Devices and methods are provided for reducing matrix effects in protein precipitated bioanalytical samples comprising: a support, and a sorbent associated with the support capable of binding matrix interfering agents present in the bioanalytical sample, wherein the device further comprises filtering means for removing precipitated protein particles. The filtering means is a size exclusion filter or a polymeric or inorganic monolith having a maximum pore size less than or equal to the diameter of the particles to be removed from the sample, and can be integral with the sorbent or associated with the sorbent. The sorbent is characterized by sufficient selectivity between the matrix interfering agents and analytes of interest to provide retention of the matrix interfering agents while providing elution of the analytes of interest (e.g., a reversed phase or a polar modified reversed phase). Typical devices incorporating these features include luer syringe filters, individual filter cartridges, multiwell plates, pipette tips, or inline columns for multiple or single use.

The invention relates to methods and compositions for identifying and selecting maize plants with enhanced resistance to northern leaf blight. Maize plants generated by the methods of the invention are also a feature of the invention.

Isolated polynucleotides and polypeptides and recombinant DNA constructs particularly useful for altering agronomic characteristics of plants under nitrogen limiting conditions, compositions (such as plants or seeds) comprising these recombinant DNA constructs, and methods utilizing these recombinant DNA constructs. The recombinant DNA construct comprises a polynucleotide operably linked to a promoter functional in a plant, wherein said polynucleotide encodes an LNT1 polypeptide.

This invention provides recombinant DNA constructs and methods for manipulating expression of a target gene that is regulated by a small RNA, by interfering with the binding of the small RNA to its target gene. More specifically, this invention discloses recombinant DNA constructs encoding cleavage blockers, 5-modified cleavage blockers, and translational inhibitors useful for modulating expression of a target gene and methods for their use. Further disclosed are miRNA targets useful for designing recombinant DNA constructs including miRNA-unresponsive transgenes, miRNA decoys, cleavage blockers, 5-modified cleavage blockers, and translational inhibitors, as well as methods for their use, and transgenic eukaryotic cells and organisms containing such constructs.

The invention relates to genes coding for TCP family transcription factors and having a biological role in the development of axillary buds and branch growth. Furthermore, the invention relates to the promoters of the transcription of said genes, to the genetic constructs containing same and to the uses thereof, including the use of agents that modulate the expression of these genes in order to modify plant architecture.

The present invention comprises methods and systems for manipulation of media and particles, whether inert materials or biomaterials, such as cells in suspension cell culture. The methods and systems comprise use of an apparatus comprising a rotating chamber wherein the actions of the combined forces fluid flow force and centrifugal force form a fluidized bed within the rotating chamber.

The invention relates to compounds that specifically bind a T1R1/T1R3 or T1R2/T1R3 receptor or fragments or sub-units thereof. The present invention also relates to the use of hetero-oligomeric and chimeric taste receptors comprising T1R1/T1R3 and T1R2/T1R3 in assays to identify compounds that respectively respond to umami taste stimuli and sweet taste stimuli. Further, the invention relates to the constitutive of cell lines that stably or transiently co-express a combination of T1R1 and T1R3; or T1R2 and T1R3; under constitutive or inducible conditions. The use of these cells lines in cell-based assays to identify umami and sweet taste modulatory compounds is also provided, particularly high throughput screening assays that detect receptor activity by use of fluorometric imaging.

The present patent application concerns an enzyme capable of catalysing the conversion of a α-hydroxyglycine to an α-amide and the use of such enzymes for producing a C-terminal α-amidated peptide.

The present invention relates to a novel method for analyzing nucleic acid sequences based on real-time detection of DNA polymerase-catalyzed incorporation of each of the four nucleotide bases, supplied individually and serially in a microfluidic system, to a reaction cell containing a template system comprising a DNA fragment of unknown sequence and an oligonucleotide primer. Incorporation of a nucleotide base into the template system can be detected by any of a variety of methods including but not limited to fluorescence and chemiluminescence detection. Alternatively, microcalorimetic detection of the heat generated by the incorporation of a nucleotide into the extending template system using thermopile, thermistor and refractive index measurements can be used to detect extension reactions.

