Abstract: A hydraulic tensioner comprises a plunger, and a plunger-accommodating hole in a tensioner housing, together forming a high pressure oil chamber. A plunger-biasing spring is provided in the high pressure oil chamber between the plunger and the bottom of the plunger-accommodating hole. An oil storage chamber is formed inside the plunger, and a check valve unit is press-fit in the rear end of the plunger to allow flow from the oil storage chamber to the high pressure oil chamber while blocking reverse flow of oil.

Abstract: In an oil-free roller chain, the inner faces of the outer link plates have recesses that receive the ends of bushings, and the inner faces of the inner link plates have recesses that receive the ends of rollers surrounding the bushings. Each such recess is formed by punching, so that the outer surface of each plate has a bulged portion opposite each recess. The diameters of the bulged portions are greater than the diameters of the corresponding recesses. The bushing can have an oil passage located midway between its ends and serving as an oil reservoir supplying oil to the gap between the bushing and the roller and between the bushing and a connecting pin.

Abstract: The invention relates to the microbiological and medical industry, genetic engineering, biotechnology. A Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast strain was obtained on the basis of constructing a recombinant plasmid DNA comprising a structural gene of a human alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) under the control of a regulatory promoter, providing the synthesis and production of AFP in a secreted soluble form, this AFP having activity identical or similar to the activity of a human AFP. The obtained recombinant AFP may be used as an active substance for the preparation of therapeutic agents for use in oncology, immunotherapy, cosmetology and also for the diagnosis of cancer and embryonic pathologies.

Abstract: Provided is a surface processing method of a sputtering target, wherein a target surface in which intermetallic compounds, oxides, carbides, carbonitrides and other substances without ductility exist in a highly ductile matrix phase at a volume ratio of 1 to 50% is preliminarily subject to the primary processing of cutting work, then subsequently subject to finish processing via polishing. The sputtering target subject to this surface processing method is able to improve the target surface having numerous substances without ductility, and prevent or suppress the generation of nodules and particles upon sputtering.

Abstract: A condensate trap for a condensing boiler has a generally hollow body for receiving condensate from a heat exchanger of the condensing boiler and for providing a path of flow for condensate out of the side of the boiler. The body of the condensate trap includes a condensate receiving end having an inlet, a condensate discharging end having an outlet, and an intermediate reversely-turned trap portion interconnecting the condensate receiving and discharging ends. The hollow body can be one-piece and molded of plastic. A level sensor can be mounted on or within the condensate receiving end of the body. In a preferred embodiment, the condensate receiving end includes a chamber with an opening, and the level sensor extends within the chamber and seals the opening. The condensate trap can also include an air vent located above the level sensor in communication with an air pressure sensor.

Abstract: Sequences of novel adeno-associated virus capsids and vectors and host cells containing these sequences are provided. Also described are methods of using such host cells and vectors in production of rAAV particles. AAV-mediated delivery of therapeutic and immunogenic genes using the vectors of the invention is also provided.

Abstract: A child-resistant and senior-friendly package comprising one or more blister cards housed within a hollow molded plastic sleeve is provided. The sleeve is assembled from a pair of identical molded plastic body sections. Each body section has a latch and an unlocking tab and the blister card has a latch-catcher for cooperating with the latch to automatically lock the blister card in a storage position within the sleeve. The sleeve has a pair of opposite spaced-apart tabs in the side edges thereof that must be simultaneously pressed to unlatch the latches from the latch-catchers to permit the blister card to be slid from the storage position to a dispensing position. When pressed, the tabs flex the blister card off adjacent latches. An embodiment including a pair of separate blister cards is provided in which the blister cards are dispensed through opposite dispensing ends of the sleeve.

Abstract: A neck rehabilitation device for exercising the muscles of a person's neck and upper back is provided. The device has a rear neck-engaging assembly that can be positioned at least partially about the person's neck for engaging a rear side of the person's neck. The rear neck-engaging assembly includes an elastic strap for extending and being stretched about the rear side of the person's neck to exert a forward-directed force on the person's neck. The assembly also includes a resilient compressible member providing resistance to compression for use in exercising the muscles of the person's neck and upper back while the elastic strap is stretched about the person's neck. A method of cervical curve restoration of a person's neck is also provided. The method includes stretching a reversed cervical curve forward and simultaneously exercising the muscles of the person's neck and upper back.

Abstract: Desalination is carried out by a hybrid ion exchange-nanofiltration process in which ion exchange is followed by pressure-driven nanofiltration. Monovalent ions of sodium and chloride of saline water are exchanged for equivalent concentrations of poly-valent ions (for example, sodium ions for magnesium ions or chloride ions for sulfate ions) when passed through ion exchangers in the form of those poly-valent ions. The resultant solution has a lower osmotic pressure than the initial solution containing monovalent sodium and chloride ions, and requires less transmembrane pressure for membrane desalination compared to traditional reverse osmosis. The concentrated reject stream from the membrane process is used as regenerant for the exhausted ion exchanger, which has been converted to monovalent anionic or cationic form.

Abstract: In a silent chain transmission, a silent chain composed of uniform link plates meshes with a sprocket having two or three kinds of teeth randomly distributed around its circumference. The teeth have a common tooth gap bottom diameter, and a uniform angular spacing, but have different heights and different tooth forms.

