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Methods for promoting intrinsic activation in single chamber implantable cardiac pacing systems

Cardiac pacing methods for an implantable single chamber pacing system, establish an offset rate for pacing at a predetermined decrement from either a baseline rate (i.e. dictated by a rate response sensor), or an intrinsic rate. Pacing maintains the offset rate until x of y successive events are paced events, at which time the offset rate is switched to the baseline rate for pacing over a predetermined period of time. Following the period, if an intrinsic event is not immediately detected, within the interval of the offset rate, the rate is switched back to baseline for pacing over an increased period of time. Some methods establish a preference rate, between the offset and baseline rates, wherein an additional criterion, for switching from the offset rate to the baseline rate, is established with respect to the preference rate.




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Closed-loop vagus nerve stimulation

The present invention provides a closed-loop system for treating neurological disorders, such as epilepsy. In one embodiment the system comprises an input assembly that is adapted to receive one or more signals from a patient that are indicative of a patient's neurological state. The input assembly processes the one or more signals to generate one or more control input signals. An output assembly receives the one or more control input signals from the input assembly and generate a neuromodulation signal that is a function of the patient's neurological state. An electrode array is configured to deliver the neuromodulation signal to a patient's peripheral nerve, such as the vagus nerve.




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Device and method for opening vascular obstructions

The present invention is directed to a device and method for opening obstructed body internal passages and for sensing and characterizing tissues and substances in contact with the device. In general, the device comprises a catheter tube capable of inducing vibrations in a guidewire contained therein, wherein said vibrations of the guidewire are utilized for opening a passage through an occlusion. The in-vivo vibrations may be induced by means of a magnetic field actuating means and a guidewire comprising magnetic coupling means, or by means of transducers, which may be also used for the sensing. The invention also relates to the field of minimal invasive catheterization, particularly an apparatus for opening and/or removing obstructions occluding body internal passages by means of an active guidewire comprising a coil to which an alternating voltage can be applied. In that way the guidewire can vibrate if an external magnetic field is applied.




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Manufacturing apparatus for activated carbon filters

A manufacturing apparatus for activated carbon filters has a non-woven cloth machine, a rolling module, a sprayer and a hot-pressing cylinder. The non-woven cloth machine is used to manufacture a body of non-woven cloth and has a processing segment. The rolling module is mounted at the processing segment to heat and melt the body of non-woven cloth. The sprayer is mounted above the rolling module to spray activated carbon powder on the body of non-woven cloth. The hot-pressing cylinder is mounted at the processing segment to heat and press the activated carbon powder with the body of non-woven cloth. The activated carbon powder can be securely attached to the body of non-woven cloth by the manufacturing apparatus to provide a preferred quality of the activated carbon filters and to reduce the cost of manufacturing the activated carbon filters.




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Remotely actuated pilot valve, system and method

A remotely actuated pilot gas valve includes safe lighting and complete shutoff capabilities in the event that the flame that is heating a thermocouple is extinguished. The invention provides for a heater system that utilizes such a pilot gas valve as well as a method whereby the pilot gas valve used in such a system can be remotely and electronically actuated when required. Remote actuation is accomplished by use of a solenoid that is incorporated within the valve design and which is controlled by a remote operator.




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Multiple activation contact lighter

The present invention relates to a lighter. The lighter includes a housing having a supply of fuel, an activating unit movably associated with the housing to selectively ignite the fuel, and at least two separate contact areas such that the user can apply enough force or torque with at least two fingers to overcome the torque/forces required to activate piezo, release the fuel the flame in which the activating unit has at least one internal surface.




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Music synthesizer with multiple movable bars

A variable control device accessory for a music synthesizer having a horizontally disposed keyboard. The device is positioned in front of the keyboard. It has a plurality of movable bars, at least of one of which is capable of being pivotally and slidably moved by the wrist of a player while all the others are only slidable. The bars modulate selected light beams focussed on light responsive mechanisms to produce variably dependent analog signals as inputs to the music synthesizer.




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Structure of rotary valve assembly used in wind instrument

A rotary valve assembly incorporated in a brass instrument for changing a pitch of a tone comprises a rotary valve housed in a valve casing having two groups of aeroports, and the rotary valve is provided with two air passages, one of which interconnects the aeroports in the first group and the other of which interconnects one aeroport of the first group and one aeroport of the second group, so that various arrangements are possible for the aeroports.




