowering or raising of the at least one supporting element, wherein the force load switch activates the lowering or raising of the at least one supporting element upon detecting compressive and/or tensile forces or motions acting via the at least one supporting element on the force load switch.

Abstract: Peptides derived from S. pneumoniae are identified as virulence determinants and may be useful in the preparation of vaccines for the treatment of infection. The peptides may be used as antigens or in the preparation of attenuated microorganisms for use as live oral vaccines.

Abstract: An instrument for removing a tissue sample from a subject comprises a plurality of tissue sampling devices having respective chambers, the tissue sampling devices being radially disposed along a length of the instrument such that upon insertion of the instrument into the subject one or more samples are extracted and isolated in the respective chambers of the sampling devices at the site at which removal occurs.

Abstract: An alignment mark protection structure (95) is disclosed which is used to ensure an integrity of an alignment scheme for a substrate (50) which is to be subjected to lithographic processing. The alignment mark protection structure (95) comprises the substrate (50) and an alignment mark (52) associated with the substrate (50). The alignment mark (52) reflects an alignment light (208) which is then used to determine an optimum alignment between the substrate (50) and a lithographic mask (214). A cap (100) overlies the alignment mark (52) and is substantially transparent with respect to the alignment light (208). The cap (100) protects the underlying alignment mark (52) from lithographic process-induced damage during processing and thus reduces alignment light noise, thereby improving the alignment between a mask (214) and the substrate (50) and minimizing the registration error associated with overlying layers formed on the substrate (50).

Abstract: A method (200) of characterizing a lithographic printer includes the steps of printing a first and second pattern (202, 228) on substrates (214) using a reticle (220) having a first and second orientation. The method (200) further includes measuring a critical dimension of the first and second pattens at two points (230, 234) and determining an imaging system component of the critical dimension of the patterns at the two points (236). The method (200) may be further expanded to encompass substantially all the points within the image field.

Abstract: A system and method for locating and modeling eyes in imagery for automated photorefractive screening. The invention includes a digital camera having a lens-mounted flash for obtaining a digital image of the face of an individual, and a suitably programmed processor, such as a general purpose digital computer, for locating an eye of the individual in the digital image, modeling structures in the eye, analyzing the digitized eyes of the individual for eye disease, and providing a recommendation for treatment. In one aspect, the invention includes a system and method for locating a patient's eyes in a digital image that includes each eye as illuminated by a near-axis flash, including automatically finding light reflexes in the digital images as indicative of the location of each eye. Automatically finding light reflexes includes analyzing such light reflexes to determine possible pupil and sclera borders.