Abstract: Plant stresses such as pest drought, and excessive temperatures can lead to significant losses of crops each year. There is a continuing need to develop novel plant varieties that are less susceptible to damage or loss by such stresses. The present invention provides a system and method for generating plants having an increased resistance to plant stresses such as drought or adverse temperatures. Transgenic plants expressing a phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC) gene can show an unexpected and dramatic improvement in their capacity to tolerate a variety of stress conditions. Moreover, increased PI-PLC expression can further lead to marked increase in plant growth rates, maturation, and lipid content. The present invention encompasses transgenic plants having modifications with regard to PI-PLC pathways, such as altered PI-PLC levels, and plant products thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides a primer for a thermoplastic and/or elastomeric substrate, the primer comprising a film of an epoxy-modified polymer selected from the group consisting of an epoxy-modified-thermoplastic polymer, an epoxy-modified-thermoplastic polymeric composite, an epoxy-modified-elastomeric polymer, an epoxy-modified-elastomeric polymeric composite, a blend thereof, and any mixture thereof. Also provided are methods of repairing, inserting, assembling and coating a thermoplastic or elastomeric substrate using the primer of the present invention.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for detonation of a super-compressed insensitive energetic material by cylindrical implosion followed by an axial detonation to a detonation velocity several times that of TNT and a detonation pressure in excess of ten times that of TNT. The device provides a conical metal flyer shell within which is disposed a cylindrical anvil surrounded by explosive. The anvil retains an insensitive energetic material to be compressed and detonated. A first detonation of explosive by impact of the flyer shell generates a reverberating oblique shock wave system for sample compression. Axial detonation of the compressed sample through any length of a sample is achieved following the principal of matching the axial velocity and compression time of the oblique shock wave system to the detonation velocity and induction delay time of the compressed sample. The method and apparatus are also applicable to enhancing the effect of anti-armour and anti-hard-target munitions.

Abstract: A fluorometric system for on-line monitoring of biological processes uses a plurality of light sources, each with a different spectral width, to illuminate a sample, the light sources selected to produce emission of fluorescent light, and usually also dispersed light, from the illuminated sample. One of the light sources has a wide spectral range. The light sources are operated sequentially or in combination. Spectra acquired from the emitted light are combined and processed to evaluate properties of the sample, such as concentration of the fluorescing components or particle concentration. The system preferably uses an electro-optical probe in which excitation optical energy is transmitted to the sample directly from the light sources, typically LEDs, without an optical waveguide.

Abstract: A scanning optical delay line includes an optical path element that rotates about its central axis, such that a face is intermittently incident a beam of light to be optically delayed. When the beam is not incident the face, it is reflected onto a reinsertion line which provides a second opportunity for the beam to intersect the optical path element. The optical path element may include one or more parallelogram prisms, or parallel reflective surfaces to provide a substantially linear optical path length variation during the scan, which is produced by the rotation of the optical path element. A highly linear part of the rotation can be maximally used providing a high duty cycle, high linearity scanning optical delay line that permits high quality, high data rate applications.

Abstract: A process for chemically etching a stereolithography resin involves chemically etching a shaped object of the resin at a temperature in a range of from about 20° C. to about 30° C. for a time of from about 30 seconds to about 60 seconds with a saturated aqueous solution of permanganate, for example potassium permanganate. The process is faster, simpler and uses less environmentally harmful chemicals than previous etching processes for SLA parts. Etching is also more thorough and can reach hard to access places that sand blasting cannot. The etching process may be part of a process for metallization of a rapid prototyping part fabricated by stereolithography. Excellent etch coverage leads excellent coverage by the coating metal and to stronger metal layers.

Abstract: A method and system is disclosed for determining a property of an object by measuring ultrasonic attenuation. With the proposed method, a measured ultrasonic interaction signal of the object is compared with a reference signal produced using the same generation and detection setup, but using a reference part. The reference ultrasonic signal has low attenuation, and exhibits equivalent diffraction properties as the object, with respect to a broadband ultrasonic pulse. The difference is attributable to the attenuation of the object. The attenuation as a function of frequency, the attenuation spectrum, is fitted to a model to obtain a parameter useful for identifying one of the many properties of an object that varies with ultrasonic attenuation.

Abstract: An electrochromic material having improved durability and more pleasing color characteristics is composed of a single-phase compound of formula W1?xTaxO3?x/2, x having a value in a range of from about 0.15 to about 0.5. Thin films of the electrochromic material can be manufactured by pulse laser deposition (PLD). Thin films of the electrochromic material are useful in the fabrication of electrochromic devices, such as “smart” windows, mirrors, information displays and variable emittance surfaces.

