Abstract: A method for determining the susceptibility of a subject to infection, which method comprises: (i) providing a sample from said subject; (ii) detecting any LL-37 present in said sample; (iii) optionally comparing the level of LL-37 in said sample to a control sample; and (iv) determining the susceptibility of said subject to infection, wherein no LL-37 or a low level of LL-37 indicates that said subject is susceptible to infection.

Abstract: Mounting arrangement (13) for attaching an electrically powered stapler (5) mechanically and electrically to a photocopying equipment (1) wherein the mounting arrangement (13) comprises a mechanical mounting device (15) for connecting the stapler (5) to the photocopying equipment (1), which mounting device (15) comprises a first attachment piece (16) connected to the stapler and a second attachment piece (17) connected to the photocopying equipment, and an electrical mounting device (26) for connecting the stapler electrically to a power supply (23), which mounting devices (15) and (26) comprising an integrated unit.

Abstract: System and method for optimizing the efficiency of base-to-vehicle communication. The method includes beginning a call initiation step for establishing a wireless communication between a base station and a remotely located vehicle. Conditions are sensed at which a prospective wireless communication would be conducted. The sensed conditions are analyzed to determine whether predetermined criteria are met for initiation of the prospective wireless communication. It is then chosen to initiate a wireless communication when the predetermined criteria for initiation of the prospective wireless communication is satisfied based on the analysis of sensed conditions. It may be required that from the sensed conditions it be determined that the remotely located vehicle is traveling below a predetermined threshold speed. Alternatively, the determining condition may be transmission quality for the prospective wireless communication.

Abstract: Methods for controlling intake air flow to an internal combustion engine having an output shaft driven by the internal combustion engine, an intake air pipe, an exhaust gas pipe, a compressor located in the intake air pipe, a turbine located in the exhaust gas pipe, a transmission system connecting turbine, compressor, and output shaft for energy transfer between the turbine and compressor, between the turbine and output shaft, and between the output shaft and compressor. The transmission system includes a variable transmission between the output shaft and compressor and a control means for controlling the gear ratio in the variable transmission.

Abstract: A vehicle control system (10) including a vehicle motion control subsystem (12) that has an input receiving an intended driving demand (14) and a plurality of coordinator subsystems (16) for coordinating actuators of the vehicle. The vehicle motion control subsystem (12) communicates with the coordinator subsystems (16) to determine whether a single coordinator subsystem (16) can carry out the intended driving demand (14). The vehicle motion control subsystem (12) will distribute demand signals among one or more of the coordinator subsystems (16) to allow the vehicle to implement the intended driving demand (14).

Abstract: A clinching mechanism has an anvil composed of first (1), second (2) and third (3) plates arranged in a spaced apart stack with the second plate (2) positioned between the other two. The plates (1, 2, 3) are mounted on a housing (43) so as to be slidable relative thereto and the second plate is also connected to the first and third plates (1, 3) so as to be slidably movable relative to said first and third plates between a first aligned position in which at least one edge of the first, second and third plates (1, 2, 3) are aligned to form and anvil face and a second retracted position in which the second plate (2) is retracted from the anvil face. With the second plate in its aligned position, a staple to be clinched in received with its two legs (72) on either side of the second plate (2), the second plate operating to guide the legs (72) into engagement with associated clinching device (7, 8, 17, 18) positioned between the first and second, and the second and third plates.

Abstract: Novel pharmaceutical formulations of &agr;-(2,4-disulfophenyl)-N-tert-butylnitrone and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof and the use of such formulations in the treatment of various diseases and conditions, especially stroke, are disclosed.

Abstract: A stapler for driving staples into objects comprises an anvil element (16) and stapling element (1), which cooperates with the anvil element and which contains staples. The stapler further comprises a driver (8), which is reciprocatingly arranged on the stapling element (1) and which is arranged to drive a staple into the object in the direction of the anvil element. An operating element (10) is arranged to reciprocate the driver (8). The anvil element (16) and the operating element (10) are movable back and forth relative to the stapling element (1) in one and the same path of motion. The anvil element (16) and the operating element (10) are movable relative to each other in this path of motion with the aid of reversible driving elements (19, 23, 26, 27, 29, 30, 32). The inertia of the operating element (10) against movement relative to the stapling element (1) is greater than its inertia against movement relative to the anvil element (16).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a device in the chip-removing machining of a work-piece by means of a rotatable tool with a shaft arranged in a headstock. The tool is displaceable in an axial direction both towards and away from the work-piece, and in a plane substantially perpendicular to the arbor. Arranged around a machining point is an enclosure. The enclosure has a first opening that is designed to press against the work-piece around the point to be or being machined. A second opening in the enclosure is made in a wall substantially perpendicular to the shaft. This opening is designed, during machining, to press against a plane plate arranged behind the tool and around the headstock, substantially perpendicular to the arbor, so that during machining there is a substantially enclosed space in the area around the tool and the machining point. The device includes a line for delivering cutting fluid to the machining point.

Abstract: A clinching mechanism has an anvil composed of first (1), second (2) and third (3) plates arranged in a spaced apart stack with the second plate (2) positioned between the other two. The plates (1, 2, 3) are mounted on a housing (43) so as to be slidable relative thereto and the second plate is also connected to the first and third plates (1, 3) so as to be slidably movable relative to said first and third plates between a first aligned position in which at least one edge of the first, second and third plates (1, 2, 3) are aligned to form and anvil face and a second retracted position in which the second plate (2) is retracted from the anvil face. With the second plate in its aligned position, a staple to be clinched in received with its two legs (72) on either side of the second plate (2), the second plate operating to guide the legs (72) into engagement with associated clinching means (7, 8, 17, 18) positioned between the first and second, and the second and third plates.