An automated method for detecting the presence of a nucleic acid in a sample, where the method is performed within a housing of a self-contained, stand-alone analyzer. The method includes purifying the nucleic acid after it has been immobilized on a magnetically-responsive solid support. A pipette of the analyzer is used to form a reaction mixture comprising the purified nucleic acid and all reagents required to perform a nucleic acid amplification. Amplification products are synthesized that include a nucleotide sequence contained in the nucleic acid or the complement of the nucleic acid. The amplification products are exposed to a probe in a mixture, where the probe forms a hybrid with one of the amplification products. The formation of the hybrid in the mixture provides an indication of the presence of the nucleic acid in the sample.

In one aspect, there is provided a cell culturing substrate including: a cell culture surface having a film attached thereto, wherein the film includes one or more plasma polymerized monomers; and a coating on the film-coated surface, the coating deposited from a coating solution comprising one or more extracellular matrix proteins and an aqueous solvent, where the total extracellular matrix protein concentration in the coating solution is about 1 ng/mL to about 1 mg/mL.

Disclosed are process for contacting a protein containing material with one or more wet-mill streams. The protein content of the protein containing material is increased.

The invention relates to malodor controlling bacteria and related methods and compositions for the control and prevention of malodor.

The present invention relates, in general, to gene expression and, in particular, to a method of inhibiting the expression of a target gene and to constructs suitable for use in such a method.

[Problem to be Solved] The importance of sugar chains having α2,3- or α2,6-linked sialic acid at their non-reducing ends is known. Industrial production has been demanded for these sugar chain compounds. Particularly, the production of glycoprotein drugs or the like inevitably requires producing in quantity sugar chains having homogeneous structures by controlling the linking pattern (α2,6-linkage or α2,3-linkage) of sialic acid. Particularly, a triantennary or tetraantennary N-type complex sugar chain having sialic acid at each of all non-reducing ends is generally considered difficult to chemically synthesize. There has been no report disclosing that such a sugar chain was chemically synthesized. Furthermore, these sugar chains are also difficult to efficiently prepare enzymatically.[Solution]The present inventors have newly found the activity of sialyltransferase of degrading sialic acid on a reaction product in the presence of CMP and also found that formed CMP can be degraded enzymatically to thereby efficiently produce a sialic acid-containing sugar chain. The present inventors have further found that even a tetraantennary N-type sugar chain having four α2,6-linked sialic acid molecules, which has previously been difficult to synthesize, can be prepared at high yields by one-pot synthesis comprising the elongation reaction of a biantennary sugar chain used as a starting material without performing purification after each enzymatic reaction.

A vehicle seat can include a seat bottom frame having a front, a back opposite the front, and enclosing a volume. Pivotally connected to the back of the seat bottom frame can be a seat back frame and pivotally connected to the front of the seat bottom frame can be a seat leg rest. The seat leg rest has a length. Mounted in the volume of the seat frame are at least two leg rest springs which are connected to the leg rest. When the leg rest springs are actuated, the seat leg rest can be directly pivoted approximately and incrementally parallel with the seat bottom frame. The two leg rest springs are mounted a first distance apart and the first distance is less than half of the length of the leg rest.

A stylish ready-to-assemble chaise lounge and sofa which may be easily and quickly assembled by a consumer, is provided. The invention is a kit from which either a stylish chaise lounge or a sofa may be easily assembled by a consumer using a single Allen wrench. The kits, both chaise and sofa, comprise a seat base, a long side seatback and a short side seatback, feet, fasteners and cushions. With regard to the chaise, the long and short side chaise seatbacks have rectangular lower portions with upper portions featuring a flowing curved “waterfall” seating surface which improves the comfort of a user leaning back against the seatback.

A safety bow assembly for a child seat comprises: a bow body that has opposite first and second ends; first and second connecting parts that are connected to the child seat, the first connecting part defining an accommodating space and having a side wall; and an engaging lever that is connected movably to the side wall, that is formed with an engaging element facing the accommodating space, and that is movable relative to the side wall between a first position, in which the engaging element is adapted to engage releasably a coupling part of the child seat, and a second position, in which the engaging element is adapted to be disengaged from the coupling part.

