Abstract: A confectionery container (11) is constructed from one or more pieces of foldable material (10, FIG. 1). A first end is closed by a wall (32) incorporating at least part of a dispensing chute (35) movable between an open position for the dispensing of items and a closed position for the containment of items within the container. The first end wall (32) comprises two or more end closure flaps (28, 29) arranged such that they can be assembled into the first end wall after the items have been introduced into a partially formed container through the first end (32). The chute (35) may have a base (36) and a pair of side walls (12a, 14a), at least one of the side walls (12a, 14a) having a leading edge (39) which contacts a side wall (55) of the container to limit opening movement of the chute. The container (11) is preferably formed from a unitary blank (10, FIG. 1) and the container side walls may have inner panels (12, 13, 14, and 15) and outer panels (16, 17, 18, and 19).

Abstract: Process for removing hydrogen cyanide from ethanedinitrile by contacting hydrogen cyanide-containing ethanedinitrile with an organic reagent under formation of a covalent bond.

Abstract: Method for the manufacture of 5-alkoxymethylfurfural derivatives by reacting a fructose and/or glucose-containing starting material with an alcohol in the presence of a catalytic or sub-stoechiometric amount of heterogeneous acid catalyst. The catalysts may be employed in a continuous flow fixed bed or catalytic distillation reactor. The ethers can be applied as a fuel or fuel additive.

Abstract: Peptides of human heat shock protein of 60 kDa, that constitute epitopes for T cells, as well as their derived peptides, which are modified at the contact sites with the MHC molecule, are useful to induce mechanisms of peripheral tolerance, in particular mechanisms of anergy or mediated by clones of regulatory T cells in patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis. The invention also refers pharmaceutical compositions comprising such peptides for the treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Abstract: A medical injector is provided herein which includes first and second body portions rotatably coupled together; a displaceable plunger disposed in at least one of the first and second body portions; a spring disposed to advance the plunger; and, a releasable retainer for retaining the plunger in a first portion against force of the spring. The releasable retainer releases the plunger upon a predetermined extent of relative rotation between the first and second body portions, thus allowing the spring to advance the plunger. Advantageously, the subject invention provides a medical injector having an automated plunger drive which is triggered upon rotation of injector body portions, thereby minimizing premature or failed activations.

Abstract: The method for modeling a dosing regimen for a medicament includes providing a system having at least two biocompartments. The method determines steady state levels in each of the biocompartments. After that, the method provides for modifying values to calculate an amount of at least one protein in one of the biocompartments to which the protein is being transported. Next, the method calculates and integrates a weighted value of the protein to find a weighted area under the curve. Then, the method calculates and integrates a non-drug value of the protein to find a non-drug area under the curve. Finally, the method evaluates one or more dosing regimens by comparing the weighted area under the curve and the non-drug area under the curve of the protein to determine a net effect of the drug over the time period.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for distracting opposite surfaces from the interior of a bone, such as a vertebral body. A working channel cannula provides a working channel through which an inserter and an injection cannula can simultaneously pass. The inserter transports a plurality of wafers into the interior of the bone to form a load-bearing stack bearing against the opposite surfaces. The injection cannula is used to inject a fluent material into and/or around the stack. In certain embodiments, the fluent material is a load-bearing or hardenable material, such as bone cement. In other embodiments, the fluent material can be a BMP, HAP, or other osteo-inductive, osteo-conductive, or pharmaceutical compositions. A syringe containing the fluent material is engaged to the injection cannula and is operable to inject the fluent material into the vertebral body under controlled pressure.

Abstract: Described is a security element for increasing the forgery-proof nature of a security document, in particular an identity card or pass, a passport or an identification card. The security element (1) has a first diffractive region (15) having an open code which is visible with a naked eye. The first diffractive region further has a concealed code which is not visible with the naked eye and which can be reconstructed from the arrangement of diffractive microregions disposed in the first region (1) and/or from the structure of the first diffractive region (1). Further described is a method of increasing the forgery-proof nature of a security document.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing transcoding between bitstreams coded by hybrid video codecs which uses fewer resources than decoding/decompressing the original bitstream and recoding/recompressing it to the second format. According to a specific embodiment, the present method can exploits the similarity of the standard video compression algorithms to, where possible, convert encoded parameters in the incoming bitstreams directly into encoded parameters which constitute compliant data for the outgoing bitstream.

