Abstract: The bacteriophage has a high level of specificity to a certain specific pathogenic bacterium so that the bacteriophage can surely kill the pathogenic bacterium as a host through phogocytic action. The bio-bactericidal material containing the bacteriophage can be applied to food such as fresh food, etc., and to places, etc. or to even persons for cooking food material such as restaurants, school kitchens, etc., or any other thing which requires disinfection from pathogenic bacteria, and it can kill pathogenic bacteria. The bio-bactericidal material containing a cocktail of two or more different kinds of the bacteriophages can kill corresponding kinds of pathogenic bacteria concurrently. Further, the phage can infect only the pathogenic bacterium as a host bacterium, and does not infect persons, making it very safe and useful.

Abstract: A process for lubrication a container, such as a beverage container, by applying to the container, a substantially non-aqueous lubricant. The process provides many advantages as compared to the use of an aqueous lubricant.

Abstract: Disclosed is a polypropylene fiber, which is obtained from an isotactic polypropylene homopolymer with an isotactic index of 90 to 99% through melt-spinning or through drawing after melt-spinning, and shows two differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) endothermic peaks between 155 and 170° C. When being thermally bonded with one another, the fibers are made into non-woven fabrics which have excellent strength in addition to being soft. A high quality of the non-woven fabrics can be produced in high speed carding machines with high yields.

Abstract: A system for detecting the presence and direction of an object passing through a gate, for example, a door of a building or a room, and announcing the detection result to the operator or persons in the building or the room. The system detects an object passing through a gate supported laterally by a frame. The system comprises a reflector, signal generating and determining means, and a user interface. The reflector is disposed at an edge of the frame. The signal generating and determining means is disposed at the other edge of the frame so as to face the reflector. The signal generating and determining means generates a first and a second infrared beams to emit to the reflector, receives a mixed beam in which the first and the second beams reflected by the reflector are superimposed, and determines the presence and direction of the object passing through the gate based on the mixed beam.

Abstract: A block for use in constructing a retaining wall system has a front wall and a partition wall formed backwards projecting from the front wall; wherein the partition wall is provided with a communicating hole extending vertically over the entire length thereof through and in which a reinforcing iron rod is disposed or inserted; the partition wall is provided on an upper surface with an upper depression such that the upper depression is enclosed with an upwardly raised peripheral edge portion having a top flat surface and an inner wall surface of the peripheral raised edge portion is gradually widened downwardly from the top surface edge toward the inside of the upper depression; the partition is further provided on a bottom surface with a lower depression such that the lower depression is enclosed with a downwardly reduced peripheral edge portion and an inner wall surface of the peripheral reduced edge portion is gradually narrowed downwardly from the bottom surface of the lower depression toward the bottom ed

Abstract: An apparatus for forming a fluid tight seal around a penis of a user comprising for controlling male urinary incontinence, the apparatus having a substantially fluid impermeable sheath having a proximal end and a distal end, an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein, in use, at least a portion of the inner surface contacts the skin of the penis. The sheath has a first longitudinally compliant portion and a second radially compliant portion positioned between the proximal and distal ends. The longitudinally compliant portion can take the form of bellows, and the radially compliant portion can take the form of flutes. A retention arrangement, such as a strap for retaining the radially compliant portion about the circumference of the penis of a user can also be provided. The sheath is, in use, attached at the proximal end to a retention ring attached to a user.

Abstract: A water saving mechanism is assembled with a shower device and is simply constructed in such a manner that supply of water is executed by the pressing of a push member and discharge of water is cut by the inclination of a shower head in a downward direction.

Abstract: Needle guards are disclosed for use with needle assemblies comprising a needle hub that joins a flexible trailing tube to a medical needle, the normally open front ends of the guards being closeable after a needle and hub have been pulled therein by the trailing tube. In one example (FIG. 4c), a guard (10) has a stiff upper sidewall (24a) of an inverted U-shape and a flexible lower sidewall (26b) that fits inside the upper sidewall and is resiliently biased to bring its front end (31) into contact with the front end (30) of upper sidewall (24b) so as to close the front aperture of the guard after the needle assembly (16) has been withdrawn into the guard. The lower sidewall (26b) can be locked or clipped into the upper sidewall (24b) by pressing lower sidewall passed catches (72). In this way, the needle is completely and safely enclosed after use to reduce the danger of needle-stick injury and blood-splash contamination.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an aqueous phase process for purifying long-chain dicarboxylic acids from a liquid containing a long-chain dicarboxylic acid/or a salt thereof. The invention overcomes the disadvantages of low purity and high chroma of the product obtained by using the aqueous phase process of the prior art. Through the step of crystallizing the monosalt of long-chain dicarboxylic acid, the present process reduces effectively the content of such impurities as proteins and coloring materials in the product and obtains the long-chain dicarboxylic acid product having a total acid content of greater than 99 wt % and exhibiting a white appearance.

