Abstract: A through hole (50) with an annular groove (52) provided about its periphery is formed in a resin case (10). The through hole (10) is covered with a water/oil-repellent film (40) comprising a porous film (44). The through hole (50) makes the resin case (10) gas-permeable, and the water/oil-replacement film (40) prevents entry of external water and oil, etc.

Abstract: In a syringe, in which a needle assembly is engaged by a plunger and withdrawn into a syringe barrel for safe disposal, the plunger slides in a resilient insert secured at the proximal end of the barrel. The insert engages an annular ridge near the distal end of the plunger when the plunger, with the needle assembly attached to it, is fully withdrawn, thereby securely locking the plunger to the barrel, and reliably preventing distal movement of the plunger after the needle assembly is withdrawn into the interior of the barrel. The part of the plunger that protrudes proximally from the barrel may then be snapped off.

Abstract: A recombinant adenoviral vector which has multiple adenovirus packaging domains is provided. This vector has advantages over conventional adenoviral vectors in packaging plasmid vectors into adenoviral capsids. Methods of making and using this vector are described.

Abstract: A tensioner, for a timing chain, belt or the like in an internal combustion engine, has a projection-preventing hook that secures a spring-urged plunger in a withdrawn condition prior to installation of the tensioner, but releases the plunger during operation so that the plunger can exert a force on a pivoted chain- or belt-engaging tensioner lever. A resisting member is provided on a fulcrum pin on which the hook is pivoted, in order to exert a frictional force on the hook, thereby preventing the hook from unexpectedly returning to its plunger latching condition and preventing vibration noise to movements of the hook. The tensioner can be mounted without regard to its direction, and therefore a threaded mounting can be used, simplifying mounting and demounting of the tensioner.

Abstract: The present invention provides metal deformation compositions and emulsions which contain a phosphonate ester. Lubricating esters, emulsifiers, dispersants, antioxidants, corrosion inhibitors, alkaline compounds, and solubilizing carriers, can be included in the compositions and emulsions. Methods for deforming metals are also provided.

Abstract: A surgical retractor liner and integral drape suitable for inserting in an incision and adjusting in place to prevent cross-contamination during surgery between the incised cavity and the surrounding skin of the patient. In one embodiment, a flexible elastic liner impervious to microorganisms has resilient inner and outer rings at opposite ends for holding the liner firmly in the incision. The outer ring is rolled down over itself drawing the liner taut and contiguous in the incision. In another embodiment, a skirt is sealingly joined at the outer ring and tapers outwardly and sealingly joins to a drape around a central aperture therein. The inner ring is inserted and expanded against the inner edge of the incision, and the outer ring is rolled down over the liner and skirt to draw the liner taut in the incision and to retract the sides of the incision while positively anchoring the drape in place around the area of the incision.

Abstract: A dimensionally-stable, injection-molded portion of a blow molded intermediate article is engaged by a conveyance mechanism of a trimmer to controllably drive the intermediate article within the trimmer to permit accurate and high speed severing of the injection molded portion and moil from a blown finish container body. An injection-molded, closed end preform is provided having a neck finish with an internal and/or external peripheral drive surface. The preform is utilized to form an intermediate article including a container body and moil. The injection-molded neck portion of the intermediate article remains substantially unchanged from its as-manufactured preform condition and provides a dimensionally stable surface for use in driving and rotating the intermediate article within the trimmer.

Abstract: In a hydraulic tensioner having a relief valve mechanism in which a spring-biased valve element is reciprocable in a bore, hitting sounds produced by collision of the relief valve element with a plug in the bore, and wear and breakage of the biasing spring, are prevented by providing an oil relief hole in a peripheral wall of the relief valve bore at a position where it is closed by the relief valve element when he relief valve element is moved by a rapid increase in oil pressure.

