A wedge member for securing an electrical conductor box within a hollow concrete block which is to be incorporated in a concrete block wall. The wedge member includes an elongated member dimensioned for a force fit within a hole within the concrete block.

An undermount drawer slide mounting clip releasably attaches a drawer to a drawer rail assembly mounted in a cabinet carcass. The apparatus is capable of effecting positional adjustments of the drawer in three directions without removing the drawer from the cabinet carcass. The apparatus is comprised of a body slidingly engaged with a bonnet. A trigger pivotally connected between the body and the bonnet. A spring loaded catch slidable within the bonnet and acted on by the trigger to releasably attach the apparatus to a drawer rail assembly. A threaded spindle rotates within the base and adjusts the horizontal position of the drawer. A ramp adjustably connected to the base adjusts the vertical position of the drawer. A plunger extends from a housing connected to the body to adjacent the drawer rail assembly and adjusts the depth of the drawer.

A burner includes a perforated flame holder configured to be disposed at a plurality of locations relative to a fuel and air source.

A cracking furnace includes a combustion volume defined in part by a burner wall having a refractory lining. A plurality of perforated flame holders is arranged in an array that is spaced away from the wall, with fuel input faces facing the wall. Each of a plurality of fuel nozzles is positioned and configured to emit a fuel stream toward the input face of a respective one of the plurality of perforated flame holders. Combustion reactions, supported by the fuel streams emitted by the fuel nozzles, and held by the flame holders, release heat, which is emitted by the flame holders as thermal (blackbody) radiation, a portion of which impinges upon, and heats the inner face of the refractory lining. Thermal radiation from the flame holders and the wall impinges upon a load positioned in the approximate center of the combustion volume, between burner walls.

A wedge apparatus for a stirrup for reducing alleviating pain on a horseback rider's knees and ankles, the stirrup comprising a pair of opposing side bars, a hangar bar portion and a footrest bar, the wedge apparatus comprising (a) a wedge associated with the footrest bar, the wedge having a lateral portion and a medial portion, the lateral portion being thicker than and tapering toward the medial portion; (b) an impact-absorbing material; and, (c) an attachment mechanism for attaching the wedge and the impact-absorbing material to the footrest bar.

A bitless bridle with double cross under reinstraps for riding, driving, and training horses and similar animals that achieves improved control, comfort, and communication with the animal. The bridle is composed of a solid crownpiece that bifurcates, after a brow band attachment, into a cheek strap and an elongated reinstrap. The cheek strap connects to two nosebands which have solid rings attached to each end. The elongated reinstraps cross under the horse's jaw and pass through the first set of rings then cross under the jaw a second time and pass through the second set of rings to continue back to the rider's hands. Pulling on a single reinstrap applies pressure to the horse's nose and poll causing it to turn in the direction pulled. Pulling on both reinstraps cinches the noseband in place, causing the horse to slow down or stop.

An apparatus includes a slider body of a disk drive. The slider body is electrically coupled to a plurality of end bond pads. A voltage applied to one more of the end bond pads sets a surface potential of the slider body.

Certain example embodiments relate to a sliding window assembly (e.g., of the type found in utility cabs or other vehicles), and methods of making the same. A slidable window panel includes at least one top pin and at least one bottom pin attached thereto. A single fixed window panel includes a hole being defined therein for receiving the slidable panel. Elongated upper and lower rails connected to the fixed panel include upper and lower rail channels defined therein for slidingly receiving the at least one top and bottom pin attached to the slidable panel. Forward and rear end details are provided to each of the upper and lower rails proximate to the hole for slidingly receiving, in respective channels formed therein, the at least one top and bottom pins. The slidable panel is laterally movable when being opened via the respective rail channels provided to the upper and lower rails. The channels in the forward and rear end details are formed so that the slidable panel is movable slightly outwardly towards the hole when the slidable window is being closed and slightly inwardly away from the hole when the slidable window is being opened.