Abstract: According to aspects illustrated herein, there is provided a user interface system for preparing an output document of a digital printing device having a user interface, a set of output options for the output document. The user interface enables selection of at least one output option from the set of output options. The system further provides a display device operatively connected to the user interface and configured to display at least one user interface mimic for the output document, with the at least one user interface mimic providing a graphical representation of the output document based on selection of the output options. After displaying the at least one user interface mimic, the user interface allows users to modify the output options prior to printing the output document. Then, the system updates the display of the at least one user interface mimic, based on modifications to the output options, prior to printing the output document.

Abstract: There is provided an improved solution for a user interface of a cycling computer user interface unit and an improved solution for mounting a cycling computer to a bicycle. The user interface solution comprises a swing switch rotating about a shaft and the mounting solution comprises a cross element enabling mounting in 90 degree resolution.

Abstract: A method and system for monitoring data packet traffic in a multicast network comprising determining a first packet count received at a receiver router, representing a quantity of data packets associated with a multicast group and source at a first time, determining a second packet count received at that receiver router representing a quantity of data packets associated with that multicast group and source, at a second time subsequent to the first time, comparing the second packet count to the first packet count, and indicating an alarm in response to the second packet count being less than a predetermined value greater than the first packet count. A status for multiple routers can be obtained, comprising a difference between the quantity of the first and second packet counts; and indicating a warning in response to at least one of the plurality of router status being less than the predetermined value.

Abstract: An assembly includes two nip assemblies spaced apart along a first axis. Each nip assembly includes a driven wheel and an idler roller. The driven wheel rotatably supported about the first axis. The idler cooperates with the driven wheel to engage a sheet. The idler rotatably supported about a second axis. The second axis being selectively moveable relative to the first axis. The selective movement between a first and second orientation occurs while the sheet is moved along the transport path. In the first orientation the second axis extends parallel to the first axis. In the second orientation the second axis extends at an oblique angle to the first axis. The selective movement pivots about a third axis extending through a centerline common to both the driven wheel and the idler. The selective movement of one of the two nip assemblies being independent from the selective movement of the other.

Abstract: In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, an automated method of and system for generating a response to a text-based natural language message is disclosed. The method includes identifying a first selected input clause in a sentence in the text-based natural language message. Also, assigning a semantic tag to the first selected input clause and matching the semantic tag to a historical input tag. The historical input tag associated with a first previously generated response clause. Further; generating an output response message based on the historical response clause, the output response message derived from the historical input tag and a second previously generated response clause. The system includes means for performing the method steps.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, there is provided a method of analyzing various surface chemistries for culturing a particular cell line, which includes the steps of: (1) providing a plasma polymerized surface having first and second regions, the first region including a first concentration of carboxylic acid groups in the plasma polymerized surface and the second region including a second concentration of carboxylic acid groups in the plasma polymerized surface, wherein the first and second concentrations are different; (2) culturing cells from the cell line on the plasma polymerized surface in each the region; (3) observing activity of the cultured cells in each the region; and (4) analyzing the activity of the cultured cells in each region.

Abstract: In one aspect, there is provided a cell culturing substrate including: a cell culture surface having a film attached thereto, wherein the film includes one or more plasma polymerized monomers; and a coating on the film-coated surface, the coating deposited from a coating solution comprising one or more extracellular matrix proteins and an aqueous solvent, where the total extracellular matrix protein concentration in the coating solution is about 1 ng/mL to about 1 mg/mL.

Abstract: This invention relates to pesticide and antiparasitic compositions for the control of pests, diseases and parasites attacking plants and animals. The compositions include, at least one chitinolytic agent or a chitinolytic activity-inducing agent, and sulfide or a sulfide-producing agent from microorganisms or chemical compounds, wherein the chitinolytic agent or the chitinolytic activity-inducing agent and sulfur or a sulfur-producing agent obtaining from microorganisms or chemical compounds are concurrently applied at a range significantly lower than any of the above-mentioned compounds, when they are individually to attain effective control.