Abstract: The invention provides methods for isolating and releasing genetic material from a solid medium, such as a DNA array, a filter, a card, or a multiple-well plate, using a wash solution comprising a photolytic agent, followed by subsequent exposure to a light source to release the genetic material, such as genomic DNA. The invention also includes devices and kits for practicing these methods.

Abstract: A urethral prosthesis with prostatic and bulbar segments connected by two types of ties allows the prosthesis to assume at least two configurations different with inter-segmental distances adapted to situations where the patient either has or does not have normal control of the external sphincter. This is particularly useful for a patient undergoing an anesthetic procedure that affects the external sphincter muscles. When the muscles are anesthetized, the prosthesis may provide constant urine voiding, and when the anesthetic effects wear off, the prosthesis may assume a different configuration to allow the sphincter to reassert control over urinary voiding.

Abstract: A screw conveyor for the transport of, for example, pieces of clothing hanging on clothes hangers, comprises a screw shaft train (22) which may be rotated about the shaft axis (24) thereof, with a transport groove system (26), machined into the outer surface thereof along the shaft axis (24) in the form of a screw. The clothes hangers may be hung in the transport groove system (26), using the hanger hooks (20) thereof and axially transported by rotation of the screw shaft train (22). According to the invention, the transport groove system (26) comprises at least one primary transport groove (46, 48), from which a secondary transport groove (52, 54), preceding the primary transport groove (46, 48) in relation to the transport direction (16) of the goods for transport, branches at a branching position (62).

Abstract: A fabrication method of a circuit board is proposed, wherein a core layer is formed with a plurality of conductive traces, and photo resist is respectively applied on terminals of the conductive traces. Then, a non-solderable material is applied over the core layer as to cover the conductive traces except for the insulating material, and the non-solderable material is adapted to be surface-flush with the insulating material, allowing the insulating material to be exposed from the non-solderable material. Finally, the insulating material is removed from the core layer to expose the terminals of the conductive traces, wherein the exposed terminals are used as bond pads or bond fingers where solder balls, solder bumps or bonding wires can be bonded. This circuit board is cost-effectively fabricated by simplified processes, and beneficial in precisely exposing bond pads or bond fingers, thereby significantly improving yield of fabricated circuit boards.

Abstract: The present invention offers novel cyclic diamine compounds and a pharmaceutical composition containing the same. The present invention relates to a compound represented by the formula (I) or salt(s) or solvate(s) thereof. (In the formula, is an optionally substituted divalent residue of benzene, pyridine, cyclohexane or naphthalene or is a vinylene group where Ar is an optionally substituted aryl group; X is —NH—, oxygen atom or sulfur atom; Y is —NR1—, oxygen atom, sulfur atom, sulfoxide or sulfone; Z is a single bond or —NR2—; R1 is hydrogen atom, optionally substituted lower alkyl group, optionally substituted aryl group or optionally substituted silyl lower alkyl group; R2 is hydrogen atom, optionally substituted lower alkyl group, optionally substituted aryl group or optionally substituted silyl lower alkyl group; l is an integer of from 0 to 15; m is an integer of 2 or 3; and n is an integer of from 0 to 3).

Abstract: Featured are surgical devices that provide enhanced perceptual feedback to a medical practitioner in the form of e.g. tactile sensations or auditory feedback, and methods of use of the devices. The devices and methods of the present invention are particularly suitable for microsurgery applications including ophthalmic or neurosurgical procedures. Use of the present devices and methods will enhance user feedback, allowing for improved perception, thereby increasing performance, speed, and accuracy of surgical procedures.

Abstract: An image adjustment method for an image forming apparatus in which an adjustment image is formed by transferring a plurality of reference images formed by a color component to be the reference among a plurality of color components and a plurality of images to be adjusted, which are formed by other color component to be adjusted, onto a transfer medium so that the images to be adjusted are superposed on the reference images, the density of the formed adjustment image is detected, and an image forming position of the other color component to be adjusted is adjusted based on the detected density of the adjustment image. The density of the surface of the transfer medium is detected, and the position of forming the image to be adjusted is adjusted, based on the detected density of the surface of the transfer medium and the detected density of the adjustment image.

Abstract: A semiconductor laser device and optical pickup in which the reflectance of the side beam at a header portion will not adversely affect the characteristics of the optical pickup, and superior in productivity, and a method of fabricating such a semiconductor laser device are obtained. A reflector is attached on a side beam incident region of a leading end plane of a header mounted with a laser chip that emits a laser beam. Said side beam is one of the two side beams generated by the reflected ±first order beams and fed back through the optical system returning towards the header portion to strike the side beam incident region. The reflector reflects side beam outside the optical system.

Abstract: Images based on each of a plurality of color components are formed; the formed images are transferred on each transfer medium to form an image quality determining image; the image quality of the image quality determining image is determined on the basis of the detected density thereof, an adjustment image is formed by overlaying and transferring an image of other color component to be adjusted to the reference image of the reference color image out of the plurality of color components, on the transfer medium; the density of the adjustment image is detected; and the image forming position of the other color component to be adjusted is adjusted on the basis of the detected density.

Abstract: An optical disk using both grooves and lands as a recording track is provided with {circle around (1)} a data area for recording/reproducing data and {circle around (2)} DMAs (Data Management Areas) for managing a defective sector in the data area. The DMAs include four DMAs A–D all formed on the lands. The DMA B(D) is formed behind the ending sector of the DMA A(C). This arrangement realizes a DMA format having high resistance to defects and improving a processing rate. Consequently, highly reliable optical disk and optical disk apparatus can be provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an economical and highly reliable receiving apparatus for receiving radio signals transmitted from a mobile communication terminal within radio zone. The receiving apparatus has antenna sections that receive radio signals transmitted from the mobile communication terminal and are provided in each of a plurality of sectors divided from the radio zone, and receiving units that are provided in each of the antenna sections and that perform a predetermined process to the radio signals received by the antenna section.

