Abstract: The present invention provides microspheres intended to be administered by injection comprising a protein active ingredient and an agent coating the active ingredient intended to prolong its release, wherein they are free of any trace of organic solvent and they can be obtained according to a coating method involving bringing the active ingredient and the coating agent into contact, with stirring, in a supercritical fluid, said coating agent being soluble in this supercritical fluid.

Abstract: The display filter is constituted by laminating a transparent adhesive layer (C) 31 containing dye, a polymer film (B) 20, a transparent electrically conductive layer (D) 10, a transparent adhesive layer (E) 40, and a functional transparent layer (A) 60 having an anti-reflection property, a hard coat property, a gas barrier property, an antistatic property and an anti-fouling property sequentially in this order, adhered on a display area 00; on this occasion, the transparent electrically conductive layer (D) 10 is grounded to a ground terminal of the display via an electrode 50 and an electrically conductive copper foil adhesive tape 80.

Abstract: A composition of at least partially masked isocyanates. The isocyanates are masked by at least two different masking agents, selected such that in the octanol test at 110° C., the ratio: D=percentage in equivalents of masking agents unblocking first at 110° C./percentage in equivalents of masking agents unblocking last at 110° C., is greater than 4/3, advantageously greater then 1.5, preferably greater than 2. When a masking agent comprises a phenol function as a masking function, it does not comprise a COOH function.

Abstract: The invention concerns novel flavone and isoflavone derivatives of formulae (Ia) and (Ib) wherein: X represents a group of formula —COOR, or —PO(OR)2; R represents a hydrogen atom or an alkaline or alkaline-earth metal, or a lower alkyl group; R1 represents a hydroxy group, a lower alkoxy group or an acyloxy group; R2 and R3, identical or different, represent a hydrogen or halogen atom, or a trifluoromethyl group, a trichloromethyl group, a hydroxy group, an alkoxy group or an acyloxy group comprising 1 to 5 carbon atoms, or R2 and R3 can combine to form an alkylene dioxy group. The invention is useful for rheumatic diseases.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of compounds of the general formula I in which R1 represents a C1-C20-alkyl group, a C3-C12-cycloalkyl group, a C7-C12-aralkyl group or a mono- or bi-nuclear aryl group, in which a ketone of formula II wherein R1 is as defined above, is subjected to asymmetric hydrogenation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an image-forming method and a image-forming device, wherein a specific photosensitive member, an exposing process and a toner are adopted in combination.

Abstract: Plunger (10) for brewing a drink in a cup (12) includes two main components, a filter disc (20) and a frame (22). The filter disc (20) is shaped to extend across and abut an inside surface (24) of the cup (12). The frame (22) is dimensioned so that it can be wholly inserted into the cup (12) to be disposed below a mouth (18) of the cup. This allows a drink such as coffee or tea to be brewed in the cup from which it is to be consumed without the plunger (10) interfering with the drinking of the drink. The disc (20) is supported on the frame (22) to slide along upright posts (22). Thus the disc (20) can be pushed toward the bottom or (14) of the cup (12) that contain particulate materials such as coffee grounds or tea leaves used in brewing the drink. A heat shield (58) may be also supported on the frame (22) to minimise the rate of heat loss of a hot drink brewed in the cup (12) using the plunger (10).

Abstract: A vehicle door handle device includes a frame equipped on a vehicle door panel and a handgrip mounted on the frame and rotatable about a rotation center portion at one end portion of the handgrip. A second end portion of the handgrip forms an operation portion linked with a door lock mechanism. The handgrip is adapted to be rotated within a predetermined angle around the rotation center portion to operate the door lock mechanism when the operation portion is pulled away from the frame. A restriction mechanism is also provided to restrict chattering and/or dislocation of the handgrip from the frame. The restriction mechanism includes a projection and a groove provided between the frame and the handgrip. The projection is slidable in the groove during rotation of the handgrip and is able to contact a boundary of the groove in the inserting direction of the handgrip.

Abstract: An improved electrode capable of smaller variances and mean breakdown voltage, increased breakdown reliability, smaller electron emission turn-on requirements, and stable electron emissions capable of high current densities include a first electrode material, an adhesion-promoting layer disposed on at least one surface of the first electrode material, and a nanostructure-containing material disposed on at least a portion of the adhesion promoting layer. An improved gas discharge device is provided incorporating an electrode formed as described above. An improved circuit incorporating an improved gas discharge tube device as set forth above is also provided. Further, an improved telecommunications network, incorporating an improved gas discharge tube device as set forth above can also be provided. An improved lighting device is also provided incorporating an electrode constructed as described above.

