Abstract: Electrolysis cell comprises, in one embodiment, a proton exchange membrane (PEM), an anode positioned along one face of the PEM, and a cathode positioned along the other face of the PEM. A multi-layer metal screen for defining a first fluid cavity is placed in contact with the outer face of the anode, and an electrically-conductive, compressible, spring-like, porous pad for defining a second fluid cavity is placed in contact with the outer face of the cathode. The porous pad comprises a mat of carbon fibers bound together with one or more, preferably thermoplastic, resins, the mat having a density of about 0.2-1.5 g/cm3. Cell frames are placed in peripheral contact with the metal screen and the compression pad for peripherally containing fluids present therewithin. Electrically-conductive separators are placed in contact with the metal screen and the compression pad for axially containing fluids present therewithin.

Abstract: A winch for controlling the tautness of a length of wire includes a generally U-shaped frame and a spindle rotatably mounted on the frame, the spindle serving as a spool on which the length of wire can be wound. The winch additionally includes a ratchet rotatably mounted on the frame in co-axial alignment with the spindle, the ratchet being fixedly connected to one end of the spindle using the combination of a threaded bolt and a washer. Furthermore, the winch includes a pawl pivotally mounted on the frame, the pawl capable of being pivoted between a first position in which the pawl sequentially engages outwardly extending teeth in the ratchet so as to limit rotation of the ratchet in only one direction and a second position in which the pawl disengages from the ratchet to allow for rotation of the ratchet in either of two opposing directions.

Abstract: A tilting system for an observation device, in particular for a microscope, with at least one objective device and at least one optical device for passing at least one beam path from an entrance region to an exit region of the tilting system is described, wherein the optical device has at least one optical element in the form of a prism for tilting and for image reversion of the beam path as well as for guiding it further into at least one ocular device. According to the invention, a particularly cost-favorable and structurally simple configuration of the tilting system with a mechanical structural length that is simultaneously as small as possible is provided by configuring the optical elements for tilting the beam path as well as at least one prism for image reversion in a special way and by arranging them in a specific manner relative to one another in the beam path. In addition, an observation device with a corresponding tilting system is described.

Abstract: A composite proton exchange membrane and method of manufacturing the same. The composite proton exchange membrane comprises a proton exchange membrane which has been modified by replacing membrane protons in desired areas of the membrane with a cationic polymer. The cationic polymer is preferably formed by introducing a quaternary salt monomer into the membrane and then effecting the polymerization of the monomer. The modified areas of the proton exchange membrane exhibit increased strength, reduced water and gas permeability, reduced proton conductivity and reduced acidity. Accordingly, by modifying the periphery of the membrane, one can obtain an integral sealing edge for the membrane, and by modifying certain interior regions of the membrane, one can divide the membrane into a plurality of sealed segments.

Abstract: The invention relates to a shut-off valve for an expansion valve (11) in refrigerating systems, in particular vehicle air conditioning systems, having a regulating screw (31), having a receiving section (32), which is arranged at one end of the regulating screw (31) and is intended for the fitting of a travel-generating device (33) which actuates a valve (47) arranged in the regulating screw (31) and opens and closes a first passage opening (53) between an inlet (61) and an outlet (63) of the regulating screw (33), and having a regulating space (76) which is connected downstream of the valve (47) in the direction of flow of a refrigerant and is designed for receiving at least one regulating device (78).

Abstract: The invention concerns an active and an interactive birth simulator for duplicating human pregnancy and the birth process, whereby the birth simulator has the following features: A womb torso 1, a child model 2, which is arranged in the womb torso 1, whereby natural shape, size and positional ratios are preferably maintained, and the child model 2 is connected to a controllable drive 5 via a coupling device 7, in order to move the child model 2 in the womb torso or to expel it from the womb torso 1 through the birth canal and a programmable control device is provided for controlling the drive 5.

