pr

Cannabis, East Bay Express

News, arts, and dining coverage for Oakland, Berkeley, and the greater East Bay.




pr

METHOD FOR REDUCING COD OF WASTEWATER WITH IMPROVED UTILIZATION EFFICIENCY OF OZONE

Provided is a method for reducing COD of wastewater with improved utilization efficiency of ozone. The method achieves an objective by adding agents for removing hydroxyl radical scavengers produced by base-catalyzed ozone advanced oxidation to wastewater. The addition of calcium ion, barium ion, etc. to a base-catalyzed ozonation system makes the hydroxyl radical scavengers form precipitates, separated from water and lose the capability of scavenging hydroxyl radicals, thereby enhancing ozone utilization efficiency. Furthermore, calcium ion, barium ion, etc. form precipitates with partial organic acids yielded in the wastewater ozonation and are separated from water, hence diminishing ozone consumption and indirectly improving the ozone utilization efficiency in the wastewater treatment. The present invention can not only significantly enhance the reaction rate and utilization efficiency of ozone, saving reaction time and costs, but also enable complete mineralization of the organic compounds, significantly reducing COD and total phosphorus of wastewater.




pr

Biological composite material loaded with magnetic nanoparticles with core-shell structure, the preparation therefore and the application

A preparation method of Bacillus subtilis biological composite material loaded with Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles with core-shell structure includes the following steps: 1) preparation of Fe3O4 nanoparticles, 2) preparation of Fe3O4@mSiO2 nanoparticles, 3) preparation of Fe3O4@mSiO2@MANHE nanoparticles; and 4) preparation of Bacillus subtilis@Fe3O4@mSiO2@MANHE composite.




pr

Ion Sequestration for Scale Prevention

Cations that can precipitate from an aqueous composition to produce scaling are sequestered by adding a multi-dentate ligand to the aqueous composition. The multi-dentate ligand bonds with the cation to form a non-scaling ionic complex; and the aqueous solution with the ionic complex is used in a process that produces substantially pure water from the aqueous composition, where the cation, absent formation of the ionic complex, is subject to scaling. The pH of the aqueous composition (or a brine including components of the aqueous composition) is then reduced to release the cation from the multi-dentate ligand; and the multi-dentate ligand, after the cation is released, is then reused in a predominantly closed loop.




pr

HIGH PRESSURE SAND TRAP WITH SCREEN

There is provided a method of desanding a production flow with at least liquid and solid phases. An inlet is connected to a flow line of a sand trap body having a first filter housing defining a first bore and a plurality of second filter housings defining second bores each connected to the first filter housing at spaced intervals transverse to and in fluid communication with the first bore. The flow path between the stand trap inlet and outlet is defined by the first and second housings. A primary filter is inserted into each of the second bores, the production flow is flowed through the sand trap body such that the production flow is filtered by the primary filters, and then a secondary filter is inserted into the first bore. The mesh size of the primary filters is finer than or equal to the mesh size of the secondary filter.




pr

FILTERING APPARATUS, SPRINKLING APPARATUS INCLUDING THE FILTERING APPARATUS, AND FILTERING METHOD

The present invention provides a filtering apparatus, a sprinkling apparatus using the filtering apparatus, and a filtering method. The filtering apparatus includes a liquid passage chamber, a drainage chamber, and a recirculation chamber. The sprinkling apparatus further includes a jetting section. The filtering method includes the steps of closing a liquid passage hole, filtering a liquid, and flowing the liquid in to a compartment chamber while discharging filter residue.




pr

MEMBRANE SEPARATION DEVICE HAVING IMPROVED FILTRATION VELOCITY

A blood filtration device comprising a generally cylindrical housing having an interior wall. An interior member is mounted interior of the housing and comprises an outer surface having a porous membrane disposed thereon. The housing and interior member are relatively rotatable and define an annular gap therebetween. The blood filtration device also comprises an inlet for directing fluid into the annular gap, a first outlet for exiting filtrate passing through the membrane, and a second outlet for directing from the annular gap the remaining retentate. The porous membrane comprises a first layer and a second layer.