An intruder barrier is provided that includes multiple generally parallel transparent slats acting as burglar bars with at least some, and preferably all, of the transparent slats having associated therewith a conductive path extending at least from a first end region of a slat to a second end region thereof. The conductive path is capable of conducting electricity or electromagnetic radiation along the length of the slat and is associated with an output to an alarm system that may be configured to trigger an alarm when the conductive characteristic of a slat is terminated by virtue of the slat being at least partially severed, broken, or removed from its operative position. Typically the transparent slats are secured to a fixed surrounding frame of an opening window. The invention in a further embodiment includes transparent slats for use in such an intruder barrier. The invention in a further embodiment includes a laterally collapsible latticed intruder barrier comprising multiple transparent slats interconnected with each other and having such conductive paths.

A window lifter is provided. The window lifter having: first and second guide rails; first and second sliders for driving a window, the first and second sliders being guided in translation by the first guide rail and the second guide rail, respectively; a cable system for driving the sliders along the first and second guide rails, the cable system comprising a cable extending between the first and second guide rails for connecting to corresponding ends of the first and second guide rails, respectively, the first guide rail comprising a holder for fastening the cable between the two corresponding ends of the first and second guide rails that the cable connects.

Methods, processes, compositions and systems for preventing leaching effects from water pipes (such as lead, steel and copper) having an inner diameter of at least approximately 12 mm. 2-part thermoset resin coating is applied to the inner surfaces of the pipes where the curing agent can be a phenol free and plasticizer free adduct type. The coating can reduce heavy metals, such as lead, from leaching from installed pipes to less than approximately 10 μg/L (10 ppb). When cured, specific leachates, Bisphenol A and Epichlorohydrin from the coatings will be (less than)

A method of preparing an electrochemical electrode which is partially or totally covered with a film that is obtained by spreading an aqueous solution comprising a water-soluble binder over the electrode and subsequently drying same. The production cost of the electrodes thus obtained is reduced and the surface porosity thereof is associated with desirable resistance values.

The device has a line arrangement (2), which possesses an inlet (3) connectable to a supply line and an outlet (4) connectable to a shower arm (5). A heating element (6) serves for the provision of warm water. An energy store (7, 8) is provided, with which the power range for the provision of shower water can be extended. The heating element (6) for the provision of warm water is, in particular, a continuous-flow heater. The energy store (7, 8) is, in particular, a thermal, electrical, electrochemical or chemical energy store. During the shower process, the energy store is available as an additional energy source for the preparation of shower water.

A windrower with a harvesting header with a crop cutting assembly for severing crop from the ground windrower has a header pitch sensor for measuring a fore/aft pitch angle and a hydraulic system. The hydraulic system moves the header between an operating height and a raised position, and also controls a fore/aft pitch angle. An electronics control module provides an output to activate solenoid valves in the hydraulic system to move the header between the operating height and the raised position and to select a desired pitch angle. When the header moves from the operating height to the raised position, the electronics control module operates the header hydraulic system to move the header to the zero-tilt condition, and upon lowering the header back the operating height, the electronics control module automatically returns the header to the selected pitch angle it was in at the start of the cycle.

An agricultural harvester (100) comprises a self-propelled vehicle (102); a feederhouse (104); a driveshaft (114) supported on the feederhouse (104), the driveshaft (114) having a first coupler (116) fixed to one end of the driveshaft (114), the first coupler (116) comprising a coupler body (420), a piston (416) disposed in the coupler body (420), and a first key (302) mechanically coupled to the piston (416) to be extended or retracted by the piston (416) to engage a mating coupler on a second driveshaft (120) of an agricultural harvesting head (106) that is supported on the feederhouse (104).

A shield apparatus is mounted on the header of an agricultural implement which includes a rotatable collecting member to direct collected material rearwardly towards a rear discharge opening. The shield apparatus includes a panel member and a mounting bracket assembly which supports the panel member above the rear discharge opening of the header spanning in a lateral direction transversely to the forward working direction such that the panel member extends from a rear edge rearward of the collecting member to a front edge which is spaced forward and upwardly in relation to the rear edge. The shield apparatus ensures that material thrown upwardly above the rear of the header frame is redirected downwardly into the rear discharge opening of the header for collection by the implement in the usual manner. The shield apparatus does not interfere with the visibility of the operator when the panel member is clear.

