Abstract: A condensing gas water heating device includes a frame, a main heat exchanger and a condensing heat exchanger. The frame, main heat exchanger, and a condensing heat exchanger all are made of stainless steel. The main heat exchanger and the condensing heat exchanger are integrally welded with the flue of the frame along the flue gas flow path to form a heat exchanger assembly. A condensed water collector is arranged between the main heat exchanger and the condensing heat exchanger. By welding the frame, main heat exchanger and condensing heat exchanger, which are made of stainless steel, into the integrally structured heat exchanger assembly, the present invention simplifies the structure and processing technology of the heat exchanger assembly, saves the installation space and materials of the heat exchanger assembly, and improves the corrosion resistance of the heat exchanger assembly.

Abstract: Described is a game board for playing a game supported by a tablet computer having a display, wherein the game board includes a playing field and accommodation means for accommodating the computer, wherein the playing field comprises one or more sensing elements, which upon activation, send a signal to the tablet computer. Furthermore, a method for operating the board by one or more game participants is described.

Abstract: A network node well suited for use in a distributed control network includes a housing containing the node electronics, and an external port for receiving a detachable plug-in module. The plug-in module contains a programmable memory which, when the plug-in module is attached, allows electronic interconnection between the electronics of the network node and the readable memory. The readable memory stores a unique node identifier which becomes associated with the node, and can also store functional program code for the particular node. Thus, a node can be easily and rapidly replaced or reprogrammed, without the need for specialized equipment to download the node identifier or functional program code, and without the possibility of erroneous manual entry of the node identifier. The plug-in module further includes a writable memory portion which can be used to store data during operation of the node, for later retrieval.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a short-circuit detection circuit and a short-circuit detection method. The short-circuit detection circuit detects whether an output node is short-circuited to a first predetermined level. A first switch circuit which is controlled by a control signal is coupled between the output node and a second predetermined level. The short-circuit detection circuit includes: a determination circuit, which is coupled between the output node and the second predetermined level, wherein when the determination circuit is enabled, it generates a determination signal according to whether the output node is short-circuited to the first predetermined level; and a second switch circuit, which generates a short-circuit detection signal according to the determination signal.

Abstract: An apparatus, method, and computer program product for providing information for surgical planning based on automated biomechanical analysis of a bone-implant system using finite element analysis of a patient's 3D medical image, including automated biomechanical analysis of bone-implant systems for use in surgical planning both pre-operatively and intra-operatively and for use in research and development studies.

Abstract: Beverage making equipment, water heating equipment, and methods for using such equipment which use heated water and dispenses heated water from a heated water reservoir. The apparatus includes a water line extending from the heated water reservoir to a dispensing point, the line having a positive slope between the reservoir and dispensing point. A vent tube may also be used communicating with and coupled to the line with a return passage communicating with the vent and reservoir. The method of dispensing water from a heated water reservoir involves dispensing water from the reservoir at one level and delivering water to a dispensing point at a second level positioned at a positive dimension above the dispensing port of the heated water reservoir. the method may also include providing a vent tube coupled to and communicating with the line for removing gas which evolves from water passing through the line and returning the gas to the reservoir.

Abstract: A communication circuit facilitating communication between a first equipment and a second equipment including a conversion circuit, an input port, an output port, and a communication port is disclosed. The conversion circuit converts an input signal to a first intermediate signal, and converts a second intermediate signal to an output signal. The input port inputs the input signal to the first conversion circuit. The output port outputs the output signal to the control unit. The communication port inputs the second intermediate signal to the conversion circuit, and outputs the first intermediate signal to the second equipment. A voltage of the first intermediate signal is determined based on a voltage of a power source if the first intermediate signal is logic high, and a voltage of the second intermediate signal is determined based on the voltage of the power source if the second intermediate signal is logic high.

Abstract: A method of pumping a liquid using at least one operating tank (2), a pneumatic positive pressure displacement pump (1), which is based on the fact that during pumping, inflow valve (4) closure is controlled through the introduction of a control gas into the operating tank (2) positive pressure displacement pump (1) at a pressure lower than the pressure of the compressed actuating gas and from the hydrostatic pressure at the egress of the outflow valve but higher than the hydrostatic pressure on the ingress into the inflow valve (4), which causes the inflow valve (4) to close. A device for pumping liquids comprising at least one operating tank (2) of a positive pressure displacement pump (1), to which leads a control gas conduit (10) with a control valve (11) mounted thereon, which is used to close off the inflow valve (4), and the lower section of the operating tank (2) has a narrow section in the form of a vertical cylinder (16).

Abstract: A signal transmitter device comprises an electrical acoustic signal transmitter signal, which has a piezoceramic disk on a metal membrane, on a printed circuit board. The printed circuit board has an opening in the region of the piezoceramic disk or the metal membrane, wherein the metal membrane extends over the opening for the purpose of bearing on the printed circuit board in an edge region of the opening. The piezoceramic disk arranged on the metal membrane is arranged towards the opening and substantially in the region of the opening, wherein a contact projection as part of the printed circuit board for electrical contact-connection to the signal transmitter is provided at the edge region of the opening. Separate parts can thus be obviated.