Abstract: In a chain tensioner having a plunger biased to protrude from a housing by a spring, a pair of wedge-shaped cams are received in tapered recesses in the end of the housing, cooperate with racks formed on opposite sides of the plunger, and are urged against oblique seats formed by the tapered recesses by a biasing spring. The cams and racks produce a ratcheting action maintaining chain tension by preventing retracting movement of the plunger. The cams and racks disperse the load imparted to the plunger by the chain, and reduce localized wear, allowing the housing to be made from a light weight material such as aluminum. Accuracy requirements associated with conventional pawl-type ratcheting tensioners are avoided.

Abstract: A purification process for large-scale production of Gc-globulin is described. The source of Gc-globulin is preferably a crude plasma fraction but can be any solution, suspension or supernatant containing Gc-globulin, e.g. a milk product, colostrum or a fermentation broth. The Gc-globulin can be plasma-derived or produced by a genetic modified organism. The process includes two key elements: purification by series of ion exchange chromatography steps, and performing at least two virus-reduction steps. A diagnostic method to measure the free Gc-globulin in a patient blood sample, a use of Gc-globulin in medicine and the preparation of a Gc-globulin medicinal product is also provided. The product can be used in therapy for patients with circulatory disorders and complications, i.e. where it is contemplated that patients would benefit from the administration of Gc-globulin.

Abstract: A method of making a fiberoptic dental light probe having a bent distal end with a tapered tip. The method includes the step of heating just the mid-section of a vertically-disposed, solid, cylindrical fused fiberoptic rod and permitting the mid-section to stretch and thin under its own weight by the force of gravity. Local heating of the mid-section is accomplished with a high-temperature small flame, such as the flame emitted by a gas-fired blow torch. The heat is removed when the rod stretches to a predetermined length, and then after the mid-section cools, the mid-section is cut to produce a pair of identical tapered tip probes. Thereafter, the distal ends of the probes can be bent to a desired angle and the ends of the probes can be cut to size, ground, and polished. A unique probe configuration is also provided.

Abstract: In a double-sided meshing type silent chain, guide plates each having a flat back face formed on one side thereof and a pair of pin-accommodation holes formed therein are disposed at opposite widthwise ends of the chain with the pin-accommodation holes press-fit with connecting pins which are each adapted to articulately connect two adjacent rows of link plates with each other in an interleaved fashion. The guide plates do not take part in meshing engagement with a sprocket but operate to guide the travel of the chain stably without causing flattering or vibration. The guide plates further serves as a strengthening member of the chain.

Abstract: A ground fault circuit interrupter for use on a circuit having an AC power source electrically connected to a load circuit via hot and neutral lines. The ground fault circuit interrupter having at least a pair of switching components forming part of the circuit for opening the circuit upon occurrence of a ground fault. The switching components are electronic semiconductors, preferably MOSFETs, which permit substantially instantaneous switching. In addition, preferably the ground fault circuit interrupter includes a pair of redundant switching channels so that failure of any one component does not prevent the ground fault circuit interrupter from properly opening the circuit upon detection of a ground fault.

Abstract: A process is provided for preparing chirally pure S-enantiomers of &agr;-amino acids comprising the steps of: a) preparing an organometallic reagent from an alkyl halide of the formula (R)2CH(CH2)nCH2X; b) adding the organometallic reagent to carbon dioxide to afford a carboxylic acid; c) activating the carboxylic acid with an acid chloride, phosphorus trichloride, acid anhydride, or thionyl chloride in the presence of a tertiary amine base; d) reacting the product of step c) with an alkali metal salt of S-4-benzyl-2-oxazolidinone; e) treating the product of step d) with a strong non-nucleophilic base to form an enolate anion; f) trapping the enolate anion with 2,4,6-triisopropylbenzenesulfonyl azide to afford an oxazolidinone azide; g) hydrolyzing the oxazolidinone azide with an aqueous base to afford an &agr;-azido acid; h) reducing the &agr;-azido acid to the &agr;-amino acid; and i) recrystallizing the &agr;-amino acid to the chirally pure &agr;-amino acid.