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Rotary valves for brass wind instruments

A rotary valve for brass wind instruments with improved lubricating and durability properties is provided. The valve body 2 or both the valve body 2 and casing 1 of the rotary valve comprise(s) a machinable ceramic-resin composite material. The rotary valve can be readily produced by a method which comprises impregnating a machinable ceramic article containing substantially continuous micropores with a liquid resin material and hardening the resin material; machine-processing the resulting machinable ceramic-resin composite article into a shape of the valve body or shapes of the valve body and casing; and assembling the valve body into a rotary valve having the valve body 2 of the composite material rotatably contained in the casing 1 of the composite material or a metal material.




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Beater bracket and variable drive lever system with variable pivot point spring rotor for bass drum foot pedals

Described is a bass drum foot pedal having a variable drive lever linkage with variable arc ratios connecting the foot pedal to a beater bracket. The beater bracket is formed with a mounting surface that tips a beater shaft forward to create a forward beater angle that maximizes the beater impact against a bass drum.




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Dual rotor axial-flow rotor valve structure

A dual rotor axial-flow rotor valve structure includes a rotor valve seat for rotatably receiving rotatable first and second rotor valves. The rotor valve seat has a first and a second extension sections connected to end sections of a second and a first tuning slide assembly s. The first rotor valve communicates with end sections of first and second flow passages with a mouthpiece and the other end of the second tuning slide assembly and communicate the other end of the second flow passage with the first or second extension section. The second rotor valve communicates ends of the first and second flow passages with the other end of the first tuning slide assembly and a main tuning slide assembly and communicate the other end of the second flow passage with the first or second extension section.




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Treadle-drive eccentric wheel transmission wheel series with periodically varied speed ratio and having inward packing auxiliary wheel

In the present invention, one or both of an active wheel or a passive wheel is composed of an eccentric transmission wheel and is combined with a synchronous transmission belt for forming an eccentric wheel transmission wheel series, so that when the feet input forces at different angles from the treadle shafts of the treadles to an active wheel shaft combined on the active wheel through cranks, the active wheel forms different transmission speed ratios relative to the passive wheel according to the treadle angle, and random inward packing is performed to the transmission belt (100) of the engage end of the eccentric passive wheel (413) during the transmission for stabling the operation.




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Vehicle powertrain having a hydraulic continuously variable transmission

A vehicle powertrain has an engine, a driving shaft having a passage defined therein, a driven shaft, a pump, a hydraulic fluid reservoir, and a CVT. A driving pulley of the CVT includes a fixed sheave and a movable sheave disposed on the driving shaft for rotation therewith, a spring biasing a movable sheave away from the fixed sheave, and a CVT chamber fluidly communicating with the passage of the driving shaft. The pump supplies hydraulic fluid from the reservoir to the passage in the driving shaft. The hydraulic fluid flows from the passage to the CVT chamber to create a hydraulic pressure in the CVT chamber. The hydraulic pressure in the CVT chamber biases the movable sheave toward the fixed sheave.




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Utility vehicle with a continuously variable transmission having a system for selectively establishing a fixed maximum transmission ratio

A continuously variable transmission for a vehicle comprises a primary pulley, a secondary pulley, and a belt entrained around both pulleys in an opposite manner between the fixed and movable sheaves thereof. One pulley carries a selectively deployable stop that may be placed into position to mechanically limit the range of motion between the fixed and movable sheaves. This establishes an actual maximum transmission ratio that is larger than the nominal minimum transmission ratio but smaller than the nominal maximum transmission ratio achievable by the transmission during normal operation thereof. When such a transmission is used on a utility vehicle attached to a substance dispensing applicator operatively driven by the vehicle's engine, the application rate stays substantially constant despite changes in engine speed when the user keeps the transmission upshifted to the actual maximum transmission ratio set by the position of the deployed stop.