Abstract: A method of combustion and a combustion plant in which absorbent is regenerated is described herein. During the combustion of a fuel in a combustion chamber enclosing a fluidized bed, a fuel and an absorbent are supplied to the fluidized bed. The combustion gases generated during the combustion are collected and purified in a separating member by separation of solid material from the combustion gases. The separated solid material is recirculated to the fluidized bed through a channel, and a gaseous medium is supplied in a controlled manner to the separated solid material present in the channel in order to displace the combustion gases and provide a chemical reaction.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a device in the chip-removing machining of a work-piece by means of a rotatable tool with a shaft arranged in a headstock. The tool is displaceable in an axial direction both towards and away from the work-piece, and in a plane substantially perpendicular to the arbor. Arranged around a machining point is an enclosure. The enclosure has a first opening that is designed to press tightly against the work-piece around the point to be or being machined. A second opening in the enclosure is made in a wall substantially perpendicular to the shaft. This opening is designed, during machining, to press tightly against a plane plate arranged behind the tool and around the headstock, substantially perpendicular to the arbor, so that during machining there is a substantially enclosed space in the area around the tool and the machining point. The device includes means of delivering cutting fluid to the machining point.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method of producing, from laminated paper/plastic material, a packaging container with low bacteria contamination which is reformed into a tubular container blank and is provided with an end wall by injection moulding of thermoplastic material at a temperature of at least 200° C., whereafter the interior of the container is subjected to a bacteria-reducing treatment based on a chemical reaction and/or bactericidal irradiation and is filled with the desired contents, and also sealed.

Abstract: A method of combustion in a pressurized, fluidized bed and in the freeboard thereof. The combustion method is further characterized by the recirculation of solid sulfur absorbing materials. A gas channel, designed so as to prevent fluidizing gas from entering the channel from below, is provided such that it opens to the freeboard and to a separating member which separates particulate matter from the combustion gasses.

Abstract: A method of imaging a blood vessel in a body using X-rays and an injectable contrast medium is described. The contrast medium is injected into the body, and signals constituted by an X-ray image sequence depicting X-ray attenuation values is recorded. The X-ray attenuated values in each spaced-time neighborhood are combined in a way that is dependent on the processed image sequence and separately established for each neighborhood, and separating, from background and vessel signals, flow signals having energy contributions mainly in an area of frequency domain bounded by surfaces corresponding to threshold velocities separately established for each neighborhood, which surfaces are shifted a specified amount along a temporal frequency axis.

Abstract: A 78 residue polypeptide comprising the following amino acid sequenceGYFCESCRKIIQKLEDMVGPQPNEDTVTQAASQVCDKLKILRGLCKKIMRSFLRRISWDILTGKK PQAICVDIKICKE [SEQ ID NO:1]:and functional derivatives and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, said sequence comprising intra-linked half-cysteines; pharmaceutical composition containing such polypeptide as an active ingredient; a method for inhibiting microbial growth and cancer cell growth in animals including man; and nucleotide sequence corresponding to such polypeptide.

Abstract: A field controlled semiconductor device of SiC comprises superimposed in the order mentioned at least a drain (12), a highly doped substrate layer (1) and a low doped n-type drift layer (2). It has also a highly doped n-type source region layer (6) and a source (11) connected thereto. A doped channel region layer (4) connects the source region layer to the drift layer, and a current is intended to flow therethrough when the device is in an on-state. The device has also a gate electrode (9). The channel region layer has a substantially lateral extension and is formed by a low doped n-type layer (4). The gate electrode (9) is arranged to influence the channel region layer from above for giving a conducting channel (17) created therein from the source region layer to the drift layer a substantially lateral extension.

Abstract: A field controlled semiconductor device of SiC has a drain, a highly doped substrate layer on top of the drain and a low doped n-type drift layer on top of the substrate layer. A p-type base layer is located on the drift layer and a vertical trench extends through the base layer. In the trench an n-type channel region extends vertically along a wall of the trench and connects a source region layer to the drift layer. A gate electrode is arranged in the trench to be on the opposite side of the channel region with respect to the base layer.

Abstract: There is now provided a ceramic material comprising of alumina, 10-50% by volume, preferably 20-35% by volume, silicon carbide whiskers, 1-25% by volume, preferably 5-20% by volume, most preferably 7-15% by volume, zirconia and 1-20% by volume, preferably 3-15% by volume, titanium compound-containing cubic phase. If this cubic phase has a lattice spacing of 4.29 to 4.40 .ANG. and a zirconium content of 3-65 weight %, a material with improved performance when turning heat resistant material such as aged Iconel 718, is obtained.

Abstract: A method for maintaining a nominal working temperature of flue gases during operation of a PFBC power plant having a pressure vessel with a combustor enclosed therein for combustion of a fuel in a fluidized bed, a gas turbine for receiving flue gases formed during the combustion in the combustor, a compressor driven by the gas turbine for compression of air which is utilized as combustion air during the combustion in the combustor, and a steam turbine driven by steam generated in tube bundles in the bed, includes the steps of burning a complementary fuel in the flue gases generated during the combustion in the fluidized bed downstream of the tube bundle for increasing the flue gas temperature to a nominal level for the process and using oxygen residues in the flue gas as oxidizing agents during combustion of the complementary fuel.