Abstract: In a transmission comprising an endless silent chain and a sprocket the inside tooth faces of the link plates of the chain are identical to tooth profiles, arranged axially, of a hob cutter for forming teeth of the sprocket. The inside and outside tooth faces also satisfy Hi=Ho+Hs, where Hi is the distance from a pin center line Lp to a pitch line Li of the inside tooth faces, Ho is a distance from the pin center line to a pitch line Lo of the outside tooth faces, and Hs is the amplitude of polygonal motion of the chain. Each link plate also has a concave bottom surface between its teeth to avoid interference with edges of the involute teeth arising due to the chain polygonal motion amplitude when the outside tooth faces are brought into meshing engagement with the involute teeth and become seated thereon.

Abstract: A lightweight hot-fill blow-molded plastic container (10, 110) having a sidewall (16) with a rigid grip portion (24, 124) and a flexible vacuum absorption portion (26, 126).

Abstract: A guide for a transmission chain, belt or the like includes a synthetic resin shoe having a sliding surface, a synthetic resin plate portion integrally molded on the back side of the shoe, and a plate which reinforces the guide body fitting into a longitudinal slot in the plate portion. The reinforcing plate is provided with punched windows, open in the direction of the plate thickness, and a through hole, aligned with a guide body mounting hole provided on an end portion of the guide. The total weight of the guide is reduced, and, even if the thermal expansion coefficients of the guide body and reinforcing plate differ, deformation of the guide and breakage of the guide can be prevented.

Abstract: Surface cleaning, chemical treatment and drying of semiconductor substrates is carried out using foam as a medium instead of a condensed phase liquid medium. In cleaning and chemical treatment, by introducing a foam into an overflow vessel the foam is caused to pass over the substrate in moving contact therewith. Drying of the substrate is carried out, using a water solution of carbon dioxide in a pressurizable vessel. By releasing the pressure in the vessel, a layer of foam is established on the surface of the solution. The solution is discharged from the vessel, causing the foam layer to pass over the substrate in moving contact therewith. The carbon dioxide reduces the surface tension of the water, thereby enabling the foam layer to be produced and also assisting in the elimination of water from the surface of the substrate. In both cases, the use of foam reduces materials requirements and also reduces the quantity of particles deposited onto the substrate in the treatment process.

Abstract: This invention relates to cyclic combination therapies and regimens utilizing indoline compounds which are antagonists of the progesterone receptor and having the general structure: A is O, S, or NR4; B is a bond or CR5R6; R4, to R6 are H, C1 to C6 alkyl, C2 to C6 alkenyl, C2 to C6 alkynyl, C3 to C8 cycloalkyl, aryl, or heterocyclic, or R4 and R5 are fused to form a ring; R1 is H, OH, NH2, C1 to C6 alkyl, C3 to C6 alkenyl, alkynyl, or CORA; RA is as defined; R2 is H, halogen, CN, NO2, C1 to C6 alkyl, C1 to C6 alkoxy, or C1 to C6 aminoalkyl; R3 is a substituted benzene ring, or heteroaromatic ring, in combination with a progestational agent and/or an estrogen to treat or prevent secondary amenorrhea, dysfunctional bleeding, uterine leiomyomata, endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome, carcinomas and adenocarcinomas, and contraception, among others.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a diffusion bonding target assembly of a high purity cobalt target and a copper alloy backing plate diffusion bonded with an aluminum or aluminum alloy having a thickness of 0.5 mm or more as the insert material. Provided is a diffusion bonding target assembly of a high-purity cobalt target and a copper alloy backing plate capable of effectively sputtering a high purity cobalt ferromagnetic target and which does not generate warping or peeling upon diffusion bonding even under severe conditions such as bonding with the backing plate and high power sputtering, and the manufacturing method thereof.