Abstract: A heat and fire resistant respiratory filtration mask is specially adapted for protecting firefighters in wildland/brush fire environments. The mask is fabricated of heat and fire resistant material and includes facilitated fasteners for attachment to the head and face of the user. A respiratory filtration pocket is provided for accommodation of a respiratory filtration element such as a fiber filter. The pocket has a closable slit for accessing the filter for removal and replacement. The mask includes openings for exhalation valves of filtration elements and openings for ventilation through the nose and mouth of the wearer. Alternatively, inhalation and exhalation orifices are provided to accommodate a canister-type filter, with a filter cartridge of the canister-type filter also functioning as a fastener to the mask. In a preferred embodiment the mask is elongated to provide heat and flame protection to the neck as well as the entire facial area below the eyes.

Abstract: A roof tile making machine and its method of operation. The reinforcement ribs on the underside of a concrete roofing tile are formed during their manufacture by directing mortar into recesses in a pallet on which the tile is made, with a compactor means in the form of multi-tined wheels compacting the mortar in the recesses, and providing thereafter a secondary layer of mortar over the compacted reinforcement ribs, to complete the tile in a conventional manner. A tile provided by the apparatus of the invention has reinforcement ribs which are compacted to the same degree as the remainder of the tile, thereby ensuring that the finished product, when cured, has a uniform, or substantially uniform, strength.

Abstract: The container includes at least one wall element made, for example, in the form of a tape or band, which is movable so as progressively to reduce the containment volume for the product inside the container as the product is removed from the container itself so that uncontrolled movement of product remaining in the container is prevented.

Abstract: A negative feedback preamplifier having variable conversion gain control and variable open loop gain control capabilities which can work correctly regardless of semiconductor process variations. The negative feedback preamplifier used to convert an input signal current to a signal in the form of voltage includes: a resistor which determines the current-voltage conversion gain when a small signal current is input to the negative feedback preamplifier; a diode which switches the current-voltage conversion gain when a large signal current is input to the negative feedback preamplifier; a resistor which determines the current-voltage conversion gain when the large signal current is input; a grounded source amplifier including a main FET which is biased such that its transconductance decreases when the large signal current is input; and a bias setting portion (diode) which determines the bias condition associated with the main FET.

Abstract: Human myelin basic protein (h-MBP) has a molecular weight of 18.5 KD and contains 170 amino acid residues. Synthetic peptides ranging in length from about 8 to 25 residues and covering the entire length of the protein have been produced. Antibodies to h-MBP (anti-MBP) were found to be neutralized by the synthetic peptides, in vitro, which span the h-MBP from about amino acid residue 61 to about amino acid residue 106. The peptides, which cover both the amino (about residues 1 to 63) and carboxy (about residues 117 to 162) terminals of h-MBP did not neutralize purified anti-MBP. Intrathecal administration of peptide MBP75-95, either as a single dose, or as repeated injections for periods up to 10 weeks, produced complete binding-neutralization of free (F) anti-MBP with no change in bound (B) levels. A control peptide MBP35-58 had no effect on F or B anti-MBP levels. Intravenous administration of MBP75-95 resulted in significant decline of F and B CSF anti-MBP levels over a period of one month.

Abstract: The rotary transfer machine for machining a workpiece using fixed-cycle control has a centrally disposed rotary indexing table which is driven according to a fixed cycle, can rotate about a vertical axis and at the outer circumference of which a plurality of clamping means for holding a workpiece are disposed radially at a spacing from one another, and a plurality of machining units for machining the workpieces, which units are disposed around the outer circumference of the rotary table such that they lie substantially opposite corresponding clamping means in an indexed position of the rotary indexing table.

