Abstract: A prosthesis for use in maintaining an interspinal space is disclosed. The prosthesis may be provided as first and second substantially symmetrical halves. The first and second halves may each have a coupling portion and a process portion. The coupling portions allow the separate halves to be separately fit within the interspinal space and then connected to form a single prosthesis, eliminating the need for cutting connecting ligaments to allow insertion of the prosthesis. Various connection and locking arrangements are disclosed to maintain the halves engaged with each other and the interspinal space.

Abstract: There is provided a concentrator and a reset control method therefor that may easily and reliably secure early restoration from an outage of network communications. A concentrator to which a plurality of network devices are connectible includes a communication control part for controlling a transfer process of information among the network devices, a condition determination part for determining whether information obtained from the communication control part satisfies a reset condition, and a reset control part for controlling a reset signal used to reset the communication control part based on a determination by the condition determination part.

Abstract: In a printer of the present invention, an EEPROM that carries out sequential access and has a relatively small storage capacity is applied for storage elements mounted on both black and color ink cartridges, which are detachably attached to the printer. Pieces of information relating to each ink cartridge, for example, pieces of information on remaining quantities of respective inks in the ink cartridge, are stored in the storage element of the ink cartridge. A format of addressing adopted in the storage elements of the ink cartridges is different from that adopted in an EEPROM incorporated in a printer main body of the printer. A control IC provided in the printer accordingly converts the storage format of addressing, before writing the information into the storage elements of the ink cartridges. In the printer, a RAM is mounted with the control IC on a carriage, and the pieces of information to be written into the storage elements of the ink cartridges are temporarily registered in the RAM.

Abstract: A topical insecticide is provided which can be safe to use and avoids many common deleterious side effects of conventional topical insecticides. In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the active ingredient of the insecticide formulation is an amine derivative, having a nitro-methylene group, a nitroamino group or a cyanoamino group, which can be formulated to have low toxicity and excellent insecticidal activity. One particularly suitable insecticide is 1-{(tetrahydro-3-furanyl)methyl}-2-nitro-3-methylguanidine (dinotefuran), an aldulticide that will kill adult fleas, dissolved in a solvent such as ethanol and/or DPM.

Abstract: A modular plug assembly is provided which includes a modular plug body, and an insulation displacement connector (IDC), having a terminal body and a terminal strip. The assembly is formed to engage a wire, including a multi-conductor wire, and be inserted into a modular jack to form an electrical connection between the wire and the modular jack. Any length of wire can be used, and in the preferred embodiment of the invention, the assembly engages the wire in a toolless manner.

Abstract: The present invention provides a solar-battery-mounted display structure which comprises a solar battery (16) having a light-receiving surface (16a) disposed in a displaying portion, a light-transmissive plate (17) disposed on the front side of the light-receiving surface and having a predetermined light-transmittance, and an coating layer (20) formed on the back surface of the light-transmissive plate such that the solar battery can securely generate at least a predetermined amount of electric power. Since an coating layer is formed on the back surface of the light-transmissive plate, no coating layer is necessary on the light-receiving surface of the solar battery. Due to this, consideration of suitability of such a coating layer to the light-receiving surface is not required, and discarding or exchange of the solar battery due to defects in such a coating layer is not required.

Abstract: An organic waste composting system is provided for rapidly, economically and naturally composting organic waste. A container having a gas impermeable floor, sides and top is provided with a gas inlet port and a gas exhaust port. An air floor is provided within the container, the air floor being gas permeable and impermeable to solids contained within the container. The system farther includes a mixing blade dimensioned so that shear forces produced by the blade when rotated within the organic waste are substantially equal to the viscoelastic forces of the organic waste particles. The mixing blade is dimensioned to further shear the waste to a size which increases its surface area-to-volume ratio without compacting it, thus providing suitable moisture distribution, particle distribution and air channels between particles.

Abstract: A process for treating oils and solvents contaminated by radioactive substances includes a step of subjecting the oils and solvents to the action of pre-selected micro-organisms in the presence of air and a very large volume of water, relative to the volume of oils and solvents to be treated. The micro-organisms destroy organic molecules, and in particular transform them into CO.sub.2 and H.sub.2 O. Further steps of the process include preparing a predetermined volume of water having predetermined characteristics of dissolved oxygen concentration, pH and redox potential and adding a predetermined charge of oils and solvents contaminated by radioactive substances to this volume of water, the charge corresponding to a volume of oils and solvents which is a predetermined fraction of the predetermined volume of water. The charge is subjected to the action of micro-organisms at a predetermined temperature and for a predetermined time period.

Abstract: An ink tank cartridge is provided removably mountable onto an ink supply needle of the ink-jet type recording apparatus body. The cartridge has a housing provided with an ink supply port extending through and projecting from a wall of the housing and into the chamber of the housing. A porous member having ink impregnated thereon is positioned inside the chamber of the housing abutting against the ink supply port. A filter is mounted on the inner end opening of the ink supply port. The ink tank cartridge is further provided with a packing member for resiliently abutting against the outer periphery of the ink supply needle and is positioned adjacent one end of the ink supply port. The outer opening of the ink supply port is sealed with a sealing member through which the ink supply needle penetrates.

Abstract: An animal treatment apparatus comprises a shallow trough (3) in which at last an injured leg (33) of the animal (5) an be located, a container (47) for containing water, a nozzle (53) for aiming the water at an injured area of an animal's body, attachment means (39, 41) for attachment of the nozzle (53) to the animal's body such that the nozzle (53) can remain correctly aligned even if the animal (5) moves, conveying means (31, 45) for conveying the water from the container (47) to the nozzle (53), the trough (3) being arranged to collect the water after it has been sprayed on to the animal's body and return means (15, 17) for returning the water from the trough (3) to the container (47).

Abstract: The musical wind instrument comprises a keying stop (7) engaging by means of a base in a hole in the body (2).The base has a non-circular cross section and the hole is defined by an associated non-circular wall.

Abstract: A dual chamber orifice fitting comprising a first chamber maintained in fluid communication with a pipeline, a fluid flowing in the pipeline passing through the first chamber; a second chamber selectively maintained in fluid communication with the first chamber; a sealing member selectively rotatable from a first position wherein the sealing member seals the first chamber from the second chamber, and a second position wherein the sealing member permits the first chamber to be placed in fluid communication with the second chamber.

Abstract: A device for at least one of receiving and transmitting information is provided. The device housing having a front and rear casing is provided with a battery housing therein. At least one terminal element through which at least a portion of the information is written into and/or read from the device is positioned in the battery housing for access when the cover of the battery housing is removed. The at least one terminal element is arranged between respective regions of the battery casing and the front casing, extending essentially parallel to and proximate to the front casing.