Abstract: In a method and apparatus for severing roots of bean sprouts, a severing table has a plurality of ridges formed at predetermined intervals and extending in parallel with a direction in which a cutter blade is moved. Each ridge is formed with a number of severing slits each of which has such a width that a root of a bean sprout falls into each severing slit. The bean sprouts are continuously supplied onto the severing table while a cutter blade is moved along an upper face of the severing table and air is being blown from above the severing table so that roots of the bean sprouts on the severing table flow into the severing slits. The roots of the bean sprouts fallen in the severing slits are severed by the cutter blade. The bean sprouts from which the roots have been severed are conveyed out of the severing table with movement of the cutter blade.

Abstract: Methods of analyzing low levels of peroxyacetic acid (PAA) in water are described. These methods employ buffering the PAA-containing water and the use of a N,N-diethyl-p-phenylenediamine (DPD) indicator system in the presence of iodide ion. The intensity of the pink coloration that develops is quantitated by colorimetric or titrimetric methods and correlated to the ppm PAA in the water. Positive interference effects due to the presence of hydrogen peroxide are eliminated by performing the analyses quickly after the introduction of the reagents.

Abstract: Actuator control system and method comprising an electric motor driving a hydraulic pump in fluid delivery communication with a source of hydraulic fluid; a variable speed controller operatively coupled to the motor for driving the pump at variable speeds; an external hydraulic actuator in fluid delivery communication with the pump for receiving pressurized fluid flow from the pump; and a feedback loop operatively coupled from the motor to the controller for providing feedback signals correlative to a pressure of the pressurized fluid flow through the driven pump for driving the external hydraulic actuator in response to the feedback signals for providing electronic velocity and force control of actuation of the external hydraulic actuator. The actuator control system and method can operate on one or many high-pressure hydraulic linear and/or rotary actuators on different pieces of hydraulically driven equipment and with different velocity requirements actuating in different directions.