Abstract: The present disclosure, in some aspects, is directed to nucleic acid purification methods using a water-immiscible solvent wash. In other aspects, the present disclosure is directed to kits, components, and compositions (such as consumables) useful for the nucleic acid purification methods described herein.

Abstract: A system for adjusting the incline of a bed is provided. The bed inclining system includes a base frame mountable to an end of an existing bed or bed frame, wherein the base frame can support a mid-section of the bed in an inclined configuration to prevent a non-planar sleeping surface. A lifting assembly extends from the base frame and can raise and lower a bed support, such that the bed is moveable between a level configuration and a raised configuration. In the level configuration, the bed is in a horizontal position and in the raised configuration, the end of the bed is raised from a floor surface, whereas an opposite end of the bed remains on the floor surface. The bed support extends from the base frame and can support the end of the bed in both the level configuration and the inclined configuration.

Abstract: A guide device comprising a hollow body configured to receive a drill bit, the hollow body having a first end; a second end; and a continuous section intermediate the first end and the second end; an opening extending from the first end through the continuous section to the second end; and at least one aperture located on the hollow body intermediate the first and second end of the hollow body.

Abstract: A holster for carrying heavy duty or industrial scissors on a user's belt. The scissors having a pair of handles and cutting blades. The holster includes a front panel and a back panel, the front panel being secured to the back panel to define therebetween a pouch having an opening and an oppositely disposed closed end. The cutting blades of the scissors are insertable through the opening of the pouch. The holster further includes restraining means, which may be in the form of a restraining rivet, for preventing an end tip of the cutting blades contacting the closed end of the pouch when the scissors are placed into the pouch.

Abstract: A hybrid wind turbine having comprising photovoltaic cells, an induction generator and batteries, adapted to output power in low wind conditions and stored power in zero wind conditions, with heavy components disposed in the base of the tower to facilitate maintenance operations, with an alternative reciprocating liquid-nitrogen engine for assisting with drive torque in low wind conditions.

Abstract: A multi-user mail box including a letter drop assembly which is susceptible to easy replacement by a delivery person without requiring substantial disassembly of the mail box. The letter drop assembly includes a slotted body held in inserted relation between cross-bars extending transverse to vertical frame members of an access door structure. The slotted body includes upper and lower open grooves oriented in opposing relation to the adjacent cross-bars. Retention pin elements are inserted axially into the grooves thereby holding the slotted body in place. The slotted body may be replaced by displacement of the retention pin elements.

Abstract: System and a method for recording a personal greeting associated with a pre-paid telephone calling card. The system and method include and involve a data storage system for storing data corresponding to a pre-paid telephone calling card and a personal greeting. Also included and involved is a pre-paid telephone calling card processing system that is coupled to the data storage system and which is configured to receive a request to record the personal greeting during a setup call over a telephone network and to cause the personal greeting to be recorded for subsequent playback. The pre-paid telephone calling card processing system is also configured to receive a request to make an outbound telephone call in relation to the pre-paid telephone calling card during an access call over the telephone network and to cause the personal greeting to be played back automatically during the access call.

Abstract: The present invention provides an Signaled dispensing station for laboratory items, for dispensing items only to authorized persons, and to facilitate management objects connected with the operation of the station. Dispensing transaction data is recorded and may be used for farther objects. Further it provides a method for dispensing items only to authorized persons, and to facilitate management objects like scheduling restocking. A system is also provided comprising at least one up to a plurality of inventive dispensing stations, the system being designed to facilitate the operation of the dispensing stations.

Abstract: A braking system including a master cylinder, a brake subsystem for applying pressure to a brake rotor, and an apply conduit configured to selectively to allow the flow of fluid therethrough. The apply conduit selectively allows fluid to flow from the master cylinder to the brake subsystem to thereby cause the brake subsystem to apply or increase pressure to the brake rotor. The braking system further includes a bypass conduit configured to selectively allow the flow of fluid therethrough from the master cylinder to the brake subsystem to thereby cause the brake subsystem to apply pressure to the brake rotor.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for operating a pump-less rear wheel anti-lock brake system of a vehicle using speed sensors on at least one front and one rear wheel, to provide a true dynamic rear proportioning (DRP) function, and to significantly enhance braking performance in rear wheel anti-lock mode through better management of the volume of pressurized fluid supplied by the master cylinder using rear pressure control (RPC).

