Abstract: Generation and use of disease models, for instance in assays to identify and investigate genes and substances involved in disease and disease treatment, identification and use of drug targets. In particular, the present invention relates to generation and use of disease models in fish such as zebrafish. Gradable phenotypes may be generated in fish, allowing for degree of correction or alteration of an activity or effect of a treatment, gene or mutation to be assayed. Competing stimuli may be applied to fish in screens assaying for ability to affect an activity or effect of a treatment, gene or mutation. Example include any combination of an addictive drug, a visual stimulus, an audible startle stimulus, a temperature gradient, an electric shock, an aversive compound, a threatening shape or a dark area.

Abstract: The invention relates to a door module (2) for a vehicle door, which is divided in a sealed manner into an outer wet chamber (44) that faces the door shell (1) and an inner dry chamber (43). Said door module is equipped with pre-assembled mechanical and/or electrical functional components that are fixed in the dry chamber and can be mechanically and/or electrically connected to door components that are located in the wet chamber. The seal between the dry chamber and the wet chamber is formed by a separation sheet (12), which is penetrated by sealed connecting elements of the functional components that are held on the dry side of said separation sheet in the door module.

Abstract: Ceramic filler compositions of customized shapes (FIGS. 1-30) according to the present invention, includes ceramic and glass-ceramic particles having a customized shape which provides mechanical locking within a resin matrix giving significantly improved fracture toughness performance for a resin/glass or ceramic composite system. The material has particular application as a tooth filling material with significantly improved wear resistance. The wide range of unique-shaped filler particles are produced using wet chemistry methods according to the invention of preparing the ceramic particles for use in a resin matrix composite material. Such composite materials have a very wide application, especially as a dental composite filling material for restoring a tooth.

Abstract: A switch mechanism has at least one set of contacts including at least one fixed contact and at least one moveable contact which is carried by an axially moveable carrier that is held by a spring-loaded detent when the contacts are closed, the carrier being released with a force to overcome the latching mechanism when opening the contacts, and a cam member with at two cam profiles that is disposed adjacent one end of the carrier and is operable to pull the axially moveable carrier towards the cam and thereby pull the at least one moveable contact into engagement with the at least one fixed contact. In one embodiment, the cam may carry a permanent magnet which when moved attracts and draws with it a permanent magnet mounted fixedly with respect to the axially moveable carrier.

Abstract: A vehicle mode controller, a driving mode collecting means, and a plurality of subsystem controllers including an engine management system, a transmission controller, a steering controller, a brakes controller and a suspension controller, provide an improved system and method of operating a vehicle control system in a host vehicle in a manner suitable for a respective driving surface in a plurality of different off-road surfaces and terrains such as might be encountered when driving off-road. An improved method is provided for controlling a vehicle control system by avoiding unplanned combinations of subsystem configuration modes and minimizing the transition time when changing between subsystem configuration modes.

Abstract: The present invention provides a clean water separation system with an electric submersible pumping device and a surface separator and pumping device for the separation and transfer of different density fluids and solids. The electric submersible pumping device can be an encapsulated device that works in conjunction with a separator and pumping system that are located on the surface, to separate fluids and solids.

Abstract: A method and computer software architecture is presented for facilitating modification of execution of a software application without impacting the integrity of the original software. The present invention defines an inter-component messaging service which brokers or receives, evaluates and directs messages between components of the architecture. The architecture further integrates functionality into the individual components which re-directs a request back to the messaging service prior to completion of the functionality in the requested original component in order to determine the presence of any concerned extension components that have registered with the messaging service thereby making known their interest in having their functionality explored prior to completion of the execution of the requested component.

Abstract: Air cushioned spraying apparatus for spraying vegetation with chemicals while being supported above the ground by an air cushion effect has a unit with at least three air cushion cells. Each cell has a substantially cylindrical rigid body with a closed upper end and an open lower end, and a flexible skirt secured to and extending around the periphery of the open lower end of the rigid body. Each cell also has a spray nozzle projecting downwardly into the body from the closed upper end and an air inlet in the body adjacent the upper end thereof. The cells are connected together so that the path of travel of each cell laterally overlaps the path of travel of another cell. Air under pressure is supplied to the cell inlets to cause air to pass therethrough and downwardly in the cell body to disperse the chemicals from the nozzle onto vegetation within the lower open end of the cell and to cause air to pass from the cell between the flexible skirt and the ground to create an air cushion effect.

Abstract: A rocker arm lubrication arrangement for an engine includes a shaft which pivotally mounts a number of rocker arms. The shaft has a longitudinally extending lubricant supply bore and radially upwardly extending supply bores corresponding to positions of the rocker arms. Lubricant passes along the longitudinally extending supply bore to the radially extending bores and then exits via corresponding bores in the rocker arms. The lubricant is under pressure and thus exits as jets of lubricant which impinge on an underside of an engine cover to be returned as a lubricant spray. The rocker arms may be arranged on the shaft such that the jets are intermittent.

Abstract: An apparatus for the heat treatment of a product includes a metallic heat transfer assembly for transmitting heat either directly to the product or to a mould containing the product. The heat transfer assembly comprises a plurality of separate parts which are joined together either permanently or in an operationally separable manner. Each part includes a gas distribution passageway, the passageways together defining a closed loop path for receiving and circulating around the heat transfer assembly hot permanent gas from a hot gas source. One or more heat transfer passageways formed in the heat transfer assembly itself, or between the heat transfer assembly and the mould, communicate with the closed loop path in the heat transfer assembly so as to receive hot gas therefrom and lead this gas to an exhaust outlet to the atmosphere.

Abstract: In a new spraying apparatus a spray boom structure supporting the spray dispensers for liquid or finely divided spray material is supported by an air pressured flexible bag skirt attached to the structure and forming an enclosure into which the spray dispensers discharge to minimize drift of the sprayed material and permitting increased speed of the apparatus over the ground. The bag skirt structure also "averages out" irregularities in the surface so that a more uniform spray pattern is achieved. Air is fed into the enclosure from the leading bag skirt part via an elongated aperture close to the ground and from the trailing bag skirt part from an elongated aperture close to the enclosure roof. The weight of the fan and its housing supplying the pressurized air is supported separately from the boom. The boom structure may comprise hinged portions that can be moved to a vertical storage position, and it may also include arcuate downwardly extending support members.

Abstract: In a new spraying apparatus the spray dispensers for liquid or finely divided spray material discharge into an enclosure contained within a flexible skirt attached to a sprayer boom. Air under pressure is injected into the skirt which supports the boom from the ground as it is moved over the area to be sprayed. The skirt is formed by one or more flexible air bags into which the air is injected and from which it escapes into the skirt enclosure. An annular air bag skirt structure is formed by folding inwards the edges of a strip of flexible material and fastening them to the strip in spaced parallel relation to form two parallel tubular passages. The open ends are then closed by means of respective open-sided envelopes slipped over the ends and laced thereto.

Abstract: Coal can be extracted with high boiling aromatic oils produced by extracting the aromatic constituents of a heavy petroleum material, e.g. a bitumen residue, using a selective solvent, mixing the extract with a low-boiling aromatic solvent, adding water and separating the aromatic-containing phase and recovering said aromatic constituents. The resulting coal extract is particularly suitable for the production of electrode coke.