Abstract: The invention relates to a method of preparation and isolation of betulin diacetate from birch bark from paper mills and its optional processing to betulin, wherein the birch bark is ground, mixed with two- to twenty-fold excess volume of water and is stirred so that all birch bark is dipped, then the fraction of the birch bark which floats on the surface is collected, said collected fraction is dried at the temperature in the range of from 50 to 85° C. and the betulin contained in the dried birch bark is then subjected to an acetylation reaction, after the acetylation the birch bark is dried at the temperature of from 50 to 100° C. and the formed betulin diacetate is then isolated from the birch bark by supercritical extraction of the birch bark with carbon dioxide at the pressure of 28-35 MPa and the temperature of from 50 to 100° C. and subsequently, the supercritical extract is recrystallized for direct use or for further processing.

Abstract: Sewing machine (10 comprising a base (12) with a crochet and a head (14) that comprises a needle support (30), a fabric pressure foot (24) and its adjusting means (26), motor means (28) to make a needle sew together with the crochet, and lever means (32) to turn the rotary motion of the driving means into a vertical reciprocating motion. The needle support (30) in turn comprises at least two needle bars (46, 48) that are moved vertically by said lever means (32), and a connecting element (50) to couple the lever means (32) with at least a needle bar (46,48). Each needle bar (46,48) is coupled with a needle (16,18) through a respective thread and actuated selectively in the crochet in order to allow the sewing.

Abstract: A digital TV antenna has first and second conductive members with surfaces of two minimum orthogonal dimensions and a nonconductive substrate connected to the surfaces of the conductive members for supporting them at a spaced location from each other of not more than ½ inch. Wires electrically connect the conducive members to a plug for being plugged to an input of a digital TV and at least one of the two minimum orthogonal dimensions is at least eight inches.

Abstract: Compositions containing Montmorillonite and Portland cement for tooth filling are disclosed; such compositions have shown good biocompatibility, excellent marginal adaptation to dentinal walls, short setting time, and improved viscosity.

Abstract: A protective arrangement has a rigid shell to cover a body part and at least one impact absorbing pad removably attached to the inner surface of the rigid shell. The pad has an outer part made of an outer curved sheet and an inner part made of an inner sheet that is parallel to and spaced inwardly from the outer sheet to define a space. The inner and outer sheets have a plurality of spaced apart projecting hollow protrusions extending to the other sheet, the protrusions of one sheet alternating with the protrusions of the other sheet to form an impact absorbing pattern of alternating protrusions in the space between the sheets.

Abstract: A quick release base system that includes a base platform and a removable base. The base platform includes a bottom platform surface and a top platform surface. The top platform surface is positioned above the bottom platform surface. The top platform surface includes platform prongs. The platform prongs are substantially perpendicular to the top platform surface and extend away from the top platform surface and away from the bottom platform surface. The removable base rests on top of the base platform, and the removable base includes an interior base surface. The interior base surface includes base prongs. The base prongs are substantially perpendicular to the interior base surface and extend away from the interior base, and the platform prongs interact with the base prongs to create a lateral restraining force between the base platform and the removable base.

Abstract: The invention deals with a sheet-metal bending machine containing a lower machine part and an upper machine part mounted on it in a movable way where on either of the upper and lower machine part there is a pair of working tools designed as a bending arm and a holding arm where the principle is that the upper machine part (3), or at least the pair of the working tools connected to it, is, in relation to the lower machine part (2), or at least in relation to the pair of the working tools connected to it in the feeding direction (L) of the processed metal sheet (14), mounted in a mutually horizontally sliding bond.

Abstract: A method for the biomimetic treatment of an osteointegrative interface on a substrate of biocompatible metal of titanium, tantalum, or their alloys, includes performing a first anodic spark deposition (ASD) treatment of the osteointegrative interface in a calcium glycerophosphate solution, performing a second ASD anodic deposition treatment of the osteointegrative interface in a calcium hydroxide solution and performing an immersion of the osteointegrative interface in a potassium or sodium hydroxide solution.

Abstract: A non load-bearing metal wall stud has a sheet metal body with a web, a pair of flanges extending at right angles to the web, a pair of lips, each extending at a right angle from a straight edge of one of the flanges and a pair of skirts each extending at an angle from the straight edge of one of the lips. Knurled channels in the flanges and in the web stiffen the stud further.

