Abstract: A method is provided for producing lactose from whey or a permeate resulting from the ultrafiltration of whey. The method includes replacing at least part of the multivalent cations of the whey or permeate by monovalent metal cations to obtain a whey or permeate depleted of multivalent cations. The method then replaces at least part of the multivalent inorganic anions and organic acid anions of the whey or permeate, by monovalent anions non-able to form complexes with the multivalent cations, this latter replacement step is carried out before or simultaneously with the replacement of at least part of the multivalent cations of the whey or permeate. The method then crystallizes the whey or permeate resulting from the replacement steps to obtain crystallized lactose and a mother liquor enriched in monovalent metal cations.

Abstract: An isomer, enantiomer, diastereoisomer or tautomer of a compound, represented by formula I: wherein: A is O, S, NR1, or CR1, wherein R1 is defined herein; - - - - - represents either a single or a double bond; R2 is selected from: H, halogen, R21, OR21, SR21, COOR21, SO2N(R22)2, N(R22)2, CON(R22)2, NR22C(O)R22 or NR22C(O)NR22 wherein R21 and each R22 is defined herein; B is NR3 or CR3, with the proviso that one of A or B is either CR1 or CR3, wherein R3 is defined herein; K is N or CR4, wherein R4 is defined herein; L is N or CR5, wherein R5 has the same definition as R4; M is N or CR7, wherein R7 has the same definition as R4; Y1 is O or S; Z is N(R6a)R6 or OR6, wherein R6a is H or alkyl or NR61R62 wherein R61 and R62 are defined herein; and R6 is H, alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, Het, alkyl-aryl, alkyl-Het; or R6 is wherein R7and R8 and Q are as defined herein; Y2is O or S; R9 is H, (C1-6 alkyl), (C3-7)cycloalkyl or (C1-6)alkyl-(C3-7)cycloalkyl, aryl, Het, (C1-6)alkyl-aryl or (C1-6)alkyl-Het, all o

Abstract: The fluid transfer apparatus has an outer composite body having end sealing lips that are adapted to sealingly engage the surface surrounding the spaced passages between which fluid is to be transferred. The transfer apparatus has a central member having a uniform cross section adapted to transfer fluid between these passages and also has two end members which engage within and align with the passages to permit continued fluid transfer in view of slight longitudinal misalignments of the first and second passages.

Abstract: The invention relates to compounds of formula (I) wherein R?, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, Y, n and m are as defined (herein. The compounds are useful for the treatment and prevention of hepatitis C viral infections in mammals by inhibiting HCV NS3 protease. The invention further relates to azalactone compounds of the formula (III) which can be reacted with an amide anion to produce the compounds of formula (I).

Abstract: An apparatus for molding dry cast products having a textured side surface is disclosed. The apparatus comprises an open compartment for receiving a dry concrete mixture and a plurality of walls laterally enclosing the compartment. At least one of the walls has a multilevel surface with a plurality of sections in an overhanging relationship with each other and transitional curvilinear steps bridging adjacent one of the sections to impart a textured side surface resembling a natural rockface and allowing stripping of the dry cast products from an open bottom side of the compartment.

Abstract: Control method for effecting a gear shift in a stepped automatic transmission with an input shaft and an output shaft for transmitting power between two inertia components at distinct speed ratios with a first power transmission path and a second power transmission path being provided with a high clutch having an adjustable torque transmitting capacity TH and a low clutch having an adjustable torque transmitting capacity TL respectively. The method includes the steps of determining a gear set input torque Tin to be transmitted by the transmission in the direction from the input shaft to the output shaft and controlling the torque transmitting capacities TH and TL in dependency on the gear set input torque Tin to be transmitted such that: a) if Tin>=0 then TH=Tin and TL=0 b) if Tin<0 then TH=0 and TL=Ti.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a promoter for regulating expression of foreign genes in transgenic organisms, which comprises a promoter having the identifying characteristics of a promoter having a sequence selected from the group consisting of sequences set forth in SEQ ID NOS:1 to 3 and functional fragments or derivatives thereof, wherein said promoter is adapted to be operationally located with respect to said foreign gene for expression of said gene.

Abstract: A method, system, apparatus, and article of manufacture provide the ability to conduct a hybrid raster/vector based paint operation. A user commences a raster based paint operation. Based on the raster operation, vector-based information is determined and recorded. The system then determines if a requested user operation requires the vector-based information. If the requested user operation requires the vector-based information, a representative raster based stroke is generated/recreated based on the vector-based information and the requested user operation is performed on the representative raster based stroke.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture provide the ability to conduct a paint operation in a procedural renderer and a reveal paint operation while dynamically selecting multiple layers. For the procedural renderer based paint operation, a schematic view of a flow of clip image data is displayed having nodes and lines connecting the nodes. Within the schematic view, a layer node is obtained utilized to perform a paint operation without processing the operators associated with each node in the schematic view. For the reveal paint operation, a paint application obtains a composite having multiple layers. The paint application dynamically identifies one or more of the multiple layers to be used in a reveal operation. Once identified, the reveal paint operation is performed wherein a reveal tool is used to reveal contents of the one or more identified layers at a position where the reveal tool is used.

Abstract: A high voltage, high current telescopic disconnect switch suitable for use in isolated phase bus duct has two fixed conductors and a movable telescopic conductor coaxially disposed within the first fixed conductor and movable to a closed position bridging the first and second fixed conductors. A plurality of contact fingers are mounted to the fixed conductors and have contact surfaces that extend into engagement with the telescopic conductor to make electrical contact between the fixed conductors through the telescopic conductor when in a closed position. The contact surface of each of the fingers comprises a first tip portion that extends beyond the fixed conductor and has a first radius that is slightly greater than the radius of the telescopic conductor so that the first tip portion presents an arcuate width that overlies in wiping electrical contact the telescopic conductor when in the closed position.