A corn harvesting header comprises a knife bar extending along a front lower edge of a cutting header, with triangular knife sections attached along the bar and a plurality of guards with guard fingers extending forward. Pointed divider pans extend forward from the header such that a slot is formed between adjacent pans. A mounting bracket extends down from a rear of each pan and is attached to forward end portions of a pair of adjacent guard fingers, leaving rear portions of these guard fingers exposed. The divider pans are attached to alternating pairs of guard fingers such that a pair of bare guard fingers extends forward under and laterally adjacent to edges of each slot. The bottom surface of each seed pan is above the guard fingers an elevated distance that is greater than a spacing distance between the guard fingers. The header cuts the corn rows at angle.

A corn header has a row unit frame and an auger sweeping ears of corn toward a center of the corn header. A corn row divider assembly has a snout and gatherer hood hingeably coupled to, and aft of, the snout. An aft end of the gatherer hood is located beneath and to the rear of the fore end of the auger in an operational configuration of the divider assembly. The divider assembly further has a four-point hinge assembly coupling the aft end of the gatherer hood to the row unit frame. The four-point hinge assembly is configured to pivot the gatherer hood between the operational configuration and a non-operational configuration in which the gatherer hood is in a raised condition. The four-point hinge assembly moves the aft end of the gatherer hood forward so that the gatherer hood clears the auger when pivoting to the non-operational configuration.

A leash attachable animal excrement bag holder has a carabineer for engaging a leash, body-supported apparel or the like, a flexible, resilient and open-biased support hoop, and a bag suspended from the support hoop. A slide has a body and first and second holes passing entirely through. The first hole encompasses the support hoop at a first distinct location and the second hole encompasses the support hoop at a second distinct location. The slide operatively traverses the support hoop and thereby alters a bias of the support hoop from an open orientation suitable to receive or remove animal excrement bags to a more nearly closed orientation suitable to retain animal excrement bags. A coupling engages the support hoop with the carabineer.

Providing a slider for a concealed slide fastener, capable of achieving a smooth sliding operation of the slider, even when the slider is applied to a seat cover for a seat and strong lateral pulling force is applied to the slider when the slide fastener is closed. A slider for a concealed slide fastener comprises a slider body having at least a lower blade, left and right side wall portions and left and right first flanges, and slider upper plate member engaged with the slider body and having at least a second flange projecting toward at least the left and right side wall portions.

A decorative memorial serves to display a sealed, visible portion of cremation ashes.

A cylinder (1), particularly for a vibration damper, includes a base (3) and a sleeve-shaped add-on part (5) which at least partially surrounds the cylinder (1) and which has at an end of the cylinder a radially inwardly directed edge profile. The edge profile (11) contacts an end face of the cylinder (1) in a noncontacting manner with respect to the base.

A mounting section mounted on a rod side is provided at one end side of a protective cover in an axial direction. At least the other end side of the protective cover in the axial direction has reduced diameter parts and enlarged diameter parts, the reduced diameter parts and the enlarged diameter parts being alternately formed in the axial direction via small diameter parts in between. An end surface of the other end side of the protective cover is formed by a surface that is cut at a position. The end surface and an outer circumferential surface of a cylinder are situated at a position at which they are not in contact with each other in the radial direction in a state in which the small diameter part closest to the end surface comes into contact with the outer circumferential surface of the cylinder.

An electrical connector includes a housing having pockets formed in a receiving end of the housing. A terminal module is inserted into the pockets wherein the terminal modules are constructed from a stitch plate including a plurality of terminals retained therein, A cover having a plurality of spaced apart walls form thereon is arranged on the stitch plate and is moved into engagement with the stitch plate with the walls disposed in the intervening space between adjacent terminals. The connector assembly is pressed onto a circuit board in which a force is applied to the connector housing and is directly transferred to the terminal tails of the terminal modules causing electrical contact between conductive holes of the circuit board and the terminals.

