A method for making particles containing carboxyalkyl cellulose, comprising blending a carboxyalkyl cellulose and a starch in water to provide an aqueous gel; treating the aqueous gel with a crosslinking agent to provide a crosslinked gel; drying the crosslinked gel to provide a solid; comminuting the solid to provide a plurality of particles.

An endoluminal support structure includes strut members interconnected by pivot joints to form a series of linked scissor mechanisms. The structure can be remotely actuated to compress or expand its shape by adjusting the scissor joints within a range of motion. In particular, the support structure can be repositioned within the body lumen or retrieved from the lumen. The support structure can be employed to introduce and support a prosthetic valve within a body lumen.

The invention discloses a novel method of controlling the open circuit potential (OCP) of a medical implant by coupling it with small amounts of metals having a lower OCP than the implant. Coupling of Mg to less than 1% of the surface area of a titanium implant is shown to induce cathodic polarization of the titanium that inhibits cell proliferation at the surface of the implant. Mg—Ti coupling in medical devices promises to attenuate or eliminate potential complications of surgery such as peri-implantitis and bacterial infections at the site of implantation.

The invention relates to an electronic circuit and a method for feeding power to at least one electrode of an alternating-current electric-arc furnace, particularly for melting metal. Known circuits of this type typically comprise a series connection with a transformer for providing a supply voltage for the electric-arc furnace from a power grid (1) and a AC power controller (8) connected between the transformer (6) and the electrode (11) for regulating the current through the electrode (11). According to the invention, a further development for such electronic circuits is proposed, which development has a simple design, is inexpensive and prevents overload of the AC power controller (8) even in operating modes of the electric-arc furnaces at high electrode currents. This further development provides to bypass the AC power controller with a bypass switch (9) that is opened or closed with the help of a controller as a function of the amount of current flowing through the electrode (11).

A resonant power supply (900) for use with high inductive loads includes an input rectifier (903) and a switching inverter formed using a plurality of parallel connected half bridge networks for switching the voltage provided from the input rectifier (903). A transformer (927) is used whose primary is connected to the switching inverter and whose secondary is connected to load such as a crucible (931). A capacitor (929) is used in series with the primary of the transformer (927) for resonating the inductance in the secondary circuit at the frequency of the switching inverter to provide maximum power transfer to the crucible (931).

A power supply arrangement for supplying a square-wave current (I2) to a load connected to an output of the power supply arrangement, in particular a power supply arrangement in an arc furnace for generating an arc, including a transformer (TU) with at least two primary-site taps (1U1, 1U2) which form an input of the power supply arrangement, and with several secondary-side taps (2U1, 2U2, 2U3, 2UN), a bridge circuit (BU) with several first half bridges (11, 12, 13) which include converter valves (V11, V12, V13, V14, V15, V16) and which each have a first terminal (A11, A12, A13) of the bridge circuit, with a bridge section with a choke (L1), and with a second half bridge (20) which has converter valves (V17, V18) and a second terminal (A20) of the bridge circuit (BU), wherein each first terminal (A11, A12, A13) is connected to one of the secondary-side taps (2U1, 2U2, 2U3) of the transformer (TU), wherein the second terminal (A20) is connected to the output.

In one aspect, the invention is directed to a decoupler assembly for between an endless drive element and a shaft. The endless drive element may be, for example, an accessory drive belt from a vehicular engine. The shaft may be, for example, the input shaft of a belt-driven accessory, such as an alternator or a compressor. The decoupler assembly includes a hub that mounts to the shaft, a pulley that is rotatable with respect to the hub, a dampening spring and a clutch member. A part of the pulley is supported on a pulley support surface on the hub. There is a gap between the pulley and the pulley support surface. The gap has lubricant therein to facilitate sliding between the pulley and the pulley support surface. By eliminating the use of a polymeric bushing between pulley and the hub, there are several advantages that are provided.

A coupling means (10) provided with a first member (20) suitable for being fastened to a first rotary part (2) and with a second member (30) suitable for being fastened to a second rotary part (3), the first member (20) being provided with a first diaphragm (22) and the second member (30) being provided with a second diaphragm (32) that is secured to the first diaphragm (22). An emergency torque transmission device comprises at least one bayonet system including a protuberance (50) secured to one member (30) and co-operating with an angled groove (60) secured to the other member (20) by being inserted in the angled groove (60) by a thrust-and-rotation movement, in the absence of said breakage said coupling means (10) including both axial clearances in compression (70') and in translation (70″) and also circumferential clearance between each protuberance (50) and walls defining the corresponding angled groove (60).

