Systems and techniques are disclosed wherein a gated pilot signal can be acquired by searching for a first gated pilot signal, deriving timing information from the search for the first gated pilot signal, and searching for a second gated pilot signal using the timing information. The nozzle assembly may include a plurality of sitz bath nozzles dispensing jets of water, wherein a plurality of water streams formed by the jets of water dispensed by the plurality of sitz bath nozzles contact each other at a water contact point to form fountain-like water streams. The adhesive masses are contacted with the strand when the strand is in the first position. According to one embodiment of the invention, the flow control apparatus is fabricated in a planar silicon substrate. With an imaginary base line centered along an axial direction of an outer circumference of a sleeve, a millimeter graduation for displaying the displacement of the spindle in millimeters is provided on one side, and the inch graduation for displaying the displacement of the spindle is provided on the other side. In this transmitting circuit, the intermediate frequency amplifier, high frequency amplifier, and driver amplifier are configured using variable gain amplifiers.