Abstract: An environment control device (ECD) providing a Wi-Fi hotspot for accessing the Internet. The ECD comprises a communication module with a Wi-Fi hotspot functionality for establishing a Wi-Fi hotspot at the ECD, and a mesh client functionality for communicating over a mesh network. The communication module provides for exchanging environmental data with at least another ECD, over one of the Wi-Fi hotspot or mesh network. It also provides for receiving upstream Internet data from at least one user terminal over the Wi-Fi hotspot, and forwarding the upstream Internet data to another ECD over the mesh network. It further provides for receiving downstream Internet data from another ECD over the mesh network, and forwarding the downstream Internet data to the at least one user terminal over the Wi-Fi hotspot. The ECD providing the Wi-Fi hotspot for accessing the Internet may be a daisy-chained ECD controlled by a master ECD.

Abstract: A core barrel assembly for a drill string comprising a core barrel, an inner tube assembly removably positionable within the core barrel, and a mechanical shock inducement mechanism for inducing at least one shock, and preferably a plurality of shocks, in the inner tube assembly. This induced shocks help reduce occurrences of blockage of core samples entering the inner tube assembly in fractured or brittle rock formations.

Abstract: A master device, daisy-chained devices, and a method for configuring the daisy-chained devices are provided. The master device generates a signal having a pre-determined base frequency, and outputs the signal generated to a first device in the daisy chain communication configuration. Each daisy-chained device receives an input signal, having an input frequency, from a previous daisy-chained device. Each daisy-chained device generates an output signal having an output frequency different to and based on the input frequency of the received signal, and outputs the output signal to a following daisy-chained device. Each daisy-chained device further determines an address of a communication interface, for exchanging data with the master device, based on the input frequency of the received signal. For example, the output frequency of the output signal is half the input frequency of the received signal.

Abstract: An environment control device (ECD) providing a Wi-Fi hotspot for accessing the Internet. The ECD comprises a communication module with a Wi-Fi hotspot functionality for establishing a Wi-Fi hotspot at the ECD, and a mesh client functionality for communicating over a mesh network. The communication module provides for exchanging environmental data with at least another ECD, over one of the Wi-Fi hotspot or mesh network. It also provides for receiving upstream Internet data from at least one user terminal over the Wi-Fi hotspot, and forwarding the upstream Internet data to another ECD over the mesh network. It further provides for receiving downstream Internet data from another ECD over the mesh network, and forwarding the downstream Internet data to the at least one user terminal over the Wi-Fi hotspot. The ECD providing the Wi-Fi hotspot for accessing the Internet may be a daisy-chained ECD controlled by a master ECD.

Abstract: The power drive includes a housing enclosing a gearing system and a motor. The housing is mounted under the floor of a transport trailer. A drive shaft extends outside the housing for connection in series with a cross shaft of the landing gear of the trailer. A gear shift actuator is mounted in the gearing system for engagement or idling of the gearing system. The gear shift actuator comprises a rod that is movable in and out of the driver side of the housing. A handle lock saddle is mounted to the driver side of the housing for retaining a crank handle of the landing gear thereto. The saddle is centered on the rod such that the rod must be pushed inward for mounting the crank handle to the handle lock saddle. The gearing system is inoperable if the crank handle is not securely stowed to the handle lock saddle.

Abstract: The Wcs120 gene encodes a highly abundant protein which appears to play an important role during cold acclimation of wheat. To understand the regulatory mechanism controlling its expression at low temperature (LT-responsiveness), the promoter region has been characterized. The data indicate the involvement of putative enhancer elements, negative and positive regulatory regions in the transcriptional regulation of this gene. Further, the promoter was found to be cold-inducible in different freezing tolerant and sensitive monocot and dicot species, suggesting that universal transcription factors responsive to LT may be present in all plants. Therefore this promoter could be used to drive the genes needed for LT tolerance in sensitive species.

Abstract: The Wcs120 gene encodes a highly abundant protein which appears to play an important role during cold acclimation of wheat. To understand the regulatory mechanism controlling its expression at low temperature (LT-responsiveness), the promoter region has been characterized. To identify the regulatory elements involved in LT-responsiveness, transient expression activity of different promoter regions was determined using the luciferase reporter gene. The data indicate the involvement of putative enhancer elements, negative and positive regulatory regions in the transcriptional regulation of this gene. The role of nuclear factors on the promoter region was analysed. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays using short promoter fragments revealed the presence of multiple DNA-binding proteins in nuclear extracts from non-acclimated (NA) plants which interact with several elements. In contrast, no DNA-binding activity was observed in the nuclear extracts from cold-acclimated (CA) plants.

Abstract: An interface apparatus for use with a computer system. The apparatus in the preferred embodiment having three concentric annular rings. The outer most of which is a solid ring, the two inner rings each being segmented into for equal arcs, which arcs form four pairs of two buttons each. The interface also has at its center two buttons. The interface is used to position an object for imaging and also to manipulate and position the image of an object for comparison and analysis. The two center buttons and the outside annular ring are used to generate signals to rotate an object or the image of the object in a common reference frame. The four pairs of arcs of the two inner concentric rings are used to generate signals for translational motion of the object or the image of the object. The four pairs of arcs being positioned to move the object or the image of the object in one of four perpendicular directions within the common reference frame.

Abstract: An interface apparatus for use with a computer system. The apparatus in the preferred embodiment having three concentric annular rings. The outer most of which is a solid ring, the two inner rings each being segmented into for equal arcs, which arcs form four pairs of two buttons each. The interface also has at its center two buttons. The interface is used to position an object for imaging and also to manipulate and position the image of an object for comparison and analysis. The two center buttons and the outside annular ring are used to generate signals to rotate an object or the image of the object in a common reference frame. The four pairs of arcs of the two inner concentric rings are used to generate signals for translational motion of the object or the image of the object. The four pairs of arcs being positioned to move the object or the image of the object in one of four perpendicular directions within the common reference frame.