A flexible shaft coupling demonstrates a high performance in transmitting torque and accommodating positional deviations, and is yet highly durable. A first elastomer member (82) having a relatively high rubber hardness is circumferentially interposed between a first claw (32) of a first shaft coupling member (20) and a second claw (62) of a second shaft coupling member (50), and a second elastomer member (84, 86) having a lower rubber hardness than the first elastomer member is interposed between a surface portion (end surface) (30) of the first shaft coupling member (20) and the second claw (62) and/or between a surface portion (end surface) (60) of the second shaft coupling member (50) and the first claw (32).

A wheel supporting device includes: a hub unit that has a rotary ring having a first spline on its axially inner end face; and a joint that has an outer ring having a second spline, meshing with the first spline, on its axially outer end face. At least one projection included in a plurality of projections of the first spline projects in the axial direction by a larger amount than the remaining projections of the first spline. When a crest of the at least one projection contacts a crest of one of projections of the second spline, a play is caused between the rotary ring and the outer ring due to the at least one projection that works as a fulcrum.

A coupling for connecting a rotating tube cleaning shaft to a tube cleaning machine where high pressure fluid is pumped through the coupling, where the coupling is sealed to contain the high pressure fluid, and where a machine driven rotary flexible shaft passes through the coupling.

A lock-up device for a fluid coupling suppresses vibration caused by coil springs. The lock-up device includes an input rotation member, an output rotation member, a plurality of first elastic members, and a float member. The plurality of first elastic members are compressed in a rotational direction by the relative rotation of the input rotation member and the output rotation member. The float member is rotatable relative to the input rotation member to cause two of the first elastic members to act in series in a circumferential direction.

An in-line coupling device for a motor driven agricultural system utilizes less metal components while optimizing torque transfer. The device comprises a puck having a plurality of outwardly extending arms, a first shaft hub having outwardly extending flanges adapted to seat between a pair of the plurality of outwardly extending arms, and a second shaft hub having outwardly extending flanges adapted to seat between a pair of the outwardly extending arms.

An audio setting application of a smart phone acquires tuning data from a tuning data setting server, which meets a search condition specified by a user. The audio setting application performs filtering of tuning parameters included in the tuning data. The tuning parameters are parameters of a plurality of acoustic characteristic items of an audio apparatus, and such parameters are excluded if the parameter cannot be expected to achieve an appropriate effect when the parameter is applied to the audio apparatus.

Provided are a support for affinity chromatography which has excellent alkali resistance, and a method for isolating immunoglobulin. A support for affinity chromatography, containing an immobilized protein ligand represented by the following formula (1): R—R2 (1) wherein R represents a polypeptide consisting of 4 to 30 amino acid residues that contains an amino acid sequence represented by ATK or ASK; and R2 represents a polypeptide consisting of 50 to 500 amino acid residues containing an immunoglobulin-binding domain consisting of an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 2, the partial sequence thereof, or an amino acid sequence having 70% or more identity to these sequences; with the proviso that a terminus at which R2 binds to R is C-terminus or N-terminus of the immunoglobulin-binding domain.

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a set top box (STB) comprising a controller programmed to receive measurement data stored in a first wireless device serving as a portable monitoring gateway that collects subscriber collected data and store and analyze the measurement data at the STB using the received measurement data received from the first wireless device and optionally from a remote server or a local storage space having stored measurement data to provide analyzed results. Other embodiments are disclosed.

A digital broadcast receiver on a mobile body includes: a tuner that receives a broadcast signal of a physical channel; a signal intensity detector that detects a signal intensity of the broadcast signal; a current position detector that detects a current position of the mobile body; a movement direction detector that detects a movement direction of the mobile body; a reception judging unit that controls the tuner to judge whether the physical channel can be received; an area information storage unit that stores receivable area information indicating a receivable area of the physical channel; and an area information updating unit that determines, when it is judged that the physical channel can be received, a position apart from the current position in the movement direction according to the signal intensity as a receivable position, and updates the receivable area information to extend the receivable area to the receivable position.

