Abstract: A method is provided for preparing an active slide, including introducing a monomer containing an aldehyde group, or a mixture of a monomer containing an aldehyde group and an acidic functional group provider into a plasma chamber; and depositing the aldehyde group and acidic functional group onto the surface of an organic or inorganic matrix using plasma deposition to form a slide comprising a layer of polymerized actively functional groups thereon. The aldehyde groups and negatively charged groups are deposited on the surface of the active slide, such that the bio-molecules bound thereto possess the properties of an inducible orientation and thus form a mono-layer.

Abstract: A fastener has a leg, a foot, an elastic portion and a flange formed on the leg, wherein the elastic portion has a ring around the leg and two bow arms oppositely connects two sides of the ring with two sides of the leg. The flange is higher than the ring of the elastic on the leg, so that the movement of the bow arms is limited by the flange. Therefore the fastener ensures the bow arms has elasticity after installation into the heat sink.

Abstract: The invention has been developed to find out a blemish on the surface of a disk (in particular, a stroke mark in the CSS area) without opening up a hard disk. Furthermore, the invention is intended not to cause extra labor or cost in fabrication of hard disks, and to be applicable to hard disk already in widespread use. To this end, with an acoustic inspection method of the invention, inspection of whether or not a blemish has been inflicted on the surface of a disk (in particular, a blemish in the CSS area) can be conducted without opening up the hard disk by detecting vibration occurring when a head of the hard drive comes into collision with the blemish on the disk from vibration propagating to a housing of the hard disk.

Abstract: A pivot hinge assembly for a glass structure includes a central shaft adapted to be securely mounted on the doorframe, a driving housing having an axial passage extending through the driving housing to receive therein the central shaft and a radial passage defined to extend through the driving housing and intercept the axial passage. Two pivoting devices are respectively and oppositely received in the radial passage. Each pivoting device is spaced away from one another by the central shaft. A support has a U shaped seat formed to securely receive therein the driving housing and the two pivoting devices. A piece of glass of the pivot door is able to drive the two pivoting devices to pivot relative to the central shaft so as to facilitate the smoothness of pivotable movement of the pivot door.

Abstract: An exercise ball has a bladder, a yarn lining wound on an outer face of the bladder, an air layer formed between the outer face of the bladder and the yarn lining, a cloth lining wrapped on the yarn lining, an adhesive layer applied on an outer surface of the cloth lining, a sponge lining securely attached to the cloth lining by the adhesive layer, and an outer surface securely engaged with the sponge lining. With the provision of the air lining and the sponge lining, the exercise ball is able to maintain its softness.

Abstract: A method and a device for determining the operating time and the operating condition of a hydraulic percussion unit, in particular a hydraulic hammer, having a percussion piston which is guided inside a housing and, under the effect of a controller, alternately performs an operating stroke in an impact direction and a return stroke in a return direction. The method and device obtain information to determine whether the percussion unit requires maintenance operations. Signals are generated during the consecutive, individual operational segments of the percussion unit. The number of signals is proportional to the strokes performed by the percussion piston in one movement direction. The number of the signals is continuously added and is stored as a total number. The current total number of signals can be displayed at least at times for indicating the operating condition of the percussion unit.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel ophthalmic drug delivery formulation which comprises a mixture of Carbopol and Pluronic. Carbopol is a trademark of B.F. Goodrich Company's high molecular weight carboxy vinyl polymers (MW above 1,000,000). Pluronic belongs to a class of block copolymers containing polyoxyethylene and polyoxypropylene. The preferred weight percentages of Carbopol and Pluronic in the ophthalmic drug delivery formulation are 0.3% of Carbopol and 14% of Pluronic. The ocular bioavailability is greatly enhanced by the use of the ophthalmic drug delivery formulation of the present invention.

Abstract: A method of coating an inner surface of a weapon barrel includes the following steps: introducing a plasma burner into the weapon barrel; producing a plasma flame by the plasma burner; directing the plasma flame against the inner barrel surface to cause impingement thereon; introducing a coating material in powder, wire or ribbon form into the plasma flame for melting the coating material to form a molten liquid and for depositing the molten liquid by the plasma flame on the inner barrel surface; and moving the plasma burner inside the weapon barrel axially thereof and relative thereto while performing the depositing step for obtaining a surface coating on the inner barrel surface.

Abstract: A number of protein and glycoprotein antigens secreted by Mycobacterium. tuberculosis (Mt) have been identified as “early” Mt antigens on the basis early antibodies present in subjects infected with Mt prior to the development of detectable clinical disease. These early Mt antigens, in particular an 88 kDa secreted protein having a pI of about 5.2 and the sequence of SEQ ID NO:106, which is present in Mt lipoarabinomannan-free culture filtrate, a protein characterized as Mt antigen 85C; a protein characterized as Mt antigen MPT51, a glycoprotein characterized as Mt antigen MPT32; and a 49 kDa protein having a pI of about 5.1, are useful in immunoassay methods for early, rapid detection of TB in a subject. Preferred immunoassays detect the antibodies in the subject's urine. Also provided are antigenic compositions, kits and methods to useful for detecting an early Mt antigen, an early Mt antibody, and immune complexes thereof.

Abstract: A standing structure of a striking mechanism for a bass drum includes a base plate with two arms extending from the base plate. Each of the two arms has a first recess defined thereon to receive a barrel having bearing inside. Two retaining caps are connected together by a connecting rod, and each retaining cap has a second recess corresponding to the first recess defined thereon. The barrels can be force fitted and clamped in the combined first recess and the second recess, and the bearings in the barrels can be connected to a long shaft and a short shaft. The standing structure can enhance the stability of a strike of the bass drum, the precision when assembling the stand structure, and is suitable for a left-footed or a right-footed person to play the bass drum.

