Abstract: Roadways are deiced or ice formation on roadways is prevented by applying salt compositions derived from waste water streams from water softening operations.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for modulating the migratory activity of cells expressing CD38 for the treatment of disorders including, but not limited to, inflammation, ischemia, asthma, autoimmune disease, diabetes, arthritis, allergies, infection with pathogenic organisms, such as parasites, and transplant rejection. Such cells include, for example, neutrophils, lymphocytes, eosinophils, macrophages and dentritic cells. The invention further relates to drug screening assays designed to identify compounds that modulate the ADP-ribosyl cyclase activity of CD38 and the use of such compounds in the treatment of disorders involving CD38 modulated cell migration. Additionally, the invention relates to the isolation and characterization of a CD38 homologue from the parasitic flatworm, Schistosoma mansoni.

Abstract: The invention relates to a bent type zoom optical system that is reduced in terms of the whole size and thickness albeit including two reflecting surfaces in an optical path and having a high zoom ratio, and an apparatus incorporating the same. The zoom optical system comprises the positive first lens group G1 adapted to remain fixed upon zooming, the negative second lens group G1 adapted to move upon zooming, and the third lens group G3 adapted to remain fixed upon zooming. The positive first lens group G1 includes the first reflecting member P1, and the third lens group includes the stop S and the second reflecting member P2. The second reflecting member P2 is located in such a way as to bend the optical path in a direction orthogonal to a plane defined by an optical axis of the first lens group G1 on its entrance side and an optical axis bent by the first reflecting member P1, and condition (1) necessary for the proper location of an entrance pupil position is satisfied.

Abstract: System and method for constructing a 3D model of an object based on a series of silhouette and texture map images. In the exemplary embodiment an object is placed on a rotating turntable and a camera, which is stationary, captures images of the object as it rotates on the turntable. In one pass, the system captures a number of photographic images that will be processed into image silhouettes. In a second pass, the system gathers texture data. After a calibration procedure (used to determine the camera's focal length and the turntable's axis of rotation), a silhouette processing module determines a set of two-dimensional polygon shapes (silhouette contour polygons) that describe the contours of the object. The system uses the silhouette contour polygons to create a 3D polygonal mesh model of the object. The system determines the shape of the 3D model analytically by finding the areas of intersection between the edges of the model faces and the edges of the silhouette contour polygons.

Abstract: Provided are a method of making irbesartan via a Suzuki coupling reaction and a novel intermediate, 2-butyl-3-(4?-bromobenzyl)-1,3-diazaspiro[4.4]non-1-ene-4-one, for such process. The novel process includes the step of reacting such intermediate with a protected imidazolephenylboronic acid.

Abstract: A fuel injector, in particular for the direct injection of fuel into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, having a valve-closure member which cooperates with a valve-seat surface formed on a valve-seat body, to form a sealing seat, includes at least one spray-discharge orifice provided downstream from the sealing seat. The spray-discharge orifice has a guide region and an exit region arranged at its discharge-side end. The exit region widens in a stepped manner by at least one first step and/or at least in part continuously beginning with a transition from the guide region into the exit region. A fuel jet which emerges from the guide region at the transition and widens essentially uniformly at a jet angle, passes a discharge-side end of the exit region with a gap dimension of a gap after a distance s, the gap dimension being greater than zero and a first volume remaining in the exit region between the fuel jet and the inner walls of the exit region.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for generating a common key between a central station and a group of subscribers, e.g., at least three subscribers, exhibit the same standard of security as the DH method.

Abstract: A smart card may include integrated circuitry and I/O components composed of organic materials. Organic materials are advantageous because they remain intact under instances of physical stress. They permit the smart card to undergo flexion from time to time without damaging the processing components thereon. Further, use of organic materials leads to reduced costs during manufacture. For example, the organic materials may be provided directly upon substrates composed of ordinary plastic materials thereby reducing the costs of manufacture of these smart cards when compared with smart cards that are made of traditional silicon-based integrated circuits.

Abstract: A method for delivering a therapeutic implant to a tissue is provided. This method includes providing an elongate catheter having a distal end including a lumen, providing a carrier including a therapeutic agent, placing the carrier including the therapeutic agent into the lumen, advancing the distal end of the catheter to the tissue, and depositing the carrier including the therapeutic agent into the tissue.

Abstract: An apparatus and method provide for synchronized operation of encryption processes at two remote communication terminals. A first one of the terminals detects information associated with a current time during the establishment of a connection between the two terminals. The current time information is then utilized to create a start encryption time. That start encryption time information is transmitted from the first terminal to the second terminal. Both terminals then monitor the passage of time and begin encryption in a synchronous manner when the current time matches the start encryption time.