An abrasive article includes a fibrous substrate, a binder disposed on the fibrous substrate, and abrasive grains in contact with the binder. The binder includes an imide cross-linked urethane derived from a blocked isocyanate component and an anhydride component.

A Continuous Transmission Frequency Modulated (CTFM) detection apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a projector, a sensor, and a hardware processor. The projector is configured to transmit a frequency modulated transmission wave at a given transmission period. The sensor is configured to receive a reflected wave, the reflected wave comprising a reflection of the transmission wave on a target object. The hardware processor is programmed to at least generate a beat signal based at least in part on the transmission wave and the reflected wave, extract asynchronously from the transmission period a processing signal from the beat signal, and generate information related to the target object based on the processing signal.

The present invention relates to a system for determining a distance, a transponder, a position detection apparatus, and a method therefor. The method for determining a distance comprises providing a position detection apparatus (101), and a transponder (105). The method further comprises generating (201) a pseudo number sequence, transmitting (202) the pseudo number sequence, receiving (203) the pseudo number sequence; modulate (204) the received pseudo number sequence by means of delaying the recieved pseudo number sequence a predetermined number of clock cycles from a group of at least two predetermined number of clock cycles. The method further comprises transmitting (205) the modulated pseudo number sequence, recieving (206) the modulated pseudo number sequence, detecting (207) a path time of the pseudo number sequence, by means of delaying and correlating the generated pseudo number sequence with the received modulated pseudo number sequence, wherein the delay time corresponds to the path time, The method further comprises detecting (208) a clock correction factor for the transponder (105) using the received modulated pseudo number sequence, calculating (209) a flight time of the pseudo number sequence between the position detection apparatus and the transponder by means of the path time, the clock correction factor, and the predetermined number of clock cycles of the transponder, and calculating (210) the distance between said position detection apparatus and said transponder by means of the flight time.

A method is disclosed for determining the position of an RFID transponder. Separate signals of at least two electromagnetic alternating fields are emitted from at least two antenna to one RFID transponder. The antenna are spaced at a distance from each other so that the two electromagnetic alternating fields are emitted at a distance from one another. The emitted electromagnetic alternating fields to the one RFID transponder are reflected so that the reflected electromagnetic alternating fields are sent back to the antenna. The transit times of the electromagnetic alternating fields are determined from emission to receiving back at the antenna. The distances between the antenna and the RFID transponder are determined, and the position of the RFID transponder from the at least two distances is determined relative to the at least two antenna.

A planter for holding a plant includes a container having an open upper end. The container has side walls extending downward from the upper end and tapering inward to a lower end. A base at the lower end of the container has a diameter smaller than the diameter of the upper end. A circumferential ring surrounds the lower end of the container. The circumferential ring has an upper edge that extends outward from the container by a distance such that removal of the container and ring from a mold as a single unit would be inhibited. Accordingly, the container and the circumferential ring are molded from a thermoplastic material as separate components. The circumferential ring fits around the lower end of the container and is held in place by a mechanical interlock between the container and the ring.

A pneumatic system of an agricultural implement includes a radial fan coupled with a plenum. The plenum contains outlets which distribute the airflow into a plurality of product distribution lines for application to a field. An airflow deflector plate has a back face fixed on a sidewall of a region interconnecting the fan outlet and plenum inlet to modify the airflow pattern and obtain an airflow that is at a uniform pressure and flow rate for each product distribution line. The deflector plate is tapered with a narrow edge pointed upstream and includes front face having at least one generally rectangular groove with a bottom surface extending generally parallel to the deflector back face.

