Abstract: Fireplace grill insert assemblies suitable for deployment in a fireplace having a fireplace interior and a fireplace frame having a bottom frame panel in the fireplace interior may include an insert assembly frame. At least one grill panel may be supported by the insert assembly frame. At least one frame securing assembly may be provided on the insert assembly frame. The at least one frame securing assembly may be configured to facilitate detachable securement of the insert assembly frame to the bottom frame panel of the fireplace frame and cantilevered support of the insert assembly frame in the fireplace interior of the fireplace as one or more food items are cooked on the grill panel over a fire in the fireplace interior.

Abstract: Water-soluble amino acid copolymers, modified polysaccharides, acrylamide polymers, and combinations thereof are described for use in flocculation of solids, particularly flocculation of soil, preferably in agricultural settings.

Abstract: Water-soluble amino acid copolymers, modified polysaccharides, acrylamide polymers, and combinations thereof, are described, for uses including flocculation of solids, particularly flocculation of soil, such as in an agricultural setting. Also described are methods of preparing selected amino acid copolymers and modified polysaccharides.

Abstract: Disclosed are copolymers based on aspartic acid or its precursor molecules and methods of their production. The copolymers are water-soluble over a wide range of composition and molecular weight. Their preparation involves conversion of a polysuccinimide to copolymers of defined composition, containing aspartate and succinimide residues and/or residues of asparagine. In particular, the copolymers include water-soluble terpolymers of aspartate, asparagine, and succinimide.

Abstract: Described are methods of production of polysuccinimides having molecular weights up to 200,000 daltons and higher. The polysuccinimides of the invention are essentially unbranched and uncrosslinked. They can be modified by crosslinking, ring-opening, and/or other functionalization, if desired, to form gelling materials of superior performance. The high Mw polysuccinimides are also particularly useful as thickening agents, viscosity modifiers, emollients, humectants and in other applications that are known in the art to be serviced most effectively by molecules of higher molecular weight.

Abstract: Disclosed are copolymers based on aspartic acid or its precursor molecules and methods of their production. The copolymers are water-soluble over a wide range of composition and molecular weight. Their preparation involves conversion of a polysuccinimide to copolymers of defined composition, containing aspartate and succinimide residues and/or residues of asparagine. In particular, the copolymers include water-soluble terpolymers of aspartate, asparagine, and succinimide.

Abstract: An adjustable cot for supporting a pregnant woman, in which an elongate frame (14) includes leg members (24) to support the frame spaced-apart from a surface. A fabric sheet (16) attaches to the frame (12). A central portion of the fabric sheet defines a receiving recess (12) extending in a first direction from a plane defined by the frame. The receiving recess (12) adjusts from a first depth to a second depth by drawcards (34) in channels 32 in the receiving recess. The volume of the receiving recess is selectively changed to accommodate a protruding portion of a pregnant woman lying on the fabric sheet.

Abstract: A device for transferring a disabled person from a wheelchair to a vehicle. The device of the present invention comprises a removable seat associated with the wheelchair and an actuator attached to a door of the vehicle. The actuator is adapted to releasably engage the seat to lift the seat from the wheelchair and deposit the seat and the disabled person seated therein upon the seat of the vehicle. The actuator is movable relative to the door in a longitudinal, transverse, or vertical direction.

Abstract: A system and method for character presence detection having the capability of locating characters within a line of characters represented by a binary stream of data bits. The stream of binary data bits is divided into scans which correspond to scans of a photocell array. The system for character presence detection receives the binary stream. Each data bit has a unique position within its particular scan, which corresponds to the selection of a particular photocell of the photocell array as the output thereof, and, therefore, the binary stream of data bits comprises an image corresponding to alphanumeric characters disposed upon a written medium. That is, the data bits comprise an image of characters which form a line disposed along a written medium. Within the binary stream, some data bits represent character information and the remainder represents background information.