A folding chair capable of being moved between a folded position and an unfolded position, includes: two units, each of which includes first and second tubes hinged together via a hinge pin; and a canvas sheet, where each assembly of two tubes includes a rigid part at the hinge pin thereof, said rigid part being arranged between two tubes and having: a groove for receiving a tube of the assembly without any degree of freedom; first and second cradles arranged on either side of the hinge pin, such that when the chair is in the unfolded position, the first cradle bears against the upper section of the other tube and the second cradle bears against the lower section of the other tube.

A chair including a dynamically-flexible back and seat having a shape that adjusts to the movements of a user seated in the chair to enhance user comfort. Each of the back and seat has an air gap formed therewithin and a resilient frame or liner with a spring memory. The resilient liner is adapted to flex in response to compressive forces that are generated as the user slides his body back or from side-to-side in the chair. Accordingly, some of the chair back and some of the chair seat move into respective air gaps so that the shapes of the back and seat change to conform to the movements of the user. The air gaps also establish air flow ventilation channels which run laterally through the back and seat of the chair.

A premium class passenger suite that includes a main seat positioned in the suite together with separate bed. The bed has a flexible mattress of predetermined dimensions and is movable between a stowed position to one side of the main seat and a deployed position above and separate from the main seat. A drive apparatus is provided for driving the bed between the stowed and deployed positions. The main seat is configured to be movable between a seating position when the bed is stowed, and a stowed position with a lowered seat back when the bed is deployed for use.

An ergonomic back support device utilizing one or multiple vertical components that include layers (28,36), pressure distributing layers (34,38,50), and a single notched layer (48). These layers provide primary back support located behind and conforming to the Erector spinae muscles (124). The vertical components form an open channel (24) that is parallel to the prime neurological pathway of the spinal column (100). The vertical conforming support components and open channel facilitate physiological functions that promote health. The device accomplishes support without using any transverse, hard or continuous components across or against the back. Other embodiments include the following additional vertical components: a lateral pressure-adjusting device (14), heating layers (40,46), circulation stimulating layers (42,44), and massage layers (52,54). Embodiments include portable and permanently installed versions that can be utilized in the following applications, including, but not limited to, furniture, vehicles, trains, aircraft, boats, ships, and backpacks.

A fitting for a vehicle seat is disclosed, in particular for a motor vehicle seat. First and second fitting parts are geared with one another via a meshing gearwheel and gear rim. A peripheral eccentric is driven by a drive element for driving a relative rolling movement of the gearwheel and the gear rim, and the first fitting part receives the eccentric which is supported on the second fitting part. A blocking element blocks the eccentric in the non-driven state of the fitting via toothing on the first fitting part, and releases the eccentric when driven. The gear rim is formed on the first fitting part and the gearwheel is formed on the second fitting part.

In a fitting for a vehicle seat, a catch assembly has a pivot axis, and the catch assembly has a catch and a lever which can be pivoted relative to one another about an axis spaced from the pivot axis. The catch has a hook-like contour and in the pivoted-out position of the backrest engages with a catch locking element for locking in a punctiform or linear contact region. The catch cooperates with a spring. The lever is mounted pivotably about the pivot axis and the lever rotatably mounts the catch. In the unloaded pivoted-out position, the perpendicular in the contact region runs on one side of the pivot axis or through the pivot axis. When a return pivoting force is imposed on the backrest in the pivoted-out position, the perpendicular in the contact region runs on the opposing side of or outside of the pivot axis.

A seat cushion, in particular for an aircraft seat, the seat cushion comprising a seat part having a receiving surface adapted to receive a person and a reinforcing part supporting the seat part, wherein at least the reinforcing part contains expanded polypropylene (EPP), preferably comprising fire retardant properties. The invention further relates to a method for manufacturing such a seat cushion, a seat comprising such a seat cushion and a vehicle comprising such a seat.

An operating unit (1) for installation in an aircraft cabin comprises an operating unit front side (10) and an operating unit rear side (20), at least one operating element (12, 14) attached in the region of the operating unit front side (10) and accessible to a user, and a holding device (40) for attaching the operating unit (1) to a monument (30) accommodating the operating unit (1) in its state mounted in the aircraft cabin. The holding device (40) is designed to attach the operating unit (1) in its state mounted in the aircraft cabin to the monument (30), in a first position or in a second position, as desired, the operating element (12, 14) in the second position of the operating unit (1) being situated in a spatial position which is lowered with respect to the spatial position of the operating element (12, 14) in the first position of the operating unit (1) and/or is displaced in a direction parallel to an imaginary straight line connecting the operating unit rear side (20) to the operating unit front side (10).