Abstract: An automatic rotating turret device for work machinery is provided, in which a lift turret is not used. The turret device is provided with an axial-direction slide body, which is advanced or retracted in the direction of the axis of rotation of the turret by the drive device advancing or retracting the drive body in a direction orthogonal to the direction of rotation axis; and a clutch device that is engaged or disengaged by the axial-direction slide body being advanced or retracted, the turret being of a non-lift-type, and there being provided to the drive body a tapering action part for generating an expanding action caused by the movement of the drive body and pressingly sliding the axial-direction slide body against the turret stage.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a multi-phase switching regulator, a driver circuit of a multi-phase switching regulator, and a control method of a multi-phase switching regulator. The multi-phase switching regulator includes: at least two power stages, switching power transistors in the power stages to convert an input voltage to an output voltage according to pulse width modulation (PWM) signals generated by corresponding PWM controllers respectively; and a current balance circuit, generating a current balance signal according to the current of the corresponding power stage and a phase adjustment signal to averagely distribute current over the active power stages. In the present invention, the gain of the current balance circuit is adjustable, to avoid or reduce output voltage overshoot and undershoot when the phase number changes, while the current balance function is still achieved in normal operation.

Abstract: A fusion protein comprising domain (a) which is the functional fragment of a hTRAIL protein sequence, which fragment begins with an amino acid at a position not lower than hTRAIL95, or a homolog of said functional fragment having at least 70% sequence identity; and at least one domain (b) which is the sequence of an effector peptide having anti-proliferative activity against tumour cells, wherein the sequence of domain (b) is attached at the C-terminus or at the N-terminus of domain (a). The fusion protein can be used for the treatment of cancer diseases.

Abstract: A friction stir processing tool is formed from a Ni-based dual multi-phase intermetallic compound alloy containing rhenium(Re). The Ni-based dual multi-phase intermetallic compound alloy is preferably formed by casting, while gradually cooling, a melt containing all the components of the composition and is preferably heat treated after casting. Moreover, in a method for friction stir processing, a work is softened by friction heat generated when the friction stir processing tool, while rotating, is pressed against the work to be processed. The friction stir processing tool includes the Ni-based dual multi-phase intermetallic compound alloy, and therefore further high hardness is exhibited to improve abrasion resistance, so that even a long period of friction stir processing can be endured.

Abstract: The invention relates to the new, asymmetrically substituted derivatives of 2,7-dihydro-3H-dibenzo[de,h]cinnoline-3,7-dione and their use as cytostatics exhibiting activity against tumor cells, especially against cells with multidrug resistance (MDR). In particular, the invention concerns derivatives of 2,7-dihydro-3H-dibenzo[de,h]cinnoline-3,7-dione represented by the general formula (I).

Abstract: Provided is a bundle of fresh noodles which become less-wavy, straight noodles when the instant noodles are cooked with hot water, while maintaining an existing manufacturing line as much as possible. The noodle strings are stacked on a conveyor such that adjacent noodle strings are in a non-parallel state and each noodle string bends to have a substantially spiral shape. The plurality of noodle strings are arranged to overlap one another and form a substantially flat bundle of noodle strings. Each of the noodle strings forming fresh noodles bends and repeatedly forms loops on the conveyor. The loops are arranged to be sequentially shifted in a direction opposite a conveyance direction of the conveyor.

Abstract: A heating device for heating a liquid in the through-flow comprises a carrier with heating conductors thereon and at least two surface mounted device (SMD) temperature sensors. A first temperature sensor is arranged closed to the heating conductor at a distance of less than twice the heating conductor width. A second temperature sensor has a greater distance to the heating conductor than the first temperature sensor, preferably more than twice the distance of the first temperature sensor to the heating conductor.

Abstract: A system for conducting a financial transaction in e-commerce on the internet includes objects prepared by a seller and a buyer. The seller's object includes a clear text header file (advertisement), an encrypted overhead file which contains verification data pertaining to the financial transaction, and an encrypted content file containing the subject matter for sale by the seller. With a purchase solicitation from the buyer, an overhead key can be used by a transaction agency to ensure there is a compliance between the purchase solicitation and the verification data of the overhead (from seller's object). Next a revelation key is provided to give the buyer access to the content when such compliance has been ensured.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a rail-to-rail comparator. The rail-to-rail comparator includes: a positive voltage rail providing a positive supply voltage, a ground voltage rail providing a ground voltage, an input stage, and an output stage. The input stage includes: a positive and a negative input terminals for receiving a first input signal and a second input signal; a first differential amplifier circuit, which includes a pair of depletion NMOS transistors to generate a first pair of differential currents; and a second differential amplifier circuit, which includes a pair of native NMOS transistors to generate a second pair of differential currents. The output stage is coupled to the first differential amplifier circuit and the second differential amplifier circuit, and generates an output signal related to a difference between the first input signal and the second input signal.

Abstract: Device for transferring cylindrical segments from a hopper onto a grouping belt is provided with a guiding drum, having flutes on its periphery and a circumferentially closed conveyor which delivers segments to a rotary element with pushers. Conveyor with seats with a catching element for catching segments, and transferring the segments from the conveyor to the element is effected by means of a spiral drum. The device has a push-down element constituted by a cam with a groove of a height corresponding to the diameter of the segment. The catching element has the form of a depression in the body of the seat shaped as a half of a cylinder, corresponding to the diameter of the segment, with locks on edges, whereas the axis of the depression is perpendicular to the direction of motion of the conveyor.