A welder multi-tool is provided including a sleeve having a first leg portion, a second leg portion, and a bridge portion interconnecting the first leg portion and the second leg portion. The sleeve extends along a central axis passing through the bridge portion and defines a space between the leg portions. A single axle is attached to the sleeve and spans, along an axis, the space defined between the leg portions. The axis of the axle does not intersect the central axis of the sleeve. The welder multi-tool further includes a plurality of tools rotatably attached to the axle. Each tool axis does not intersect the axis of the axle. The plurality of tools includes a fillet gauge tool and a thickness gauge tool. A further example of the welder multi-tool includes a fillet gauge tool, a thickness gauge tool, a soap stone, and a welding nozzle cleaner.

At least a two-layer protective coating system including: (a) a layer of a fusion bonded epoxy, and (b) a layer of a spray-dried protective powder coating disposed on at least a portion of the top surface of the fusion bonded epoxy layer (a), said powder coating being cured to form a protective coating on at least a portion of the fusion bonded epoxy layer; a process for preparing the above two-layer protective coating system; a substrate such as a metal pipe coated with the above two-layer protective coating system; and a process for producing a coated article such as a coated metal pipe using the above two-layer protective coating system.

Integrated heat spreaders having electromagnetically-formed features, and semiconductor packages incorporating such integrated heat spreaders, are described. In an example, an integrated heat spreader includes a top plate flattened using an electromagnetic forming process. Methods of manufacturing integrated heat spreaders having electromagnetically-formed features are also described.

A multi-level DAC includes first and second level resistor ladders, and a dual-switch ladder interconnect reduces DNL at tap-point transitions between first-level ladder resistors. For each first level resistor N, the switch-interconnect network includes dual (first/second) switches connectable to a resistor-top node NT, and dual (third/fourth) switches selectively connectable to a resistor-bottom node NB. The first switch is operable to connect NT to a top tap switch operable to select NT as a top tap point, and the fourth interconnect switch is operable to connect NB to a bottom tap switch operable to select NB as a bottom tap point. The first and fourth switches are connected, forming an outer loop that includes top and bottom tap points. The second switch connects to a top second-level resistor RT, and the third switch connects to a bottom second-level resistor RB, forming an inner loop that includes the series-connected second-level resistors.

An encoder for encoding input data (D1) to generate corresponding encoded data (E2) includes data processing hardware which is operable: (a) to determine at least partial reoccurrences of data blocks or data packets within the input data (D1), wherein the data blocks or data packets include a plurality of bytes;(b) to employ at least one reference symbol to relate reoccurrences of mutually similar data blocks or data packets and/or to indicate whether or not there are reoccurrences of mutually similar data blocks or data packets within the input data (D1);(c) to employ a plurality of change symbols, for example a plurality of mask bits, to indicate changed and unchanged data elements of partial reoccurrences of data blocks or data packets within the input data (D1) and a change of data values of changed data elements; and(d) to encode the at least one reference symbol and the plurality of change symbols into the encoded data (E2). There are provided methods of using the encoder to encode input data (D1) to generate the corresponding encoded data (E2). Moreover, there are provided a corresponding decoder, and a corresponding method of decoding the encoded data (E2) to generate corresponding decoded data (D3).

Disclosed are methods and systems for significantly compressing sparse multidimensional ordered series data comprised of indexed data sets, wherein each data set comprises an index, a first variable and a second variable. The methods and systems are particularly suited for compression of data recorded in double precision floating point format.

The present invention relates to a process for the wet production of granules from powdered materials, in particular raw materials for the production of glass. The process of the invention comprises the following successive steps: (i) the powdered materials to be granulated are divided into at least two portions: a first portion and a second portion; (ii) a binder liquid is added to the first portion of powdered materials; (iii) the first mixture thus obtained is agglomerated in the granulator in order to obtain granules (a); (iv) the second portion of powdered materials is added to the granulator; and (v) the new mixture obtained is agglomerated in the granulator in order to obtain granules (b). This sequenced granulation process allows granules to be obtained that have a degree of moisture that assures their stability and their ease of handling eliminating the drying step.