A video-on-demand (VOD) content delivery system has a VOD Application Server which manages a database of templates ordered in a hierarchy for presentation of video content elements of different selected types categorized in hierarchical order. The templates include those for higher-order displays which have one or more links to lower-order displays of specific content. The VOD Application Server, in response to viewer request, displays a high-order templatized display, and in response to viewer selection of a link, displays the lower-order display of specific content. The hierarchical templatized displays enable viewers to navigate to an end subject of interest while having a unique visual experience of moving through a series of displays to the end subject of interest. For example, the higher-order display may be a product ad and the lower-order display may be an ad for a local retailer of the product. Similarly, a viewer can navigate from national product to local product ad, or classified ad category to specific classified ad, or bulletin board topic category to specific posting. In another embodiment, the VOD content delivery system is used to deliver consumer-generated classified ads on TV. A web-based Content Management System receives consumer-generated content uploaded online in industry-standard file formats with metadata for title and topical area, and automatically converts it into video data format compatible with the VOD content delivery system indexed by title and topical area. A User Interface for the system delivers listings data to the viewer's TV indexed by title and topical area, and displays a requested classified ad in response to viewer selection.

A torque converter (1) connecting an engine (14) and a transmission (15) of a vehicle is provided with a lockup clutch (2), and a controller (5) is programmed to increase an engagement force of a lockup clutch (2) under open loop control before shifting to feedback control of the engaging force using a target slip rotation speed. When an engine output torque rapidly decreases during open loop control (S59, S60), the controller (5) decreases the engaging force according to a variation amount of the engine output torque (S61, S65), thereby preventing an unintentional sudden engagement of the lockup clutch (2) due to decrease in the engine output torque.

The invention relates to indolesulfonyl halogenides which are useful for the protection of organic compounds comprising at least one guanidino moiety and/or at least one amino group. The invention further relates to a process for their preparation and their use as protecting reagents. The invention also relates to the process for the protecting reaction and to the protected compounds thereof.

The present invention relates to the identification and selection of attachment molecules that attach/immobilize an entity having a detectable activity or property on a support in an orientation that provides a detectable activity or property, and to surfaces made of the attachment molecules.

A fixing structure of an optical component is composed of a device chassis; a holder holding an optical component; first and second plate parts for joint to the device chassis and a connecting part of both the plate parts are formed in the holder; a plurality of joint holes are formed in the second plate part; a U-groove into which the connecting part of the holder is fitted and a plurality of through-holes are formed in the device chassis; and an adhesive that is extended in a circular columnar shape and is made by inserting the holder into the U-groove of the device chassis, and applying a UV-curing adhesive in such a manner that the UV-curing adhesive is bonded to the first plate part of the holder and is continuous to the inside of the joint hole via the inside of the through-hole, and radiating UV light along the through-hole.

A disc drive including a tray, a housing configured to receive the tray, a pickup device installed on the tray, and a main circuit board installed on the tray and connected to the pickup device.

A compact disc (CD) player, which comprises playback substrates, a conveying roller, CD sensors, a CD stopper, a first trigger member, frame members, cam members and moving members, wherein the CD stopper has a major axis and abutting portions disposed at both ends of the axis; the first trigger member rotates when a minor-diameter CD stops at a mounting position on a turntable; the frame members receive the movement of the first trigger member; the cam members are coupled to the frame members; the moving members receive the rotation of the CD sensor and move along the outside diameter of a CD; the moving members are provided with clamping portions and abutted portions configured to be clamped with the abutting portions; and the cam members are provided with clamped portions configured to abut against the clamping portions.

Provided is an optical pickup device that compensates for an aberration caused by a beam splitter. When a beam of light is reflected from a disc and proceeds towards a beam splitter, the beam splitter is designed to allow the reflected beam to pass therethrough. However, the beam splitter can cause an astigmatism in the reflected beam due to diffraction. According to various aspects herein, an optical pickup device may include a compensation device that generates an inverse astigmatism to compensate for the astigmatism generated by the beam splitter.

