Abstract: A fiber splice tray for optical fiber splices capable of holding multiple single fiber splices, ribbon fiber splices and combinations thereof having a base, a plurality of adjacent opposed retention members extending upwardly from the base and a plurality of adjacent opposed extension members extending upwardly from the base in an area between opposed retention members. The opposed extension members are separated by a space for accepting at least a portion of a fiber ribbon splice and the retention members terminate in opposed arms for accepting a single fiber splice. The fiber splice tray can include an opening through the base bounded by a shelf for the fiber or ribbon extending from the splice to pass, to assist in preventing the splice from coming dislodged from the retention member.

Abstract: The present invention concerns new electrochemical biosensors for the determination of analytes concentration in sample solutions or suspensions, based on composite transducers containing an electro-conducting material, in the form of powder or grains, a chemical mediator, optionally a substance capable of sorption of said chemical mediator, and a solid binding maker, which is a compound in solid state at room temperature; said biosensors are prepared by incorporating a biocatalyst into the bulk of said composite transducers or by applying a biocatalytic layer onto their surface.

Abstract: It is described a roulette of a new type including two bowls coaxial to each other and rotating around the same axis and two small balls, each ball rolling around one of the bowls, where on each bowl are engraved data which refer to an independent event. On a first embodiment, the two independent events are: the signs of the zodiac, the numbers from 0 to 31, where the signs of the zodiac are preferably engraved on the external, ring-shaped bowl, while the numbers from 0 to 31 are preferably engraved on the internal bowl. On a second embodiment, the events engraved on the two bowls are related to one or more of the calendars used in Asiatic countries (China, Korea, Japan and so on). Furthermore, a new gambling game providing for the use of said improved roulette is described.

Abstract: A salt of an anionic complex of Ru(III) with an ammonium cation fof formula (I), where R1, R2 and R3, equal or different from each other, are selected from the group consisting of H, C1-C6 alkyl, linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated, C3-C7 cycloalkyl, phenyl and aryl; or NR1R2R3 is a 5-7-membered nitrogen-containing heterocycle, saturated or unsaturated, optionally containing one or more O, S and/or N atoms, said nitrogen atom being optionally substituted with a C1-C4 alkyl, aryl or benzyl residue; said nitrogen-containing heterocycle being optionally condensed with a benzo group and/or substituted with C1-C4 alkyl, C1-C4 alkoxyl, C1-C4 alkylthio, aryl or benzyl groups; where R4 and R5, equal or different from each other, are selected from the group consisting of H, C1-C6 alkyl, C3-C7 cycloalkyl, phenyl and aryl or R4 and R5 form, together with the S atom, a 4-7-membered heterocycle.

Abstract: Microspheres, having a size lower than 1&mgr; and comprising a biocompatible polysaccharidic polymer, are prepared with a process comprising the precipitation of polymer induced by means of a supercritical antisolvent (SAS). These microspheres are used as vehicling agents or carriers in the preparation of pharmaceutical compositions administrable by oral, nasal, pulmonary, vaginal or rectal route. These microspheres can also be advantageously used as vehicling agent or carriers in the preparation of pharmaceutical compositions for the treatment of human diseases associated with genic defects, for the preparation of diagnostics and in the agro-alimentary industry.

Abstract: An envelope-type container (10), in particular for stockings and the like, is made with a dinked basically flat element (11). The flat element (11) presents lines of facilitated folding (12) which identify one first side (23) of the envelope-type container (10), and, in addition, closing flaps (24, 24′) associated to the first side (23), three of the said flaps (24) being folded back along the lines of facilitated folding (12) and being mutually connected to form one second side of the container (10), opposite to the first side (23). Furthermore, the container (10) is accessible through at least one opening (16), removably closeable by means of a fourth closing flap (24′). The fourth closing flap (24′) presents an incision (17) to facilitate the operations of opening the container (10) when the latter is closed.

Abstract: A glass-ceramic substrate for a magnetic disk suitable for use as a contact recording type magnetic disk includes alpha-cristobalite (alpha-SiO2) and lithium disilicate (Li2O·2SiO2) as main crystal phases. The ratio of alpha-cristobalite/lithium disilicate is within a range from 0.20 to less than 0.25, a grain diameter of crystal grains is within a range from 0.1 &mgr;m to 1.0 &mgr;m, surface roughness (Ra) of the substrate after polishing is within a range from 2 Å to 9 Å.

Abstract: The present invention refers to a method for determination and control of the amount of nitrogen dissolved in metallic liquid phases and to a device permitting, when placed in the steel producing plant and for instance in the tundish or in the continuous casting mold, the determination of nitrogen content directly from the liquid phase. Such a device can point out possible nitrogen pick-up in real-time, thus permitting to immediately intervene.

Abstract: Ophthalmic and optical glasses have a composition in weight percent of 4.5-9.5% SiO2, 10-19.5% B2O3, 0-3% Al2O3, 0-5% GeO2, 18—less than 23% La2O3, 0.3—less than 2% Gd2O3, 5.5-13.5% TiO2, 0-7.5% ZrO2, 15-21% Nb2O5, 0-1.5% Ta2O5, 0.3-5% WO3, with the proviso that (Ta2O5+WO3)/B2O3 is 0.5 or below in the ration terms of weight, 2.1-10% ZnO, 0-5% MgO, 7-12.5% CaO, 0-5% SrO, 0-4% BaO, ≧0.1% Li2O+Na2O+K2O in which 0-1% Li2O, 0-1% Na2O and 0-1% K2O, 0-0.5% As2O3 and 0-0.5% Sb2O3 and have a specific gravity of 4.1 or below, and optical constants of a refractive index (nd) exceeding 1.88 and up to 1.93 and an Abbe number j(&ngr; d) within a range from 28 to 31. A preferable range of Nb2O5 is 15.5—less than 20.5% and a more preferable range of Nb2O5 is less 15.5-20%.