Abstract: the slide device and the portable equipment are equipped with a base member mounted on either one of a first casing and a second casing being components of a portable equipment, a slider member slidably mounted on either other one of the first casing and the second casing, and urging means provided between the slider member and the base member for slidably urging the base member and the slider member in a closing and/or an opening direction, and a slide engagement portion includes a plurality of guide rail portions provided on the slider member, a guide long hole provided outside a plurality of the guide rail portions on the slider member and extending in a slide direction, engagement portions provided on the base member and respectively engaged with each of the guide rail portions, and a slide guide portion engaged with the guide long hole.

Abstract: The measurement of a flaw height in a thick welded portion of a stainless steel specimen, which is difficult to perform by the TOFD method, can be conducted with more ease, with higher accuracy and in a shorter time than in the case of using tip echo techniques. In addition, it is possible to reduce variations in measurement results among individual inspectors. An ultrasonic wave 21 is launched by a transmitting probe 1 into a specimen 20 in a direction oblique to a flaw 24 to generate diffracted waves at the tip 25 of the flaw 24, then a diffracted wave 22 propagating upward directly from the flaw 24 and a diffracted wave 23 propagating upwardly of the flaw 24 after once reflected off the back 27 are received by a receiving probe 2 disposed above the flaw 24, and the height of the tip of the flaw 24 from the back 27 is measured from the propagation time difference between the received diffracted waves.

Abstract: A photovoltaic panel made by direct co-extrusion of a plurality of superimposed polymeric layers and a plant for carrying out such a process.

Abstract: There is described an apparatus for a concrete form for an insulated wall. The apparatus comprises first and second wall panels arranged in opposed spaced apart parallel relationship, each panel having an inner surface, an outer surface, an upper edge surface, a lower edge surface and end surfaces. A plurality of retainers are secured within each of said first and second panels at spaced apart intervals, each retainer including a connecting portion extending outwardly from the inner surface of each panel, and an anchoring portion. The anchoring portion includes a framework disposed within the panels, an upper connector extending upwardly from each panel's upper edge surface and a lower connector extending downwardly from each panel's lower edge surface. The upper and lower connectors are adapted to respectively engage the upper and lower connectors of the next vertically adjacent panel to securely attach the panels together.

Abstract: The removal of partial areas of a coating (11, 12) on at least one surface (37, 38) of a glass pane (2) takes place by means of a plasma jet (14, 15) which emerges from a plasma nozzle (5, 6). The plasma nozzle (5, 6) is part of a plasma unit and two such plasma units are provided. Both of the plasma nozzles (5, 6) are oriented towards each other and form a pair of nozzles. A glass pane (2) is machined between both of the nozzles (5, 6). A distance sensor (23, 24) is arranged on both of the nozzles (5, 6), and said nozzles (5, 6) are positioned at the correct distance in relation to the surface (37, 38) of the glass pane (2).

Abstract: A ballast water treatment system for treating ballast water for a vessel has a pathway for navigable raw water to the tank and a discharge for discharging water back to the body of navigable raw water. A back washable filter in the pathway receives the raw water and screens sediment from the raw water to produce initially processed water which contains at least some marine organisms. A UV or other biocidal device is connected between the filter and the ballast tank, for disabling or killing the marine organisms in the initially processed water to produce treated ballast water for the main outlet to the ballast tank.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel linear peptides with antimicrobial activity. Said peptides are made up of 11 amino acids, and they have the amino group of the amino acid constituting the N-terminal end in a non-derived form or functionalized with an acetyl group, p-toluene sulphonyl, benzyl or benzoyl. The amino acid constituting the C-terminal end of said peptides is in carboxamide form. The invention describes the synthesis and use of said peptides as antimicrobial agents to combat pathogenic bacteria for plants. The invention also relates to compositions containing said peptides and an auxiliary agent, and to a method for preventing and treating infections and diseases of plants caused by pathogenic bacteria.

Abstract: A vacuum plasma generator with an output for feeding a plasma discharge for treatment of workpieces in a vacuum chamber has a connection for the junction to AC voltage mains, a rectifier connected to a converter with a control input for the setting and/or regulation of the converter output voltage, and a controlled full bridge circuit connected to the converter output with a potential-free generator output, which transposes the converter output voltage into pulses of 1 to 500 kHz. A potential-isolating transformer is switched into the bridge for the galvanic decoupling of the generator output.