A method of making a vehicle seat assembly comprising providing a cushion having an “A” surface, a “B” surface, a central portion, and two bolster areas, with each bolster area being adjacent the central portion, the cushion having a plurality of intrusions extending from the “A” surface towards the “B” surface to form a hardness gradient between at least one of the bolster areas and the central portion of between 8% to 25%, securing the cushion to a frame, and covering cushion with a trim member.

A chair assembly for selectively charging an electronic device includes a frame. A back portion of the frame is operationally coupled to a front portion of the frame. A supporting panel is coupled to the frame. The supporting panel may support a user. A leg is coupled to the frame. The leg abuts a support surface so the leg supports the frame above the support surface. An arm rest is operationally coupled to the frame. The arm rest may support the user's arm. A bag is coupled to the arm rest. The bag may contain the electronic device. A charger is operationally coupled to the arm rest. The charger is selectively operationally coupled to the electronic device. The charger may charge the electronic device.

A seating unit that includes a linkage mechanism adapted to move the seating unit between seat-lift, closed, extended, reclined, and seat-lift positions is provided. The linkage mechanism includes a seat-mounting plate mounted to a footrest assembly, a base plate fixedly mounted to a lift assembly, a back-mounting link rotatably coupled to the seat-mounting plate, a seat-adjustment assembly with a bellcrank, and a linear actuator for automating adjustment of the linkage mechanism. In operation, a stroke in a first phase of the linear actuator generates a force on the bellcrank that translates the seat-mounting plate rearward in a consistent angle of inclination and rotates the back-mounting link from a reclined to an upright orientation. A stroke in a second phase acts to collapse the footrest assembly. A stroke in a third phase causes the lift assembly to raise and tilt the seating unit, thereby accommodating egress and ingress of an occupant.

A wire harness for a vehicle seating assembly includes a body portion having a plurality of engagement hooks adapted for engagement with a vehicle seat cushion pan. A latticework of interconnected lateral support members are bound by a peripheral frame.

More specifically, the crash indication system for a child safety seat includes a seat bottom. A base is provided for supporting the seat bottom, which is slidably connected to the bases so that the seat body is movable relative to the base, between a resting position and a ride down position, a position due to a change in environmental forces. The seat body is adjustably affixed to a carriage to set a recline position. An indicator member is attached to the carriage and moves therewith to visually track and monitor the movement of the seat. When ride down of the seat occurs due to a change in forces to the seat, the indicator member moves with the sliding carriage to reflect a ride down position of the seat bottom. A ratchet connection is provided to prevent the carriage from going back to its resting position.

With a fitting for a vehicle seat, in particular for a motor vehicle seat, having a first fitting part and a second fitting part, which are rotatable relative to one another and are in geared connection with each other, an enclosing ring, which axially holds together the first fitting part and the second fitting part, forming a disc-shaped unit, and which is fixed to the first fitting part and engages over the second fitting part radially outside, and a third fitting part which is pivotably mounted relative to the first fitting part and which can be locked by means of a toothed pawl with a latching element which is provided on the first fitting part, the toothed latching element is formed on the first fitting part.

A mechanism for vertically adjusting a component on a shaft has a collet sleeve riding on the shaft. A spiral track of the component's hub receives a radially outwardly projecting pin on the collet sleeve. The outer surface of the collet sleeve and the inner surface of the hub are tapered so that the hub can rotated one direction to advance the hub on the collet sleeve and compress the collet sleeve onto the shaft to frictionally lock the collet sleeve to the shaft. Because the hub is joined to the collet sleeve by the pin, this also locks the vertical position of the component. Conversely, the hub can be oppositely rotated to release the compression of the collet sleeve so that the collet sleeve, and therefore the vertical component, is slidable on the shaft.