Abstract: A child-resistant and senior-friendly carded package for storing and dispensing tablets and like items is provided. The carded package assembly has a integral pair of opposed flaps. One flap carries the tablets or like items, and the other provides a booklet-style cover foldable between a position covering the tablets or like items and a position exposing the tablets or like items. The carded package is made from a first card bonded to a separate second card with a blister card captured therebetween. The first card has a flap including at least three panels folded together with each of the at least three panels including cut out openings or perforations defining punch outs. The second card has a flap having cut out openings. The blister card is sandwiched between the at least three panel flap of the first card and the flap of the second card having openings. A method of assembling the package is also provided.

Abstract: A leash assembly for an animal leash that can be wound up and unwound is provided. The leash assembly features a housing (11) and a roll (12) that is rotatably supported in the housing, and the leash (13) can be unwound from this roll against the force of a spring and wound up on the roll with the aid of this spring force. The roll cooperates with a gear mechanism that drives a plate cam. The plate cam releases a pawl that can be engaged with the roll and stops the rotation of the roll in the unwinding direction once a predetermined length of the leash is unwound.

Abstract: A sputtering target is provided that has a relative density of 80% or more and contains a compound having as its principal component zinc oxide satisfying AXBYO(KaX+KbY)/2(ZnO)m, 1<m, X?m, 0<Y?0.9, X+Y=2, where A and B are respectively different positive elements of trivalence or more, and the valencies thereof are respectively Ka and Kb. A ZnO based sputtering target is obtained which does not contain ZnS and SiO2, and, upon forming a film via sputtering, is capable of reducing the affect of heating the substrate, of performing high speed deposition, of adjusting the film thickness to be thin, of reducing the generation of particles (dust) and nodules during sputtering, of improving the productivity with small variation in quality, and which has fine crystal grains and a high density of 80% or more, particularly 90% or more.

Abstract: A nickel crucible used for melting an analytical sample in the pretreatment of the analytical sample, characterized in that the purity of the nickel crucible is 99.9999 wt % or higher. Also provided is a method of analysis, comprising melting a sample by the use of the nickel crucible for melting having a purity of 99.9999 wt % or higher, and analyzing the melt to thereby obtain an analytical result in which the respective lower limits of determination of Mn, Al, Si, Mg, Pb, Fe, Co, Ti, Cu, Cr, Zr, Mo, and W are Mn: 5 wtppm, Al: 10 wtppm, Si: 10 wtppm, Mg: 5 wtppm, Pb: 5 wtppm, Fe: 5 wtppm, Co: 5 wtppm, Ti: 20 wtppm, Cu: 20 wtppm, Cr: 10 wtppm, Zr: 5 wtppm, Mo: 2 wtppm, and W: 10 wtppm. In light of the recent analytical technology demanded of fast and accurate measurement of high purity materials, high purity analysis is attained through inhibition of mixing of impurities from the crucible.

Abstract: A sputtering target is provided that has a relative density of 80% or more and contains a compound having as its principal component zinc oxide satisfying AXBYO(KaX+KbY)/2(ZnO)m, 1<m, X?m, 0<Y?0.9, X+Y=2, where A and B are respectively different positive elements of trivalence or more, and the valencies thereof are respectively Ka and Kb. A ZnO based sputtering target is obtained which does not contain ZnS and SiO2, and, upon forming a film via sputtering, is capable of reducing the affect of heating the substrate, of performing high speed deposition, of adjusting the film thickness to be thin, of reducing the generation of particles (dust) and nodules during sputtering, of improving the productivity with small variation in quality, and which has fine crystal grains and a high density of 80% or more, particularly 90% or more.

Abstract: A tantalum sputtering target, wherein when the sum of the overall crystalline orientation is 1 on a tantalum target surface, the area ratio of crystals having any orientation among (100), (111), (110) does not exceed 0.5. Thus, obtained is a tantalum sputtering target having superior deposition properties where the deposition speed is high, film evenness (uniformity) is superior, and generation of arcings or particles is reduced.

Abstract: Provided is an adsorbent having excellent adsorption performance in a medium-humidity range by employing an amorphous aluminum silicate formed from protoimogolite. The amorphous aluminum silicate formed from protoimogolite is synthesized by setting the Si/Al ratio in solution mixing to be of a condition that is higher than synthesizing imogolite or amorphous imogolite, and performing desalting treatment and heating thereto. The obtained amorphous aluminum silicate formed from protoimogolite yields a superior water vapor adsorption performance of 30 wt % or higher at a relative humidity of 60%, and can be used as an adsorbent for desiccant air conditioning.

Abstract: A skateboard-like personal vehicle comprises a platform, a pair of steerable front wheels controlled by an upright steering lever movable left or right about a longitudinal pivot axis by one hand of the rider, a pair of rear wheels, one of which is driven by a reciprocable foot pedal, and an upright post which can be gripped by the rider's other hand.

Abstract: High purity copper sulfate having a purity of 99.99% or higher and in which the content of transition metals such as Fe, Cr, Ni is 3 wtppm or less; and a method for producing such high purity copper sulfate which includes the steps of dissolving copper sulfate crystals in purified water, performing evaporative concentration thereto, removing the crystals precipitated initially, performing further evaporative concentration to effect crystallization, and subjecting this to filtration to obtain high purity copper sulfate. This manufacturing method of high purity copper sulfate allows the efficient removal of impurities from commercially available copper sulfate crystals at a low cost through dissolution with purified water and thermal concentration.