An unload auger assembly for a combine harvester includes a drive coupler configured between adjacent first and second auger segments. The coupler includes a driver component and associated driver cog coupled to the first auger segment. A driven component and associated driven cog is coupled to the second auger segment. The driven cog is rotationally engaged by the driver cog to transmit rotational drive from the first auger segment to the second auger segment. A friction clutch is configured in-line between the driver component and driven component and rotationally couples the driver component to the driven up to a release torque value wherein the friction clutch disengages the driver component from the driven component.

A support assembly for supporting a moveable member of an agricultural combine is provided. The support assembly includes a moveable member, such as a foldable chaff pan assembly for spreading chaff and other crop residue from the rear of an agricultural combine, a support member and a resilient member connected to the support member for supporting the moveable member. The resilient member can be configured as an arched shaped or cylindrically shaped member.

A granular material stirring apparatus for breaking up clumps of a granular material in an interior of a storage bin comprises a base assembly for resting on a floor of the bin, an agitation rotor rotatably mounted on the base assembly, and a rotation device connected to the rotatable agitation rotor to cause the agitation rotor to rotate with respect to the base assembly. The agitation rotor may include a central member rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis and a plurality of stirrer members extending substantially radially outwardly from the central member to rotate about the substantially horizontal axis.

A conveying apparatus has a conveying path to supply a plurality of products for consumption having soft parts and intended for processing to a processing device. A conveying intermediate space has conveying surfaces that face one another and receive the products for consumption between them while applying pressure thereto. A first conveying surface comprises a flexible surface-deformable conveying cover and a row arrangement of pressure elements that are arranged next to one another in a row extending transverse to the conveying direction, each having a pressure-applying transverse profile extending transverse to the conveying direction, and are held to be displaceable in the height dimension direction of the conveying intermediate space against a restoring force such that each pressure element co-operates with the surface-deformable conveying cover during the passage of the products for consumption through the conveying path in order to form a variable conveyor cross-section.

The disclosed embodiments provide a battery pack for use with a portable electronic device. The battery pack includes a first set of cells with different capacities electrically coupled in a parallel configuration. Cells within the first set of cells may also have different thicknesses and/or dimensions. The first set of cells is arranged within the battery pack to facilitate efficient use of space within a portable electronic device. For example, the first set of cells may be arranged to accommodate components in the portable electronic device.

A carbon supported catalyst composition for solid polymer electrolyte fuel cells is disclosed that shows a high mass activity and favorable stability and durability. The catalyst composition comprises an intermetallic phase or alloy comprising Pt and a metal selected from the group consisting of Nb, Ta, V and Mo, and comprises an oxide of the metal. The carbon supported catalyst composition can be prepared at relatively low temperature either by first depositing and heating an oxide precursor of the metal on a suitable carbon to make a hybrid support, and then depositing and heating a Pt precursor on the hybrid support, or by depositing both an oxide precursor of the metal and a Pt precursor on a suitable carbon support, and directly heating to a final temperature.

A business form is provided which is particularly useful in shipping products where certain preprinted information can be provided and then individualized information is printed before the form is applied to a substrate. The form includes a face ply which has a pattern of adhesive applied to at least a portion of the inner face, and a release liner which includes a pattern of adhesive which exposes a portion of the release liner to direct adhesive contact to the face ply without intervening release coating to permanently adhere a part of the release liner to the face ply. The release liner has a surrounding protective border provided with release coating on the release face thereof and which is removed prior to application to the substrate, and a slip which remains with the form as applied to the substrate. The face ply includes lines of perforation defining a central portion. At least a part of the central portion is directly adhered by the adhesive to the slip without intervening release coating between the adhesive and the slip or the central portion. Individualized indicia, such as an address, may be printed on a label area of the top face of the central portion, while other individualized indicia, such as the content of a package, may be printed on the back face of the slip. Masking indicia is preferably provided on one of the inner face of the top ply or the release face of the release liner to inhibit viewing of the content indicia until the slip is removed from the package.

A bearing support plate for use in a generator has a radially enlarged flange with a first cylindrical portion extending from the flange in one direction which will provide a bearing support for an outer race of a ball bearing, and a radially inner cylindrical portion extending in an opposed direction that will be away from the ball bearing relative to the flange. The flange is generally cylindrical but has a truncated portion over a circumferential extent. The first cylindrical portion is formed with radially enlarged portions with intermediate radially thinner portions. The flange includes bolt holes circumferentially aligned with the radially thinner portions.