Abstract: A method for coupling together at least two layers of a mattress includes the steps of aligning each layer in its proper position in relation to the other layers of the mattress and, after the alignment step, inserting a plastic fastener through the layers. A fastener dispensing tool is provided for inserting plastic fasteners through the layers of the mattress. In one embodiment, the fastener dispensing tool includes a housing, a hollow sharpened needle fixedly coupled to the housing, an ejection mechanism for advancing a cross-bar of the plastic fastener through the hollow needle and a needle stop slidably coupled to the housing for limiting the degree of penetration of the hollow needle through the layers of the mattress. The needle stop is adapted to be releasably fixed in place by a locking member which is internally spring biased.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes an inner conductor, an annular insulator which surrounds the inner conductor and an outer conductor which surrounds the annular insulator. The electrical connector is provided with both a threaded coupling mechanism and a snap-fastening coupling mechanism. In one embodiment, the threaded coupling mechanism is in the form of an outwardly projecting spiral threading which protrudes out from the mating end of the outer conductor. In the same embodiment, the snap-fastening coupling mechanism is in the form of an annular groove which is formed in the central body of the outer conductor, the annular groove being sized and shaped to receive a resilient, C-shaped snap ring from a mating electrical connector. In this manner, it is to be understood that the electrical connector is capable of being mechanically and electrically coupled to various types of mating electrical connectors using either threaded coupling means or snap-fastening coupling means.

Abstract: Electrolysis cell comprises, in one embodiment, a proton exchange membrane (PEM), an anode positioned along one face of the PEM, and a cathode positioned along the other face of the PEM. A multi-layer metal screen for defining a first fluid cavity is placed in contact with the outer face of the anode, and an electrically-conductive, compressible, spring-like, porous pad for defining a second fluid cavity is placed in contact with the outer face of the cathode. The porous pad comprises a mat of carbon fibers bound together with one or more, preferably thermoplastic, resins, the mat having a density of about 0.2–1.5 g/cm3. Cell frames are placed in peripheral contact with the metal screen and the compression pad for peripherally containing fluids present therewithin. Electrically-conductive separators are placed in contact with the metal screen and the compression pad for axially containing fluids present therewithin.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for the detection of cytosine methylation in DNA samples, wherein the following steps are conducted: (a) a genomic DNA sample, which comprises the DNA to be investigated and background DNA, is chemically treated in such a way that all of the unmethylated cytosine bases are converted to uracil, whereas the 5-methylcytosine bases remain unchanged; (b) the chemically treated DNA sample is amplified with the use of at least 1 primer oligonucleotide as well as a polymerase, whereby the DNA to be investigated is preferred as the template over the background DNA, and (c) the amplified products are analyzed and the methylation status in the DNA to be investigated is concluded from the presence of an amplified product and/or from the analysis of additional positions.

Abstract: A method as well as a system are described for determining the travel time of at least one mobile user end device between a starting point (A) and an end point (E) that is spatially separated from it. To this end, specific pieces of information of at least one mobile user end device located at the starting point (A) and at the end point (E) are determined and each linked to a time marker. The specific pieces of information of the mobile user end devices are compared with one another electronically in at least one central processing unit. When the specific pieces of information of a mobile user end device are in agreement at the starting point (A) as well as at the end point (E), the time difference between the time markers is formed electronically in the central processing unit and the travel times are determined therefrom.

Abstract: A method is described for distinguishing 5-position methylation changes of cytosine bases and cytosine-to-thymine mutations and for the detection of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) or point mutations in genomic DNA, in which: a) a genomic DNA sample is treated with sulfite or disulfite in such a way that all of the cytosine bases that are not methylated in the 5-position of the base are changed in such a way that a base is formed that is different in its base-pairing behavior, whereas the cytosines methylated at the 5-position remain unchanged, and b) an aliquot of the same genomic DNA sample is quantitatively methylated with Sss1 or another methyltransferase prior to the chemical treatment according to a) and c) both of the DNA samples treated in this way are investigated for the presence of cytosine by means of the same analytical method, and d) the cytosine positions that are determined are matched with a reference DNA sequence.

Abstract: Endothelialization of vascular surfaces. According to one aspect, the invention involves a technique for re-endothelializing an artery whose endothelial layer has been damaged by balloon angioplasty. The technique comprises, in one embodiment, introducing into the bloodstream of a patient, prior to performing the angioplasty, a quantity of a bispecific antibody, the bispecific antibody having a first antigen binding site directed against a surface marker common to both endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and endothelial cells (ECs) and having a second antigen binding site directed against a subendothelial epitope. The bispecific antibody is introduced in a quantity sufficient to bind a substantial percentage of circulating EPCs and circulating ECs. In this manner, once the angioplasty has been performed and the target epitopes on the subendothelium have been exposed, the bispecific antibodies that have already become bound to the circulating EPCs and ECs also then bind to the subendothelium.

