Abstract: A top-fill hummingbird feeder has a liquid container with a a lower bottom opening which can be screw-threaded into a central collar of a feeding basin. An insert is received within the central collar and is configured to be vertically movable between a first position in which fluid is allowed to flow from the liquid container to the basin, and a second position in which fluid flow from the container to the basin is prevented. Movement of the insert between the two positions is effected by pushing the liquid container toward the basin (the closed position) and by pulling the liquid container away from the basin (the open position). Each movement of the insert has an associated “snap” or gives positive physical feedback which the user can feel that assures the user that the desired fluid flow or fluid sealed position has been achieved.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a device for binding a target entity onto a bait entity that is immobilized on said device, comprising: a) a lipid layer having a negative net charge in an aqueous solution at a neutral pH; b) a two-dimensional matrix of anchoring complexes that are bound to said lipid layer, wherein each of said anchoring complexes comprises: (i) a fusion complex comprising an Annexin protein fused to a partner molecule; and (ii) a bait entity. It also concerns various uses of said device, including for detection and pharmaceutical purposes.

Abstract: There are disclosed a surface mount crystal oscillator which can enhance a product quality and improve productivity while realizing miniaturization and a manufacturing method of the crystal oscillator. On wall faces of through holes formed in corner portions of a rectangular ceramic base, through terminals are formed; on the front surface of the ceramic base, leading terminals of crystal holding terminals which hold a crystal piece are connected to the diagonal through terminals; and on the back surface of the ceramic base, mount terminals connected to the through terminals are formed in the surface mount crystal oscillator.

Abstract: This invention discloses a method of manufacturing clarithromycin, where an erythromycin A 9-oxime thiocyanate salt is used directly to perform an etherification reaction, and then successively silanizattion, methylattion and hydrolysis reactions are sequentially conducted. It is a new process with simple process with a high yield, low cost, less pollution, high quality and is suitable for commercial manufacturing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a safety insert or transducer protector 10, suitable for an extra-corporeal circuit 8. The transducer protector 10 comprises a first shell 11 comprising a first hydrophobic semi-permeable membrane 13 and a first tubular connector 15 adapted to be connected to a branch pipe 17 from the extra-corporeal circuit 8; a second shell 12, at least partially translucent, comprising a second hydrophobic semi-permeable membrane 14 and a second tubular connector 16 adapted to be connected to a transducer 18. The transversal area of said second shell 12 is larger than the transversal area of said first shell 11.

Abstract: An imaging lens for adjusting a position of an adjusting lens to be carried out easily and which has an improved impact resistance. The imaging lens includes a lens frame for supporting a lens serving as an adjusting lens and a support frame for supporting the lens frame. A contact section for support frame adjustment operable to come into contact with the lens frame is arranged in the support frame. A contact section for lens frame adjustment operable to come into contact with the support frame is arranged in the lens frame. The lens frame is configured such that the fastening force generated between the lens frame and the support frame can be applied vertical with respect to the contact section for support frame adjustment in a state of the contact section for lens frame adjustment held in contact with the contact section for support frame adjustment.

Abstract: A database management system (1) comprises up to fifty or more workstations (2), each for a user. The environment may, for example, be a hospital and the system manages medical records in a secure manner. Each user has a private key issued by a KGC (5). A database controller (3) updates a secure database (3) with data and associated signatures generated by the user workstations (2). Thus every record of the secure database (3) has a signature to provide full traceability and non-repudiation of data edits/updates. It is important for the system (1) that the signatures are verified on a regular basis, say every hour. Such a task would be extremely processor-intensive if the database (3) is large. However this is performed by a verification processor (4) of the system (1) in a much shorter time than heretofore, t1+n(&Dgr;), where t1 is the time for one verification, n is the number of signatures, and &Dgr; is a time value which is a very small proportion of t1 (less than 1%).

Abstract: A mobile station apparatus is provided which is capable of obtaining a diversity effect and preventing an increase in noise even if an antenna phase difference containing an error is detected. The mobile station apparatus includes a closed-loop transmit diversity control section for exerting, when the quality of the component from the second antenna is lower than a predetermined quality value based on the quality measured by the common pilot channel quality measurement section, control to cause the feedback information generation section not to use the detection result at the antenna phase difference detection section, and to continue to use the immediately preceding feedback information, control to cause the antenna verification section not to operate, and control to cause the first channel inference section to operate and the second channel inference section not to operate.