An apparatus and a method support a selective suspend mode in a driver for any one of at least two devices constituting a composite network device. When a device of the driver requests suspend mode transition, a Physical Device Object (PDO) constituting a driver of the composite network device is identified by a PDO check part. A suspend mode transition request information of the device is sent to an operating system through the PDO. When the operating system allows the suspend mode transition, a control part sends suspend mode transition indication information to the device through the PDO.

A program (e.g., an operating system) is provided a warning that it has a grace period in which to perform a function, such as cleanup (e.g., complete, stop and/or move a dispatchable unit). The program is being warned, in one example, that it is losing access to its shared resources. For instance, in a virtual environment, a guest program is warned that it is about to lose its central processing unit resources, and therefore, it is to perform a function, such as cleanup.

A program (e.g., an operating system) is provided a warning that it has a grace period in which to perform a function, such as cleanup (e.g., complete, stop and/or move a dispatchable unit). The program is being warned, in one example, that it is losing access to its shared resources. For instance, in a virtual environment, a guest program is warned that it is about to lose its central processing unit resources, and therefore, it is to perform a function, such as cleanup.

A program (e.g., an operating system) is provided a warning that it has a grace period in which to perform a function, such as cleanup (e.g., complete, stop and/or move a dispatchable unit). The program is being warned, in one example, that it is losing access to its shared resources. For instance, in a virtual environment, a guest program is warned that it is about to lose its central processing unit resources, and therefore, it is to perform a function, such as cleanup.

The present invention relates to a preparation method of a superabsorbent polymer, and specifically to a method of preparing a superabsorbent polymer including the steps of: preparing a hydrous gel phase polymer by thermal polymerizing or photo-polymerizing a monomer composition including a water-soluble ethylene-based unsaturated monomer and a polymerization initiator; drying the hydrous gel phase polymer; milling the dried polymer; classifying the milled hydrous gel phase polymer into two or more grades by particle size; adding a surface cross-linking agent to each hydrous gel phase polymer classified into two or more grades; and carrying out a surface cross-linking reaction of the hydrous gel phase polymer to which the surface cross-linking agent is added.

Provided are a supported metallocene catalyst, a method for preparing the same and a method for preparing polyolefin using the same. The supported metallocene catalyst prepared by incorporating a metallocene compound having a ligand substituted with alkoxide or aryloxide into a conventional supported metallocene catalyst and incorporating a borate compound as a second co-catalyst exhibits considerably superior catalyst activity and easily controls molecular weight distribution, as compared to the conventional metallocene-supported catalyst.

The present invention provides a phosphate group-containing resin comprising, as polymerized units, a polymerizable unsaturated polyester having at least one phosphate group and/or having at least one phosphoric acid group, a (meth)acrylate based polymerizable monomer, and an alkoxylated (meth)acrylic acid polymerizable monomer; and a use of the phosphate-group containing resin as a treating agent of a metallic pigment or an inorganic pigment, especially used in a water-based coating composition.

Provided is a fluorine- and epoxy group-containing copolymer with excellent workability at room temperature, high water-repellency, and excellent characteristics as a water vapor barrier. Also provided is an efficient method for producing said copolymer. The fluorine and epoxy group-containing copolymer is characterized by containing at least a monomer unit represented by general formula (1): {Therein, R1-R10 each independently represent an alkyl group having 1-3 carbon atoms or a hydrogen atom, R11 is a hydrogen atom, methyl group, or phenyl group, and R5 or R6 can be linked with R7 or R8 to form a ring.} and a monomer unit represented by general formula (2): {Therein, R12 and R13 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or a fluorine atom; R14 represents a hydrogen atom, fluorine atom, methyl group or trifluoromethyl group, and R15 represents a flourine atom or perfluoro group having at most 12 carbon atoms}.

A magnetic particle-polymer hybrid material can include: a substance having a structure of Formula 1 or derivative or salt thereof:Z(Y-Triazole-CH2—X—CH2—(FP)n)m (Formula 1), wherein Z is a magnetic particle smaller than 1 mm; n and m are independently integers; Y includes a first linker having an alkyl and/or aryl linked to the magnetic particle; X is CH2 or a heteroatom; FP is a functionalized polymer having: a first structure derived from a first norbornene compound linked to the magnetic particle through the Y-Triazole-CH2—X—CH2 linker; and one or more monomeric units each including a second structure derived from a second norbornene compound, where one of the monomeric units is linked to the first structure through a saturated or unsaturated alkyl, each monomeric unit includes a functional group capable of binding with another substance.