pr

PROCESS FOR INHIBITING SCALE FORMATION WITH UV LIGHT

A process for inhibiting formation of calcium scale in a reverse osmosis desalination membrane during desalination involving desalinating an aqueous salt solution comprising water, sodium chloride, calcium chloride, and sodium bicarbonate with the reverse osmosis desalination membrane, while concurrently irradiating the aqueous salt solution with a UV light source that emits UV light with a wavelength of 250-400 nm. Scale formation is inhibited by treating a salt solution with the UV light in a continuous or a non-continuous process.




pr

METHOD TO DISPERSE BYPRODUCTS FORMED IN DILUTION STEAM SYSTEMS

Disclosed herein are methods for reducing fouling caused by process water present within a water recycling loop of a pyrolysis plant. The process water includes water, a pygas, and in some cases pygas byproducts. Fouling is caused by phase separation and accumulation of materials from the process water on equipment surfaces. The method includes applying a total of about 5 ppm to 500 ppm of one or more antifouling polymers to the process water to form a treated process water. The one or more antifouling polymers are selected from the group consisting of copolymers of unsaturated fatty acids, primary diamines, and acrylic acid; copolymers of methacrylamidopropyl trimethylammonium chloride with acrylic acid and/or acrylamide; copolymers of ethylene glycol and propylene glycol; and blends of two or more thereof.




pr

May Day Protests Begin With Port Shutdown

Members of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 10 who handle cargo at the Port of Oakland — one of the busiest US seaports — stopped work across the Bay Area today to protest against police brutality. Rallying near the gate of an idle port terminal, Bay Area longshore workers were joined by labor leaders representing BART train operators, city and county workers, port workers from Los Angeles, as well as hundreds of community members.

“There is an epidemic of police terror,” said Jack Heyman, a retired Oakland port worker.…




pr

Bay Area Activists Protest Peter Thiel's Partnership With Immigration and Customs Enforcement

'Don’t build technology for Mordor.' On Saturday at Peter Thiel’s San Francisco home overlooking the Bay, protesters demonstrated against a collaboration between Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Palantir Technologies, a data-mining firm that Thiel co-founded. As reported in The Intercept, ICE will be using a new Palantir product called Investigative Case Management to to aid in its expanded deportation mission.…



  • News & Opinion/News

pr

Berkeley Police Basically MIA At Saturday's Violent Pro-Trump Vs. AntiFa Brawl

Including a photo slideshow. Even at 10 a.m. this past Saturday morning, hours before a throng of anti-fascists and Trump-supporting white nationalists overtook downtown Berkeley’s streets, it was clear that most of the attendees were less interested in speeches, protesting, and free speech — and were mostly there just to tee-off on each other. Before the brawling began, officers stationed themselves at the entrances to downtown's "Peace Park."…



  • News & Opinion/News

pr

Photos from the ANSWER and Indivisible Counter-Protests Against ACT for America's 'March Against Sharia'

ACT for America, which the Southern Poverty Law Center has designated as an anti-muslim hate group, showed up on Saturday morning in cities nationwide, dubbing its protest a "March Against Sharia." Berkeley was spared, but the group appeared in nearby Santa Clara, and in Roseville, a suburb of Sacramento.…




pr

Review: J Balvin Proved Why He's One of the World's Biggest Latinx Acts at Oracle Arena


The last time J Balvin was at Oracle arena was back on Feb. 15, 2015 when he was the opening act for Pitbull and Enrique Iglesias' joint tour. I was at that show with my mom as my date, and vividly remember her saying, “one day he’s going to headline his own tour here.” I brushed off her comment, it wasn’t that I didn’t believe that he was talented.…



  • Blogs/Arts & Music

pr

Express Top 20 Covers

The Best Covers of the Past Ten Years



  • News & Opinion/Feature

pr

METHODS AND COMPOSITIONS FOR PREDICTING TOBACCO USE

Provided herein are methods of reliably determining whether or not an individual is a user of tobacco.




pr

Process, Apparatus or System and Kit for Classification of Tumor Samples of Unknown and/or Uncertain Origin and Use of Genes of the Group of Biomarkers

