Abstract: The CC type chemokines belong to a family of polypeptides which have proven to be mediators of immune reactions, and they have recently attracted attention due to their antiviral activity with respect to HIV. The cloning and molecular characterization of a human tandem gene is disclosed which contains the closely linked coding regions for two new CC type chemokines the sequences of which are highly homologous with that of MIP-1&agr;. The transcription of the tandem gene leads to a bicistronic mature transcript which contains the non-overlapping open reading frames for the recently described factor HCC-1 and an as yet unknown CC type chemokine, designated as CC-2. Moreover, alternative splicing of the primary transcript yields at least one additional CC type chemokine, cytokine CC-3. Two functional promoter regions were identified within the tandem gene.

Abstract: A pump having a pump housing with a rotor in it, particularly a vane pump. The pump housing having a centering aid in the form of a sleeve that extends toward a drive shaft. The shaft has a smaller diameter than the bore through the sleeve. The shaft has a preferably toothed end portion that is received in a non-positively locking manner in the rotor. In a single stroke vane pump, the axis of the drive shaft is offset from the axis of the sleeve to compensate for the forces in pumping. The housing over the rotor and drive thereto is disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of compounds of the formula 1 as thickeners for liquid, aqueous surfactant systems where R is an aliphatic radical having from 8 to 24 carbon atoms, R1 and R2, which are identical or different, are alkyl groups having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms or hydroxyalkyl groups having from 2 to 4 carbon atoms, and Z is a linear polyhydroxyhydrocarbon radical having at least 3 OH groups, which may also be alkoxylated, and also their acid addition products. The thickeners are used in industrial and standard household surfactant compositions.

Abstract: The invention relates to fabric softeners with color-retaining action comprising: 3-25%, by weight, of component (A) consisting of Aa) 75-97%, by weight, of quaternary ammonium compounds of the general formula (I) and 3-25%, by weight, of at least one other compound Ab); (B) 0.5-6%, by weight, of customary auxiliaries and additives; and (C) ad 100%, by weight, of water.

Abstract: An airbag module for a vehicle steering wheel comprises a gas generator (1) with an igniter, a folded gas bag (2), an assembly plate (3), a housing (4) with an intermediate cover (5), an outer cover cap (6) optically and haptically adapted to the steering wheel environment, and a horn switch foil (7) to be actuated by pressure exerted on the cover cap (6). A planar actuating element (8) is provided between the horn switch foil (7) and the cover cap (6) and has a consistently defined spacing from the horn foil (7). Range spacers (9) in the form of pins, webs or similar are provided between the actuating element (8) and the cover cap (6) to provide an approximately constant separation distance between the actuating element (8) and the cover cap (6), at least across the entire actuating area of the cover cap.

Abstract: Apparatus, namely folding turret (20), for producing (cigarette) packs (10), in the case of which a blank, in particular an outer paper blank (13), has folding tabs, namely side tabs (18, 19), which are connected to one another by spots of glue (28). The spots of glue (28) are transferred onto the side tab (18) by glue nozzles (31), the guidance of the movement path of the packs (10) relative to the glue nozzles (31) being such that, following a portion of glue (29) for the spot of glue (28), unwanted portions (32) emerging from the glue nozzle (31) are intercepted by the radially inner side tab (19). For this purpose, said radially inner side tab may be formed so as to be in an oblique position.

Abstract: The invention refers to a method for etching a semiconductor surface, wherein the surface is subject to a wet treatment in several process steps.

Abstract: For current control of an inductive load (4), preferably an electromagnetic pressure regulator, a process is proposed in which an actual current value is detected synchronously and with a delay in relation to the output signal of a current regulator (2). Hereby is prevented the detection of transients superimposed on the actual current value.