Abstract: Method for carrying out immunochemical assays for lipoproteins and/or apolipoproteins, wherein prior to the reaction of the sample with the appropriate anti(apolipoprotein) or anti(lipoprotein) antibody the pH of the sample is maintained at a non-denaturing value in a pretreatment step for exposing antigenic determinants, said non-denaturing value lying above pH 9.0 or below pH 3.0. After the pre-treatment step the pH is adjusted for immune reaction, so that then the immunochemical assay can be carried out in a manner known per se.

Abstract: In a servo-valve, a metal bellows (70) is fitted onto an end section (66) of valve stem (26,42) lying at a distance from the seal (22), one end of said metal bellows (70) being supported rigidly in housing (72), while its other end engages the end of the stem. The metal bellows (70) are located in a pressure chamber (62) which is connected by a condensate coil (74) to the valve intake (12), whereby the cross-sectional area of the metal bellows (70) is made to match the area of the passageway of the valve seat (16). In this way, it is possible to achieve an overall compensation of the forces at the seal (22) or a desired additional load in the closed or open direction.

Abstract: Bis(di-, tri- or tetra-substituted-cyclopentadienyl)zirconium dihalides represented by the following general formula [I] are provided, ##STR1## (wherein R.sup.1 denotes a substituent group on the cyclopentadienyl ring which is an alkyl radical of 1 to 5 carbon atoms; R.sub.2.sup.1 --C.sub.5 H.sub.3 stands for a di-substituted cyclopentadienyl radical; and X is a halogen atom).This compound, when combined with an aluminoxane repesented by the following general formula [VII], gives a high-activity catalyst for the synthesis of polyolefins, ##STR2## (wherein m is an integer of 4 to 20; and R.sup.2 denotes a hydrocarbyl radical).

Abstract: The process is one concerned with the field of electrophoresis and relates more particularly to a method of supplying the electrode buffer solutions by means of using buffer-containing gels as buffer reservoirs, thus making it unnecessary for the electrophoresis equipment to have special vessels for the buffers, and providing the possibility of using electrode buffer solutions of concentrations which are extremely high in electrophoresis contexts.

Abstract: Forming a shaped article of polysilazane, contacting this shaped article with dry ammonia at a temperature of 20.degree.-200.degree. C. to thereby effect infusibilization, and finally subjecting the ammonia-treated product to further heat treatment at a higher temperature in a nitrogen atmosphere to thereby produce a shaped ceramic article.

Abstract: Two different types of electrically-operated folding stage systems, namely a high-type system and a low-type system are provided. Each type of system includes a pair of opposed stage components. The high-type system may include an additional pair or pairs of stage components. The opposed stage components are pivotally connected together. Each stage component includes a platform. In the high-type system, a plurality of rows of brackets are fixed to the bottom of the platform. A downwardly-extending upright leg is pivotally connected to the lower end of each bracket to support the entire system on a support such as a floor. Casters may be connected to the lower ends of at least the foremost and rearmost legs of each row to enable the entire system to be moved in a desired horizontal direction on the floor. A pair of opposed geared motors are mounted on the bottom of the platform of at least one of the opposed stage components. A pair of opposed link mechanisms are connected to the motors, respectively.

Abstract: A polypropylene composition capable of producing molded products having superior stiffness, impact resistance, transparency, resistance to whitening on impact on bending and luster is provided, which composition has (i) a styrene-ethylene.multidot.butylene-styrene block copolymer or a styrene-ethylene.multidot.propylene block copolymer each in 5 to 30% by weight based on the weight of the composition, blended with a highly crystalline propylene homopolymer (A) having a relationship between its isotactic pentad ratio (P) and melt flow rate (MFR) represented by an expression of1.00.gtoreq.P.gtoreq.0.015 log MFR+0.955;(ii) a styrene-ethylene.multidot.butylene-styrene block copolymer or a styrene-ethylene.multidot.

Abstract: The invention concerns an intravaginal device comprising a combination of 17 .beta.-estradiol and a supporting matrix for treating hypoestrogenic women. The device releases continuously 17 .beta.-estradiol at a rate of about 0.5 to about 25 .mu.g/24 h.The invention also comprises a method of preparing the device and a method of treating hypoestrogenic women by using the device.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for producing apertured or non-apertured nonwoven fabric wherein fibrous web is introduced onto support means and treated with high velocity water streams jetted from above. The non-apertured nonwoven fabric may be produced by fiber entangling treatment on a smooth surfaced plate including a plurality of drainage holes as first support means or by further fiber entangling treatment performed on water impermeable second support means after the fiber entangling treatment performed on the first support means.

Abstract: To allow different gel bed heights in a chromatographic separation column (1), a plunger (6) is displaceable within the column (1) into contact with the gel bed (5) by means of a shaft (7) extending through an end piece (3) at the end of the column (1), said end piece (3) having a locking means for locking the shaft (7). According to the invention said locking means comprises a resilently biassed locking piece (8) having grooves extending essentially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the shaft (7) which grooves engage corresponding grooves on the shaft (7) in the normal position of the locking piece (8). In its normal positon, the locking piece (8) is adapted to allow displacement of the shaft (7) only towards the gel bed (5). Moreover, the locking piece (8) is manually operable from its normal position to allow free displacement of the shaft (7).

