Abstract: A drinking water filter assembly has a filter cartridge which includes a filter element contained in a pressure vessel for unitary disposal, the cartridge received on a base containing attachment fittings for ease in installation and replacement with limited exposure to contaminants during a filter change. A flow powered flow meter is provided which measures the quantity of flow through the filter for alerting the user to replace the filter cartridge.

Abstract: A constructive arrangement applied to an integrated thermostatic valve attached to its own housing has a hollow tubular-shaped body (1) projecting from a flange (2) with holes (3) for fixing screws, and a central opening (4) that determines the chamber mouth molded to the cavity of the body. There are two opposing lengthwise projections (6), which have a groove (7) near the chamber mouth, and another groove (8) near the mouth of the body (1), with the ends of a curved plate (9) fitted into the grooves (8). In the grooves (7) are fitted the ends of another plate (11). A sheet metal disk (12) is inserted into the internal rim of the mouth (4) of the chamber (5), having fixed to the end of the thermostatic valve, a washer (14) for supporting the disk (15) that has a hole where the terminal of the aforementioned thermostatic valve is housed and moves.

Abstract: According to a method for transferring blister packs to a feeding line of a packaging machine, a series of blister packs arranged in a line at a cutting station is picked-up and arranged in alignment with receiving and moving means, adjacent to the cutting station. The series of blister packs is released simultaneously, so that a first blister pack, situated in a foremost position falls onto the receiving and moving mechanism and the further blister packs of the series of blister packs fall onto support elements, carried by a selective releasing member and disposed above the receiving and moving mechanism. The support elements are operated selectively, so as to release, one by one and in succession, the further blister packs aligned and regularly spaced apart, onto the receiving and moving mechanism.

Abstract: A machine for producing so-called strip packs includes: a station for feeding products to a packaging group, situated in cascade, which places and seals each of the products in relative heat-welded pockets, arranged on a continuous band; an operating station, situated in cascade with respect to the packaging group, equipped with: means for printing and/or applying codified data and/or information on each pocket; feeling detecting means for verifying the presence of corresponding products inside each pocket; pre-cutting groups for transversal precutting of the continuous band; cutting groups for longitudinal and transversal cutting of the continuous band; a compensation magazine, interposed between the packaging group and the operating station, and aimed at allowing, at least partial, accumulation of the continuous band. The continuous band is moved stepwise.

Abstract: A device for transferring blister packs to the feeding line of a packaging machine includes a pick-up member capable of picking-up a series of blister packs disposed in reciprocal alignment at the blister packs cutting station and releasing this series of blister packs in alignment with a conveyor situated adjacent to the cutting station. A blister packs selective releasing device is situated above the conveyor and is equipped with support elements for receiving in support the blister packs picked-up by the pick-up member and operated selectively to release the blister packs, disposed in reciprocal alignment and orderly spaced apart, onto the conveyor. A stepwise rotating carrousel is situated at the outlet of said conveyor and is equipped with gripping members capable of picking-up the blister packs from the conveyor and transferring the blister packs, one by one, to a feeding line arranged perpendicular with respect to the conveyor.

Abstract: A compact non-contact electrical switch for use in an electrical box mounted on a wall has a capacitance sensor for detecting a presence of a hand placed adjacent to the switch and for generating a first data bit, and a CPU for receiving the data bit and for calculating a power output in response to the first data bit The CPU generates a control signal for controlling a triac or relay and thus the power supplied to an electrical circuit passing through the box, for on/off and optionally dimmer control responsive to the proximity of the hand.

Abstract: A machine for coating granular articles and the like includes a rotating drum or a coating pan (1), which receives a predetermined mass of articles to be treated. The machine includes also a tubular manifold (4), whose axis is parallel to the axis of said coating pan (1) and which communicates with an outer first pipe (5). A plurality of perforated hollow bodies (14) extend from said manifold (4) and are dipped into the moving mass of the articles to be treated. A second pipe (6) communicates with the coating pan (1), so as to create a flow of air for ventilating the articles. The perforated hollow bodies (14) are telescopic, so as to allow adjustment of their length in order to change the depth of penetration thereof in the moving mass of the articles inside the coating pan (1). The perforated hollow bodies (14) have a distal part (14b), which is inclined with respect to the hollow body vertical axis and whose cross-section is oblong with pointed ends.