Abstract: A method of nonlinear and affine signal processing includes the steps of introducing an input signal into a system which exhibits nonlinear behavior, the input signal including a target signal and a secondary signal. By virtue of its nonlinear design, the system generates nonlinear artifacts of the target signal and the secondary signal. These nonlinear artifacts are in turn used as a novel form of signal diversity. In one embodiment, the identification of the nonlinear artifacts is used to resolve defects that have been created as a result of sub-Nyquist sampling. In another embodiment, the identification of the nonlinear artifacts is used to locate and strengthen the power of a target signal that falls beneath the noise threshold for the system.

Abstract: A method and system for testing a plurality of RFID devices disposed on a common carrier. In one embodiment, the RFID devices are evenly spaced along the length of the carrier, and the system comprises a short-range tester, a long-range tester and a computer, the short-range tester being coupled to the computer and having a short-range testing position, the long-range tester being coupled to the computer and having a long-range testing position, the long-range testing position being spaced downstream from the short-range testing position by a known number of device positions. In use, an RFID device of interest is first positioned at the short-range testing position, and the short-range tester reads a unique identifier for that RFID device and communicates the identifier to the computer. The carrier is then advanced so that subsequent RFID devices are read by the short-range tester.

Abstract: A method is described for the relative quantification of the methylation of cytosine bases in DNA samples, wherein the following method steps are conducted: a) a genomic DNA sample is chemically converted with a reagent, wherein 5-methylcytosine and cytosine react differently and show a different base pairing behavior in the DNA duplex after the reaction; b) the DNA sample is amplified, whereby a fluorescently labeled dCTP or dGTP derivative is added; c) the amplified products are separated spatially from each other; and d) the fluorescence of the separated amplified products is measured quantitatively.

Abstract: A temperature monitoring system includes a device for monitoring temperature over a period of time, an adaptor in communication with the temperature monitoring device (TMD) and a data programming device (DPD) in communication with the adaptor. The TMD includes a temperature sensor, a central processing unit (CPU) electrically connected to the temperature sensor, and a power source for continuously supplying power to the CPU. The CPU includes volatile memory into which measurements made by the temperature sensor are stored, the volatile memory in the CPU serving as the sole memory device in the TMD. The TMD is free of means for suspending power from the power source to the CPU. In use, each successive measurement taken by the temperature sensor overwrites the previous measurement stored into the CPU volatile memory. In this manner, the TMD stores no historical data throughout its monitoring process.

Abstract: The invention concerns a circuit arrangement for compensation of attenuation in an antenna lead for a mobile wireless device. The circuit arrangement is suitable for operation in a wireless network, in which the higher or the lower of two frequency ranges defined in one frequency band is used selectively for transmitting and the other frequency range is used for receiving the wireless signals within the one frequency band.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the stent delivery system comprises an inner catheter. A handle is disposed at the proximal end of the inner catheter, and an enlarged tip is disposed at the distal end thereof. A stent engaging sleeve coaxially surrounds and is secured to a portion of the inner catheter proximally contiguous to the tip. A stent is mounted over the stent engaging sleeve in a longitudinally stretched state and is maintained, until deployment, in the stretched state by a stent restraining sleeve. The stent restraining sleeve, which coaxially surrounds the stent and is appropriately sized to maintain the stent in its stretched state, is a braided tube formed directly over the stent. The system also includes an outer catheter that surrounds much of the distal end of the inner catheter up to its tip, the outer catheter being adapted for axial movement relative to the inner catheter.

Abstract: A method is described for the detection of 5-methylcytosine in genomic DNA samples. First, a genomic DNA from a DNA sample is chemically converted with a reagent, whereby 5-methylcytosine and cytosine react differently. Then the pretreated DNA is amplified with the use of a polymerase with primers of different sequence. In the next step, the amplified genomic DNA is hybridized to an oligonucleotide array and PCR products are obtained, which must be provided with a label. Alternatively, the PCR products can be extended in a primer extension reaction, wherein the extension products are also provided with a label. In the last step, the extended oligonucleotides are investigated for the presence of the label.