Abstract: A steel railroad sleeper of inverted channel section whose open ends can selectively be closed by end plates detachably connected one to open end of the sleeper and whose sides incline downwardly and outwardly from the upper rail supporting surface of the sleeper, the sleeper being produced by cold forming strip steel. The sleeper may be produced by cold pressing or cold rolling and the end plates may also be produced by cold forming steel strip. In one embodiment the sleeper has a waisted section of reduced width. This waisted section may be positioned generally midway along the length of the sleeper. The central section of the sleeper interior may be filled with a material to prevent the ingress of ballast to this central region.

Abstract: An expandable endoscopic portal for providing a passage through a body cavity wall includes a cannula comprising an absorbent member having a distal end for positioning in the body cavity, a proximal end for positioning external of the body cavity and a passage between the distal and proximal ends for receiving instruments. The absorbent member has a compressed dry state prior to introduction through the cavity wall and an expanded wet state when supplied with fluid upon introduction of the distal end in the body cavity. The absorbent member is rigid in the dry state to facilitate passage through the cavity wall and is soft in the wet state. The absorbent member has an initial cross sectional size in the dry state for introduction through an opening in the cavity wall corresponding in size to the initial cross sectional size.

Abstract: An RJ contact module includes a plurality of RJ contacts, a plurality of contact tails separate from the RJ contacts, and a plurality of filtering and isolation components. The ends of the RJ contacts that are opposite the mating ends of the contacts, and the ends of the contact tails that extend into the connector, are either formed into vertically extending wire-wrap terminals to which wire leads of the components may be connected, or solderless contact extensions arranged to engage electrodes on chip-type capacitors or electrodes, with additional solderless connections being provided as necessary between the components, and between the components and a shield or ground plate external to the module. The RJ contact module may be inserted into a multiport connector housing including at least two rows of RJ ports isolated by an intermediate shield plate to which components in the modules are connected.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a naturally obtained mixture of higher molecular weight primary aliphatic alcohols which contain 24 to 34 carbon atoms. This invention also relates to the process for obtaining the alcohol mixture by extraction and purification with organic solvents from beeswax without saponification ofthe beeswax. The alcohol mixture obtained from beeswax has enhanced purity and contains a mixture of alcohols having 24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 32 and 34 carbon atoms. The alcohol mixture is useful in pharmaceutical compositions, foodstuffs and dietary supplements and is effective for lowering cholesterol in LDL-C levels so that it is effective in treating hypercholesterolemia. Consequently the composition may be used to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease, the atherosclerotic process (platelet hyperaggregability, ischemia and thrombosis) and also acts as an anti-inflammatory and anti-thrombotic agent.

Abstract: The invention refers to a prosthetic device for the application of simultaneous axial and transversal prestressing to obtain stable and elastic osteosynthesis of fractures. The device focuses on the concept of internal fixation with consideration for the natural frequency of the bone. The device for fracture fixation comprises a “tendon” (i.e, a tensionable wire) least one deformable element at the focus of the fracture, with the tendon and the deformable element being disposed almost parallel, whereby the device further comprises compression means to apply a compression force to the deformable element(s), so that the deformable element(s) deform(s) laterally. The device described can be used for fractures of long bones as well as for proximal femoral fractures. When used for long bone fractures, the device is an intramedullar flexible bar, with which we apply adjustable and measurable axial prestressing in order to compress the bone fragments and preload the bone.

Abstract: An ion beam sputtering target assembly has six sputter targets arranged in pairs on three paddles and disposed upon the circumference of a circular holder. The circular holder can be rotated about its axis in such a way as to bring any one of the target pairs to be exposed to the sputtering ion beam to deposit a film on substrate. The paddle is rotated to bring a desired target in the pair into position for sputtering. An alternative embodiment is provided with an enlarged region which allows one of the target paddles to be rotated about its axis while that target paddle is in an inactive, non-sputtering rotary position.

Abstract: An alignment and spacer apparatus includes an elongated body member that extends longitudinally along and laterally from a longitudinal axis. The elongated body member has an arcuate surface and a flat surface facing opposite the arcuate surface. The arcuate surface curves about the longitudinal axis and has a longitudinally extending crown. Further, the body member includes at least one stop tab that projects from the arcuate surface to define a stop tab surface. The stop tab surface extends laterally and perpendicularly relative to the longitudinal axis and at least a portion of the stop tab surface protrudes above the crown. Also described is a siding panel installation system for installing siding panels on a support structure which includes a plurality of elongated body members. Each body member includes a sequence of stop tabs that are spaced equidistantly apart from one another and project from the arcuate surface.