Abstract: In a device for collecting and re-cycling articles sent toward feeding channels, a selecting member is situated downstream of a station where the articles are accumulated, for receiving, in a predetermined way, the articles from the accumulation station. The selecting member selects and holds complying articles, separating them from fragments and from powders associated thereto. A linear conveyor member, situated downstream of the selecting member, receives the complying articles and sends them in ordered way to inlets of the feeding channels. Collecting means are situated downstream of the inlets for receiving, from the linear conveyor member, the exceeding articles situated near the inlets. Transferring means receive, from the collecting means, the exceeding articles and transfer them to an initial section of the selecting member, so that the articles are collected, recycled and their compliance is verified again.

Abstract: According to the method, single compact discs (1) are removed from a magazine (10) by a pick up group (14) which is carried by a drum (13). The drum (13) rotates continuously on a vertical axis. The pick up group (14) is operated to move in a combined translation motion along a vertical axis and along a circumference around the drum (13), so as to move in a direction opposite to the movement direction imposed by said drum (13), from a first remote position, which is situated forward with respect to a median plane (M), to a close disk taking position. The combined translation motion of the pick up group (14) is continued, so as to bring the removed compact disc (1) to a second remote position. The removed compact disc (1) is then transferred to a conveying line (5) by a corresponding combined translation motion of the pick up group (14) with respect to the movement direction imposed by the drum (13), from a remote forward position to a close position, in which the compact disc (1) is released.

Abstract: A coffee pot has a strainer (3) in the form of a bag which extends down into the pot (1). Ground coffee (6) is first poured into the pot (1), and then hot water (5) is filled into the pot, causing the coffee (6) to be stirred up and to be mixed with the water, so that the coffee extraction takes place in a gentle and effective manner. Over time, the ground coffee (6) quietly precipitates on the bottom of the pot. When the coffee is poured out of the pot, the coffee grounds (6) are retained in the pot by the strainer element (3).

Abstract: A method of isolating a monoclonal antibody capable of inhibiting any one of IL-3, GM-CSF and IL-5 binding to the common receptor &bgr;c or a monoclonal antibody capable of inhibiting the cytokines binding to a receptor analogous to &bgr;c. The method includes the steps of immunizing an animal with a cytokine receptor or portion of a cytokine containing the critical binding site which portion includes the extracellular domain 4 or an analogous domain in the analogous common receptor or part thereof. Antibodies producing cells from the animal are then isolated and fused with a myeloma cell line and then screened for a cell line that produces an antibody of the desired type. A monoclonal antibody, or fragments thereof capable of inhibiting the binding of the cytokines IL-3, GM-CSF and IL-5 to the &bgr;c receptor, and a hybridoma cell line producing the antibody are also claimed.

Abstract: A centrifugal fan mounted in a laptop computer is assembled to include a casing having an intake opening and a horn-shaped outlet opening for increasing the air outflow, an impeller rotatably mounted in the casing with a reduced diameter and bared inner space for increasing the air capacity, and fan blades attached to the impeller, wherein each of fan blades is chipped at the rim for lowering the noise.

Abstract: The HIV-1 envelope protein gp120 is toxic to rodent and human neurons by indirect mechanisms requiring accessory glial cells. Chemokines are known to block gp120 interactions with chemokine receptors on T cells, macrophanges, and microglia, thereby preventing viral infection. Gp120-induced neuronal killing in rat hippocampal cultures was partially or completely prevented by a specific short peptides related to chemokines, specially IKEYFTS (SEQ. ID NO: 2) and LESYT (SEQ. ID NO: 1). These peptides thus have use in the treatment of neurological degenerative diseases having symptoms associated with neuronal cell death.

Abstract: A method for purifying heat shock protein complexes is provided which comprises the steps of adding a solution containing heat shock protein complexes, in which heat shock proteins are associated with peptides, polypeptides, denatured proteins or antigens, to a column containing an ADP matrix to bind the heat shock proteins complexes to the ADP matrix and adding a buffer containing ADP to the column to remove the heat shock protein complexes in an elution product. Additionally a method for synthesizing heat shock protein complexes and purifying the complexes so product is provided which comprises the steps of adding heat shock proteins to an ADP matrix column to bind them to the matrix, adding a solution of peptides, polypeptides, denatured proteins or antigens to the column to bind them to the heat shock proteins as heat shock protein complexes and adding a buffer containing ADP to the column to remove the complexes in all elution product.

Abstract: A curler for hairstyles and permanent waves includes an elongated body, with cross sections similar to an elliptical profile and changing continuously from a minimum to a maximum extension, in relation to a selected rate. The body has opposite heads and intermediate and central portions situated between said heads. An elastic strip is stretched longitudinally to the curler elongated body and touch the heads while leaving an open space in the remaining part of the curler elongated body for locks of hair to pass therethrough.