Abstract: Use of oxirancarboxylic acids of formula I ##STR1## wherein R1 is a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a 1-4C-alkyl group, a 1-4C-alkoxy group, a nitro group, or a trifluoromethyl group;R2 has one of the meanings of R1;R3 is a hydrogen atom or a 1-4C-alkyl group;Y is the group --O--(CH.sub.2).sub.m --;m is 0 or a whole number from 1 to 4 andn is a whole number between 2 and 8,for the prevention and/or treatment of illnesses which are associated with an increased cholesterol and/or triglyceride concentration.

Abstract: An electronically instrumented combination kneader compactor and plane-strain, simple-shear testing machine for use in testing paving materials under cyclic loading and over a range of temperatures and various rates of shear has been described. A very significant advance in pavement materials testing is made available in the machine by introducing cyclic vertical loading simultaneously with kneading shear--this being analogous to what actually happens in the pavement beneath a moving vehicle tire. Fundamental engineering (stress-strain) measurements, including dynamic moduli, are obtained which are suitable for use in design calculations in a rational engineering approach to flexible payment design in lieu of the conventional empirical correlations. The optimum bitumen or water content is precisely determined on the basis of the elasto-plastic properties response and independently of conventioanl empirical correlations with the percentage of voids.

Abstract: Cephalosporin compounds represented by the general formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.5 independently represent a hydrogen atom or a protective group for an amino group; R.sup.2 represents an alkyl group or a cycloalkyl group; R.sup.3 represents a hydrogen atom, a lower alkenyl group, an alkanoyloxymethyl group, a carbamoyloxymethyl group, a heterocyclic thiomethyl group or a heterocyclic methyl group; R.sup.4 represents a hydrogen atom or an ester residue; and X represents CH or a nitrogen atom and pharmacologically acceptable addition salts thereof, intermediate compounds used in the synthesis process of these compounds, production methods of these compounds and pharmaceutical compositions containing these compounds.

Abstract: A battery and battery receptacle arrangement, comprising a battery as a first part of the arrangement and a battery receptacle as a second part of the arrangement, in which at least one formation provided on one of the parts engages a corresponding formation provided on the other part when the battery is inserted in the receptacle and moved transversely therewithin, thereby to retain the battery in the receptacle in a readily releasable manner.

Abstract: A paper feed tractor comprising a tractor frame including a pair of side frames and a belt guide disposed between and coupled to the side frames, a sprocket wheel supported for rotation between the two side frames, an endless belt adapted to be driven by the sprocket wheel to slidably travel on guide walls formed on three peripheral faces of the belt guide, and a cover mounted at a side thereof for pivotal motion on one of the side frames from and to a position in which it extends on a linear one of the guide walls of the belt guide. The endless belt has feed pins provided projectingly in a row at equal intervals on an outer peripheral face thereof, and a paper holder provided on the cover is positioned, on at least one side of the feed pins, in parallel to the outer peripheral face of the endless belt.

Abstract: A merchandise display and dispenser rack comprising a planar frame having a pair of spaced transverse members on which are releasably supported, in vertical orientation, a plurality of linear merchandise-supporting members. Each of these members is provided with a plurality of upwardly extending, outwardly protruding merchandise-receiving ears spaced along the length thereof. These racks may be arranged with appropriate numbers of vertically oriented merchandise-supporting members and appropriate amounts of merchandise for an efficient, eye-catching display.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing fiber aggregate which includes an orientation step of placing the dielectric fluid containing fibers in the form of short fiber, whisker, or a mixture thereof dispersed therein in a space between a pair of electrodes across which an AC voltage is applied, whereby causing individual fibers in the dielectric fluid to electrostatically orient, with one end pointing to one of electrodes and the other end pointing to the other electrode; and an aggregating step of aggregating the electrostatically oriented fibers while keeping the oriented step, whereby producing fiber aggregate in which the fibers are substantially one-dimensionally oriented.

Abstract: A bin having a base and a plurality of side walls. The base is provided with tunnels to allow the tines of a fork lift truck to engage and lift the bin. The side walls are reinforced in regions which are respectively associated with the tunnels and which each extend in an upward direction from the associated tunnel to the upper rim of the bin. As a result, when a stack of such bins is lifted by a fork lift truck, the upward lift from the tines is transmitted upwardly through the reinforced regions of the different bins in the stack.

Abstract: 1,4-Dihydropyridine derivatives of the general formula: ##STR1## wherein X.sup.1 and X.sup.2 independently represent hydrogen, fluoromethyl, fluoromethoxy, halogen, cyano, or nitro; R.sup.1 represents a lower alkyl; R.sup.2 represents acyl, alkoxycarbonyl, acylalkyl, an N-alkyl-substituted carbamoylalkyl, alkoxyalkyl, alkoxycarbonylalkyl, acyloxyalkyl, nitratoalkyl, cyanoalkyl, heterocycle-alkyl, haloalkyl, alkenyl, or alkynyl; A represents an alkylene comprising a carbon atom to which 2 alkyls are bonded and having in total at least 5 carbon atoms; m represents the integer 1, 2 or 3; acid addition salts thereof; a method of production thereof; and pharmaceutical compositions containing such compound(s).Such compounds have pharmacological activities, in particular potent and long lasting hypotensive activity, coronary vasodilatation, cerebral vasodilatation, peripheral vasodilatation, renal vasodilatation and platelet aggregation inhibitory activity.