Abstract: The present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition which comprises water extracts of Tuber ophiopogon, Tuber pinelliae, Radix glycyrrhizae, and Radix pancis quinquefoli, and 50% alcohol extraction of Herba tridacis procumbentis. The pharmaceutical compositions are especially effective in treating patients with immunological disorders, such as asthma, atopic eczema, atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Abstract: An electromagnetic actuator for operating a cylinder valve in an internal combustion engine includes first and second housings secured to one another. Each housing has a cavity and a through bore extending therefrom. First and second electromagnets are disposed in the cavity of the respective housings. Each electromagnet has a yoke, a coil and a pole face. The pole faces are oriented toward and spaced from one another, and a reciprocating armature is disposed between the pole faces. A spring which urges the armature away from the first electromagnet has an end oriented away from the armature. A support cap is axially insertable in the through bore of the first electromagnet and includes a cap base having an inner face supporting the spring end. A locking arrangement secures the support cap to the housing and has a component axially insertable in the through bore with the support cap.

Abstract: Thermochromic laminates, which predictably vary their ability to absorb or reflect electromagnetic radiation, are provided. Laminates of the invention advantageously possess temperature trigger zones, that is, points or ranges of temperature, which function to decrease or increase the amount of electromagnetic energy, and particularly energy in the UV, infrared and visible ranges, that is reflected from the laminate, or absorbed as heat by the laminate and transmitted to an underlying structure. Laminates of the present invention can be provided in a variety of colors and temperature trigger points or ranges, and require no input of external energy except that of the impinging radiation. Laminates of the invention advantageously can be used in methods alone or combined with other materials such as roofing, siding, heat exchangers and other heat transfer materials and are therefore useful to control the temperature of an underlying structure or object.

Abstract: A tape support for an automatic wrapper includes a main frame and an internal frame. The internal frame is keyed onto the main frame and has four corners. A corner block is keyed to each corner of the main frame. A guide blade assembly is pivotally keyed onto two vertical sides of the main frame, and an adjustment assembly is keyed onto two vertical sides of the main frame. The corner block has three sides. One is concave, and the others form a right angle. The guide blades face each other and wrap around the internal frame. The arms of the adjustment assembly face each other and wrap around the blade assembly. A brush is mounted on the free ends of the adjustment assembly to guide the tape to the middle by its retaining force when the tape passes through the brush.

Abstract: A phase comparator which eliminates jitter in a clock signal extracted in a phase locked loop. The phase comparator includes: a flip-flop circuit which inputs input data and the clock signal and stores the input data in response to the clock signal; a delay circuit which inputs the input data and delays the input data by a predetermined angle of 0° through 180°; a first logic gate which inputs the input data and an output signal of the flip-flop circuit and which outputs an output signal by taking an exclusive OR or exclusive NOR thereof; and a second logic gate which inputs the data and the output signal of the delay circuit and which outputs an output signal by taking an exclusive OR or exclusive NOR thereof.

Abstract: A safety syringe has a needle hub detachably mounted at a front end of the barrel and a plunger slidably received in the barrel and having a retaining column extending out from the engaging flange of the plunger. The needle hub has a pair of retaining plates with a slot defined between the retaining plates. The retaining column has a hook and a slanted face, such that when the retaining column is securely clamped by the retaining plates and the needle hub is forced to move inward the barrel, the needle hub is inclined with respect to the barrel.

Abstract: A positioning hinge for a notebook computer has multiple collars each provided with an obliquely formed friction plate. The friction plate engages a side face of an extension of a bracket configured to attach securely to a body of the computer to provide the necessary friction force to hole the monitor at an angle relative to the body of the computer. With such an arrangement, the friction force can be adjusted to accommodate different weights of the monitor by reducing or increasing the number of the collars.

Abstract: A mounting sucker is adapted to be mounted on a smooth surface and composed of a suction devices (10), an intermediate member (20), and a rotating boss (30). When the rotating boss (30) is rotated, the central part of the suction devices (10) is pulled away from the smooth surface, creating a partial vacuum space. The intermediate member (20) pushes down on peripheral edges of the suction devices (10). An outer periphery of the rotating boss (30) extends beyond the range of the suction devices (10) so that the outer periphery of the rotating boss (30) can contact the smooth surface and transmit force from an object suspended on the mounting sucker.

Abstract: Ultraviolet absorbents and photostabilizers have an excellent absorption ability in a wide range of ultraviolet rays, and also have high stability and high safety. The ultraviolet absorbent and photostabilizer include a pyridazine derivative of the formula (1): or salts thereof. Also, described are methods for manufacturing said pyridazine derivative and/or this salts thereof comprising the process of reacting at least 10 wt % of 4,5-dichloro-3-hydroxypyridazine or 4,5-dibromo-3-hydroxypyridazine or mixtures thereof with at least 20 vol % of morpholine in reaction solution at 70° C. or higher. The ultraviolet absorbents photostabilizers include said pyridazine derivative and/or salts thereof as effective ingredient. An ultraviolet ray absorption composition and an external preparation for skin are also included.

Abstract: A heat dissipater for a CPU (Central Processing Unit) includes an upper block and a lower block abutting each other. The upper block has a series of fins extending upward from a first side of the upper block and a recess defined in a second side of the upper block. The lower block includes a first side having a recess defined to correspond to the recess in the upper block and forming a closed chamber with the recess in the upper block and a second side adapted to abut the CPU. Volatile liquid is received in the closed chamber to promote the heat dissipation of the heat dissipater for a CPU.