Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of providing an antihistaminic effect in a hepatically impaired patient in need thereof comprising administering to said patient an effective antihistaminic amount of a compound of the formula wherein R1 is hydrogen or hydroxy; R2 is hydrogen; or R1 and R2 taken together form a second bond between the carbon atoms bearing R1 and R2; n is an integer of from 1 to 5; R3 is —COOH or —COOalkyl wherein the alkyl moiety has from 1 to 6 carbon atoms and is straight or branched; each of A and B is hydrogen or hydroxy with the proviso that at least one of A or B is hydrogen; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt and individual isomers thereof.

Abstract: A method for detecting neoplasia or cancer of the colon or rectum comprising obtaining a sample of colorectal mucus from the rectum of a patient, and detecting the presence of a marker selected from the group consisting of long chain aliphatic aldehydes containing 12-20 carbon atoms, particularly CH3(CH2)14CHO and CH3(CH2)16CHO; and plasmalogen-bound precursors thereof. Preferably the method comprises treating the sample with Schiff's Reagent and detecting neoplasia or cancer of the colon or rectum based upon the coloration produced at about 560-590 nm in the sample by the treatment. The method does not require the step of adding an enzyme for detecting the disaccharide marker &bgr;-D-Gal(1-3)-D-GalNAc(&agr;1-Thr/Ser) and a saccharide marker containing D-galactose and/or 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-galactose.

Abstract: This pressurized-gas storage assembly includes a pressure vessel having a gas storage chamber and access opening, a polar boss extending through the access opening, a plastic liner lining the gas storage chamber, and a fitting body. The plastic liner includes a nipple portion that extends into the polar boss, terminates at an annular rim, and has a screw-threaded radially inner surface region. The fitting body includes a head portion, an extension longitudinally extending from an end of the head portion and having a screw-threaded radially outer surface region, and an annular shoulder. The annular shoulder has an annular recess formed therein, with a compressible O-ring being accommodated within the annular recess.

Abstract: An asynchronous transfer mode (“ATM”) cell transfer system in a wireless communication system provides quality classes that correspond to the amount of cell transfer delay allowed. Cells are classified according to a quality class and stored in buffers. The cells are read starting from the buffer for the quality class with the highest priority, and successively from buffers for quality classes of lower priority. Alternatively, if there is room in the output interval of cells of a higher priority quality class, cells of a lower quality class are inserted among these cells.

Abstract: Radiation-curable inner and outer primary optical fiber coatings are disclosed having both fast cure speed and reduced rates of yellowing. The compositions comprise particular photoinitiators and UV absorbers which are used in amounts to provide the combination of properties. The UV absorber can have ethylenic unsaturation. Outer primary coatings can be formulated to screen inner primary coatings and have fast cure speed.

Abstract: A variable focus lens device having a temperature compensation function whose construction is simple and which can be inexpensively manufactured. The device has a lens member including a lens container having a transparent elastic film, a transparent sealing member forming an internal volume, and a transparent liquid filling the internal volume, a stack-type piezoelectric actuator for varying the focus of the lens member by deforming the transparent elastic film by fluctuating the pressure inside the internal volume, and a tank connected to the internal volume by narrow passages. The tank and the narrow passages absorb temperature fluctuation components of the transparent liquid, which varies due to thermal expansion and contraction. The tank and the passages thereby form a temperature compensator, that, because the passages are narrow, does not react to sudden oscillating pressure components caused by the stack-type piezoelectric actuator.

Abstract: A bay for receiving an electrical device such as a disc drive is designed for easy insertion and ejection of the drive. The bay, a sliding carriage bearing a forwardly facing ejection member having a forwardly facing ejection pin for passing on the rear of the electrical device, and a lever operated insertion and removal mechanism for the insertion and later removal of said electrical device, including a pivoted lever having a manually engageable handle, a roller carried by the lever for engagement with the forward face of the electrical device, and a quadrant gear coupled to a rack on the sliding carriage, whereby said lever is pivotable to drive the sliding carriage backwards and forwards in the bay by the action of the quandrant gear and rack to carry the elecrical device into and out of the bay.

Abstract: Compounds of general formula (I) are disclosed and claimed in the present application, as well as their pharmaceutically acceptable salts, pharmaceutical compositions comprising the novel compounds and their use in therapy, in particular in the management of pain.

Abstract: An air bag control system for passenger seat has a seated-state detection sensor provided in a seat, a proximity sensor that detects an object near an air bag apparatus, and an impact sensor that detects a deceleration at the time of an impact. If there is no detection made by the proximity sensor for a predetermined length of time after the seated-state detection sensor detects the seating of an occupant, a control device keeps the air bag apparatus in an operable state after elapse of the predetermined length of time. If there is no detection made by the proximity sensor for the predetermined length of time after the seated-state detection sensor makes detection, the control device ignores an on-state of the proximity sensor or a signal from the proximity sensor, and keeps the air bag apparatus in the operable state.

Abstract: The invention relates to a copolyether ester composition for products that show particularly good aging behaviour when exposed to dynamic deformation at elevated temperatures and in contact with greases. The copolyether ester composition comprises a mixture of at least 2 copolyether esters A and B, composed of hard segments derived from at least one alkylene diol and at least one aromatic dicarboxylic acid and soft segments derived from at least one polyalkylene oxide glycol and at least one aromatic dicarboxylic acid, in which the concentration of soft segments X in A and the concentration of soft segments Y in B lie between 30 and 65 wt. %, relative to the copolyether ester and the molecular weights of X and Y lie between 500 and 3000 and |Mx−My|≧400.