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Belt-type continuously variable transmission for vehicle

A belt-type continuously variable transmission for a vehicle includes: a primary pulley including a first fixed sheave fixed to an input shaft, and a first movable sheave relatively non-rotatable and relatively movable in axial direction to the input shaft due to spline-fitting of a female spline formed on an inner circumferential portion thereof to a male spline formed on the input shaft; a secondary pulley including a second fixed sheave fixed to an output shaft in parallel with the input shaft, and a second movable sheave relatively non-rotatable and relatively movable in the axial direction to the output shaft due to spline-fitting of a female spline formed on an inner circumferential portion thereof to a male spline formed on the output shaft; and a transmission belt, the belt-type continuously variable transmission for a vehicle disposed with at least one of a first groove width defining portion disposed on the primary pulley for defining a maximum groove width of the first pulley groove and a second groove width defining portion disposed on the secondary pulley for defining a maximum groove width of the second pulley groove, the first groove width defining portion and the second groove width defining portion being disposed on one shaft of the input shaft and the output shaft, and the other shaft having a uniform shaft diameter in an range of sliding of the first movable sheave or the second movable sheave in the axial direction except a site with the male spline formed, the other shaft being disposed on the opposite side to the one shaft.




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Chain belt-type variable transmission

A chain belt-type continuously variable transmission in which ratchet-type chain belts are wound on driving and driven pulley devices, each of which has a variable diameter, in order to control the shift ratio. Driving belt supports are disposed in a driving pulley device so as to radially contract and expand. Driven belt supports are disposed in a driven pulley device so as to radially contract and expand. Teeth in the front portions of the driving belt supports and the driven belt supports and teeth in the rear portions of the driving belt supports and the driven belt supports are oriented in opposite directions. Front and rear ratchet gears formed on the driving belt supports and the front and rear ratchet gears formed on the driven belt supports are oriented in opposite directions and are arranged in alternating positions without being formed at corresponding positions in a line.




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Belt-driven continuously variable transmission

A belt-driven continuously variable transmission having a downsized torque cam assembly for creating forward thrust to push a movable sheave toward a fixed sheave. The belt-driven continuously variable transmission is adapted to output a torque while changing a speed ratio continuously by altering an effective diameter position of a driving belt. The belt-driven continuously variable transmission is comprised of: an output gear, which is fitted onto the rotary shaft of the driven pulley to output the torque while being allowed to rotate relatively; a piston, which is fitted onto the rotary shaft of the driven pulley between the movable sheave and the output gear while being allowed to rotate integrally with the movable sheave and to reciprocate in an axial direction of the rotary shaft, and which increases an internal pressure of the hydraulic chamber by moving toward the movable sheave; and a torque cam assembly, which is interposed between the piston and the output gear, and which pushes the piston toward the movable sheave when the torque transmitted through the driven pulley is increased.




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Treadle-drive eccentric wheel transmission wheel series with periodically varied speed ratio

The present invention is structured by using one or both of an active wheel and a passive wheel being composed of an eccentric transmission wheel and being combined with a synchronous transmission belt for forming an eccentric wheel transmission wheel series, so that in the reciprocal treadle performed by the human's feet, when the feet input forces at different angles from the treadle shafts of the treadles to an active wheel shaft combined on the active wheel through cranks, the active wheel forms different transmission speed ratios relative to the passive wheel according to the treadle angle.




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Soybean variety XR31L13

A novel soybean variety, designated XR31L13 is provided. Also provided are the seeds of soybean variety XR31L13, cells from soybean variety XR31L13, plants of soybean XR31L13, and plant parts of soybean variety XR31L13. Methods provided include producing a soybean plant by crossing soybean variety XR31L13 with another soybean plant, methods for introgressing a transgenic trait, a mutant trait, and/or a native trait into soybean variety XR31L13, methods for producing other soybean varieties or plant parts derived from soybean variety XR31L13, and methods of characterizing soybean variety XR31L13. Soybean seed, cells, plants, germplasm, breeding lines, varieties, and plant parts produced by these methods and/or derived from soybean variety XR31L13 are further provided.




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Soybean variety 01045772

The invention relates to the soybean variety designated 01045772. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety 01045772. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety 01045772 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety 01045772 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.




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Soybean variety 01046169

The invention relates to the soybean variety designated 01046169. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety 01046169. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety 01046169 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety 01046169 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.




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Soybean variety A1036101

The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1036101. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1036101. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1036101 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1036101 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.




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Soybean variety A1036360

The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1036360. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1036360. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1036360 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1036360 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.