Abstract: Adiponectin cDNA was cloned into AAV serotypes 1, 2, and 5-based expression vectors. Virions containing these vectors were administered to the livers of rat subjects via portal vein injection. A single injection of 6×1011 virions of the vector caused a sustained and statistically significant reduction in body weight of the treated animals compared to the control animals. This occurred in the absence of side effects. Compared to control animals, the subject rats also exhibited reduced adipose tissue mass, reduced appetite, improved insulin sensitivity, and improved glucose tolerance.

Abstract: An image processing device of the present invention is provided with four kinds of sub masks in total including two kinds in a main scanning direction and two kinds in a sub scanning direction, in a main mask constituted by a plurality of pixels including a target pixel. In the image display device, when determining a target pixel of an inputted image data, a difference in a total density of the two kinds of sub masks in a main scanning direction is added to a normalized difference in total density of the two kinds of sub masks in a sub scanning direction, and a resultant value is compared with a threshold value so as to determine if the target pixel is an edge area or not.

Abstract: Diesel engine fuel supply systems are provided that are preferably adapted to reduce fuel pressure loss. Preferred fuel supply systems comprise a fuel supply line for providing fuel from a fuel tank to a fuel injector through a prime pump and fuel filter. A first fuel return line is configured to return the residual fuel in the fuel injector to the fuel tank. A second fuel return line is configured to return the residual fuel in the fuel injector to the fuel filter. A heater heats up the fuel passing through the second fuel return line. A bypass line is suitably equipped to directly provide the fuel to the fuel injector through the fuel filter without passing through the prime pump.

Abstract: Featured is a digital data storage and transmitting (DDST) device, particularly suited for use with a digital camera, digital camcorder or other image/video capturing device, being configured and arranged so as to cable of downloading the digitized data representative of the images/pictures taken with the digital camera and to store this information in the DDST device. The DDST device also is configured and arranged so the DDST device can upload or transmit the downloaded picture information to a remote server using any of a number of communication protocols or techniques known to those skilled in that art including wireless or cellphone technologies. Also featured are systems embodying such a DDST device and methods related thereto.

Abstract: A fuel metering unit for controlling a variable displacement pump including a main metering valve in fluid communication with the pump for metering an output of the pump, a pressure regulator in fluid communication with the metering valve to create a spill return and a control valve in fluid communication with the pressure regulator and the pump for regulating the spill return flow so the spill return flow is maintained substantially constant at a low level to minimize the heat generated by recirculation by setting a displacement of the pump.

Abstract: Featured is a heat transferring device being configured and arranged so that at least some of the heat energy being generated by a heat producing device, such as the a bearing assembly of a flywheel energy storage system, is communicated directly from the locus of the device directly to a heat sink structure remote from the locus of the device. The heat-transferring device includes one or more flexible thermally conductive members, one end of each being thermally coupled to the heat generating device and the other end of each being thermally coupled to the heat sink. The flexible member also is configured and arranged so as to allow relative motion between the heat generating device and the heat sink in or about one or more directions or axes. The heat-transferring device further includes first and second conductive members that are each configured and arranged to thermally couple each flexible member end to one of the heat producing device and the heat sink.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods of modulating the development of blood vessels and/or endothelial cell differentiation in a mammal comprising altering the activity of an Ets transcription factor, which activates vascular specific genes. More particularly, the transcription factor comprises ELF-1, and transcription factors that are homologous to ELF-1. The invention further relates to methods of screening for compounds that affect the activity of these transcription factors, and therefore, affect the development of blood vessels and/or endothelial cell differentiation. The invention also relates to methods of using these compounds to treat diseases, or symptoms of diseases, by either increasing or decreasing blood vessel development and/or endothelial cell differentiation.

Abstract: In order when designing a digital circuit to be able to determine the minimum or maximum switching activity for estimating the power consumption it is determined according to the invention on the basis of a model of the digital circuit whether there is a disproving operational case, in which the switching activity is less than an estimated value (k) for the minimum switching activity or greater than an estimated value (k) for the maximum switching activity. If the existence of an appropriate disproving operational case (P(k)) can be found, when determining the maximum switching activity the estimated value (k) is increased by one step size and when determining the minimum switching activity the estimated value (k) reduces. After a decrease or increase of the estimated value (k) the process is repeated and in this way the actual value for the maximum or minimum switching activity of the digital circuit is determined iteratively.

Abstract: A BIOCOMPATIBLE HYDROGEL, is provided for use in the treatment of humans for cosmetic and functional defects (e.g. in mammas, vocal cords, penis, etc. as endoprostheses), in the provision of intratissue storage sites the prolonged-action medicinal preparations, in various applications as electroconductive immersion media, and in the life-long tamponing of caverns. It contains an acrylamide-based polymer produced in the presence of an initiator of radical polymerization in apyrogenic water as the dispersion medium. An increase in elasticity, shape retention capability, and stability of bulky implants, as well as corresponding therapeutic and cosmetic efficacy, mainly in the endoprosthetic applications is achieved due to the hydrogel containing cross-linked polyacrylamide produced by using a biocompatible cross-linking agent, such as methylene-bis-acrylamide, and preferably a mixture of ammonium persulfate and tetramethylethylenediamine as the initiator of polymerzation.