Abstract: Enantioselective or enantiospecific nitrilases and nitrile hydratases are used to produce R or S enantiomers of amides, and carboxylic acids. R-amino acids and S-amino acids are produced using such enantioselective enzymes. In addition, methods of producing and screening enantioselective nitrilases and nitrile hydratases are provided.

Abstract: Methods for producing transposable elements with improved properties as vectors are provided. Directed evolution procedures are employed to improve characteristics of transposable elements, including transposons and insertion sequences as vectors. Methods for generating diversity in vivo and in vitro using transposable elements as vectors are provided.

Abstract: An analytical system is provided for determining nitrogen monoxide, nitrogen dioxide and ozone concentrations in air samples. An ultraviolet light source is used to alter the equilibrium between nitrogen dioxide and oxygen on the one hand and nitrogen monoxide and ozone on the other. Dynamic measurement of ozone concentration with time whilst ultraviolet irradiation is pulsed enables each gas concentration to be calculated without requiring input gases to be scrubbed. An apparatus is further provided to provide a controlled flow of gas to a sensor attached to a high altitude balloon whilst sheltering it from the elements and allowing for affects of temperature, said apparatus comprising a shield and a gas conducting means which uses the venturi effect to control air flow or has a hole to allow water to drain without affecting air flow past the sensor.

Abstract: A method and system for designing a cell for a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) communication system and the like. The method includes measuring error rate as a function of signal level at a selected radio frequency, and determining a signal level corresponding to a selected error rate based on the measurements of error rate as a function of signal level. The method also includes determining a coverage area based on the signal level determined and a voice quality factor. The system includes input and output devices, a processor, memory and software for performing the method.

Abstract: A hornless saddle for a pedal-operated machine is disclosed, the saddle having an upwardly concave semi-circular shape including two adjacent quadrant-shaped planar surfaces for supporting a rider's buttocks. Each surface is bounded by upstanding embankments to the side and rear thereof which embrace and retain the rider's buttocks on the saddle. The saddle is capable of limited lateral pivotal movement about a fore and aft axis to accommodate and mimic the lateral rolling action of the rider's pelvis as the pedals are rotated.

Abstract: An electronic calendar system is disclosed wherein the calendar system can interact with a user entirely auditorially, e.g. via speech based interactions, entirely visually, or a combination of both. Moreover, the present invention utilizes context information regarding the state or configuration of the calendar system so that substantially at any time a user may query the calendar system for informing the user of the current state of the calendar system. Accordingly, the present invention is particularly useful for users who communicate with the calendar system substantially or entirely auditorially. The user may contact a processing module in the calendar system through a telecommunications network such as a telephone network, a cable network or through the worldwide web. The system includes an apparatus for converting speech to text streams and vice versa.

Abstract: A pipe cleaning device comprises a central body and articulated scraper elements. The articulated shape of the scraper elements serves to enhance the cleaning performance of the device.

Abstract: An architecture for providing interactive broadband products and services uses existing cable and telephone plant. The architecture includes a central office switch in communication with a head-end server and a Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) device such as, for example, a modem emulator, data terminal, set-top terminal or personal computer. The CPE device is provided in communication with the head-end server via cable plant for downstream broadcasts and is further provided in communication with a central office switch via telephone plant for upstream signaling and downstream control messages.

Abstract: Desired tasks are modeled as a plurality of database slots. Each of the slots is opportunistically fillable by a predetermined set of values in accordance with a predetermined set of user utterance recognition rules. The user utterance recognition rules include a first layer which recognizes questions and commands based upon co-occurrences of key words in a sentence, removes corresponding database slot values and generates a supplemental utterance. A second layer recognizes database word values irrespective of sentence context and fills the slot appropriately. Responsive utterances are generated in accordance with a predetermined set of condition-action rules. The condition-action rules are based on logical combinations of filled slot values and, in operation, provide a user with the desired perception of a linguistically competent dialog while at the same time eliciting further information to complete a desired task.

Abstract: An automated method and system for voice processing is used with a plurality of voice mail boxes each of which is assigned to a corresponding one of a plurality of subscribers and is operative to receive and store a plurality of voice messages. After playback of the stored message has begun, playback may be suspended and a response may be generated by a subscriber (the called party) to the previous message segment. The response is directed to a selected destination and may include attachment of the message segment. Playback may thereafter be resumed and suspended in the same manner so as to form multiple responses to the stored message. Multiple responses to the same destination are concatenated so as to form a single concatenated response.