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Cotton variety FM 2011GT

The cotton variety FM 2011GT is disclosed. The invention relates to seeds, plants, plant cells, plant tissue, harvested products and cotton lint as well as to hybrid cotton plants and seeds obtained by repeatedly crossing plants of variety FM 2011GT with other plants. The invention also relates to plants and varieties produced by the method of essential derivation from plants of FM 2011GT and to plants of FM 2011GT reproduced by vegetative methods, including but not limited to tissue culture of regenerable cells or tissue from FM 2011GT.




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Variety corn line DC4016YD

The present invention provides an inbred corn line designated DC4016YD, methods for producing a corn plant by crossing plants of the inbred line DC4016YD with plants of another corn plant. The invention further encompasses all parts of inbred corn line DC4016YD, including culturable cells. Additionally provided herein are methods for introducing transgenes into inbred corn line DC4016YD, and plants produced according to these methods.




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Variety corn line HID3483

The present invention provides an inbred corn line designated HID3483, methods for producing a corn plant by crossing plants of the inbred line HID3483 with plants of another corn plant. The invention further encompasses all parts of inbred corn line HID3483, including culturable cells. Additionally provided herein are methods for introducing transgenes into inbred corn line HID3483, and plants produced according to these methods.




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Variety corn line KLI6131

The present invention provides an inbred corn line designated KLI6131, methods for producing a corn plant by crossing plants of the inbred line KLI6131 with plants of another corn plant. The invention further encompasses all parts of inbred corn line KLI6131, including culturable cells. Additionally provided herein are methods for introducing transgenes into inbred corn line KLI6131, and plants produced according to these methods.




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Variety corn line KDL6289

The present invention provides an inbred corn line designated KDL6289, methods for producing a corn plant by crossing plants of the inbred line KDL6289 with plants of another corn plant. The invention further encompasses all parts of inbred corn line KDL6289, including culturable cells. Additionally provided herein are methods for introducing transgenes into inbred corn line KDL6289, and plants produced according to these methods.




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Plants and seeds of corn variety CV052803

According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated CV052803. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CV052803, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CV052803 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to corn seeds and plants produced by crossing plants of variety CV052803 with plants of another variety, such as another inbred line. The invention further relates to the inbred and hybrid genetic complements of plants of variety CV052803.




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Plants and seeds of canola variety SCV435009

In an embodiment, the invention relates to the seeds, plants, and plant parts of canola variety SCV435009 and to methods for producing a canola plant produced by crossing canola variety SCV435009 with itself or with another canola variety. The invention also relates to methods for producing a canola plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic canola plants and plant parts produced by those methods. This invention also relates to canola varieties or breeding lines and plant parts derived from canola variety SCV435009, to methods for producing other canola varieties, lines or plant parts derived from canola variety SCV435009 and to the canola plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid canola seeds, plants and plant parts produced by crossing the variety SCV435009 with another canola variety.




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Soybean variety A1035446

The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1035446. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1035446. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1035446 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1035446 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.




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Barley cultivar BG-161

A barley cultivar, designated BG-161, is disclosed. The invention relates to seeds, plants, and hybrids of barley cultivar BG-161, and methods for producing a barley plant produced by crossing plants from barley cultivar BG-161 with themselves or plants from another barley variety. The invention also relates to methods for producing a barley plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic barley plants and plant parts produced by those methods. The invention also relates to barley varieties derived from barley cultivar BG-161, to methods for producing other barley varieties, lines or plant parts derived from barley cultivar BG-161, and to the barley plants, varieties, and their parts derived from the use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid barley seeds and plants produced by crossing barley cultivar BG-161 with another barley cultivar.




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Plants and seeds of hybrid corn variety CH715413

According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH715413. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH715413, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH715413 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH715413.




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Variety corn line FX8609

The present invention provides an inbred corn line designated FX8609, methods for producing a corn plant by crossing plants of the inbred line FX8609 with plants of another corn plant. The invention further encompasses all parts of inbred corn line FX8609, including culturable cells. Additionally provided herein are methods for introducing transgenes into inbred corn line FX8609, and plants produced according to these methods.




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Variety corn line MFX7589

The present invention provides an inbred corn line designated MFX7589, methods for producing a corn plant by crossing plants of the inbred line MFX7589 with plants of another corn plant. The invention further encompasses all parts of inbred corn line MFX7589, including culturable cells. Additionally provided herein are methods for introducing transgenes into inbred corn line MFX7589, and plants produced according to these methods.