Abstract: An orthodontic arch wire composed of stainless steel or other bendable alloy formed into an arc is provided with lines permanently etched, or otherwise permanently marked, across its long dimension, and/or outward-facing surfaces at intervals approximating the midpoint at which adjacent teeth contact each other when normally aligned. When the arch wire is removed from the patient's mouth for periodic adjustments, the etch marks provide accurate, stable, and permanent landmarks for placement of adjustment bends for three-dimensional movements of individual teeth. In order to accommodate a range of tooth and dental arch sizes, the arch wires are of small, medium, and large sizes for both upper and lower arch forms with the markings proportioned for small, medium, and large tooth sizes.

Abstract: A system for producing a die includes means for generating a reference CAD model of a die of desired dimensions and a production facility arranged to produce an oversized casting of the die from a mould thereof. The system includes, further means for measuring the actual dimensions of the oversized casting, a comparator for comparing the measured dimensions of the oversized die against the reference CAD model, and a machining facility operable to machine the oversized casting until its dimensions are substantially the same as those of the reference CAD model.

Abstract: An apparatus 10 for crushing materials such as rock, ore, coal, stone and the like includes two rolls 16A and 16B which are mounted in parallel to define a gap 18 therebetween. Chunks of material to be crushed are fed by a conveyor 12 into the nip 14 between the rolls. Each roll 16A and 16B is similar and includes longitudinally extending steps provided by outwardly extending faces and smoothly curved surface segments between the steps. When the rolls are counter-rotated at the same speed, the gap 18 is maintained substantially constant and effectively transversely reciprocates in location between limits defined by the outer extremity of the face of a step on one roll being located opposite the inner extremity of the face of a step on the opposite roll. Compared to smooth roll crushing the invention provides for greater reduction ratios to be achieved at slower rotational speeds and using smaller diameter rolls.

Abstract: An orthodontic arch wire composed of stainless steel or other bendable alloy formed into an arc is provided with lines permanently etched, or otherwise permanently marked, across its long dimension, and/or outward-facing surfaces at intervals approximating the midpoint at which adjacent teeth contact each other when normally aligned. When the arch wire is removed from the patient's mouth for periodic adjustments, the etch marks provide accurate, stable, and permanent landmarks for placement of adjustment bends for three-dimensional movements of individual teeth. In order to accommodate a range of tooth and dental arch sizes, the arch wires are of small, medium, and large sizes for both upper and lower arch forms with the markings proportioned for small, medium, and large tooth sizes.

Abstract: An apparatus 10 for crushing materials such as rock, ore, coal, stone and the like includes two rolls 16A and 16B which are mounted in parallel to define a gap 18 therebetween. Chunks of material to be crushed are fed by a conveyor 12 into the nip 14 between the rolls. Each roll 16A and 16B is similar and includes longitudinally extending steps provided by outwardly extending faces and smoothly curved surface segments between the steps. When the rolls are counter-rotated at the same speed, the gap 18 is maintained substantially constant and effectively transversely reciprocates in location between limits defined by the outer extremity of the face of a step on one roll being located opposite the inner extremity of the face of a step on the opposite roll. Compared to smooth roll crushing the invention provides for greater reduction ratios to be achieved at slower rotational speeds and using smaller diameter rolls.

Abstract: A high-voltage electrical insulator (21) for electrically insulating a thermoelectric module (17) in a spacecraft from a niobium-1% zirconium alloy wall (11) of a heat exchanger (13) filled with liquid lithium (16) while providing good thermal conductivity between the heat exchanger and the thermoelectric module. The insulator (21) has a single crystal alumina layer (SxAl.sub.2 O.sub.3, sapphire) with a niobium foil layer (32) bonded thereto on the surface of the alumina crystal (26) facing the heat exchanger wall (11), and a molybdenum layer (31) bonded to the niobium layer (32) to act as an oxygen permeation barrier to preclude the oxygen depleting effects of the lithium from causing undesirable niobium-aluminum intermetallic layers near the alumina-niobium interface.