Abstract: It comprises a housing (3) configured for attachment to a panel (4) for a vehicle door, a toothed component (2) which is jointed to the housing (3) and comprises a toothed portion (2?), a toothed gear (5) which meshes with the toothed portion (2?) of the toothed component (2), at least one arm (1), which comprises a first end for supporting the window and a second end attached to the toothed component (2), the gear, the toothed component and the arm being connected so that, as the gear turns, it moves the first end of the arm and a retaining element (7) configured and installed so that it may move between an operational position, in which it locks the toothed component (2), and a non-operational position, in which it does not lock the toothed component (2).

Abstract: The present invention relates to Compounds of general formula (I), wherein R is hydrogen and R1 is hydroxy or acyloxy, or R is acyl and R1 is hydroxy or acyloxy, X is sulphur, oxygen or NR10, wherein R10 is hydrogen or (C1-4)alkyl; Y is sulphur or oxygen; R2 is hydrogen or one or more substituents, e.g. including substituents such as conventional in organic, e.g. (pleuro)mutilin, chemistry; R4 is hydrogen or (C1-4)alkyl; R5 is hydrogen or (C1-4)alkyl; R3 and R3? are hydrogen, deuterium, or halogen; R6, R7 and R8 are hydrogen, halogen or deuterium; m is a number selected from 0 to 4, n is a number selected from 0 to 10, and p is a number selected from 0 to 10; with the proviso that n plus p are at least 1. These Compounds are usefül as pharmaceuticals, particularly as antimicrobials.

Abstract: The preferred embodiment of the invention contemplates a device configured to prepare and deploy a resilient sleeve on to a portion of body tissue. The device expands the resilient sleeve, uses a vacuum system to draw the body tissue in to the resilient sleeve, and releases the resilient sleeve from the expanded state so that it captures and constricts the body tissue.

Abstract: A piston adapter has a flange holding mechanism mounted on a distal end thereof for releasably holding a piston flange of a piston of a rodless syringe, a manual operating member disposed on a tip end of the piston adapter for being manually operated, and an interlink mechanism for releasing the flange holding mechanism from the piston flange in conjunction with manual operation of the manual operating member. After the piston adapter is mounted on the piston of the rodless syringe and inserted into the cylinder thereof, the flange holding mechanism can be released from the piston in the cylinder by manually operating the manual operating member near the tip end of the piston adapter which is exposed from the cylinder. Even when the piston adapter that is mounted on the piston of the rodless syringe is pressed into the cylinder, the piston adapter can easily be removed from the rodless syringe.

Abstract: An exhaust system for an internal combustion engine having a first cylinder and a second cylinder from which pulses of exhaust gas exit and are routed along separate paths towards the exhaust mufflers. The exhaust system independently routes the pulses of exhaust gas from the two cylinders. The exhaust gases that are expelled from the first cylinder are routed through a first exhaust pipe. The exhaust gases that are expelled from the second cylinder are routed through a second exhaust pipe assembly. The second exhaust pipe assembly routes the exhaust gasses from an exhaust port for the second cylinder laterally across the motorcycle to achieve a true dual exhaust system. The second exhaust pipe assembly provides an approximate equal length flow path as compared to the path used by the exhaust gasses that are expelled from the first cylinder.

Abstract: An affordable plumbing device that uses a compressed gas and a burst disk having a relatively even surface of substantially uniform thickness to produce a sudden discharge of energy to forcibly act against any obstruction that may interfere with the proper function of a drain. The plumbing device has a cylindrical chamber for receiving the compressed gas and may generally take the shape of a plunger, which is flexible to use and is easy to store. A portion of the chamber forms a receiving chamber with the burst disk for harnessing and directing the energy of the compressed gas to clear the drain.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of promoting the maturation of monocytes comprising the administration of a reactive oxygen species (ROS) inhibitor or scavenger and at least one monocyte maturation-promoting agent. A composition for promoting the maturation of monocytes is likewise disclosed. The pharmaceutical composition includes a compound effective to promote the maturation of monocytes and a ROS inhibitor or scavenger combined in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

Abstract: A height adjustable toilet seat apparatus for disabled users includes a toilet seat having a hinged lid. The apparatus may be fixed to a toilet bowl or to a wheelchair and includes telescopic legs for supporting the toilet seat and lid at different heights. A lid opening mechanism is operated by a foot lever slidably connected to at least one of said legs. A catch is biased to a holding position for holding the lid in a rotated attitude and a foot peddle and handle are provided to release the catch.

Abstract: A reactor for processing semiconductor wafers and the like is provided. The reactor employs one or more rotating components to more evenly distribute temperature or gases within the chamber. In one embodiment, the reactor is provided with rotating reflectors, which reflect the heat generated from radiant heat lamps onto a stationary wafer in a reaction chamber. The rotation of the reflectors provides for a more uniform temperature distribution on the wafer. In another embodiment, the reaction chamber itself is rotated while the wafer is kept stationary. In another embodiment, a rotating showerhead is provided above the wafer through which gases flow to deposit onto the wafer in a uniform manner.