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Wheat variety W030377L1

A wheat variety designated W030377L1, the plants and seeds of wheat variety W030377L1, methods for producing a wheat plant produced by crossing the variety W030377L1 with another wheat plant, and hybrid wheat seeds and plants produced by crossing the variety W030377L1 with another wheat line or plant, and the creation of variants by mutagenesis or transformation of variety W030377L1. This invention also relates to methods for producing other wheat varieties or breeding lines derived from wheat variety W030377L1 and to wheat varieties or breeding lines produced by those methods.




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Pyrido[4,3-b]indole and pyrido[3,4-b]indole derivatives and methods of use

This disclosure is directed to pyrido[4,3-b]indole and pyrido[3,4-b]indole derivatives. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds are also provided, as are methods of using the compounds in a variety of therapeutic applications, including the treatment of a cognitive disorder, psychotic disorder, neurotransmitter-mediated disorder and/or a neuronal disorder. The compounds may bind to and antagonize receptor α2B, α1B or α2A. The compounds may find use in therapy, e.g., to (i) reduce blood pressure and/or (ii) promote renal blood flow and/or (iii) decrease or inhibit sodium reabsorption, or to regulate blood glucose level, increase insulin secretion and treat diseases or conditions that are, or are expected to be, responsive to an increase in insulin production. The compounds may also be used to treat diseases or conditions that are expected to be responsive to a decrease in blood pressure. Use of the compounds to treat cardiovascular, renal disorders or type 2 diabetes is particularly described.




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Fused tetracyclic pyrido [4,3-B] indole and pyrido [3,4-B] indole derivatives and methods of use

This disclosure is directed to fused tetracyclic pyrido[4,3-b>]indole and pyrido[3,4-b]indole derivatives. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds are also provided, as are methods of using the compounds in a variety of therapeutic applications, including the treatment of a cognitive disorder, psychotic disorder, neurotransmitter-mediated disorder and/or a neuronal disorder.




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Method of preparing benzoimidazole derivatives

This invention relates to a method of preparing a benzoimidazole derivative at high purity and high yield so as to enable the production of the benzoimidazole derivative compound as an antagonist against a vanilloid reactor-1, and particularly to a method of preparing a benzoimidazole derivative at high purity and high yield, wherein the benzoimidazole derivative is synthesized using a novel intermediate, namely, benzaldehyde, and thereby the preparation process is simple so that it can be applied to production.




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Process for producing 4-carbonyloxyquinoline derivatives

An objective of the present invention is to provide a process for producing 4-carbonyl oxyquinoline derivatives useful as agricultural and horticultural pesticides and fungicides. The objective can be attained by a process for producing 4-carbonyl oxyquinoline derivatives represented by general formula (1), the process including reacting a quinolone derivative with a halogenated compound or an acid anhydride in the presence of a phase transfer catalyst and a base.




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Method and rolling die for producing a screw with a variable thread pitch

Disclosed herein is a method for manufacturing a screw comprising a continuous thread with a variable thread pitch, in which method a blank is rolled between two rolling dies, wherein in each rolling die a rolling profile is formed that comprises a host of curved non-parallel depressions. The depressions are designed and arranged in such a manner that during rolling no volume transport, or as little volume transport as possible, in the axial direction takes place, or a volume transport from a region of the blank where a thread section with a larger thread pitch is to be formed, to a region in which a thread section with a smaller thread pitch is to be formed takes place.




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Continuously variable transmission oil composition

A continuously variable transmission oil composition comprising a base oil and at least one phosphorous compound in such an amount that the phosphorus in the phosphorus compound accounts for 0.005 to 0.15 mass % of the total mass of the composition and wherein the continuously variable transmission oil composition has a friction coefficient from 0.146 to 0.164 when tested according to ASTM D2714.




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Lubricant composition and continuously variable transmission

Provided is a lubricating oil composition containing a base oil which includes a mineral oil and/or a synthetic oil, and compounded therein, (A) at least one phosphorus-containing compound selected from phosphoric acid monoesters, phosphoric acid diesters and phosphorous acid monoesters, each having a C1 to C8 hydrocarbon group or groups and (B) a tertiary amine compound having C6 to C10 hydrocarbon groups as substituents thereof. The lubricating oil composition provides both a high metal to metal friction coefficient and an excellent wear resistance and is suitably used in a continuously variable transmission.