Abstract: A control unit, for controlling safety-critical applications, includes a microcomputer, a monitoring unit (check unit), and peripheral circuits (input/output), and in which, to improve the reliability of the error detection for such control units, and to expand the detection to additional error types, the monitoring unit includes a first apparatus, arrangement or structure for measuring the quiescent current of the microcomputer; at least one quiescent current handshake line for controlling the measurement of the quiescent current running between the first apparatus, arrangement or structure of the monitoring unit and the microcomputer; the monitoring unit including a second apparatus, arrangement or structure for applying a test data input signal to the microcomputer, for processing the test data input signal, and for comparing the corresponding test data output signal of the microcomputer to the corresponding test data output signal of the monitoring unit; and at least one test data signal transmission line

Abstract: An electrode for connecting an external electric wire to a body heated to a high temperature includes a high temperature side electrode made of a conductor connected to the heated body, and a low temperature side electrode connected at a first end thereof to the high temperature side electrode and at a second end thereof to the external electric wire. The low temperature side electrode is formed of a conductor covered by an insulating material with the conductor of the low temperature side electrode being made of a material having a conduction resistance smaller than that of the conductor of the high temperature side electrode. Thus, as the conductor of the low temperature side electrode has a smaller conduction resistance than the conductor of the high temperature side electrode, an increase in a resistance value is reduced even when the conductor of the low temperature side electrode is extended to lower the temperature at a connection to an external electric wire.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a controlling apparatus for throttle valve that detects a throttle open degree enabling more appropriate controls by removing ill effects of multiplexing an idle control in controlling data. The idle control amount is canceled by subtracting the idle target open degree from the detected throttle open degree. Further, in order to correct differences of the detected data due to a response delay of the throttle valve, the previous measured value is regarded as the detected throttle open degree when the response delay occurs.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of preparation of an improved extract from Ginkgo biloba leaves and to pharmaceuticals containing the extract.

Abstract: A method of freezing a standard donor unit of red blood cells such that it can be stored for long periods and subsequently recovered in a form pure enough for transfusion purposes involves centrifuging a blood unit to remove plasma and platelets and to provide a Packed Cell Volume of the red blood cells of not less than 90%, adding the red blood cells to a freezing bag, containing HES solution such that the ratio of HES/red blood cell freezing unit is not more than 7% (preferably 6%) w/v, positioning the freezing bag in a freezing frame adapted to maintain the thickness of the contents of the bag constant, and placing the frame without shaking, into liquid nitrogen.

Abstract: The invention describes prostaglandin E1 derivatives as pharmacologically active agents, and pharmaceutical compositions containing these compounds, especially for transcutaneous administration.

Abstract: A dynamic strain measurement circuit includes a constant resistance conditioner. The constant resistance conditioner compensates for changes in lead wire resistance due to temperature. The conditioner includes adjustable resistance connected between a voltage supply and the strain gage. A potential difference is detected in the circuit and compared to a reference potential. Differences between the reference potential and the detected potential produce an error signal which is used to drive the control of the resistance value of the adjustable resistance in the measurement circuit.

Abstract: Described is a method for pattern repeat presetting of a multi color screen printing machine wherein the screen printing stencils to be used are pre-set on the basis of independently determined stencil-data and printing position data by establishing a fixed predetermined relation between these data. Also described is a multi color screen printing device having means for setting the lengthwise, widthwise and diagonal pattern repeat with use of a computer and independently determined printing position and stencil data. The invention also relates to a device of determining stencil data.

Abstract: A network interconnection architecture for a plurality of nodes uses sets of grouped node connections which form a plurality of node groups. A central electrically passive interconnection hub is coupled via a signal transmission path to each node group to establish a full mesh coupling between each of the plurality of node groups. An input and output matrix switch along with a pair of 1.times.N multiplexers are also coupled to each of the plurality of node groups and the hub multiplexer via the signal transmission path. The architecture can be further extended to encompass other networks with electrically passive hubs using a sandwich coupling of a matrix switch between two wavelength multiplexers.

Abstract: In order to attain a cost-effective manufacturing, suitable for large-scale production, in the case of a rail wheel, and, at the same time, a high degree of structural strength, whereby the wheel disk, which rigidly joins the wheel hub (4) with the wheel tire in a fibrous composite type of construction, is made of two external fibrous composite surface layers and a characteristically light inner core, which transmits shearing force, arranged between them, the inner core is composed, according to the invention, of ring segment-shaped, foam plastic-filled fibrous composite hollow cases (22), each consisting of web portions (28), running radially between the wheel hub and the wheel tire, arranged perpendicularly to the surface layers, with an intersecting fibrous orientation, slanted at an angle to the longitudinal direction of the sections, as well as profile side walls (30), formed in one piece, on the longitudinal edges of the web portions, with a continuous fibrous structure, each evenly bonded with the inne