Abstract: A sample tube holder (10) having a generally flat elongate flexible body (12) and one or more of sets of non circular apertures (16) each having a length dimension and a width dimension perpendicular to the length dimension, in the body, each set having two or more apertures (16) arranged in a line such that each set of apertures defines at least one inner portion (30) between adjacent apertures (16) of the set and at least one outer portion (32) adjacent each aperture at the end of the line extending away from the respective inner portion.

Abstract: A device for use by a player to improve his handling of an object on a surface, comprising at least one camera positioned such that the field of view of the at least one camera may capture an image of the surface and the object; a processor providing an image processing algorithm adapted to receive data relating to an image of the surface and the object, and to calculate therefrom image data relating to the position of the object on the surface; at least one monitor for viewing an image positioned in front of the player and adapted to receive data relating to the position of the object on the surface; means for transmitting data relating to the image of a playing surface and the object to the processor and means for transmitting image data relating to the position of the object on the surface from the processor to the monitor.

Abstract: A device (1410) for collecting a blood sample from an animal on sampling media placed (1456) next to the animal's flesh, the device comprising holding means () for holding the sampling media (1456) for placement on the flesh of an animal; spike means (1418) operable to first pass through the sampling media (1456) and to then penetrate into the flesh of the animal to create a puncture site to allow blood emerging from the site to be collected by the sampling media (1456) during and/or after penetration of the flesh, and retaining means (1427) for temporarily retaining the device (1410) on the animal whilst blood is collected on the sampling media and for allowing the device (1410) to be removed from the animal substantially intact for subsequent removal of the sampling media (1456) with the blood from the device.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a method of automatic switching between omnidirectional (OMNI) and directional (DIR) microphone modes in a binaural hearing aid comprising a first microphone system for the provision of a first input signal, a second microphone system for the provision of a second input signal, where the first microphone system is adapted to be placed in or at a first ear of a user, the second microphone system is adapted to be placed in or at a second ear of said user, the method comprising a measurement step, where the spectral and temporal modulations of the first and second input signal are monitored, an C evaluation step, where the spectral and temporal modulations of the first and second input signal are evaluated by the calculation of an evaluation index of speech intelligibility for each of said signals, and an operational step, where the microphone mode of the first and the second microphone systems of the binaural hearing aid are selected in dependence of the calculated evaluation i

Abstract: Packaging comprises polymer film (1) with portions of the film (1) sealed together to form an enclosure for the food stuff, said sealed portions being sealed by a film-to-film seal except in a vent region (5) where a lacquer layer (6) is bonded to each portion of film before said portions are sealed together with the lacquer layers cohering, the seal strength of the lacquer-to-lacquer interface (6) being similar to that of the film-to-film interface under predetermined storage conditions, and the seal strength of said lacquer-to-lacquer interface (6) being reduced compared with that of the film-to-film interface at temperatures above those expected under said predetermined storage conditions so that the enclosure is vented to atmosphere by a cohesive peel action in the vent region (5) between said lacquer layers (6).

Abstract: A trimmer producing a profiled spine in a book. The device includes a first clamp element and a second clamp element contacting the second side and an actuating device moving the first clamp element with respect to the second clamp element so as to skew the spine. A trimming blade cuts the book.

Abstract: A method for producing a profiled spine in a book having a first side defining a first plane, a second side defining a second plane and a spine. The method includes clamping the book using a first clamp element contacting the first side and the second clamp element contacting the second side and moving the first element with respect to the second element so as to skew the spine by moving at least one of the first side in the first plane and the second side in the second plane.

Abstract: A method for producing a profiled spine in a book having a first side defining a first plane, a second side defining a second plane and a spine. The method includes clamping the book using a first clamp element contacting the first side and the second clamp element contacting the second side and moving the first element with respect to the second element so as to skew the spine by moving at least one of the first side in the first plane and the second side in the second plane.

Abstract: A grease trap filter and grease removal system includes a filter with a horizontal strainer tube and a vertical strainer tube. An elbow connects the cylindrical horizontal and vertical strainer tubes in a generally perpendicular fashion. The filter is removably positioned within a grease trap so that the horizontal strainer tube rests on a bottom of the grease trap and the vertical strainer tube is positioned adjacent an end wall of the grease trap. The wand of a suction device is temporarily placed in communication with an opening formed in the vertical strainer tube of the filter to draw grease through the filter and remove it from the grease trap.

Abstract: A trimmer for trimming of a book has a support for supporting the book, a trim blade for trimming an edge of the book, and a reciprocating actuator for moving the trim blade toward the book to trim the edge of the book. The trim blade has a trim blade edge having a first section and a second section, the second section being angled with respect to the first section.

Abstract: The invention is for a process of removing dissolved heavy metal cation contaminants from an organic solution. The process of the invention involves providing a mixture of a chelating ion exchange resin modified by removal of sodium ions therefrom and an anion exchange resin and contacting said organic solution with said exchange resins for a time sufficient to remove ionic metal impurities and acids. The invention is useful for removal of ionic contaminants from organic solutions requiring high purity.

Abstract: The invention is for a process of removal of dissolved heavy metal cation contaminants from an organic solution. The process of the invention involves providing a chelating ion exchange resin modified by removal of sodium ions therefrom and contacting said organic solution with said modified exchange resin for a time sufficient to remove ionic metal impurities. The invention is useful for removal of ionic contaminants from organic solutions requiring high purity.