Abstract: A housing of measuring tape compromising a supporting a hard plastic shell, a buffer soft plastic shell and two impact proof side metal covers, the supporting hard plastic shell and the buffer soft plastic shell can be injected together or stuck together after being injected separately for the right, left body of the measuring tape. During assembling, screws are applied in both directions to have the tape wheel, the elastic component, the tape lock/automatic rewind switch and all the components installed inside the right, left body, then to have the impact proof side metal covers installed on both external sides of the right, left body. The screw holes are covered by the impact proof side metal covers, such structure make the housing with light weight, impact proof and not easy to disperse characters.

Abstract: The invention is directed to small organic molecules having the ability to mimic or agonize hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF) activity, or inhibit or antagonize HGF/SF activity, the former useful for promoting, for example, vascularization of tissues or organs for promoting wound or tissue healing, or augmenting or restoring blood flow to ischemic tissues such as the heart following myocardial infarction. Inhibition of cellular growth or proliferation is beneficial in the treatment, for example, of inflammatory diseases such as inflammatory joint and skin diseases, and dysproliferative diseases such as cancer.

Abstract: A method of inhibiting the release of a proinflammatory cytokine in a cell is disclosed. The method comprises treating the cell with a cholinergic agonist. The method is useful in patients at risk for, or suffering from, a condition mediated by an inflammatory cytokine cascade, for example endotoxic shock. The cholinergic agonist treatment can be effected by stimulation of an efferent vagus nerve fiber, or the entire vagus nerve.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and data structure for procuring and analyzing information, particularly information regarding the financial markets. The system provides a comprehensive combination of financial information in a format that facilitates analysis and decision-making.

Abstract: A back cover for a motor includes a shell body, two carbon brush holders and two covering caps. The shell body has two receiving holes cut through inside and outside walls thereof. The carbon brush holders are respectively mounted in the shell body for holding a respective carbon brush bar in the receiving holes. The two carbon brush holders each have a mounting plate located in one of the receiving holes, and a spring supported on the mounting plate for forcing the carbon brush bar toward an inside of the shell body. The covering caps are respectively mounted on the outside wall of the shell body to cover the receiving holes respectively.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method, oligonucleotide probes and primers, and assay kits for diagnosing an individual as having hypospermatogenesis associated infertility that involves demonstrating in the individual the presence or absence of a variant form of a gene in exons 6, 7, 8 or 9 of the L-VDCC &agr;1c transcript.

Abstract: A screen printing method is carried out by placing a material to be printed at a predetermined portion of a printing table, feeding a paste-state or ink-state coating material to a surface of a screen plate for printing, and sliding the surface of the screen plate relative to a squeegee to carry out screen printing. The above-mentioned paste-state or ink-state coating material is covered on the surface of the screen plate for printing with a thin thickness, and the paste-state or ink-state coating material coated on the surface of the screen plate for printing is printed to a material to be printed by the above-mentioned squeegee under vacuum or atmospheric pressure. After the above-mentioned coating step, a degassing step is provided to degas bubbles in the coated material by changing the pressure from high vaccum state to atmospheric pressure or low vacuum state.

Abstract: A lock assembly having a first body portion configured to lock with a second body portion. The first body portion includes a first end having a first aperture and a second aperture aligned in perpendicularly intersection with the first aperture. The second aperture retains a pair of locking balls. The second body portion includes an aperture configured to receive the first end of the first body portion. The aperture of the second body portion also includes a circumferential groove configured to receive a portion of the pair of locking balls in a locked position of the first body portion with the second body portion. A keyway locking cylinder is configured to axially drive a beveled point of an extension into the first aperture of the first body portion and force the pair of locking balls in a radially outward direction into the locked position with the circumferential groove.

Abstract: Methods of inhibiting release of a proinflammatory cytokine from a macrophage are provided. The methods comprise treating the macrophage with a cholinergic agonist in an amount sufficient to decrease the amount of the proinflammatory cytokine that is released from the macrophage, wherein the cholinergic agonist is selective for an &agr;7 nicotinic receptor. Methods for inhibiting an inflammatory cytokine cascade in a patient are also provided. The methods comprise treating the patient with a cholinergic agonist in an amount sufficient to inhibit the inflammatory cytokine cascade, wherein the cholinergic agonist is selective for an &agr;7 nicotinic receptor. Methods for determining whether a compound is a cholinergic agonist reactive with an &agr;7 nicotinic receptor are also provided. The methods comprise determining whether the compound inhibits release of a proinflammatory cytokine from a mammalian cell.