The present application relates to novel monomers comprising polycarbosiloxane monomers useful in certain specific embodiments in the manufacture of devices. More particularly, the present application relates to certain ethylenically unsaturated free radical polymerizable monomers comprising polycarbosiloxane monomers. Even more particularly, the present application pertains to monomers comprising polycarbosiloxane monomers which further comprise at least two ethylenically unsaturated free radical polymerizable groups.

An ion conducting membrane for fuel cells involves coupling a compound having a sulfonic acid group with a polymeric backbone. Each of the compounds having a sulfonic acid group and the polymeric backbone are first functionalized with a halogen.

A makeup applicator assembly includes an elongated tube having an interior space, a bottom end and a top end. A bottom opening extends through the bottom end of the tube. A chamber is positioned in the interior space and the chamber is positioned proximate the bottom end of the tube. A makeup material is positioned in the chamber. An elongated applicator is also positioned in the chamber. A button is coupled to and extends from the top end of the tube. A plunger extends between the button and the applicator, and the plunger also extends into the chamber. A dispensing aperture is positioned in the chamber. The applicator is extendable through the dispensing aperture. The dispensing aperture is positioned proximate the bottom end of the tube wherein the applicator is extendable from the bottom end of the tube when the button is manipulated.

A cable assembly for electronic devices such as cellular telephones and music devices is disclosed. The cable assembly can comprise either one or two earpieces, each of which is configured to be received into the concha of a user's ear. The earpiece(s) can be configured so as to be held in place by at least one anatomical structure of the concha. A speaker can be in acoustic communication with each earpiece. A cable can be configured to communicate a signal representative of sound from the electronic device to each earpiece. A microphone can be permanently attached or removably attachable to the cable to facilitate use with a cellular telephone. The cable assembly can facilitate hands free operation of a cellular telephone and can facilitate listening to a music device. Other implementations and related methods are also disclosed.

A method and system are provided for controlling uplink transmission power in a wireless communication system. At least one of a plurality of downlink carriers and a plurality of uplink carriers are aggregated, and the plurality of downlink carriers and the plurality of uplink carriers are mapped between a User Equipment (UE) and a network in the wireless communication system. A message relating to uplink carrier transmission power is received at the UE from the network via a downlink carrier. Uplink transmission power of one or more uplink carriers is controlled in accordance with the message and aggregation and mapping of at least one of the downlink carrier and the one or more uplink carriers.

A wireless communication system is provided that includes a wireless communication device in wireless communication with a base station and mobile stations. The wireless communication device includes first and second transceivers coupled to each other. The first transceiver is coupled to an antenna and is operable to communicate with the base station, which is also in wireless communication with other wireless communication devices. The second transceiver is coupled to another antenna and is in wireless communication with the plurality of mobile stations. The first transceiver receives a first signal from the base station intended for a one of the mobile stations, and in response the second transceiver transmits the first signal to the mobile station. The second transceiver receives a second signal from the mobile station intended for the base station, and in response the first transceiver transmits the second signal to the base station.

A saddle type vehicle provided with a headlight stay for permitting a harness laying operation to be easily carried out. A motorcycle is provided with the headlight stay which is supported on a head pipe and extends toward the vehicle front side from the head pipe. A headlight unit is attached to the headlight stay. The headlight stay includes a first stay extending forward from the head pipe, in a side view of the vehicle and a second stay which is supported in a cantilever manner by a front portion of the first stay and extends rearwardly and upwardly. The headlight unit is partly disposed on the front side of the second stay and is disposed so as to overlap with the first stay.

A request to render content associated with a first super distributed content file is detected by a content rendering device. At least one portion of the content associated with the first super distributed content file is determined to be missing from the first super distributed content file. A second file including the at least one portion of the content missing from the first super distributed content file is obtained from a server. The at least one portion of the content of the second file includes partial encrypted portions of the content associated with an encryption system of the content rendering device. A content output stream including decrypted partial encrypted portions of the content of the second file and the content associated with the first super distributed content file is generated. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.