The present invention refers to a process for classifying tumor samples of unknown and/or uncertain primary origin, specifically including the steps of obtaining patterns of biological activity modulation of tumor of unknown and/or uncertain primary origin and comparing them to an specific and unique group of biomarkers which determine the profiles of biological activity modulation of known origin tumors. The present invention belongs to the molecular biology and genetics field.




pr

METHODS FOR PREDICTING THE SURVIVAL TIME OF PATIENTS SUFFERING FROM CANCER

The present invention relates to methods for predicting the survival time of patients suffering from cancer. Said methods are based on the quantification and analysis of the cell free nucleic acids that are present in a sample from the patient and typically include the determination of the level of the mutant nucleic acid which contains a mutation of interest, the calculation of the mutation load for said mutation of interest, the calculation of the DNA integrity index or a combination thereof.




pr

CANCER PROGRESSION OBSERVATION INDEX GENE GROUP AND METHOD OF DETECTING THE GENE GROUPS

A method of detecting a cancer progression observation index gene group, comprising: a) preparing a plurality of AKR/J mice in which an oncogene is inserted into a thymocyte; b) dividing the AKR/J mice into three groups, raising the first group of the AKR/J mice after high-dose ionizing radiation of 0.8 Gy/min, raising the second group of the AKR/J mice after low-dose ionizing radiation of 0.7 mGy/hr, and raising the third group of the AKR/J mice in a general environment; c) obtaining a thymus of a dead mouse of the first or second group of the AKR/J mice throughout the b) operation and diagnosing cancer when a weight of the thymus is increased to twice or more than before radiation; d) extracting thymuses by sacrificing the first to third groups of the AKR/J mice at the time at which the third group of the AKR/J mice initially die; and e) selecting only a thymus having no change in weight compared to the organs of the same-aged non-irradiated AKR/J mice from the organs extracted in d) and detecting a gene of the organ whose weight is increased or decreased by a factor of two or more through gene analysis.




pr

Screening Assay for Choice of Prebiotic to Prevent/Treat Gastrointestinal and Systemic Diseases

An assay and a method for identifying a prebiotic to treat a subject in need thereof to promote intestinal barrier integrity or to blunt an inflammatory response are provided.




pr

METHODS FOR DIAGNOSIS, PROGNOSIS AND METHODS OF TREATMENT

The present invention provides an approach for the determination of the activation states of a plurality of proteins in single cells. This approach permits the rapid detection of heterogeneity in a complex cell population based on activation states, expression markers and other criteria, and the identification of cellular subsets that exhibit correlated changes in activation within the cell population. Moreover, this approach allows the correlation of cellular activities or properties. In addition, the use of modulators of cellular activation allows for characterization of pathways and cell populations. Several exemplary diseases that can be analyzed using the invention include AML, MDS, and MPN.




pr

MATERIALS AND METHODS FOR DIAGNOSIS, PROGNOSIS AND ASSESSMENT OF THERAPEUTIC/PROPHYLACTIC TREATMENT OF PROSTATE CANCER

A method to detect prostate cancer comprising contacting a sample of prostate cells from the patient with a set of detectably labeled probes under hybridization conditions and determining the presence of chromosomal abnormalities in prostate tumor tissue, PIN (intra-epithelial neoplasia), histologically benign tissue and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH); a method to combine immunofluorescence and FISH (IF-FISH) to facilitate the assessment of chromosomal abnormalities; a set of probes; and a kit comprising the set of probes and instructions for diagnosing prostate cancer in a patient.




pr

METHODS FOR DIAGNOSIS AND PROGNOSIS OF CANCER

We have discovered a protein in humans, herein referred to as collagen like gene (CLG) product (SEQ ID NOS: 12 and 13), that is expressed in human prostate cancer and breast cancer cell lines but not in normal adult, placenta, lung, liver, skeletal muscle, kidney or pancreas tissues. We have also discovered that the level of CLG mRNA expression correlates positively with the metastatic potential of the cancer cell lines tested.