Abstract: The friction between vehicle wheels provided with rubber tires follows three influence curves (5, 6, 8). The friction between a wheel with rubber tire and a road surface is represented by a measuring result curve (1-4) the shape of which is determined symptotically from the rubber tire influence curve (6). Thus the measuring result curve (1-4) will have a characteristic shape with maximum values (1A-4A). The maximum friction is determined by the influence curve of the rubber tire and the road surface respectively, also denoted the maximum friction influence curve (8). Each influence curve has its mathematical model. In the mathematical model for the maximum friction influence curve (8) there is incorporated a slip speed, properties of the car tire and road surface-to-car tire properties. The car tire properties and the pavement-to-car tire properties can be determined as process parameters by measurement.

Abstract: A telescopic boom contains a multistage hydraulic cylinder for extending and retracting the boom parts. The telescopic boom is characterized in that a first component of a supporting device is secured to at least one cylinder and in that a second component of the supporting device is secured to a least one telescopic boom part. The second component co-operates with the first component to support the hydraulic cylinder on the boom parts. The first component of the supporting device is shaped as two opposing claws and the second component is shaped as two opposing rails or rail sections. The claws grasp the rails or rail sections, and the rails or rail sections are provided on the inner wall part of the boom part.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for preventing or reducing ischemia following injury, such as reperfusion injury following ischemia, cellular damage associated with ischemic episodes, such as infarctions or traumatic injuries, and thus to prevent or reduce the consequent progressive necrosis of tissue associated with such ischemia. This effect is achieved by administering DHEA, DHEA derivatives or DHEA congeners to a patient as soon as possible after the injury. The present invention is further directed to methods for preventing or reducing bacterial translocation or adult respiratory distress syndrome in a patient. Similarly, bacterial translocation and adult respiratory distress syndrome are prevented or reduced by administering DHEA, DHEA derivatives or DHEA congeners to a patient.

Abstract: Plant transformants having an expressible heterologous gene for an antimicrobial agent for disease resistance and/or a protein high in limiting essential amino acid content for enhanced nutritional quality. Monocots, dicots and gymnosperms are genetically enhanced for disease resistance to express a lytic peptide such as cecropin, attacin or lysozyme, or an antiviral antisense micRNA. The nutritional quality of plants cultivated for food is enhanced by a gene expressing a protein containing 25-60 weight percent of methionine, lysine, tryptophan, threonine and isoleucine. Methods for obtaining such transformants, novel expressing vectors, novel proteins high in essential amino acids, and novel lytic peptides are also disclosed.

Abstract: The articles to be wrapped are located over the mouth of a forming device with the interposition of a sheet of wrapping material. Extending from this mouth is a cavity in which, as a result of the advancement of the article caused by a pusher element, the wrapper material is wrapped around the front face of the article relative to its direction of the advance. Subsequently the cavity contracts around behind the article to be wrapped and this contraction completes the wrapping of the wrapper material around the article itself. The preferred application is in the packaging of food products such as, for example, confectionery products.

Abstract: The present invention aims at reducing power consumption in a radio communication apparatus having a plurality of radio sections capable of selective switching by controlling power to be supplied to each of the radio sections. To this end, the apparatus includes: a power-supply condition memory section in which conditions for controlling power supply are previously set and stored; and a control section for controlling power supply to the other radio sections based on the value of a reception-signal quality signal from a currently selected radio section and the conditions previously set and stored to the power-supply condition memory section. A reference value for controlling power supply is previously set and stored to the power-supply condition memory section as a power-supply condition. At the control section, the value of a reception-signal quality signal from the currently selected radio section is compared with the reference value previously set and stored to the power-supply condition memory section.

Abstract: A self-adhesive label comprising a self-adhesive base having a rear self-adhesive surface, a multipage booklet in an unfolded configuration disposed over a front surface of the base, a cover sheet disposed over the booklet and a self-adhesive laminar material having a rear self-adhesive surface which is adhered over the cover sheet and to a portion of the front surface of the base, the booklet being temporarily attached to the cover sheet whereby when the laminar material and the cover sheet are pulled away from the base thereby to reveal the booklet, the booklet is detachable from the cover sheet.