Abstract: A computer-based design methodology for photonic bandgap devices that permits determination of both the upper and lower bandgap edges in either a one-dimensional or two-dimensional photonic crystal. Using this methodology, a one-dimensional crystal may be created for use in a waveguide-fed microwave oven as a radiation reflector-suppressor, particularly for undesirable higher harmonic frequencies of about 12 GHz. By conceptually arranging multiple reflectors in a desired geometry, a two-dimensional crystal may be created that is particularly useful as a waveguide or splitter. The waveguide or splitter thus created has especially high efficiency for microwave wavelength ranges of about 9 GHz as compared with the prior art and is particularly useful in communications applications.

Abstract: A hot runner molding manifold has a first half having flow grooves, a cover piece having flow grooves complementary to the flow grooves of the first half, and a second half securable to the first half and having a cavity for receiving the cover piece. The flow grooves of the first half and the cover piece form flow channels for distributing molten material from an inlet port to outlet ports. The cover piece is engaged with the first half, for example by welding, to reduce leakage of molten material out of the flow channels. Heater grooves in the first half, second half or both the first and second halves receive one or more heating elements for heating the flow channels.

Abstract: An automated container loader for mounting to the side of a vehicle adapted for collecting the contents of curbside residential waste containers. The vehicle has a vehicle body longitudinally attached to the vehicle chassis. The automated container loader is attached to the vehicle chassis by a slide and positioned adjacent the side of the vehicle body. The container loader is equipped with a lift arm having a gripping element having a gripper housing having an opposing pair of gripping jaws. The gripping jaws are pivotally attached to the gripper housing on opposite sides to their respective arms, thereby creating a cross-pivoting arrangement. The distance between the free ends of the gripping jaws is thereby reduced when in the open position. The cross-pivoting arrangement further allows the container loader to have a thin overall width, accomplished through use of a non-folding single-section gripping jaw.

Abstract: A trailer for transporting live poultry hatchlings has a cargo space for containing a plurality of perforated hatching containers. The hatching containers are stacked to create a central passage for air flow along the length of the trailer from which the air is admitted into a side duct on each side of the trailer through apertures in each side wall of the cargo space. This creates a transverse flow of air through the hatchling containers. A variety of measures may be undertaken alone or in combination to promote a similar transverse flow of air at all positions along the length of the trailer. The size of the apertures, spacing between apertures, cross-sectional area of the side ducts, cross-sectional area of the cargo space, or a combination thereof, may be varied along the length of the trailer to promote a similar transverse flow of air at all positions along the length of the trailer.

Abstract: Disclosed is a wallet in the form of a harness with an attached key ring for carry credit cards and folded paper, such as paper currency, together with keys. The harness comprises two loops of elasticized material attached to each other at opposing points such that one loop encircles the length of the credit cards and the other loop encircles the width of the credit cards. The loops may comprise a buckle and may be adjustable to accommodate more cards. The key ring may be used to facilitate opening and closing of the harness.

Abstract: A disc harrow has a frame and a plurality of earth working discs. Each disc has a central aperture for attachment to a gang shaft. A mount attaches the gang shaft to the underside of the frame and has bearings to permit rotation of the shaft in response to forward movement of the disc harrow. The mount includes a first structural member, a second structural member and a resilient spring connected between the two members. In operation, upon striking of an obstacle by the discs, the gang shaft is permitted to upwardly deflect by the mount to prevent damage to the disc harrow. The second structural member has first and second portions with aligned longitudinal axes. The first and second portions are rotationally connected to permit rotation of the second portion in response to an angular moment applied to the second portion by deflection of the gang shaft.

Abstract: A device for controlling the conveyance of particulate material on a conveyor belt comprises a frame with an endless belt attached thereto. The apparatus is positioned above the conveyor belt and in frictional contact therewith whereby the motion of the conveyor results in motion of the endless belt on the apparatus. The particulate material thereby is passes between the endless belt and the conveyor belt and any bouncing movement of such material is prevented. Use of the present invention on conventional conveyor belts controls the dispersion of the particulate material carried thereon and allows for the speed of the conveyor to be increased. The present invention is suitable for use with a conveyor apparatus used with a truck and commonly known as a “stone slinger”.

Abstract: A laminated plastic barrier type fence encapsulates a printed message or sign. The plastic fence is laminated. A message or sign which is printed on a portion of one side of a first sheet of plastic sheeting material. The first sheet is then laminated to a second sheet of plastic sheeting material. A regular array of apertures is made in the laminated sheet to either side of the printing.