Abstract: A humidifier boiler has a plurality of electrodes supplied with electric current through circuitry which includes at least one solid state switch or relay such as inverse parallel thyristors or triacs arranged to switch at zero voltage so that, when the humidifier is called upon to vary the quantity of water vapor output from the boiler through an outlet pipe in response to a control signal from a humidity controller, the control signal causes the duration of the "on" and/or "off" periods of the, or each, solid state switch or relay to be varied in order to vary the power to the electrodes.

Abstract: An animal litter box, readily marketable in kit form, comprises a fresh-litter supporting bottom tray and a litter reservoir with a bottom feeding mechanism. When litter on the bottom tray is soiled, the tray is readily moved past scraping means to dump the soiled litter in a trash receptacle and simultaneously actuate the feeding mechanism to replace the removed soiled litter with fresh litter. The bottom tray has a support which is rotatable about an axis by exerting a force, foot pressure, against a biasing means which returns the bottom tray to its initial position when the force is removed.

Abstract: There is provided a new and useful rope coiler comprising a support frame, a first support shaft extending substantially vertically from the frame, a spindle rotatable on the first support shaft, a second support shaft spaced from the first shaft and extending substantially horizontally from the frame, and a spool mounted for rotation on the second support shaft, and wherein the spool includes means whereby a coil of rope or wire may be removed therefrom.

Abstract: An evaporative cooler of the invention includes a water distribution system having a dispersion cover spaced from a water pipe having evenly spaced orifices therein for expelling water. The water impinges on a flock-coated concave surface of the dispersion cover. The flock coating retards the water flow and spreads the water flowing downwardly so that the water substantially evenly covers a drip rail at the lower edge of the flock-coated surface adjacent the evaporative medium in the cooler.

Abstract: An architectural tile is formed of a body portion having securing means extending therefrom. A plurality of tiles are secured together to form a roof or wall covering. The securing means include leg portions which are flexible and guide bars for directing securing means from facing tiles into interlocking positions. The legs are of sufficient length to provide flexibility and to prevent leakage of water into the gaps between adjacent lower tiles. Ridges extend from the lower surfaces of the body portions for spacing an overlapping tile from an overlapped tile to form a shadow line. The body portions may be flat or curved or a combination of flat and curved portions.

Abstract: A pulse combustion heating apparatus includes a open-top vessel assembled within a support frame to store an amount of liquid such as cooking oil to be heated, and a pulse combustion burner mounted to the vessel and having a combustion chamber secured at its inlet end to a side wall of the vessel and immersed in the liquid in the vessel and at least a pair of tailpipes each connected at their inner ends to an exhaust port of the combustion chamber in such a manner that the tailpipes are arranged symmetrically in the vessel and immersed in the liquid and being extended outwardly from the vessel. The vessel has a pair of parallel bottom walls inclined downwardly inwardly toward the center of the vessel, and a pair of cylindrical decouplers are housed in a pair of spaces just below the bottom walls of the vessel within the support frame and located in parallel along the bottom walls of the vessel.

Abstract: There is provided a new and useful roofing panel comprising an elongated thin rectangular body section having first and second longitudinal edges and respective first and second longitudinal upstanding ribs of inverted channel configuration adjacent the edges; wherein the first rib has an inner side thereof remote from the first longitudinal edge, and the bottom section of the inner side is formed to a position approximately parallel to the body section and spaced therefrom to form an inwardly facing slot adjacent the body section; and wherein the second rib has a first outer side the bottom section of which includes the second edge and which bottom section is formed to a position substantially coplanar with the body section to form an inwardly facing flange; whereby when a first panel is placed adjacent a second panel, the second rib of the second panel fits over the first rib of the first panel and the flange is then housed in the slot.

Abstract: A sweeper includes a support structure having parallel arms which may be moved apart to allow a brush held between the arms to be replaced. Each of the arms has a hub mounted thereon by a universal joint which provides automatic alignment of the two hubs to provide a single axis of rotation for the brush. One of the hubs is connected to a hydraulic drive motor and includes a plurality of slots, one of which receives a drive lug on the interior of the brush which is preferably of the type having a core of a thin metal tube. A raising and lowering mechanism comprises a parallelogram having a hydraulic cylinder in the center for controlling the configuration of the parallelogram. As the brush is raised its support mechanism remains parallel to the vehicle and moves closer to it. A unique stop element is mounted to the hydraulic cylinder to provide a minimum height for the sweeper.

Abstract: A catalyst/cocatalyst composition of matter is useful in oxidizing organic waste material to produce hydrogen. Use of the catalyst/cocatalyst composition causes the reaction rate to increase and causes the energy required for the reaction to decrease. A solution, including the catalyst/cocatalyst composition, and a reaction medium composition further including organic waste material are also described.

Abstract: A removable and replaceable weed guard may be added to a fish hook to prevent the hook from becoming entangled with weeds. The weed guard may be made of wire or other spring material and a set of weed guards may be used to calibrate a hook so that the depth and speed of motion of a lure to which the hook is attached may be controlled. The weed guard of the invention is a bait saver, since it prevents live bait from accidentally falling off the hook.A connecting loop for securing to a lure and a figure-eight connector for attaching a fish hook to a lure are also described. A hand tool is useful for attaching the connector.