A method of producing a surface-treated carbon black powder dispersion includes subjecting carbon black fine particles having a volume average particle size of 100 nm to 20 μm to wet granulation and drying by heating to obtain granulated carbon black having a hardness of 12 cN or less and a pH of less than 7, grinding the granulated carbon black to obtain a ground product having a volume average particle size of 20 nm to 20 μm, and subjecting the ground product to wet oxidization in an aqueous medium. The resulting surface-treated carbon black powder dispersion exhibits excellent print density, print quality, discharge stability, and storage stability when used as an inkjet printer aqueous black ink.

A method for growing crystals in solution is suitable for the rapid, controlled and effective preparation of crystals of large dimensions from a solution supersaturated with a compound. The crystal growth is carried out under static conditions. To do this: the growth is performed in a crystallization chamber kept at a constant temperature Tc, which chamber is in fluid communication with a saturation chamber at a temperature Ts, similarly constant and different from Tc, with solubility of the compound at the temperature Ts greater than the solubility of the compound at the temperature Tc. A continuous circulation of the solution between the crystallization and saturation chambers is established, thus maintaining a constant supersaturation rate within the crystallization chamber. Furthermore, the circulating solution is subjected to a treatment for eliminating and inhibiting the formation of aggregates, enabling the nucleation of parasitic crystallites to be inhibited.

A fabric assembly attachable to the front side of a men's underwear and a men's underwear having such a fabric assembly are described. The fabric assembly has layers of fabrics having linear slots perpendicular to each other so that the wearer can take his genital organ out through the intersection of the linear slots. The peripheries of the fabric layers are elastically stitched together to make a fabric assembly. The fabric layers have sufficient rigidity such that the linear slots do not open under the pressure of the genital organ, unless the wearer uses his hands to open the slots. The fabric assembly may also have a flap on the inside or outside of the fabric layers. One or two sides of the flap may be attached to the men's underwear and the other sides may not be attached to permit easy opening of the flap by hand.

An extrudable keder rail and a clamping anchor for the keder rail are cooperative to secure keder fabric to a building support beam. The clamping anchor allows the keder rail to be securely attached to a standard beam without drilling holes or strapping about the beam. A temporary clamp and movable tensioning device allow the keder rails and keder fabric to be applied to the building support beams after the support beams have been assembled and installed.

A method of forming oral orthotic systems includes providing an upper dental member adapted to be placed in connection with upper dentition of the patient, providing a lower dental member adapted to be placed in connection with lower dentition of the patient and providing a plurality of posterior mounting structures. Each of the posterior mounting structure is configured to be attached to one of the upper dental member or the lower dental member at a posterior, buccal position thereon. Force may be applied to the mandible of the patient via at least one of a plurality of different types mechanisms via attachment of a component of a selected type mechanism to at least one of the posterior mounting structures.

In certain example embodiments, a system and/or method of guiding transitions between therapy modes in connection with the treatment and/or diagnosis of a patient for a respiratory disorder is/are provided. Respiratory disorder treatment according to a first therapy mode is provided. Input indicating a second therapy mode to be transitioned to following provision of the first therapy mode is received, with the second therapy mode being different from the first therapy mode. At least one default treatment parameter suitable for the second therapy mode is assigned or calculated. Each default treatment parameter of the second therapy mode is presented, with each default treatment parameter being adjustable by an operator during the presenting. Transitioning from the first therapy mode to the second therapy mode is performed by providing respiratory disorder treatment in accordance with the second therapy mode and each default treatment parameter and any adjustments made thereto prior to the transitioning. Advantageously, the chances of a patient being disturbed by transitioning from mode-to-mode are reduced.

Systems and methods for longevity, anti-aging, fatigue management, obesity, weight loss, weight management, delivery of nutraceuticals, and treating hyperglycemia, Alzheimer's disease, sleep disorders, Parkinson's disease, Attention Deficit Disorder and nicotine addiction involve synchronizing and tailoring the administration of nutraceuticals, medications and other substances in accordance with the body's natural circadian rhythms, meal times and other factors. Improved control of blood glucose levels, extended alertness, and weight control, and counteracting of disease symptoms when they are at their worst are possible. An automated, pre-programmable transdermal administration system is used to provide pulsed doses of medications, pharmaceuticals, hormones, neuropeptides, anorexigens, pro-drugs, stimulants, nutraceuticals, phytochemicals, phytonutrients, enzymes, antioxidants, essential oils, fatty acids, minerals, vitamins, amino acids, coenzymes, or other physiological active ingredient or precursor. The system can utilize a pump, pressurized reservoir, a system for removing depleted carrier solution, or other modulated dispensing actuator, in conjunction with porous membranes or micro-fabricated structures.

