Abstract: A preload mechanism for an actuator is disclosed that includes a rotating element configured to rotate about a pivot. The preload mechanism also includes a bias element with a first end that is coupled to a second contact point of the rotating element and a second end configured to be pinned relative to the pivot. The bias element has a line of action extending from the second end through the first end. The line of action has an offset distance that is the minimum distance between the line of action and the pivot. The offset distance has a first value when the rotating element is in the first position and a second value when the rotating element is the second position, the second value being smaller than the first value.

Abstract: A preload mechanism for an actuator is disclosed that includes a rotating element configured to rotate about a pivot. The rotating element has a first contact point that is configured to couple to the actuator such that contraction of the actuator displaces the first contact point such that the rotating element rotates from a first position to a second position. The preload mechanism also includes a bias element with a first end that is coupled to a second contact point of the rotating element and a second end configured to be pinned relative to the pivot. The bias element has a line of action extending from the second end through the first end. The line of action has an offset distance that is the minimum distance between the line of action and the pivot. The offset distance has a first value when the rotating element is in the first position and a second value when the rotating element is the second position, the second value being smaller than the first value.

Abstract: A preload mechanism for an actuator is disclosed that includes a rotating element configured to rotate about a pivot. The rotating element has a first contact point that is configured to couple to the actuator such that contraction of the actuator displaces the first contact point such that the rotating element rotates from a first position to a second position. The preload mechanism also includes a bias element with a first end that is coupled to a second contact point of the rotating element and a second end configured to be pinned relative to the pivot. The bias element has a line of action extending from the second end through the first end. The line of action has an offset distance that is the minimum distance between the line of action and the pivot. The offset distance has a first value when the rotating element is in the first position and a second value when the rotating element is the second position, the second value being smaller than the first value.

Abstract: A preload mechanism for a memory alloy wire actuator is disclosed that includes a rotating element configured to rotate about a pivot. The rotating element has a first contact point that is configured to couple to the memory alloy wire actuator such that contraction of the memory alloy wire actuator displaces the first contact point such that the rotating element rotates from a first position to a second position. The preload mechanism also includes a bias element with a first end that is coupled to a second contact point of the rotating element and a second end configured to be pinned relative to the pivot. The bias element has a line of action extending from the second end through the first end. The line of action has an offset distance that is the minimum distance between the line of action and the pivot.

Abstract: A preload mechanism for a memory alloy wire actuator is disclosed that includes a rotating element configured to rotate about a pivot. The rotating element has a first contact point that is configured to couple to the memory alloy wire actuator such that contraction of the memory alloy wire actuator displaces the first contact point such that the rotating element rotates from a first position to a second position. The preload mechanism also includes a bias element with a first end that is coupled to a second contact point of the rotating element and a second end configured to be pinned relative to the pivot. The bias element has a line of action extending from the second end through the first end. The line of action has an offset distance that is the minimum distance between the line of action and the pivot.

Abstract: A preload mechanism for a memory alloy wire actuator is disclosed that includes a rotating element configured to rotate about a pivot. The rotating element has a first contact point that is configured to couple to the memory alloy wire actuator such that contraction of the memory alloy wire actuator displaces the first contact point such that the rotating element rotates from a first position to a second position. The preload mechanism also includes a bias element with a first end that is coupled to a second contact point of the rotating element and a second end configured to be pinned relative to the pivot. The bias element has a line of action extending from the second end through the first end. The line of action has an offset distance that is the minimum distance between the line of action and the pivot.

Abstract: A preload mechanism for a memory alloy wire actuator is disclosed that includes a rotating element configured to rotate about a pivot. The rotating element has a first contact point that is configured to couple to the memory alloy wire actuator such that contraction of the memory alloy wire actuator displaces the first contact point such that the rotating element rotates from a first position to a second position. The preload mechanism also includes a bias element with a first end that is coupled to a second contact point of the rotating element and a second end configured to be pinned relative to the pivot. The bias element has a line of action extending from the second end through the first end. The line of action has an offset distance that is the minimum distance between the line of action and the pivot.

Abstract: A preload mechanism for a memory alloy wire actuator is disclosed that includes a rotating element configured to rotate about a pivot. The rotating element has a first contact point that is configured to couple to the memory alloy wire actuator such that contraction of the memory alloy wire actuator displaces the first contact point such that the rotating element rotates from a first position to a second position. The preload mechanism also includes a bias element with a first end that is coupled to a second contact point of the rotating element and a second end configured to be pinned relative to the pivot. The bias element has a line of action extending from the second end through the first end. The line of action has an offset distance that is the minimum distance between the line of action and the pivot.

Abstract: A preload mechanism for a memory alloy wire actuator is disclosed that includes a rotating element configured to rotate about a pivot. The rotating element has a first contact point that is configured to couple to the memory alloy wire actuator such that contraction of the memory alloy wire actuator displaces the first contact point such that the rotating element rotates from a first position to a second position. The preload mechanism also includes a bias element with a first end that is coupled to a second contact point of the rotating element and a second end configured to be pinned relative to the pivot. The bias element has a line of action extending from the second end through the first end. The line of action has an offset distance that is the minimum distance between the line of action and the pivot.

