Abstract: A vessel which have advantages of a flower-vase, a flower-arranging vase, a plant-pot, and an artificial-flower basket, and can extensively be utilized for the interior and exterior decorations. It is possible to keep the vessel in full bloom of flowers all the year round to provide blooming services for households and business concerned.

Abstract: A method of altering an expression of a gene product in cells or an organism, comprising orally administering glutathione in an effective amount and under such conditions to alter a redox potential in the cells. The gene expression may be sensitive to redox potential through one or more of a process of induction, transcription, translation, post-translational modification, release, and/or through a receptor mediated process. The glutathione is preferably administered as an oral bolus of encapsulated pharmaceutically stabilized glutathione in a rapidly dissolving formulation to a mammal on an empty stomach.

Abstract: In a method of detecting a collision risk and preventing air collisions, it is proposed that probabilities should be calculated for the likely presence of one's own aircraft in predetermined sectors at a number of selected times (probabilities of presence) and these probabilities for one's own aircraft and those for other objects should be used to calculate the probabilities of one's own aircraft and at least one of the other objects being present simultaneously in a given sector (probabilities of collision) for the predetermined sectors and selected times.

Abstract: In order to improve the measurement possibilities with regard to a rotating shaft, including the whole angle area (0 to 360°), a rotation angle sensor is mounted that is provided with a radial-bipolar ring-shaped magnetic element (3), three air gaps (5, 6, 7, 8) displaced by an equal angle (&phgr;) being connected with said shaft, and with a stator element (4) of a magnetoconductive material, while a Hall integrated circuit element (1, 2) is inserted in at least two adjacent air gaps (5, 6, 7, 8). The two Hall integrated circuit elements (1, 2) can be connected to an evaluation unit (9) which records a voltage curve of the measured circuit for each circuit element (1, 2), assigns each flow voltage measure to a position angle on the Hall integrated circuit voltage curves, calculates from the position angles assigned to the flow voltage values the actual position angle and gives it as the start signal (A1, A2).

Abstract: A durable, modular, adaptive containment system, which has a composite composition comprised of wood fibers embedded in a polymeric matrix, the system being suitable for holding soil and plants, and which is comprised of rails, preferably of rectangular cross-section, each of said rails being joined by means of a T-shaped tenon along one of its ends and a complementary T-shaped channel on the side of the rail near its other end, or which is comprised of a connector having T-shaped channels so that when four rails, each of which has a T-shaped tenon on each end, pairs of which are of equal length, are joined by inserting the T-shaped tenons of each rail into a complementary T-shaped channel on a connector, a rectangular containment system is formed.

Abstract: A doubly articulated module for attaching a first portion of a robotic assembly to a second portion of said assembly, said first portion being rotatable with respect to said second portion about a first axis substantially perpendicular to a first axis of the first portion and about a second axis substantially coaxial with said first axis. Preferably, the articulated module comprises servos. Several of the modules can be incorporated into arms, legs, torso, neck and head of a mannequin in order to animate as much of the mannequin as is required. Although the servos can be activated by directly wired controls or by remote radio-controlled devices, a preferred programmed system is provided for the computerized control of the modules so that the mannequin can be used for display or demonstration purposes.

Abstract: A biodegradable mat is disclosed for protecting and enhancing the growth of plants. The mat is in circular, sinusoidal or linear form and comprises a plant food, soil fertilizer, soil enricher, soil supplement, insecticide, fungicide, herbicide and/or animal repellant. The circular mat has a hole in the center for the stem of a plant and a radial slit extending from the hole to the circle circumference. The mat is placed on the ground adjacent and around the stem of a plant. It is then covered with a layer of soil and/or mulch and moistened to release the active ingredients.

Abstract: In order to give the device proposed for preparing electric wires and/or cables for installation a sensitive feel, it is designed with two outer grips (1,2) disposed opposite each other and at least one inner arm (3,4) mounted on one of the outer grips (1,2). A link element (50) holds the first outer grip (1) by a first bolt (6′), the second outer grip (2) by a second bolt (9′) and the inner arm (3,4) by at least one additional bolt (7′,8′) located in the link element (50) between the first and second bolts (6′,9′). A multiple joint (5) of this kind enables both of the outer grips (1,2) and their associated inner arms (3,4), together with their tool parts (11,12; 13,14; 15,16), to be pressed against each other and for the outer grips (1,2) to be moved different distances towards each other and also different distances with respect to the inner arm (3,4).