Abstract: A mitral annuloplasty and left ventricle restriction device is designed to be transvenously advanced and deployed within the coronary sinus and in some embodiments other coronary veins. The device places tension on adjacent structures, reducing the diameter and/or limiting expansion of the mitral annulus and/or limiting diastolic expansion of the left ventricle. These effects may be beneficial for patients with dilated cardiomyopathy.

Abstract: An evolutionary control for a subject such as an engine installed in a vehicle is conducted by the steps of: selecting coefficients, as genes, affecting the control characteristics of the control system; creating plural control units as chromosomes, each being constituted by plural genes; expressing the genes of each chromosome as control characteristics by controlling the subject using the control system having the control characteristics; selecting at least one chromosome from the created chromosomes based on the control characteristics expressed by the genes in view of the user's preference; and causing the at least one chromosome to evolve using a genetic algorithm, thereby obtaining control characteristics suitable to the user. In this method, the characteristics of the product can effectively be adjusted after its purchase based on the user's preference.

Abstract: An evolutionary control for a subject such as an engine installed in a vehicle is conducted by the steps of: selecting coefficients, as genes, affecting the control characteristics of the control system; creating plural control units as chromosomes, each being constituted by plural genes; expressing the genes of each chromosome as control characteristics by controlling the subject using the control system having the control characteristics; selecting at least one chromosome from the created chromosomes based on the control characteristics expressed by the genes in view of the user's preference; and causing the at least one chromosome to evolve using a genetic algorithm, thereby obtaining control characteristics suitable for the user. In this method, the characteristics of the product can effectively be adjusted after its purchase based on the user's preference.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for using a rubber product or a rubber member in which at least one portion of the surface of the rubber product or the rubber member to be used in clean environments is allowed to swell by using a solvent, and then used. After at least one portion of the surface of the rubber product or the rubber member has been subjected to swelling by the solvent, it is used to handle electronic parts or the elements thereof; thus, a manufacturing method for electronic parts for manufacturing the electronic parts in clean environments is provided.

Abstract: An outboard motor comprising a water propulsion device and a cowling housing an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The engine has a body defining at least one combustion chamber and an output shaft arranged to drive the water propulsion device. The cowling has a front end and a rear end. The motor includes a handle which generally encircles at least a portion of the cowling, the handle having at least one gripping portion at the front or rear end of the cowling.

Abstract: A method and composition for dispersing oil. Distiller's dried grain is applied to an oil spill or to an animal or object contacted with oil. The distiller's dried grain sorbs and disperses the oil, allowing dispersal of the oil in open water or removal of the oil from the animal or object.

Abstract: Highly asymmetric polyethersulfone membranes prepared from a stable, clear, homogeneous solution or stable colloidal dispersion of polyethersulfone are described. The membranes have a porous skin possessing a high density of skin pores with an average diameter of from about 0.001 micron to about 20 microns. In addition, the membrane has a porous support with an asymmetric region of gradually increasing pore diameters so that the opposite face of the membrane has an average pore diameter that is from about 50 to about 10,000 times the diameter of the skin pores.

Abstract: Biocompatible fluorocarbon emulsions are utilized to inhibit the removal of endogenously produced nitric oxide from the bloodstream, and to thereby inhibit vascular stenosis, vasoconstriction, and any other physiological condition or disorder arising in whole or in part from a deficiency of endogenous nitric oxide.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for rapidly drying an object, such as a semiconductor wafer, by creating a vapor flow from a liquid, such as isopropyl alcohol, and exposing the object to that flow. The apparatus comprises a heater for vaporizing liquid in a reservoir into a vapor, a condenser for subsequently condensing the vapor, and a treatment chamber into which the object to be dried is placed. The vaporization of the liquid at the reservoir and its subsequent condensation at the condenser creates a pressure gradient between the heater and the condenser, thereby forming a vapor stream. The object to be dried is exposed to this vapor stream, whereby some of the vapor condenses on the object and combines with the liquid on the object to produce a condensate which flows off the object, thereby drying the object. The method comprises the steps of heating a liquid to form a vapor, condensing the vapor to form a vapor stream, and positioning an object to be dried in the vapor stream.

Abstract: One aspect of the invention provides a method for fabricating a microelectromechanical systems device. The method comprises fabricating an array of first elements, each first element conforming to a first geometry; fabricating at least one array of second elements, each second element conforming to a second geometry; wherein fabricating the arrays comprises selecting a defining aspect of each of the first and second geometries based on a defining characteristic of each of the first and second elements; and normalizing differences in an actuation voltage required to actuate each of the first and second elements, wherein the differences are as a result of the selected defining aspect, the defining characteristic of each of the elements being unchanged.