Abstract: An on-premises restaurant paging system and method for paging a customer in the restaurant. A data token provided to the customer includes an encoded customer identifier which the customer inputs into one of a plurality of paging receivers that are mounted on different tables in the restaurant. Each of the paging receivers includes a data input device for reading the data token, and storing the customer identifier in a database. A programmable paging transmitter broadcasts a paging message in the restaurant that includes a broadcast customer identifier. Each of the fixed paging receivers receives the broadcast paging message, extracts the broadcast customer identifier, and compares the broadcast customer identifier with the customer identifier stored in its database. The paging receiver that determines a match generates an alert signal to alert the customer.

Abstract: An apparatus for playing a toss game includes a projectile consisting of two weights connected by a tether and a stand. The stand includes a base supporting a goal. The goal includes at least two crossbars, each of which is assigned a point value. A method of playing a toss game is played in series. A series consists of competitors tossing a predetermined number of projectiles at the goal. The competitors score points with projectiles by looping over, wrapping around, or intersecting crossbars. Points are deducted if a projectile is dislodged from the goal. Competitors attempt to obtain an aggregate score equal to a target value. Procedures for resolving ties and tosses that cause competitors to exceed the target value may be employed.

Abstract: There is disclosed a pharmaceutical composition and method for treating sepsis, including, septic shock and ARDS (acute respiratory distress syndrome), comprising administering an effective amount of a HMG1 antagonist. There is further disclosed a diagnostic method for monitoring the severity or potential lethality of sepsis or septic shock, comprising measuring the serum concentration of HMG1 in a patient exhibiting or at risk or exhibit sepsis or septic shock symptoms. Lastly, there is disclosed a pharmaceutical composition and method for effecting weight loss or treating obesity, comprising administering an effective amount of HMG1 or a therapeutically active HMG1 fragment.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a method of using a therapeutic composition comprising a compound of an alpha-ketoalkanoic acid (pyruvate) and/or its derivatives for the treatment of cytokine-mediated inflammatory conditions. The compound is an alpha-ketoalkanoic acid, a physiologically acceptable salt of an alpha-ketoalkanoic acid, an ester of an alpha-ketoalkanoic acid, or an amide of an alpha-ketoalkanoic acid. A component for inducing and stabilizing the enol resonance form of the ester at physiological pH values is also disclosed. The cytokine-mediated inflammatory conditions are mediated by, for example, an “early” (Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF), interleukin-1&bgr; (IL-1&bgr;)) or “late” (high mobility group B-1 (HMGB-1)) mediator of inflammation.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of inducing growth or enhancing survival of nervous tissue comprising contacting the nervous tissue with an amount of ebaf effective to induce the growth or enhance the survival of the nervous tissue. The present invention also provides a method for treating a subject having damaged or degenerated nervous tissue comprising administering to the subject an amount of ebaf effective to treat the damaged or degenerated nervous tissue in the subject. The present invention further provides a method for treating a neurodegenerative disease in a subject comprising administering an amount of ebaf effective to treat the neurodegenerative disease. The present invention still further provides a method for preventing the onset or reducing the severity of damaged or degenerated nervous tissue in a subject comprising administering an amount of ebaf effective to prevent the onset or reduce the severity of the damaged or degenerated nervous tissue.

Abstract: A fixing device for the windshield of a safety helmet includes a windshield having its left and right end provided with a projection with projecting wings, a projecting rib and a slide block. A helmet shell is fixed with a base plate respectively at the opposite ends of its window. Each base plate is provided with a corrugated edge near the annular recess base, and a slide groove for receiving the slide block with a slidable lip block in its intermediate portion of a groove. In assembling, the windshield is slightly moved for a little angle, with projecting wings of the projection fitting in the two notches of the helmet shell and fixed by the lip blocks to keep the windshield immovable in place, convenient to assemble and use the windshield with the helmet shell.

Abstract: Sports balls are provided having a reinforced carcass with a resilient layer. The sports balls exhibit good durability and softness.

Abstract: A knife attachment for a sheet cutting system which has a base with a hole with a mounting plate adjacent the hole and having extension with a slot that extends towards the base at an acute angle. The extension has a ledge above the slot. A utility knife is held in a knife holding bracket that is attached to the extension by a bolt and nut that extends through the slot in the extension. The knife has a slot between a tab attached to the body of the knife near the blade that fits over the front edge of the securing plate to hold the knife in position. A holding plate is attached to the securing plate to prevent the knife from moving horizontally.