Abstract: A method of tracking an object (1) tagged with a radio frequency identification tag (2) having an identification code using a network of readers (3) is described. A reader (3) interrogates the tag (2) by transmitting its identification code. In response to receiving its identification code, the tag identifies itself to the reader. Otherwise, it does not identify itself. The method comprises identifying an expected location of the object and directing one or more selected readers according to the expected location to interrogate the tag using its identification code.

Abstract: A braking device for vehicles comprises a body (12), a lever (13) hinged to said body that can be operated by a user of the vehicle, a hydraulic cylinder (17) having a cylinder-shaped chamber integral with the body (12) for connecting to a hydraulic braking circuit of the vehicle, the cylinder (17) comprising a piston (25) sliding in the chamber (24) and moving as a result of the action of said lever (13) to control vehicle braking. The lever (13) acts on the piston to cause the braking action by means of a cam mechanism (20, 21).

Abstract: A centrifugal pump with an existing pump housing made of plastic material that can be processed through injection molding, the pump housing having a first housing section featuring a suction nozzle and a pressure nozzle, a second housing section supporting an electronically commutated DC motor and a split case, a motor housing section that closes a dry chamber separated from a wet chamber by the split case in which a stator and electronic components are arranged, and a permanent magnet rotor that is mounted in the wet chamber in such a way that it can rotate, thereby driving a pump impeller that reaches into the pump chamber. The electronic components are arranged on an electronic circuit board parallel to a base of the split case. The electronic circuit board is in heat conducting contact with the base.

Abstract: A separator tank comprises an essentially cylindrical vertical tank (1) having an upper part (6) and a lower part (7), a tangentially arranged inlet (2) for fluid in the upper part of the tank, at least one first outlet (4) in the upper part of the tank, at least one second outlet (3) in the lower part of the tank, and means (12) for calming a stream around the second outlet. An inner annular wall (5) has a first opening (8) at an upper end of said inner annular wall to allow communication between the upper part and the lower part of the tank. The separator tank comprises a rod-shaped vortex eye breaker (11) extending vertically at the center of the tank in order to improve the capacity of the tank.

Abstract: A drive controller for hybrid vehicles, the hybrid vehicle comprising: an engine; a motor which is able to assist the driving force from the engine; an automatic clutch mechanism which is able to engage/disengage the transmission of the driving force between the engine and the motor; an automatic transmission disposed downstream of the motor; a filter for collecting particulates in exhaust gas; and a controller for controlling operations of these devices, wherein the controller operates in such a way that, for regenerating the filter, the idling speed while the vehicle is halted is set higher, and the predetermined rotational speed for initiating the clutch engagement is set higher than the rotational speed at the time of non-regeneration of the filter in light of increase in the engine rotational speed for the fast-idle control.

Abstract: A liquid or semi-solid formulation of botulinum toxin for the preparation of a medicament intended to treat a disorder characterized by bladder spasms (e.g. urinary incontinence due to unstable bladder or unstable detrusor sphincter, voiding complications due to detrusor overactivity or unstable detrusor sphincter, urinary retention secondary to spastic sphincter or hypertrophied bladder neck and neurogenic bladder dysfunction secondary to Parkinson's disease, spinal cord injury, stroke or multiple sclerosis or characterized by a spasm reflex), wherein said medicament is for administration by infusion into the bladder or by other methods that do not involve injection into the bladder wall.

Abstract: Notches 23e are filled with part of an elastic material that is injection-molded in a region containing the notches 23e, so that a plate member 23b is taken in by the notches 23e through the repulsive force of the elastic material. Thus, the plate member 23b is secured. Further, the elastic material filling the notches 23e enlarges the joined portion between the plate member 23b and the gasket 24b. Accordingly, the gasket 24b is firmly joined to the surface of the plate member 23b, and can be prevented from being lifted up from the plate member 23b. Thus, the plate member 23b is firmly secured to the separator main body 25.

Abstract: A high-precision distance measuring with a reduced error in a distance measuring system which calculates a distance from an arrival time of each pulse signal constituting a pulse sequence is provided. For an oscillator which generates pulse signals by counting the number of pulse signals constituting a received pulse sequence, a relative time difference between a transmitting device and a return device is acquired, a distance from the transmitting device to the return device is calculated, and the calculated distance is corrected based on the calculated relative time difference.

Abstract: Microscope with heightened resolution and linear scanning wherein the sample is illuminated with a first and a second illuminating light, whereby the first illuminating light excites the sample, and the second illuminating light is generated through the refraction of coherent light at a periodic structure and displays a periodic structure in a lateral beam direction and in axial beam direction.