The present disclosure describes a method of manufacture and a structure for an automobile seat cover that includes a seat cover body with an outer perimeter, a seat cover skirt with a first edge sewn with an overlock stitch to the seat cover body for a majority of the outer perimeter, and a second edge, distal from the first edge, comprising a tie element extending for a majority of the second edge around a seat opening in the seat cover. A portion of the seat cover skirt and the seat cover body corresponding to a location of at least one airbag installed in an automobile seat cover over which the seat cover is to be placed are sewn together with one of a straight stitch and a lock stitch instead of the overlock stitch. In some implementations, the thread used is a brightly colored string.

Embodiments of the present invention include a vehicle seat having a frame member and a reinforcing member for reinforcing the frame member. The frame member has an elongated portion. The elongated portion is formed of resin and preferably has a flat-plate-like or bar-like configuration. The elongated portion includes a first portion, a front second portion and a rear second portion. The first portion may be arranged in a longitudinal manner with respect to the vehicle seat and extends vertically. The front second portion extends in the lateral direction of the vehicle seat from a front end of the first portion. The rear second portion extends in the lateral direction of the vehicle seat from a rear end of the first portion. The elongated portion is configured so that a neutral axis is positioned between the front and rear second portions.

An integrated tuner circuit has an arbitrary IF (intermediate frequency) output. The tuner includes an integrated circuit with a fixed-frequency control loop and a matched external variable capacitance Ct, to achieve tracking of a tuned LC band-pass filter with an arbitrary oscillator.

The present invention provides an apparatus for enhancing Q factor of an inductor. The apparatus includes a negative resistance generator coupled to the inductor for providing a negative resistance, and a bias circuit coupled to the negative resistance generator for biasing the negative resistance generator.

The invention provides a variable tuning circuit capable of extending a variable range in a high frequency band, ensuring the value of L of an inductor to increase the value of Q of a circuit in a low frequency band, and preventing a reduction in gain, an increase in noise, and unstable oscillation. A variable tuning circuit includes: a first parallel resonance circuit that includes a varactor diode, a capacitor connected in series to the varactor diode, and a first inductor connected in parallel to the varactor diode and the capacitor; and a second parallel resonance circuit that includes a second inductor connected in parallel to the varactor diode with a direct current cut-off capacitor interposed therebetween. When the varactor diode has a maximum capacitance, a resonant frequency of the second parallel resonance circuit is set about a lowest frequency in a variable frequency range.

There are provided a single package television tuning apparatus and a television receiver including the apparatus. The apparatus includes: a printed circuit board; a switching part installed on the printed circuit board and selecting one of a first radio frequency signal and a second radio frequency signal inputted; a tuner part installed on the printed circuit board and down-converting one of the first radio frequency signal and the second radio frequency signal, the one selected by the switching part; first and second input connectors receiving the first radio frequency signal and the second radio frequency signal; and a chassis supporting the first and second input connectors, covering the printed circuit board, the switching part, and the tuner part, and electrically connected to grounds of the switching part and the tuner part.

An embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus, comprising at least one anti-parallel pair VVC network comprised of two parallel VVCs with one biased in the opposite polarity of the other and at least one anti-series VVC network comprised of two VVCs configured in series, one biased in the opposite polarity of the other such that the resulting AC capacitive variations produce a desired capacitance variation.

The present invention provides a central frequency adjustment device and adjustable inductor layout; wherein, the central frequency adjustment device is applied in an inductor/capacitor tank (LC tank) for adjusting the central frequency of the LC tank. The device comprises a first inductor with a first end and a second end; a second inductor with one end coupled with the second end of the first inductor; and, a first trimmable wire connected to the first inductor in parallel and to the second inductor in series, which adjusts the central frequency by cutting off the first trimmable wire.

A broadcast receiving device includes a card slot, a fan, a temperature sensor, a memory component and a control unit. The card slot accepts an IC card. The fan rotates to cool the IC card. The temperature sensor measures a first temperature. The memory component stores correlation information indicating a correlation between the first temperature and a second temperature of the IC card. The control unit acquires the second temperature based on the first temperature and the correlation information. The control unit determines if the second temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature. The control unit switches from a first output mode, in which an audio-video signal is outputted via the IC card, to a second output mode, in which the audio-video signal is outputted by bypassing the IC card, when the control unit determines that the second temperature exceeds the predetermined temperature.