Abstract: A tire for a vehicle wheel, comprising two sidewalls joined by a crown zone provided on its radially outer portion with a circumferential tread, a bead arranged at the radially inner portion of each of the sidewalls, each bead comprising a seat and an outer flange which are intended to come into contact with the rim. The bead seat has a generatrix, the axially inner end of which lies on a circle of diameter greater than the diameter of the circle on which the axially outer end is located. A carcass-type reinforcement structure extends substantially radially from each of the beads, along the sidewalls, towards the crown zone, such bead being reinforced by a substantially radial arrangement of circumferential cords arranged in stacks. A portion of the carcass-type reinforcement structure is arranged in the immediate vicinity of at least one portion of a stack, and the space between these portions is generally occupied by a rubber mix of high elasticity modulus.

Abstract: Characteristics of a plurality of skin types have been classified, and skin areas are detected from image data according to the classification. The skin areas are extracted in two steps, first coarsely and next finely. Then, skin areas can be extracted at high speed. For each of the skin areas image data are corrected according to the characteristics of the skin area. Then, skin areas are corrected according to the skin type. Even when an image includes a plurality of persons having different skin characteristics, correction appropriate for each skin type is possible.

Abstract: The torque detection device for a wave gearing comprises a strain gauge unit having a strain gauge pattern. The strain gauge pattern includes circular-arc shaped detection segments A and B, and three terminal portions for external wiring with one being formed between the detection segments and the others at opposite ends thereof. The strain gauge unit having the strain gauge pattern can be mounted on the diaphragm of a flexible external gear by a simple operation of positioning the strain gauge unit on the diaphragm and connecting the three terminal portions to the external wirings. Compared to the case where a large number of perpendicular biaxial strain gauges are positioned and wired to form a bridge circuit, the wiring operation can be simplified, the mounting space can be reduced, and errors in detected signals due to the positioning errors of the strain gauges can also be reduced.

Abstract: A process for the production of ?-interferon comprising the steps: i) inducing of human leukocytes by means of a virus; ii) treating the leukocytes with an enhancing agent selected from: a) Xanthine, pyrimidinol and pyrimidinone or derivatives of anyone thereof, such as theophylline, 2-amino-5-bromo-6-methyl-4 pyriminidol or thymine; b) an organic solvent selected from the group consisting of non-aromatic ketones, aliphatic or cyclic amides, alkylated aliphatic or cyclic urea derivatives and aliphatic or cyclic sulfoxides, such as N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone, acetone, 2-butanone, 1,3-dimethyl-2-imidazolidinone, dimethylsulfoxide, 4-methyl-2-pentanone-N-ethyl-2-pyrrolidinone, 2-pyrrolidinone, tetramethylene sulfoxide or N,N-dimethylacetamide; or a combination of the compounds from a) with an organic solvent from b).

Abstract: A tool assembly includes a support body, a clamping device, and a tool holder clamped in a groove of the support body. A stopper block is disposed in the groove and abuts against the tool holder for positioning the tool holder along an axis. The stopper block is held in place by a wedge-type stopper clamp which applies a clamping force to the stopper block in a direction transversely of the axis. A wedge-type holder clamp is provided for applying a clamping force to the tool holder in a direction transversely of the axis. The stopper clamp is secured to the support body by a single fastening bolt, and the holder clamp is attached to the support body by a single fastening bolt. Each of the fastening bolts is provided with a part that forcefully pushes the respective clamp away from the support body in response to loosening of the fastening bolt. The arrangement is such that the tool holder can be inserted and removed without completely removing the holder clamp or its fastening bolt.

Abstract: Novel methods for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of diseases caused by tissue-adhering bacteria are disclosed. By interacting with periplasmic molecular chaperones it is achieved that the assembly of pili is prevented or inhibited and thereby the infectivity of the bacteria is diminished. Also disclosed are methods for screening for drugs as well as methods for the de novo design of such drugs, methods which rely on novel computer drug modelling methods involving an approximative calculation of binding free energy between macromolecules. Finally, novel pyranosides which are believed to be capable of interacting with periplasmic molecular chaperones are also disclosed.

Abstract: A screen-printing plate is provided with a plurality of printing patterns disposed in a single plate frame. Each printing pattern is formed with a plurality of mesh holes. At least two different aperture ratios of the mesh holes forming the printing patterns are provided according to the positions of regions on the screen-printing plate in which the printing patterns are disposed. The aperture ratio of the mesh holes forming the printing patterns positioned in a region close to the periphery of the plate frame is set higher than the aperture ratio of the mesh holes forming the printing patterns positioned in a central region of the plate frame.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of at least one strain of Streptococcus thermophilus which is incapable of hydrolyzing urea in the manufacture of cheese or fermented dairy products such as yogurts in order to obtain an acidification kinetic which is independent from the content of various components of the milk.

Abstract: A new and distinct variety of Eupatorium dubium plant is provided that was discovered while growing among a population of seedlings in a nursery at Jennersville, Pa. A stiffer more upright and more compact growth habit is displayed. The attractive light lavender inflorescence also is more compact. Superior drought tolerance has been observed. The new variety is particularly well suited for providing attractive ornamentation in smaller landscapes and for growing in areas that experience less rainfall.