Abstract: A lubricant composition comprising a lubricating agent and a quaternary phosphonium compound is useful as a conveyor, container or beverage lubricant.

Abstract: A low-noise amplifier which is equipped with at least one redundancy circuit which is connected in parallel to an amplifying circuit, so that the low-noise amplifier operates without a significant signal loss even when an abnormality takes place in the amplifying circuit and the amplifying circuit is not replaced or troubleshooted. The low-noise amplifier includes a redundancy circuit (30) effectively operable instead of an amplifying circuit (24) when the amplifying circuit (24) is in an abnormal condition, and at least one switch (22) activates the redundancy circuit (30) when the amplifying circuit (24) is abnormal. In a preferred embodiment, the redundancy circuit (30) includes a transmission line (32) for bypassing an input RF signal when the amplifying circuit (24) is in an abnormal condition. In an alternative, the redundancy circuit (30) includes a redundant amplifying circuit (34), so that the redundant amplifying circuit (34) can amplify the input RF signal in place of the amplifying circuit (24).

Abstract: A pressureless electric water heater for domestic use has a cylindrical double-walled tank for holding a quantity of a heat transfer liquid such as water. Cold water enters a copper coil immersed in the heat transfer liquid. The heat transfer liquid is heated by an electric heating element that extends down from a hinged tank top. Cold water flowing through the immersed coil is heated by the heat transfer liquid and exits the coil as hot water. The hinged top allows easy access to the interior of the tank and to the heating element, further easing access and replacement thereof. Sedimentation in the tank is minimized because the tank water is rarely replaced. Sedimentation in the coil is reduced because pressurized water flows through the coil when hot water is required and continuously cleanses the tubing. A sensor block is used to activate the heating element whenever water is introduced into the coils. An automatic fill valve maintains the tank level.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for controlling the winding density of film rolls, a desired and an actual winding density of a film roll are determined and compared with one another. The quantity obtained from the comparison is multiplied by an adapting or damping factor &agr;, and the control output resulting therefrom is adapted to the film contact pressure and the film pull. The values thus obtained are fed as manipulated variables to a contact pressure actuator and a pull actuator for the film.

Abstract: A handbag is made more versatile by removably attaching an inner bag to an outer shell of the handbag. When a handbag of a different color or style is required, the inner bag can be removed from one outer shell and inserted into a second outer shell, allowing the user to change handbags without disturbing the contents of the inner bag.

Abstract: An apparatus and method which allows one skilled in the art to make either gradient or non-gradient slab gels continuously so that the produced gels are uniformly formed, polymerized and cut to a specific size as needed, in a mass-produced, assembly line manner.

Abstract: A pressureless electric water heater for domestic use has a cylindrical double-walled tank for holding a quantity of a heat transfer liquid such as water. Cold water enters a copper coil immersed in the heat transfer liquid. The heat transfer liquid is heated by an electric heating element which extends down from a hinged tank top. Cold water flowing through the immersed coil is heated by the heat transfer liquid and exits the coil as hot water. The hinged top allows easy access to the interior of the tank and to the heating element, further easing access and replacement thereof. Sedimentation in the tank is minimized because the tank water is rarely replaced. Sedimentation in the coil is reduced because pressurized water flows through the coil when hot water is required and continuously cleanses the tubing. A sensor block is used to activate the heating element whenever water is introduced into the coils. An automatic fill valve maintains the tank level.

Abstract: An ergonomic housing for a handheld device is provided. The device includes an ergonomic housing that is shaped to fit comfortably in the palm of a human hand, while simultaneously allowing fingered tactile operation of a set of key members on the face and lateral portions of the housing. The device is particularly useful for one-handed operation of portable devices utilizing a keypad where operation of such a device using two hands is not desirable. The position of keys on the housing facilitates minimal movement of both the fingers and thumb of the operator to operate the keys of the device. Such manipulation of keys may also be accomplished completely by touch, due to the uniquely shaped keys strategically placed in rows on the housing face within close proximity of the operator's natural finger positions and additional keys placed within close proximity of the operator's natural thumb position.