A communication module is provided in which its characteristic of separation between its first and second tuner units is improved. The module is equipped with a circuit board having a first main surface, and a second main surface opposite to the first main surface; a first amplifier arranged on the first main surface, for amplifying a first signal; a first mixer arranged on the first main surface, for converting a signal supplied from the first amplifier to an intermediate-frequency signal; a second amplifier for amplifying a second signal; and a mixer for converting a signal supplied from the second amplifier to an intermediate-frequency signal, both arranged on the second main surface of the circuit board.

In a double-tuning circuit including a primary tuning circuit having a first inductor and a first variable capacitive element connected in parallel and a secondary tuning circuit having a second inductor and a second variable capacitive element connected in parallel, a fixed part of a copper-foil pattern is connected to a connection point at which the double-tuning circuit is connected to an input terminal of a frequency mixing circuit, and a tip part of the copper-foil pattern extends to near the first inductor, whereby a trap circuit for attenuating an image frequency component is formed. A pattern is formed between a ground-side terminal of the first inductor and the ground, and a capacitor is connected between a connection point at which the first inductor is connected to one terminal of the pattern and a ground-side terminal of the second variable capacitive element.

A band-pass filter device includes: a plurality of band-pass filter elements on a principal plane of a substrate; wherein the band-pass filter elements correspond to a plurality of respective channels divided by frequency regions, and each have a plurality of piezoelectric resonators. Each of the piezoelectric resonators includes a piezoelectric film whose periphery is supported by the substrate, a first electrode formed on a lower surface of the piezoelectric film, a second electrode formed on an upper surface of the piezoelectric film and formed in a state of overlapping at least a part of the first electrode with the piezoelectric film interposed between the second electrode and the first electrode, a lower space formed between the substrate and the piezoelectric film, and an upper space formed over the piezoelectric film.

A method applied in a tuning circuit comprising a plurality of turning cells is disclosed. the method comprises: laying out a array of tuning cells in a matrix configuration, the matrix comprising a first dimension and a second dimension; assigning a first index associated with the first dimension and a second index associated with the second dimension to each tuning cell; controlling each tuning cell using a word line and a bit line; and summing up outputs from all tuning cells to form a combined output. The tuning cell provides a first circuit value or a second circuit value according to the logical value of the bit line, and the difference between the first circuit value and the second circuit value is determined such that a turning resolution of the tuning circuit is determined.

Methods and apparatus for computing the carrier frequency of a transmitter using frequency modulated digital data to compensate for frequency shifting of the transmitter and the receiver local oscillators and for bandwidth adjustment of the receiver's filter. In particular, methods and apparatus are disclosed for binary systems transmitting “1” and “0” data using decoded or undecoded received signals.

In an oscillating apparatus, a detection unit detects a frequency offset between an input signal and a reference signal. A code generation unit specifies a relationship among a code having a predetermined number of bits, the frequency offset, and a voltage to be applied to a voltage-controlled oscillator by a DAC, in accordance with a frequency offset detection state of the detection unit. The code generation unit also generates a frequency offset correction code having a predetermined number of bits in accordance with the specified relationship. The DAC applies the voltage to the voltage-controlled oscillator, in accordance with the relationship described above and the code generated by the code generation unit. The voltage controlled oscillator outputs an oscillator signal having an oscillation frequency corresponding to the voltage applied by the DAC.

Control method and apparatus for a manual spray gun may include a second manually actuated trigger disposed on the spray gun handle, with the second trigger being operational to select or change one or more coating operation parameters.

A RFID transponder includes a resonant circuit for providing a clock signal at a predetermined clock frequency, a self-calibration stage for calibrating the resonant circuit's current clock frequency towards the predetermined clock frequency. The self-calibration stage is adapted to compare a first clock frequency of the resonant circuit determined during an interrogation period, during which the resonant circuit is excited by an external RF signal, with a second clock frequency determined during a frequency maintenance period, during which the resonant circuit is excited internally through an oscillation maintenance circuit of the RFID transponder and to calibrate the resonant circuit towards the predetermined clock frequency based on the comparison result.