Abstract: The invention relates to particular oligonucleotides, pharmaceutical agents that contain these oligonucleotides, and to the therapeutic use thereof. The oligonucleotides are, in particular, capable of inhibiting the proliferation of pancreatic tumors. These oligonucleotides thus have a therapeutic potential for the treatment of pancreatic tumors. This can involve, in the broadest sense, an antisense therapy.

Abstract: The invention relates to particular oligonucleotides, pharmaceutical agents that contain these oligonucleotides, and to the therapeutic use thereof. The oligonucleotides are, in particular, capable of inhibiting the proliferation of pancreatic tumors. These oligonucleotides thus have a therapeutic potential for the treatment of pancreatic tumors. This can involve, in the broadest sense, an antisense therapy.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for producing biologically active polymer nanoparticle-nucleic acid conjugates by polymerizing vinyl monomer with a low-water solubility in an aqueous solution, then reacting the resulting polymer suspensions with the nucleic acids. The process is characterized in that the vinyl monomers are emulsion polymerized in the presence of cationic radical starters but in the absence of any emulsifier. The thus obtained polymer nanoparticle-nucleic acid conjugates are sufficiently stable in biological media and are characterized by a high transport efficiency through cellular membranes.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for isolating anionic organic substances from aqueous systems using polymer nanoparticles with cationic pH-sensitive surface groups. Extraction can be carried out directly from diluted solutions, biological media (blood plasma, serum, urine, etc.) and complex buffer systems (e.g. PCR preparations contain detergents) without prior derivatization of the samples or addition of binding buffers. After separation from the surrounding medium the conjugates of the corresponding substances and polymer nanoparticles obtained in this manner can be purified through additional washing steps and effectively desalinated. Owing to the pH-sensitivity of the basic surface groups, the bound substances can be released in a targeted manner after separation by modification of the pH of the medium. By using volatile bases contamination of the released samples with ionic residues can be avoided.

Abstract: A pocket dictation machine (1), which is held in one hand in its dictation-recording mode and whose functions required in this mode can be started by a control member (23, 25), can also be operated in a second mode for the transcription of dictations, in which the functions required for this second mode can be started by remote control by a suitable control device (29) instead of by the control member.

Abstract: The invention concerns a process for the preparation of monodispersed polymer beads, wherein in a first stage a seed polymer is prepared in an organic solvent and in the presence of an R--X compound, separated and in a second stage an emulsion polymerization is carried out in an aqueous medium in the presence of the seed polymer. The polymer beads obtained in this manner have diameters in the range of 0.5 to 50 .mu.m, and may be used in the immobilization of proteins and cells, as carriers of catalysts and in peptide synthesis and in chromatography.

Abstract: A process for producing solid, liquid and gaseous fuels comprising the use of an organic starting material selected from a bio-mass of microbial, vegetable or animal origin and sediments or garbage containing organic material, heating said organic material under the exclusion of air slowly to a conversion temperature of 200.degree. to 600.degree. C., conducting the gases and vapors escaping during the heating through suitable gas and liquid separators, maintaining the conversion temperature until the development of gases and vapors has substantially ceased, and isolating the solid conversion residues and the separated gases and liquids.

Abstract: A recording and/or reproducing apparatus for a record carrier in the form of a tape which is accommodated in a cassette and which can be wound onto two reel hubs. The apparatus comprises two winding mandrils for driving the reel hubs and two winding mandril wheels which are coaxial with the winding mandrils and which are rotationally interlocked with the mandrils. A drive arrangement for driving the winding mandril wheels comprises a drive shaft, which is rotatably journalled on a bearing support which is movable transversely of the axes of the winding mandrils, and a drive wheel which is mounted on the drive shaft and which can be driven by a motor.

Abstract: The invention relates to graft copolymers of crosslinked polymers and linear polyoxyethylene, processes for their production, and their use as a substrate for peptide or nucleotide synthesis or for the covalent fixation of peptides, active protein compounds, and enzymes for affinity chromotography, diagnostic agents, and biotechnological methods.

Abstract: The invention relates to polymeric soluble hydrogenation catalysts in which a metal of the eighth subgroup of the periodic system is bound by covalent and/or secondary valent bond to a soluble polymer. The hydrogenation catalysts are produced by reacting the selected polymer having a functional group with a metal, metal complex or metal salt wherein the metal is of the eighth subgroup of the periodic table, the reaction taking place in aqueous solution or in solution in an organic solvent. The catalysts of the invention can be used for the catalytic hydrogenation of organic compounds in solution.

Abstract: The present invention concerns new polysiloxanes having Formula I: ##STR1## wherein: R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 is alkyl,R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are H or an alkyl,R.sup.5 is an alkyl, imidazolylmethyl, indolylmethyl, benzyl, acylamino, or an acylaminobutyl group; and when R.sup.6 is aryl, R.sup.5 is alkyl,R.sup.6 is an alkylaminocarbo, cycloalkylaminocarbo, aralkylaminocarbo, arylaminocarbo or bicycloalkylaminocarbo, or aryl group,R.sup.7, R.sup.8, R.sup.9, R.sup.10 and R.sup.11 are alkyl or aryl,R.sup.12 is alkylaminocarboalkyl, cyanoalkyl, carboxyalkyl, alkoxycarboalkyl, arylaminocarboalkyl, alkyl halide, aryl halide, nitroaryl, or a vinyl group.m and n may vary between 0 and 12,a may vary between 5 and 20,d is at least 1,wherein a+b+c+d may vary between 30 and 100.