Abstract: An automatically locking bayonet coupling mechanism includes, a linear guide structure for preventing relative rotation between the coupler halves, a sleeve rotatably mounted on one of the coupler halves, a spring captured between the sleeve and the coupler half on which it is mounted to generate a torsional force between the sleeve and the coupler half, an L-shaped groove in the other of the coupler halves, and a bayonet pin extending from the sleeve and arranged to engage cam surfaces defined by edges of the groove. As the coupler halves are pushed together linearly, engagement between the bayonet pin and a first of the cam surfaces causes the sleeve to rotate against the force of the spring. Subsequently, the bayonet pin is caused to engage a second of the cam surfaces that forms a locking ramp.

Abstract: An instrument and method for suturing anatomical tissue with a suture needle includes a barrel having two needle holders therein which can be manipulated from a proximal end of the barrel to cause the needle to pass through tissue and to pass the needle from one needle holder to the other. The needle holders are operative to move the needle through a path in a plane not perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the barrel. The angle of the plane with respect to the longitudinal axis can be adjusted.

Abstract: A saw blade 1 comprises a preceding tooth 5 constructed by a straight tooth performing no saw setting operation in left-hand and right-hand directions and a succeeding tooth 7 for cutting a cutting groove formed by the above preceding tooth 5 to enlarge and open the cutting groove in width. The succeeding tooth 7 has left-hand and right-hand set teeth 7L, 7R bent in the left-hand and right-hand directions by splitting an approximately central portion 7D of a tooth edge on a tooth line in its thickness direction; and the clearance between end tip insides of the above left-hand and right-hand set teeth 7L, 7R is smaller than the thickness of the preceding tooth 5. Further, the thickness of portions of the left-hand and right-hand set teeth 7L, 7R near their end tip portions are approximately equal to the thickness of portions of the left-hand and right-hand set teeth near respective base portions thereof.

Abstract: A method of producing a composite stratiform material uses at least one extruder having a pair of co-rotating screws to co-extrude at least three layers, each layer having polypropylene and at least one filler. In a carrier layer the filler is particulate organic filler, and in first and second outer layers the filler is an inorganic filler. The co-extrusion provides for interfusion of the carrier layer with the outer layers at mutually opposite layer interfaces. The particulate organic filler of the carrier layer is either vegetabilic or wood which is extruded by a co-rotational extruder. The inorganic filler is introduced into at least one second extruder for extruding at least one of the outer layers.

Abstract: A Universal Serial Bus connector is arranged to include in-line over-current protection components by dividing horizontal sections of the Universal Serial Bus connector power lines or contacts into vertically offset front and rear contact sections having a predetermined distance therebetween to provide a space into which the over-current protection components can be positioned, the space being narrower than the height of the protection device so that a good electrical connection is established when the protection device is inserted between the contact sections. The connector may also include at least one LED connected to one of the front contact sections between the protection device and a mating end of the front contact section to provide an immediate visual indication of whether an over-current has occurred.

Abstract: Method for treating an extruded plastic section having a hollow space and installation suitable for carrying out such a treatment. The installation includes an extruder which has a core for forming the hollow space in the section and, at a distance downstream from the extruder in the extrusion direction of the section, a closing means having a rigid circumferential wall. The installation also has a first conduit connected to a supply orifice which is provided in the circumferential wall of the closing means, a fluid feeder connected to the first conduit and a second conduit connected to a discharge orifice. The discharge orifice is upstream of the supply orifice to provide a fluid film flowing opposite to the extrusion direction between the circumferential wall of the closing means and the extruded section.

Abstract: An electric power cable of the kind having at least one metallic conductor, optionally conductor screen of semiconductive material, and insulation all enclosed in an earth screen having wires or narrow tapes and a sheath comprising polymeric material is characterised by a sheath construction comprising a first extruded polymeric layer which encloses the earth screen of the cable without filling the gaps between the components thereof (the wires or strips). A second extruded polymeric layer encloses the first and a moisture barrier laminate is located between them and bonded to both of them. The laminate has a metal foil layer coated on each of its major faces with a polymeric material compatible with the material of the extruded layer it contacts. This increases the resistance of the cable to impact, compared with constructions in which a moisture barrier foil layer is applied directly over the screen wires, and allows the cable to be used in applications that hitherto required a metal sheath.

Abstract: An instrument for operating on anatomical tissue includes a barrel having two or more driver therein which can be manipulated from a proximal end of the barrel. End effectors of each driver are offset from a rotatable shaft by a transverse arm. In an insertion position, the end effectors are confined within the diametrical dimension of the barrel at a distal end thereof. After insertion, the end effectors can be manipulated to extend beyond the diametrical dimension of the barrel to provide a large working span for manipulating tissue or performing other procedures on tissue.

Abstract: An active composite, consisting of a compressed support and of at least one agent that is active with respect to a gas, the compressed support comprising recompressed expanded graphite having a relative density of between 0.02 and 1.5, is formed from a series of sheets superposed on top of one another. According to the invention, the active agent is dispersed between the sheets in the form of granules.