Abstract: A method to optimize a vitrification procedure for suspended cells uses factors such as the physical properties of solutions, the cell permeability to water and permeable cryoprotectants, and the osmotic tolerance of the cells to identify a method to minimize several stresses associated with vitrification procedures.

Abstract: A positioning apparatus for a printer is provided. The positioning apparatus includes at least one encoder, an OPC belt, and a code strip consisting of a reference bar code region, a blank region and normal bar code region. The OPC belt is moved relatively to the encoder and has a joint region. The code strip is mounted on the OPC belt and has a plurality of bar codes. The encoder is used for detecting the bar codes and generating a displacement signal representing a displacement of the OPC belt moved relatively to the encoder. The blank region may be adjoined the joint region. Therefore, a home position can be located precisely by the displacement signal due to the existence of the reference bar code region and blank region. Moreover, a positioning method for a printer is also disclosed.

Abstract: The subject invention pertains to the use of peptide fragments of cadherins (including cadherin-like proteins). The subject invention includes a cell (and use thereof) comprising a polynucleotide that expresses the peptide fragment. The subject invention includes methods of feeding the peptides to insects. In preferred embodiments, the peptides are fed to target insects together with one or more insecticidal proteins, preferably (but not limited to) B.t. Cry proteins. When used in this manner, the peptide fragment can not only enhance the apparent toxin activity of the Cry protein against the insect species that was the source of the receptor but also against other insect species. Preferably, the cadherin is a Bacillus thuringiensis (B.t.) insecticidal crystal protein (Cry) toxin receptor. Preferably, the peptide fragment is a binding domain of the receptor. In some preferred embodiments, the peptide is the binding domain nearest to the membrane proximal ectodomain.

Abstract: A type of dual speed vertical hydraulic jack, including pedestal featuring hydraulic control pressure regulating assembly and oil drain valve assembly; jacket, hydraulic cylinder and pump body fixed on pedestal; oil storage cavity formed between jacket and hydraulic cylinder; piston rod with piston assembly at bottom; top cap, pump core, button, first oil path and second oil path; on bottom of said pump core, a step is provided and constitutes sealing with inner wall of pump cavity, third oil path and fourth oil path are provided on the step respectively, first steel ball valve and second steel ball valve that control connection and disconnection of said pump cavity with third oil path and fourth oil path respectively are provided on these oil paths, and at lower part of pump core, a fifth oil path is provided for connecting third oil path with upper cavity of pump cavity.

Abstract: A replaceable panel device (1) includes a panel (20) with a mounting portion (24), a locking subassembly (30), and a top cover (40) with a block (45). The mounting portion has at least one slideway (241), a recess (242), and two locating grooves (243). The locking subassembly is accommodated in the mounting portion of the panel. The locking subassembly has a button (31), an elastic rod (32), and a slider (33). The button has at least one rail (312), a hole (313) defined at top of the rail. The slider has at least one slot (331) and a rabbet (332). The slider is received in the recess. The rail is received through the slideway and the slot. The elastic rod is received through the hole. Ends of the elastic rod are located in the locating grooves. The rabbet engagingly receives the block of the top cover.

Abstract: A positioning apparatus for a printer is provided. The positioning apparatus includes at least one encoder, an OPC belt, and a code strip consisting of a reference bar code region, a blank region and normal bar code region. The OPC belt is moved relatively to the encoder and has a joint region. The code strip is mounted on the OPC belt and has a plurality of bar codes. The encoder is used for detecting the bar codes and generating a displacement signal representing a displacement of the OPC belt moved relatively to the encoder. The blank region may be adjoined the joint region. Therefore, a home position can be located precisely by the displacement signal due to the existence of the reference bar code region and blank region. Moreover, a positioning method for a printer is also disclosed.

Abstract: The subject invention pertains to the use of peptide fragments of cadherins (including cadherin-like proteins). The subject invention includes a cell (and use thereof) comprising a polynucleotide that expresses the peptide fragment. The subject invention includes methods of feeding the peptides to insects. In preferred embodiments, the peptides are fed to target insects together with one or more insecticidal proteins, preferably (but not limited to) B.t. Cry proteins. When used in this manner, the peptide fragment can not only enhance the apparent toxin activity of the Cry protein against the insect species that was the source of the receptor but also against other insect species. Preferably, the cadherin is a Bacillus thuringiensis (B.t.) insecticidal crystal protein (Cry) toxin receptor. Preferably, the peptide fragment is a binding domain of the receptor. In some preferred embodiments, the peptide is the binding domain nearest to the membrane proximal ectodomain.

Abstract: A mobile phone and related method capable of displaying customized animation. The mobile phone includes a display, a memory, and a controller for controlling operations of the mobile phone. The memory stores an original image data, the controller is capable of generating a plurality of image data from the original image data to form a varying picture, and displaying the varying picture on the display according to parameters and time intervals specified by users so as to present customized animation.

Abstract: An analog to digital converter may achieve an output sampling rate that is not an integer multiple of the system clock. This may be done without using the conventional phase-locked loop circuit that generally requires a longer design time, more testing, and more silicon area. A pseudo clock may be generated from the system clock in which some of the system clock pulses are disabled to achieve a pseudo clock with the desired effective frequency.

Abstract: An analog to digital converter may achieve an output sampling rate that is not an integer multiple of the system clock. This may be done without using the conventional phase-locked loop circuit that generally requires a longer design time, more testing, and more silicon area. A pseudo clock may be generated from the system clock in which some of the system clock pulses are disabled to achieve a pseudo clock with the desired effective frequency.

Abstract: A data processing system (20) includes a plurality of modules (44, 48) and an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) (46). The ADC (46) includes at least one port terminal (66) for transmitting test information from the ADC (46). The plurality of modules (44,48) and the ADC (46) are coupled to a central processing unit (CPU) (22) via an intermodule bus (42). A tester can exchange test information with the ADC (46) directly through the port terminal (66) instead of using the intermodule bus (42). Also, various sub-modules (62, 64, 60, 74) of the ADC (46) can be independently tested without performing a conversion process.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for ATM network planning is described. ATM network planning involves designing an ATM network to support traffic demands, which may include voice, data, image and video traffic. It is desirable to design a backbone network for a metropolitan area which minimizes the total network cost. The design process includes the determination of network topology, location and configuration of switches, dimensioning of all links, etc. A heuristic method is described which provides a near-optimal lowest cost network design with the cost reasonably certain to be close to the optimal solution. The advantage is a versatile method which can reliably produce a lowest cost network plan in a reasonable time.