pr

METHOD TO IDENTIFY AN APPROACH FOR ACHIEVING MAMMALIAN FERTILIZATION AND TIME PERIOD FOR INSEMINATION

The diagnosis of male infertility is based predominantly on the results of standard semen analysis for concentration, total motility, progressive motility, volume, pH, viscosity and/or morphology. When sperm enter the female reproductive tract, they must undergo a series of physiological changes, known as capacitation, in order to fertilize an egg. This process involves plasma membrane changes that occur in response to stimuli within the female tract. These changes include removal of sterols and redistribution of the ganglioside GM1. Semen analysis identifies only half the cases of male infertility due to standard semen analysis providing little information on sperm functional competence. Previous data demonstrated that localization of the ganglioside, GM1, identifies sub-populations of sperm capable of undergoing the functional maturation process known as capacitation and tracks strongly with fertility.




pr

Methylated Peptides Derived from Tau Protein and their Antibodies for Diagnosis and Therapy of Alzheimer's Disease

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.




pr

DETECTION AGENT FOR DETECTING 25-HYDROXY VITAMIN D, PREPARATION METHOD AND USE

Provided are a detection agent for detecting hydroxy vitamin D, preparation method thereof, and use thereof in 25-hydroxy vitamin D immunological detection. The detection agent comprises a conjugate formed by a 25-hydroxy vitamin D antigen derivative and protein carrier, and magnetic spheres coated by the conjugate. Also provided is a 25-hydroxy vitamin D detection kit comprising the detection agent.




pr

Mr. Espresso Donates Thousands of Pounds of Coffee During Covid-19 Crisis


This month alone, Oakland-based, family-owned Mr. Espresso has already donated over 2,500 pounds of coffee to COVID-19 relief efforts all over the Bay Area.

During the first two weeks of April, the 42-year-old company — founded in Alameda by enterprising Italian-born Carlo Di Ruocco and now renowned as the first and currently only outfit in the nation that uses oak wood to roast its beans — has given coffee to the Alameda County Community Food Bank and San Francisco-Marin Food Bank, Frontline Foods, East Bay FeedER, Clinica de La Raza, St. Anthony’s Dining Room, Loaves and Fishes Family Kitchen, and other food-, health-, homeless-, youth-, and family-assistance programs.…




pr

PETA Asks to Adorn UC Berkeley's Campanile with a Pro-Vegan Ad


People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals sent UC Berkeley chancellor Carol Christ a letter today requesting permission to place a banner on the university's famous clocktower that reads "It's High Time We Went Vegan. PETA."…




pr

Progressive Opportunities Conference: AUDIO

The 2012 Progressive Opportunities Conference showcased the best work of nonprofits, companies, unions, activists, and government leaders, looking to shed light on some of our most pressing economic issues. The Conference sought to create an opportunity to network and exchange ideas, arming attendees with new tools to make positive economic change.…



  • Marketing/Marketing Blog

pr

California Intends to Declare BPA a Reproductive Hazard

California today announced its intent to declare bisphenol A a reproductive hazard. Under a state law known as Prop 65, warning signs would be required for consumer items that contain a certain high level of BPA.…




pr

MONOFUNCTIONAL AMINES AS ADHESION PRIMERS FOR CONDUCTIVE POLYMERS

The present invention relates to a process for producing an electrolytic capacitor, the process comprising process steps i) ii): i) providing a capacitor body (1) that comprises an electrode body (2) of an electrode material,a dielectric (3) which at least partially covers the surface of this electrode material, anda solid electrolyte (4) at least comprising an electrically conductive material which at least partially covers the dielectric surface; ii) applying a primer solution e) to the capacitor body (1), followed by an application of a solution or dispersion a) comprising a conjugated polymer b) and a solvent or dispersant d), followed by an at least partial removal of the solvent or dispersant d) for the formation of the polymeric outer layer (5) that is formed onto the capacitor body (1); wherein the primer solution e) comprises at least one monofunctional amine and at least one carboxylic acid.




pr

DEVICE FOR THERMALLY TRIPPING OR DISCONNECTING AN OVERVOLTAGE PROTECTION DEVICE

The invention relates to a device for thermally disconnecting or tripping an overvoltage protection device, comprising: a locking element (A1), on which a first force (F1) acts, and which is fixed in such a way that same is released when a limit temperature is exceeded; and a slider (S1) which is blocked in a first state (Z1) by the fixed locking element (A1), and on which a second force (F2) acts in order to transfer same into a second state (Z2) when the locking element (A1) is released.