Abstract: The invention relates to 2-cyclopenten-1-one as an inducer of the heat shock protein HSP70 by activating the heat shock transcription factor HSF, and selectively inducing the transcription and translation of HSP70 in human cells. In particular, since a cytoprotective role of HSP70 during viral infection was previously shown, the invention refers to 2-cyclopenten-1-one and its pharmaceutically acceptable derivatives as inducers of HSP70 with antiviral activity. Treatment with 2-cyclopenten-1-one and its pharmaceutically acceptable derivatives causes a dose-dependent reduction of infectious virus yield during infection with vesicular stomatitis virus. The block of virus replication is due to inhibition of viral protein synthesis, associated with HSP70 synthesis.

Abstract: A material for use in children's sand boxes, play sets and play areas that is not hazardous to the health of humans and comprises calcium carbonate or calcium magnesium carbonate.

Abstract: A filtering device includes a container having an inlet for introducing liquid to be treated, a screen provided in the container having an outlet for delivering out treated liquid, and flow creating means for creating, in said container, a flow of the liquid to be treated having a direction which is different from direction of a flow of the liquid to be treated into the screen.

Abstract: Process for regiospecific preparation of new 3-hydroxypyridine-4(1H)-one derivatives starting from monosaccharides or itols of general formula: in which R represents a radical, either saturated or not, branched or not, having carbon-atom groups, and having hetero-atoms or not, and Sub represents a saccharide derivative or an itol, either cyclic not, protected or not, the hydrocarbon skeleton of which is bound to the nitrogen atom of the pyridinone either directly or by the intermediary of a spacing group. The present invention is characterized in that the process comprises a first step of protection of the 3-hydroxy group of the pyranone derivative, a second basocatalyzed step of substitution of the intracyclic oxygen atom of the pyranone by the nitrogen atom of the amine function of the amino monosaccharide or amino itol, and a third step of de-protection of the 3-OH group of the pyridinone cycle and possibly of the OH groups of the glucide or itol residue.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical composition of omeprazole for oral administration is described which consists essentially of: (a) a tabletted core component containing a therapeutically effective amount of omeprazole, a surface active agent, a filler, a pharmaceutically acceptable alkaline agent and a binder; and (b) a single layer of coating on said core which comprises a layer of an enteric coating agent.

Abstract: A glass-ceramic substrate for an information storage medium includes, as a predominant crystal phase, lithium disilicate (Li2O·2SiO2) or a combination of lithium disilicate and at least one crystal phase selected from the group consisting of &agr;-quartz (&agr;-SiO2), &agr;-quartz solid solution (&agr;-SiO2 solid solution), &agr;-cristobalite (&agr;-SiO2) and &agr;-cristobalite solid solution (&agr;-SiO2 solid solution). This substrate has Young's modulus (GPa)/specific gravity of 37 or over, surface roughness Ra (arithmetic mean roughness) of 5.0 Å or below, a coefficient of thermal expansion within a temperature range from −50° C. to +70° C. which ranges from +65×10−7/° C. to +130×10−7/° C. and bending strength of 400 MPa or over.

Abstract: A sealing composition which can keep strength necessary for a sealant and can be reduced a content of eluted metal and a sealant for an etching apparatus made from the sealing composition. The composition is prepared by blending a fluorine-containing elastomer containing a repeating unit derived from fluoroolefin and a repeating unit derived from perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether as a main component and 5-50 percent by weight of fluororesin powder. The content of eluted metal in the cured composition is not to more than 8 ppb.

Abstract: In a mirror housing integrally formed with a stay fixed to a vehicle, a tilting mechanism for tilting a prism mirror is formed by a horizontal bearing, full reflection position engaging grooves and partial reflection position engaging grooves formed on the inside surface of the mirror housing and a plate spring and, head light from a vehicle running in the rear can thereby be dimmed. A mirror surface adjusting mechanism for the prism mirror is formed by a support, a plate pivot and a cap support and a driver can adjust the prism mirror to a position where he can easily watch the prism mirror.

Abstract: Described herein is a process for the preparation of an acetal of formula (I) in which R1 is an alkyl, R2 is H or an acyl, X is &bgr;-OH and Y is H, comprising the acetalization with control of the epimeric distribution at the C-22 position, for treatment with R1 CHO in aqueous HBr or HI of a compound of formula (II) in which R2 has the meaning specified above, R3 and R4 are both H, or, taken together, are —C(R5)(R6)—, where R5 and R6, which may be the same or different from one another, are alkyl groups, and X and Y are chosen from among the following: A) X and Y, taken together, are an additional bond between C-9 and C-11; B) X is &bgr;-OH, and Y is H or an &agr;-halogen; C) X is &bgr;-OR7 where R7 is an acyl, and Y is H or an &agr;-halogen; and D) X and Y, taken together, are —O—.

Abstract: A decoration having cooperating first and second figures so that a variety of first figures can be combined with a variety of second figures for a customized pairing. Further customizing is enabled with the use of interchangeable heads. A base for the figures and adaptable decorative columns can be added.