Abstract: A computer-implemented graphics program for drawing a spline. The spline is drawn using a first method in the graphics program. Thereafter, the graphics program seamlessly switches from drawing the spline using the first method to drawing the spline using a second method, in response to a first user command. Further, the graphics program may also seamlessly switch from drawing the spline using the second method to drawing the spline using the first method, in response to a second user command.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device (10), wherein a semiconductor element (1) provided with a number of connection regions (2) is fitted between a first, electroconductive plate (3) and a second plate (4), wherein two connection conductors (3A, 3B) are formed, from the first plate (3), for the two connection regions (2A, 2B) of the element (1), wherein a passivating encapsulation (5) is provided between the plates (3, 4) and around the element (1), and wherein the device (10) is formed by applying a mechanical separating technique in two mutually perpendicular directions (L, M). In a method according to the invention, the connection conductors (3A, 3B) are formed by providing a mask (6) on the first conducting plate (3) in such a manner that a part (3C) of the plate (3) situated between the connection regions (2A, 2B) remains exposed, which part is subsequently removed by etching.

Abstract: An isomer, enantiomer, diastereoisomer or tautomer of a compound, represented by formula I: wherein A, B, R2, R3, M1, M2, M3, M4, Y1 and Z are as defined in claim 1, or a salt thereof, as an inhibitor of HCV NS5B polymerase

Abstract: The present invention provides a traffic-signalling device suitable for providing information to oncoming traffic. The traffic-signalling device comprises a moveable member suitable for attachment to a support and a solar powered drive system. The moveable member is operative to move between a first position and a second position, wherein in the second position the traffic-signalling device is operative to provide information to oncoming traffic. The solar-powered drive system is suitable for causing the moveable member to move between the first position and the second position.

Abstract: An isomer, enantiomer, diastereoisomer or tautomer of a compound, represented by formula l: wherein wherein A, B, R2, R3, M1, M2, M3, M4, Y1 and Z are as defined in claim 1, or a salt thereof, as an inhibitor of HCV NS5B polymerase.

Abstract: A method, system and computer readable medium for increasing the audio perceptual loudness includes shifting at least one frequency of a first audio signal to create a second audio signal so as to increase the audio perceptual loudness. The power level of the second audio signal is not more than a power level of the first audio signal. The method also includes generating high-audio perceptual loudness tone alert sequences based on psychoacoustic and audiometric data. It further includes acquiring a listener's threshold audio profile; adding the listener's audio profile to the loudness sensitivity curve for producing the listener's tonal sensitivity curve; determining a required dB scaling for critical band tones from the listener's tonal sensitivity curve; normalizing the tonal sensitivity curve for creating a decibel curve; selecting a frequency range of the tones by using the tonal sensitivity curve; and spacing the sequence of tones along a critical band scale.

Abstract: An isomer, enantiomer, diastereoisomer or tautomer of a compound, represented by formula I: wherein: A is O, S, NR1, or CR1, wherein R1 is defined herein; represents either a single or a double bond; R2 is selected from 6 or 10-membered aryl and Het, each optionally substituted with R20; provided that Het is not a 5- or 6-membered monocyclic heterocycle having 1 or 2 nitrogen heteroatoms; B is NR3 or CR3, with the proviso that one of A or B is either CR1 or CR3, wherein R3 is defined herein; K is N or CR4, wherein R4 is defined herein; L is N or CR5, wherein R5 has the same definition as R4; M is N or CR7, wherein R7 has the same definition as R4; Y1 is O or S; Z is N(R6a)R6 or OR6, wherein R6a is H or alkyl or NR61R62 wherein R61 and R62 are defined herein; and R6 is H, alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, Het, alkyl-aryl, alkyl-Het; or R6 is wherein R7 and R8 and Q are as defined herein; Y2 is O or S; R9 is H, (C1-6 alkyl), (C3-7)cycloalkyl or (C1-6)alkyl-(C3-7)cycloalkyl, aryl, Het, (C1-6)alky

Abstract: In a process for forming a linking element for a push belt for a continuously variable transmission, material is displaced from a central portion of the linking element during a blanking process, which central portion is substantially centrally located in the horizontal transverse direction. A blanking member which is applied during the blanking process, comprises a shaping surface which abuts against a front surface or a back surface of the linking element under the influence of pressure during the blanking process. The blanking member is provided with a relatively elevated central portion, which serves to displace material from the central portion of the linking element during the blanking process.

Abstract: Method for producing refined sugar from sugared juice, such as raw juice from sugar cane or from sugar beet, containing sugar and impurities, which comprises the operations of: tangential filtration of the sugared juice in order to obtain a retentate and a filtrate, softening of the filtrate in order to obtain a softened filtrate, concentration of the softened filtrate in order to obtain a softened syrup, chromatography of the softened syrup in order to obtain an extract enriched in sugars and a raffinate enriched in impurities, crystallisation of the extract in two or more crystallisation/separation steps in order to obtain refined sugar and a run-off, and combination of the run-off with the softened syrup in order that they are both subjected to the chromatography operation.

Abstract: A purification method employs nanofiltration of an aqueous solution containing one or several sugars, multivalent cations, monovalent metal cations, monovalent anions and multivalent inorganic anions and/or organic acid anions. The method includes replacement of at least a part of said multivalent cations and/or said multivalent inorganic anions and organic acid anions respectively by monovalent metal cations and/or monovalent anions to produce a solution. Nanofiltration of the solution is carried out to obtain a retentate, and at least part of the retentate is subject to crystallization.