Abstract: A leg exerciser is for use by a person sitting in a chair. The device is located in front of the chair and the user puts his feet onto two boards which are at an acute angle to the horizontal. A mechanism including a drive motor or flywheel inside the device rocks the boards anti-phase about a horizontal axis lying transverse to the feet between acute angle positions. Sections of the boards lift out of and back into the planes of the boards during each cycle of rocking to lift and lower the user's toes relative to the remainder of the feet so that the feet are subjected to exercise movements similar to walking movements. The exerciser drives the leg blood pump with a view to improving the user's leg circulation.

Abstract: A diesel type pile-driver has a cup-shaped monkey (36) accommodated in a sliding fit on the external face of the lower end of the cylinder.

Abstract: The roasting body is composed of a roasting body, a rotary drum supported on the inside of the roasting body to rotate in a horizontal attitude to accommodate and stir the coffee beans, infrared heaters disposed on the inner wall surface of the roasting body to surround the rotary drum in order to heat the coffee beans accommodated in the rotary drum by radiant heat, and a circulating path to circulate the hot air in the rotary drum into the roasting body in order to utilize the thermal energy effectively.

Abstract: A non-abrasive polish or cleaning composition is disclosed, which comprises an aqueous solution having a pH-value within the range of -1 to 0 and containing 0.01-10% by weight of a substance obtained by(a) oxidizing an aqueous solution comprising 0.01-10% by weight of thiourea having a pH-value of 0-1, preferably 0.1-0.5, by means of a potent oxidizing agent or by electrolysis of the solution to the formation of a disulphide derivative of thiourea and(b) subsequent heating of the solution to the boiling point thereof for at least two hours.The invention also comprises a process for the preparation of the composition according to the invention, which process comprises preparing an acid aqueous solution containing 0.01-10% by weight of thiourea and having a pH-value within the range of 0-1, preferably 0.1-0.

Abstract: A novel perfluoropolyether containing 0.1 to 10% by weight of halogen atoms as bonded in the molecule is obtained by reacting tetrafluoroethylene with oxygen in a fluorinated solvent or a chlorofluorinated solvent under ultraviolet irradiation in the presence of a halogenated hydrocarbon chain transfer agent having a chain transfer coefficient with respect to methyl methacrylate of at least 5.times.10.sup.-5.

Abstract: A system is proposed for the treatment of essentially all the wastes arising in a community, and for recovering useable products therefrom, based on a combination of pre-sorting and mechanical and manual separation. Clean dry secondary organic wastes such as paper and textiles are separately baled for re-use, contaminated secondary organic wastes are prepared for re-use as fuel; primary organic waste such as wood and other vegetable matter is prepared, as appropriate, as fuel, as compost or for re-use as wood chips. Mixed wastes are separated by size and by density according to the ease of separation and the increased re-use potential of the separated as opposed to the mixed materials.

Abstract: In a machine for etching objects, a nozzle assembly carries out an oscillating movement transverse to the conveying direction, in which the objects to be etched are guided through the machine. The device, which produces the oscillating movement, comprises a drive motor, whereof the rotary movement is converted by means of a cam disc into the oscillating movement of the nozzle assembly. The cam disc, on whose outer contour pressure engagement members of the nozzle assembly bear against two diametrically opposed points, has the contour of a cardioid. Due to this, a particularly linear displacement-time characteristic of the oscillation movement between the reversing points is achieved, which contributes to making the etching process more uniform.

Abstract: A machine for treating objects with a treatment liquid, in particular with an etching medium, comprises a nozzle assembly, which is able to move to and fro in the manner of a drawer between a working position within the housing and a maintenance position outside the housing. In the maintenance position, nozzles located on the nozzle assembly are easily accessible for cleaning, for alignment or for being exchanged. A plug-in coupling, by which the nozzle assembly is supplied with the treatment liquid, is automatically detached when the nozzle assembly is moved out and re-closes when the nozzle assembly is guided back into its working position.

Abstract: A composition, kit, and method for determining the concentration of heparin in a blood plasma sample and a method for making the composition. The method includes incubating a blood plasma sample with a known amount of Factor X.sub.a, combining the incubated product with an admixture of calcium chloride, brain phospholipids, and a buffered plasma fraction that has been produced by treating mammalian blood to substantially remove Factors II, VII, IX, and X while retaining Factor V and fibrinogen, and measuring the time it takes for clotting to occur after combining the incubated product with the admixture.

Abstract: Nitrogen oxide containing flue gases are purifyed by being subjected to an oxidation/reduction by means of a catalyst material, which comprises vanadium pentoxide on a support material. The purification is carried out in two separate steps, at which the content of nitrogen oxide in the flue gases are oxidized by means of a mordenite catalyst in the first step and are reduced by means of a catalyst of vanadium pentoxide on an acidic support material in the second step.