Abstract: A fastener driving device including a fastener depth adjusting assembly comprising a rotary adjusting member having an internal threaded section extending along an axis threadedly mounted on one of an upper and lower structures of a work contact assembly so that a rotational movement of the adjusting member with respect to the one structure effects a relative axial movement therebetween. Mounting structure is provided between another of the upper and lower structures and the adjusting member to mount the adjusting member on the another structure so as to be freely rotatable about the axis while being restrained against axial movement with respect thereto. The mounting structure positions the adjusting member so as to present an exterior surface in an accessible exterior position on a frame structure of the device. The exterior surface has a shape facilitating manual rotational movement of the adjusting member by a manual rolling action thereof.

Abstract: An open-end or box wrench with a ratcheting socket wrench at the opposite end of the wrench handle. The ratcheting socket wrench may be either fixedly or pivotally attached. In one embodiment of the invention, a socket is permanently affixed to the ratchet mechanism. In another embodiment of the invention, a drive member for releasable attachment to sockets is permanently affixed to the ratchet mechanism. In either embodiment, the ratchet mechanism is preferably reversible.

Abstract: Molten polymers are forced into T dies combined to form a multiple T die, the molten polymers are extruded through the T dies in monolayer. The monolayers extruded through the T dies are superposed and laminated outside the multiple T die while the polymers are in a molten or semi-molten state to form a intermediate molten multilayer. The multiple T die is advanced into a space between an open top half mold and a bottom half mold of a compression mold to deliver the intermediate multilayer onto the bottom half mold. The intermediate multilayer is cut to a predetermined length on the bottom half mold, and is processed for compression molding in the compression mold to form a multilayer article. A molding cycle for molding the multilayer article is carried out automatically at a remarkably improved manufacturing efficiency.

Abstract: A connection wire is connected to a part of a rear door popped up in a door-opening direction by an urging force. A pulley rotates responsive to a driving motor inside a wire-winding device to wind the connection wire thereon. In this manner, the rear door is automatically closed. The pulley is urged in a connection wire-winding direction by a power spring. A clutch is between the pulley and the driving motor. When the rear door is pressed by an operator's hands in a door-closing direction while the rear door is being closed, the pulley is rotated by the power spring, thus winding the connection wire thereon and preventing the connection wire from becoming loose. At this time, the connection between the pulley and the driving motor is cut off by the clutch. Thus, the pulley is rotated by the power spring freely and rapidly. In this manner, the rear door can be closed manually even while it is being closed automatically.

Abstract: Storage stability of an assay device, comprising an assay strip and sensitive reagents such as antibodies within a plastics casing, is maintained by moulding some or all of the casing from dessicant-containing plastics material, especially a blend of about 60-65% polystyrene and about 30% silica dust. Ideally the desiccant-containing plastics material is used in the moulding of a removable cap for the device. The cap can be made by sandwich injection moulding, using the dessicant-containing polystyrene as a core, surrounded by conventional polystyrene.

Abstract: The air/fuel mixture ratio supplied to an internal combustion engine of a vehicle is modified to achieve a constant mass flow rate in spite of changes in atmospheric temperature and pressure conditions by employing an electronic compensation system. The system has sensors which detect air temperature and barometric pressure, from which signals are developed controlling the float bowl pressure in the engine carburettors, thus modifying the air/fuel mixture ratio as desired. The system also includes provision for enriching the fuel content of the mixture supplied to the engine to provide an oversupply of fuel in cold start situations.

Abstract: A method for making a spacer assembly comprises: forming a plurality of projections along an edge of a portion of sheet metal; roll forming the portion of sheet metal into a tubular configuration; positioning the roll formed portion of sheet metal and a metal base member to which the roll formed portion of sheet metal is to be welded in a discharge welding apparatus having a pair of electrodes so that the projections of the roll formed portion of sheet metal contact a surface of the metal base member; providing a force so that the projections are disposed in forcible engagement with the surface of the metal base member; and supplying an electrical current between the pair of electrodes and through the roll formed portion of sheet metal and the metal base member so that the projections reach a molten metal stage and are subsequently solidified to enable the roll formed portion of sheet metal to be welded to the metal base member.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a housing that has a side wall formed with an access opening therethrough. The opening has a length in a first direction, and a width in a second direction transverse to the first direction. A barrier is secured to the housing parallel to the side wall, and is spaced apart from the opening in a third direction transverse to the first and second directions so as to form a connector mounting space between the barrier and the side wall. An electrical connector unit includes a terminal holding seat having a front portion that projects outwardly of the housing through the opening, and a rear portion disposed in the connector mounting space. The front portion of the terminal holding seat has a cross-section smaller than size of the opening such that the terminal holding seat is movable relative to the housing.

Abstract: There is disclosed a lithographic printing plate which comprises a grained and anodized aluminum support, a silver halide emulsion layer and a physical development nuclei layer between the aluminum support and the silver halide emulsion layer, and at least one selected from the group consisting of a phosphoric acid compound having a polyoxyalkylene unit and a water-soluble vinyl polymer having a carboxylic acid ester group being contained between the aluminum support and the silver halide emulsion layer.

Abstract: Banknotes emerging from a currency processing machine with a plurality of formation channels advance in succession along respective ducts of which the runouts are equipped with respective rollers positioned to pick up the notes, transfer them to each channel and stack them on a first shelf. An occluding mechanism operating at the inlet of each channel causes groups of the notes to accumulate on the corresponding first shelf, each of which is picked up by a first gripper and transported toward a first strapping/banding station where a gripping mechanism takes up a continuous strip of banding material by the leading end and passes it around each successive group; the strip is cut into discrete lengths by a tool designed also to seal the leading end to the trailing end of the cut length, banding the group to fashion a bundle which is then transferred to a second shelf and carried by this same shelf toward the outlet of the channel.