A transdermal drug delivery device comprises: a reservoir for holding a drug; and at least one microneedle in fluid communication with the reservoir through which the drug can be delivered transdermally, wherein the transdermal drug delivery device is concealed from view during operation thereof.

The invention relates to a drilling-resistance measuring device (10) and to a method for material testing in a humid environment or underwater. The drilling-resistance measuring device (10) comprises a housing (1), in which a drive and a drill chuck (3) coupled to the drive are arranged, in which drill chuck a drilling needle (4) is or can be releasably held, wherein the housing (1) has a drilling-needle outlet opening (5') enclosed by a drilling-needle outlet guide (5), through which drilling-needle outlet opening the drilling needle (4) extends out of the housing (1). The drilling-resistance measuring device (10) comprises at least one water-tight bellows (6), which is arranged in the interior of the housing (1) around the drilling needle (4) between the drill chuck (3) and the drilling-needle outlet guide (5), wherein moisture or water can enter the bellows (6) through the drilling-needle outlet opening (5').

The invention relates to a method for controlling the divergence of a jet of particles in vacuo with an aerodynamic lens, the aerodynamic lens including at least one chamber; a diaphragm, a so-called inlet diaphragm, intended to form an inlet of the aerodynamic lens for a jet of particles, the inlet diaphragm having a given diameter (d1); and another diaphragm, a so-called outlet diaphragm, intended to form an outlet of the aerodynamic lens for this jet of particles; the method including: a step for generating the jet of particles from the inlet to the outlet, in vacuo, of the aerodynamic lens; and a step for adjusting the diameter (ds) of the outlet diaphragm for controlling the divergence of the jet of particles.

An encoder, including: a scale that has a pattern and is mountable to a rotary member of an object to be measured; a main body including a detector that detects the pattern, the main body being mountable to a non-rotating portion of the object to be measured; and a holding member including: an abutment portion that is removably provided to the main body from outside the main body and passes through the main body to abut the scale; and a pushing portion that is capable of pushing the abutment portion toward the scale.

The present invention is directed to systems, apparatus and methods for creating derivatives of at least one form of HDL without substantially affecting LDL. These derivatives of HDL are particles with reduced lipid content, particularly reduced cholesterol content. These particles have the capacity to bind cholesterol and are administered to a patient to enhance cellular cholesterol efflux and reduce cholesterol levels in cells, tissues, organs, and blood vessels. The present method is useful for treating atherogenic vascular disease and may be combined with other therapies such as statins, inhibitors of cholesterol absorption, niacin, anti-inflammatories, exercise and dietary restriction.

In sporadic Alzheimer's disease, neurofibrillary lesion formation is preceded by extensive post-translational modification of the microtubule associated protein tau. Immunoassays have been developed recently that detect tau in biological specimens, thus providing a means for pre-mortem diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease, which has remained elusive. These assays have been improved by the analysis of relevant post-translational modifications, such as phosphorylation, however opportunity for improvement remains. The present invention addresses this issue by disclosing synthetic methylated peptides derived from the tau protein of paired helical filaments and non-diseased control brain. Alzheimer's disease specificity is provided by the presence or absence of methyl moieties on lysine residues and differences between mono-, di-, and tri-methylation. The methylated peptide is useful as an antigen and a binding partner for identifying compounds that interact with the peptide and the methylated tau protein, including antibodies that can distinguish non-diseased brain from that affected by Alzheimer's disease. The resulting antibodies are useful diagnostically and therapeutically. The compounds that specifically bind to methylated tau proteins are useful for eliminating abnormally methylated tau.