Abstract: To make it possible for a rotation angle sensor to be manufactured and assembled more easily and more accurately, the part components of a stator element (21) made of a ferritic material are held in a sintered stator body, made by a sintering technique, by at least one holding element in a holding recess of a base element made of a non-magnetizable material. A magnetic holding device (26, 27) is a holding element made by a metal injection moulding (MIM) technique with an at least partly formed magnetic isolation zone and at least one recess. An annular magnetic element (24) is attached inside the MIM holding device by means of at least one slit-shaped recess and at least one compatible linking element, and positioned at a given angle (&agr;) in relation to a gap, between the sintered stator bodies.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing extruded elongate pasta of substantially even lengths. The apparatus includes: an extruder; a first cutter for cutting uneven tip portions of the bunches of elongate pasta; a second cutter for cutting the bunches of the elongate pasta, whose uneven tip portions have been cut, into an even length; and a sorting part for selectively sorting the bunches of elongate pasta having been cut into the even length with the second cutter from the uneven tip portions having been cut with the first cutter.

Abstract: A building element (1) comprising an outer sheath and an inner core, the sheath being formed of a material having a greater tensile strength than compressive strength and the core having a greater compressive strength than tensile strength; wherein the outer sheath is longitudinally extending and has a first face (7) and a second face (8) which are spaced apart, first (9) and second (21) edges and a first and second end; wherein the first face (7) and the second face (8) are joined at the first (9) and second (21) edges to form the outer sheath as a continuous body, and wherein the first edge (9) and the second edge (21) are so shaped that the first edge (9) of one such building element (1) is adapted to locate in the second edge (21) of another such building element (1).

Abstract: A wingless personal air transport (PAT) comprises two main sections: First, a substantially horizontal circular inner platform is provided with its outer extremity having a first diameter D1. This inner platform has a seat for carrying at least one person and a shroud forming a smooth upper surface extending outward and downward to its outer extremity. Second, a substantially horizontal annular outer platform is arranged coaxially with the inner platform. This outer platform has a central opening with a second diameter D2 and a shroud forming a substantially smooth upper surface extending inward and downward into its central opening. The second diameter D2 is greater than said first diameter D1. Preferably there are at least five thrusters arranged in the space between the inner and outer platforms to provide a downward thrust of air. Also preferably, a clear plastic hemispherical bubble is arranged on top of the inner platform to protect the passengers and provide for the smooth flow of air.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a variable tooth worm of worm gear sets used for a gear transmission mechanism. It comprises a shaft body with thread teeth. Its tip surface is a cylinder or a crowning surface, and the reference circle of the tooth flank is a revolution of a curved line. The worm product is made with variable tooth thickness and variable tooth height. During the meshing period, its loading capacity and transmission efficiency are increased and the transmission performance approaches a more ideal state because it has a greater number of simultaneously-meshing teeth than a cylindrical worm and also gradually gets into and out of mesh. It has a lower number of simultaneously-meshing teeth than a toroidal worm during the transmission period so that it has the advantages of lower heat value, lower oil-agitating loss, lower requirements for center distance and adjustment of axial position, easier manufacture as well as better economy.

Abstract: A hybrid sphygmomanometer comprises: (a) an arm cuff with an inflatable air bladder; (b) a pumping device for inflating the air bladder; (c) a manually controlled air outlet valve for deflating the air bladder; (d) an air pressure transducer operative to receive the pressure in the air bladder of the arm cuff and to produce an electrical signal representing this pressure; (e) a manually operated switch for generating systolic and diastolic interrupt signals; (f) a first electronic display for displaying the instantaneous pressure in the air bladder in the form of a bar graph; (g) a second electronic display for displaying systolic and diastolic pressures; and (h) an electrical circuit connected to the pressure transducer and to the button for controlling said first and second display. The first display, for displaying the instantaneous pressure in the air bladder, is a simulated mercury column.

Abstract: A method for purging contaminants from a contaminated refrigeration system, comprising providing a source of recycled volatile composition to a refrigerant system; passing the recycled volatile composition through the refrigerant system; receiving the volatile composition from the refrigerant system; and recycling the volatile composition by separation of contaminants therefrom.

Abstract: A retaining element for a toggle switch, including an elongated toggle member which pivots about an axis with respect to a switch body, having an attachment portion, connecting the retaining element to the elongated toggle member and being adapted to supply a force against the elongated toggle member to hold the toggle in a defined position, a connecting arm, extending from the attachment, adapted to supply a force in the defined position against the body with respect to a path of movement of the elongated toggle member, and a manually graspable member, adapted to transmit a force for displacing the attachment from the defined position.

Abstract: A method for the administration of glutathione orally comprising the administration of a bolus of glutathione which is pharmaceutically stabilized and encapsulated. The glutathione is administered on an empty stomach. The preferred stabilizer is ascorbic acid.

Abstract: An electronic control for a grill, providing enhanced functionality and safety features. A hydrocarbon detector system provides an intermittently operated electro-optic device emitting photons at a wavelength which selective interacts with hydrocarbon as compared to air, associated with a detector for detecting the selective interaction and an alarm monitor for detecting an alarm state. A food temperature sensor is employed to proportionately control combustible fuel flow rate, to thereby control a food temperature profile. A communications network interface is provided to allow remote control and monitoring.