Abstract: A gravity box grain cart has an auger assembly for conveying granular material. The auger assembly includes an auger with an axis and a helical flight along the axis, with the auger having a feed end, a discharge end and a central auger section therebetween. A cylindrical auger tube surrounds at least the central auger section, and the feed end of the auger extends outwardly from the tube. A sump for granular material is connected to the auger tube and surrounds the feed end of the auger. The auger, auger tube and sump are pivotable about approximately the feed end of the auger in approximately a first plane. The auger, auger tube and sump are further pivotable about approximately the feed end of the auger in a second plane approximately perpendicular to the first plane. The sump has a diameter through the axis of the auger which is about perpendicular to the second plane, and which is at least about 40-100% larger than the diameter of the auger tube.

Abstract: A communication control unit in accordance with the present invention comprises a channel quality detection unit that includes a differential block for calculating a double differential phase by performing a plurality of times differential on a received signal and a signal lagging behind the received signal by a predetermined time, a frequency calculation block for calculating a frequency by which the double differential phase falls into a pseudo-error area within a predetermined observation time, and a quality index calculation block for calculating an index of the quality of a channel on the basis of an output of the frequency calculation block, and that calculates an index of the quality of a channel employed using a received signal, a quality decision unit for deciding from the result of channel quality index calculation performed on the channel employed which is provided by the channel quality detection unit whether or not a channel is good, a control unit for controlling the channel according to the res

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a DNA construct which is useful for immunization or gene therapy. The construct of the invention comprises muscle specific regulatory elements, such as a promoter or a promoter and one or more enhancer elements, and a DNA sequence under control of the muscle specific regulatory elements. Several DNA sequences may be incorporated into the DNA construct. In one embodiment, the DNA sequence codes for an antigen, antigenic determinant or an epitope of an antigen. In a second embodiment, the DNA sequence is a normal muscle gene which is effected in a muscle disease. In a third embodiment, the DNA sequence is an antisense for blocking an abnormal muscle gene. In a fourth embodiment, the DNA sequence codes for a protein which circulates in the mammalian blood or lymphatic systems.

Abstract: The present invention relates a method of preventing hypothermia utilizing to an upper body blanket for use with forced air convection systems, wherein the blanket includes an integrally formed head cover and integrally formed tie straps. By providing a blanket with a head cover, heat loss from the head area of the patient can be significantly reduced.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to cloning the ends of genes. Traditionally it has been very difficult to recover the 5' end of a gene. The present invention greatly eases this problem. The invention is a variation on RACE and uses a combination of techniques. Specific genes are purified by using three enrichment steps--1) a polymerase chain reaction, 2) a hybrid capture step, and 3) a second polymerase chain reaction. The inclusion of the hybrid capture step results in a greater enrichment than occurs with RACE. The ends of the gene are retained by use of a novel technique of attaching adaptors at the ends of the nucleic. The 5' end of the gene is conserved by preparing a first strand of cDNA and ligating to this an adaptor which is partially double stranded wherein the overhang or single stranded region of the adaptor is degenerate which allows for a fraction of the adaptor population to hybridize with the first strand of cDNA at the 3' end of the cDNA.

Abstract: A transport wagon includes convertible support brackets for alternatively carrying different pieces of farm equipment, such as a grain platform or a corn header. Each convertible support bracket has a first support member pivotally connected to a second support member. The first support member has a support surface and can move between a first position for supporting part of an article to be carried and a second position for allowing the second support member, which has a support surface, to support part of a different article to be carried. The brackets can be slidably mounted on the frame of the transport cart. The brackets can be moved to one position for transporting a first article such as a grain platform. The brackets also can be moved to a second position for transporting a second article such as a corn header.

Abstract: The decimal numbers in ASCII code are converted into base n number codes, where the base n is greater than ten, and then are transmitted between the main control unit and the terminals including servo systems and spindle systems in an automated factory system. The data is thus compressed, and greater number of axes of the numerically controlled devices, etc., can be controlled within a predetermined time length for transmitting the data.