Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for identifying the susceptibility or predisposition of an individual to schizophrenia SZ) or to clusters of symptoms associated thereof. Particularly, the tests can be performed before or after the disorders appear. More particularly, the present invention relates to the determination of epistatic effect of at least two genotype related loci. In addition, the invention provides tests for the classification of different subtypes predicting severity of illness of patients affected by or predisposed to SZ or associated clusters of symptoms.

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: 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.

Abstract: A sulky shaft connector device includes a swivel ball joint arrangement whereby the sulky shaft is allowed relative damped vertical movement with respect to the harness. A sulky shaft connector member, removably connected to the sulky shaft, forming part of the device also provides for quick and releasable engagement between the sulky shaft and the sulky shaft connector device.

Abstract: An outflow regulator for a gravity-fed liquid outlet of a liquid reservoir comprising a restriction plate mountable within the liquid outlet for limiting a flow rate of an effluent. The restriction plate allows a lower passage for the effluent when a first level of liquid is reached within the liquid reservoir, and an upper passage for the effluent when a second level of liquid is reached. The regulator also comprises a flapgate pivotable between a closed position where the flapgate covers the lower passage of the restriction device and an open position away from the restriction plate. When the flapgate is in the closed position, the effluent is free to flow out though the upper passage. A float counterweight switches the flapgate between the opened position and closed position according to the liquid level in the reservoir.

Abstract: A racing sulky is provided with wheel mounting forks that are angularly orientated rearwardly away from the shafts to locate the wheel axis rearward of the center of mass of the sulky, the angular orientation lying in the range 1° to 40°. A seat mounted on the sulky rearward of the sulky center of mass and the wheel axis allow the center of mass of a rider to substantially balance the sulky center of mass. A corresponding sulky harness connector is also disclosed.

Abstract: A gardening system wherein there is provided an outer container and a soil support insert placed therein, the soil support insert is spaced with the bottom wall of the container to find a water space and an air space therebetween, the insert having at least one downwardly extending wall which defines a cavity and the downwardly extending wall having a plurality of apertures therein to permit root growth therethrough, a non-soil growing medium within the cavity, the non-soil growing medium including mycorrhizal fungi incorporated therein. The system provides for an enhanced plant growth.

Abstract: Compounds of formula (I): wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, n and m are as defined herein. The compounds are useful as inhibitors of HCV NS3 protease.

Abstract: A system, method and computer readable medium for adjusting volume levels of a Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) sound file for optimizing play on a sound device. The method on an information processing system includes calculating a first set of loudness levels for each instrument in a MIDI sound file and calculating a second set of loudness levels corresponding to an audio output range of a sound device. The method further includes generating a mapping between the first set of loudness levels and the second set of loudness levels corresponding to the audio output range of the sound device. The method further includes generating a gain term for each note in the MIDI sound file and modifying the MIDI sound file using the second set of loudness levels and the gain term for each note in the MIDI sound file.

Abstract: An outflow regulator for a gravity-fed liquid outlet of a liquid reservoir comprising a restriction plate mountable within the liquid outlet for limiting a flow rate of an effluent. The restriction plate allows a lower passage for the effluent when a first level of liquid is reached within the liquid reservoir, and an upper passage for the effluent when a second level of liquid is reached. The regulator also comprises a flapgate pivotable between a closed position where the flapgate covers the lower passage of the restriction device and an open position away from the restriction plate. When the flapgate is in the closed position, the effluent is free to flow out though the upper passage. A float counterweight switches the flapgate between the opened position and closed position according to the liquid level in the reservoir.

Abstract: The present invention (110) permits a user to speed up and slow down speech without changing the speakers pitch (102, 110, 112, 128, 402–416). It is a user adjustable feature to change the spoken rate to the listeners' preferred listening rate or comfort. It can be included on the phone as a customer convenience feature without changing any characteristics of the speakers voice besides the speaking rate with soft key button (202) combinations (in interconnect or normal). From the users perspective, it would seem only that the talker changed his speaking rate, and not that the speech was digitally altered in any way. The pitch and general prosody of the speaker are preserved. The following uses of the time expansion/compression feature are listed to compliment already existing technologies or applications in progress including messaging services, messaging applications and games, real-time feature to slow down the listening rate.

Abstract: The electronic device (100) comprises a body (20) with a cavity (30) wherein a semiconductor element (10) and a thermally conductive layer (33) are present. The cavity (30) is filled with an encapsulation (35) of an electrically insulating material wherein contact faces (47, 48) are mechanically anchored.

Abstract: Compounds of formula (I): wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, Y, n and m are as defined herein. The compounds are useful as inhibitors of HCV NS3 protease.

Abstract: A filtration system comprising a floor panel and a plurality of wall panels connected to each other to define a box, at least one filtering wall vertically inclined and supported inward of a corresponding wall panel such as to define a first free space therebetween, a filtering floor horizontally inclined and supported above the floor panel such as to define a second free space therebetween, the filtering floor being connected to the filtering wall to define a filter chamber, a plurality of openings defined in the filtering wall and the filtering floor sized to let a liquid pass through and retain at least one target solid within the filter chamber, an inlet in fluid communication with the filter chamber, and an outlet in fluid communication with the first and second free spaces. A method of filtering at least one target solid from a liquid is also provided.

Abstract: A method is provided for decalcification of an aqueous solution that has multivalent Ca2+ and Mg2+ cations and anions able to form complexes with at least a part of the multivalent cations. The method includes replacing at least part of the anions to form complexes of the aqueous solution by monovalent anions such as Cl?, non-able to form such complexes. The method also replaces at least a part of the multivalent cations of the aqueous solution by monovalent metal cations such as Na+ and/or K+ This later replacement step is performed simultaneously with or after the first replacement step.

Abstract: A vehicle (01) includes at least one image display unit (02) and at least one image data signal source (04, 05, 06, 07, 08) which are connected to one another via at least one transmission channel (10). Each image data signal source (04, 05, 06, 07, 08) has at least one signal generator (09), whereby the signal generator (09) generates a control signal, which can be transmitted over the transmission channel (10), and whereby the control signal can be received and evaluated in an evaluation unit (03).

Abstract: Computer-assisted navigation is achieved with component-oriented programming and instructions that provide a distributed component programming navigation system. The computer-assisted navigation is achieved with a computing device having program memory. Operationally, the component-oriented application loaded in the memory provides a distributed navigation system comprising a User Interface component, a Service Manager component, a User Positioning category of components that provides a user position based on navigation sensor data, and a Mapping category of components that accesses a map database and places the user position on a road segment of the map database. The components within the component-oriented application are managed by the service manager component to perform distributed navigation services.

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.

Abstract: Deflection mechanisms are disclosed that are positionable to deflecting portions of a flexible body, such as a catheter, in more than one direction in a single plane, as well as in more than one plane. The invention allows a distal portion of a catheter to be deflected more than 360 degrees to provide a loop.

Abstract: In a telescopic switch between a step-up transformer and a generator, axially spaced sets of three alignment mechanisms each are disposed in a housing. Each mechanism includes puck secured to an insulator secured in turn to a fixed conductor, an inner ring and a base plate. The puck is threaded into an opening through the inner ring and has an axis of rotation relative to the inner ring opening offset from the axis of rotation of the inner ring relative to the base plate. By screw threading the puck relative to the inner ring, radial adjustment of an attached conductor is provided. By rotating the inner ring, the eccentrically mounted puck carrying the insulator and fixed conductor is rotated about the geometric axis of the opening in which the inner ring rotates for displacing the fixed conductor laterally.