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Variable strength magnetic end effector for lift systems

A device and method for adjusting the magnetic strength of a magnetic end effector for lift systems is described. The magnetic end effector is capable of lifting discriminate payloads by selectively varying the strength of the magnetic forces output by the magnetic end effector. An actuator can be operatively coupled to the variable strength magnet end effector, wherein the actuator is selectively actuatable to control the adjustment of the variable strength magnet. The actuator may also be configured to maintain the variable strength magnet at a desired magnetic force output strength once achieved for any given amount of time.




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Rotary cutting tool with effective chip evacuation

A rotary cutting tool, such as a milling cutter (10) includes a central hub (12), a cutting rim (14) and a plurality of spokes (22) connecting the central hub (12) to the cutting rim (14). Each spoke (22) is separated by an opening (32) and polygonal in cross-sectional shape formed by two side walls (22a, 22b), two front walls (22c, 22d) and a rear wall (22e). One of the side walls (22a) of each spoke (22) is formed at a pitch angle (42) with respect to a central axis (11) of the cutting tool (10) that is sufficient to cause lift of chips through the opening (32), thereby providing effective chip evacuation during a material removal operation.




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Cutting insert, cutting body and clamping mechanism of a cutting tool assembly for chip removal

A cutting insert (14) is formed with an insert aperture (32) opening out to insert top and bottom surfaces (14A, 14B) of the cutting insert (14). In a plan view of the insert top surface (14A), the cutting insert (14) and the insert aperture (32) both have oblong shapes which are elongated along a common insert longitudinal axis (AIL). The aperture (32) includes first and second side surfaces (32A1, 32A2) which each extend along the insert longitudinal axis (AIL), and aperture first and second end surfaces (32B1, 32B2) which each extend transverse relative to the insert longitudinal axis (AIL). At least one of the aperture first and second end surfaces (32B1, 32B2) is formed with a clamping lip (32C1, 32C2).




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Microfluidic devices with removable cover and methods of fabrication and application

The present invention includes microfluidic systems having a microfabricated cavity that may be covered with a removable cover, where the removable cover allows at least part of the opening of the microfabricated cavity to be exposed or directly accessed by an operator. The microfluidic systems comprise chambers, flow and control channels formed in elastomeric layers that may comprise PDMS. The removable cover comprises a thermoplastic base film bonded to an elastomer layer by an adhesive layer. When the removable cover is peeled off, the chamber is at least partially open to allow sample extraction from the chamber. The chamber may have macromolecular crystals formed inside or resulting contents from a PCR reaction. The invention also includes a method for making vias in elastomeric layers by using the removable cover. The invention further includes methods and devices for peeling the peelable cover or a removable component such as Integrated Heater Spreader.




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Device for evaluation of fluids using electromagnetic energy

A portable, tabletop fluid sampling device simplifies spectral analysis to produce an accurate but inexpensive chromatic fingerprint for fluid samples. In one embodiment, the sampling device uses an array of variable wavelength LED emitters and photodiode detectors to measure Rayleigh scattering of electromagnetic energy from the fluid sample contained in a cuvette. Either the fluid itself, or particles suspended in the fluid can then be identified by performing spectral pattern matching to compare results of a spectral scan against a library of known spectra. A wide range of applications include substance identification, security screening, authentication, quality control, and medical diagnostics.




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Feature value estimation device and corresponding method, and spectral image processing device and corresponding method

An estimation device is configured to estimate a feature value of a specific component contained in a sample and includes: a spectral estimation parameter storage module; a calibration parameter storage module; a multiband image acquirer; an optical spectrum operator configured to compute an optical spectrum from a multiband image using a spectral estimation parameter; and a calibration processor configured to compute the feature value from the optical spectrum using a calibration parameter.




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Binder with removable portfolio

The present invention is directed to an item holding assembly that may include a binder and portfolio with one releasably attached to the other enabling quick and easy separation for use of one independent of the other. In a preferred embodiment, binder and portfolio panels can overlie one another, particularly when releasably engaged in a manner that releasably attaches them. A flap, such as part of the panel or the panel of one is received in a pocket formed in the panel of the other to facilitate and preferably provide releasable attachment.