pr

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROTECTING ELECTRONIC DEVICE

The present disclosure provides a method and a system for protecting an electrical device. The method includes: acquiring coordinate data of the electronic device; determining whether the coordinate data exceeds a data range corresponding to a preset state of the electronic device; and disabling the electronic device when the coordinate data exceeds the data range corresponding to the preset state.




pr

LOW CAPACITANCE SURGE SUPPRESSION DEVICE

A surge suppression device includes a micro electromechanical system (MEMS) switch electrically connected to a current path. Additionally, the surge suppression device includes a transient voltage suppression (TVS) device electrically connected in series to the MEMS switch. The surge suppression device is configured to protect electronic components from voltage surges or current surges.




pr

OVERVOLTAGE PROTECTION DEVICE

An overvoltage protection device includes a resistor that is connected in series between an internal signal line connected to a communication terminal of a processor and a communication line, a diode of which a cathode is connected to the internal signal line and an anode is connected to a ground, and a PNP transistor of which a base is connected to a power supply terminal, an emitter is connected to the internal signal line, and a collector is connected to the ground. When a base-emitter voltage (a junction saturation voltage) of the transistor in operation is defined as VBE and a power source is turned on (a voltage V1) by the operation of the transistor, a voltage of the internal signal line is limited to the source voltage V1+VBE. When the power source is turned off (a voltage 0 V), the voltage of the internal signal line is limited to the source voltage 0 V+VBE.




pr

ELECTRICAL ENERGY RECEIVING END CAPABLE OF OVERVOLTAGE PROTECTION AND WIRELESS ELECTRICAL ENERGY TRANSMISSION DEVICE

An electrical energy receiving end capable of overvoltage protection and a wireless electrical energy transmission device are provided. An electrical energy receiving coil is divided into a first receiving coil and a second receiving coil, so that under normal operation the first receiving coil and the second receiving coil jointly resonate with an impedance matching network to receive energy. When the electrical energy receiving end has an overvoltage, the first receiving coil and the impedance matching network (or the second receiving coil and the impedance matching network) form a loop, and due to the impedance mismatch, the energy received by the electrical energy receiving end is greatly reduced to solve the problem of overvoltage at the electrical energy receiving end.




pr

Magnetic particle embedded flex or printed flex for magnetic tray or electro-magnetic carrier

In accordance with disclosed embodiments, there are provided methods, systems, and apparatuses for implementing a magnetic particle embedded flexible substrate, a printed flexible substrate for a magnetic tray, or an electro-magnetic carrier for magnetized or ferromagnetic flexible substrates. For instance, in accordance with one embodiment, there are means disclosed for fabricating a flexible substrate having one or more electrical interconnects to couple with leads of an electrical device; integrating magnetic particles or ferromagnetic particles into the flexible substrate; supporting the flexible substrate with a carrier plate during one or more manufacturing processes for the flexible substrate, in which the flexible substrate is held flat against the carrier plate by an attractive magnetic force between the magnetic particles or ferromagnetic particles integrated with the flexible substrate and a complementary magnetic attraction of the carrier plate; and removing the flexible substrate from the carrier plate subsequent to completion of the one or more manufacturing processes for the flexible substrate. Other related embodiments are disclosed.




pr

FLEXIBLE PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD, SUPPORTING HOLDER AND CONTROLLER

A flexible printed circuit board including an annular main board and a plurality of branches connected with the annular main board is provided. Each of the branches includes an extension portion connected with the annular main board and a bonding portion, and an electronic component is adapted to be disposed on the bonding portion. A supporting holder including an annular base, two wing structures, and a plurality of mounting portions is also disclosed, wherein the wing structures extend outward from the annular base and the mounting portions are located on the annular base and the wing structures. Further, a controller including the flexible printed circuit board and the supporting holder aforementioned is disclosed, wherein the annular main board is disposed on the annular base and the branches are disposed on the annular base and the wing structures, such that the bonding portions are located on the mounting portions correspondingly.




pr

Heat Sink With Protrusions On Multiple Sides Thereof And Apparatus Using The Same

Examples of a thermal management unit and an electronic apparatus utilizing the thermal management unit are described. In one aspect, the thermal management unit includes a heat sink. The heat sink includes a base portion, a first protrusion structure and a second protrusion structure. The base portion has a first side and a second side opposite the first side. The first protrusion structure protrudes from the first side of the base portion, and includes multiple fins. The second protrusion structure protrudes from the second side of the base portion, and includes multiple ribs. The heat sink may be made of silicon.




pr

Comics, East Bay Express

News, arts, and dining coverage for Oakland, Berkeley, and the greater East Bay.




pr

Marketing Blog, East Bay Express

News, arts, and dining coverage for Oakland, Berkeley, and the greater East Bay.





pr

A third generation of Radius 2 + 4 rotary mixers: New tech upgrades, lower price

The UK-based mixer-maker and audiophile favorite MasterSounds has a small piece of joy to brighten up DJs’ days. They’ve released the third generation of their Radius 2 and Radius 4 mixers, and have adjusted their price points to cater to artists with a lower spending budget (especially now). These mixers are homegrown, too—MasterSounds mixers are […]

The post A third generation of Radius 2 + 4 rotary mixers: New tech upgrades, lower price appeared first on DJ TechTools.




pr

Traktor DJ 2.4: Transport Control UI Improvements, Genre Sorting

If you haven’t looked at Traktor DJ, Native Instruments’ iOS app (it runs on Mac and PC too) recently, a new update and the concurrent global stay-home happening seems like the perfect time to do it. The update to Traktor DJ 2.4 has a bunch of features that look like they’re straight out of a […]

The post Traktor DJ 2.4: Transport Control UI Improvements, Genre Sorting appeared first on DJ TechTools.




pr

A Really Gross Problem

Plus, I have no interest in my husband now that he is smoking again. I'm a cis bi woman, and I mainly have sex with people with penises. I have a really gross problem, sorry.…




pr

Free Will Astrology Week of April 1

ARIES March 21-April 19 “If all the world’s a stage, where the hell is the teleprompter?” asks aphorist Sami Feiring. In my astrological opinion, you Aries are the least likely of all the signs to identify with that perspective.…



  • Free Will Astrology

pr

Week of April 22

ARIES (March 21-April 19) In the future, when the coronavirus crisis has a diminished power to disrupt our lives, I would love for you to have more of the money you need to finance interesting new experiences that help you learn and thrive.…



  • Free Will Astrology

pr

HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUND AND ORGANIC LIGHT EMITTING DEVICE COMPRISING SAME

The present specification provides a hetero-cyclic compound and an organic light emitting device including the hetero-cyclic compound.




pr

Improved Accumulator Circuit for Towed Implements

An apparatus and a system directed to an improved hydraulic circuit for use on implements powered by separate motorized vehicle such as a tractor. The apparatus and system include an implement, such as a bale processing or stacking device, configured with wheels to be a towed vehicle, with the towed vehicle configured to be conveyed by a tow vehicle. Additionally, a hydraulic pump on the tow vehicle is coupled to one or more accumulators on the towed device to provide hydraulic power at varying rates as needed by one or more mechanical operations of the implement vehicle. A hydraulic circuit including check and block valves in concert with a pressure switch on the implement device obtains hydraulic power from the tow vehicle from a hydraulic pump located on the tow vehicle via one or more hydraulic transfer lines from the tow vehicle to the implement.




pr

HYDRAULIC PRESSURE GENERATION APPARATUS

One embodiment provides a hydraulic pressure generation apparatus. In the hydraulic pressure generation apparatus, a motor attached to a base body. The base body includes: a first cylinder hole having a closed bottom in which a first piston is inserted to thereby form a master cylinder; and a second cylinder hole having a closed bottom in which a second piston is inserted to thereby form a slave cylinder. The first cylinder hole and the second cylinder hole have respective openings in a surface of the base body located on one side thereof. Axial lines of the first cylinder hole, the second cylinder hole and an output shaft of the motor are arranged approximately parallel with each other.