Abstract: An animal interaction device with a base, a housing, and a feeding mechanism having a rotatable platform mounted on the top surface of the base to rotate about an axis of rotation. There is a low profile drive cavity between the platform and the base and a food tray disposed on a top surface of the platform. A drive mechanism is located within the drive cavity and includes a drive mechanism with a curved rack gear engaged with the rotatable platform. There is a horizontally disposed worm drive mounted in communication with the curved rack gear to enable rotation of the rotatable platform about the axis of rotation. As the platform is rotated, the food tray moves from a first position where the tray is concealed under the housing to a second position outside of the housing, thereby allowing access to the food tray by an animal.

Abstract: A device for sequentially dispensing individual objects includes a housing having a first housing portion which is conically-shaped. The first housing portion has a first end proximate a supply of objects and a second end proximate a location where the objects are to be dispensed. There is a spiral race, disposed on an interior surface of the first housing portion and extending from the first end to the second end of the first housing portion, along which the objects to be dispensed travel.

Abstract: A device for sequentially dispensing individual objects includes a housing having a first housing portion which is conically-shaped. The first housing portion has a first end proximate a supply of objects and a second end proximate a location where the objects are to be dispensed. There is a spiral race, disposed on an interior surface of the first housing portion and extending from the first end to the second end of the first housing portion, along which the objects to be dispensed travel.

Abstract: A device for sequentially dispensing individual objects includes a housing having a first housing portion which is conically-shaped. The first housing portion has a first end proximate a supply of objects and a second end proximate a location where the objects are to be dispensed. There is a spiral race, disposed on an interior surface of the first housing portion and extending from the first end to the second end of the first housing portion, along which the objects to be dispensed travel.

Abstract: An animal interaction device with a base, a housing, and a feeding mechanism having a rotatable platform mounted on the top surface of the base to rotate about an axis of rotation. There is a low profile drive cavity between the platform and the base and a food tray disposed on a top surface of the platform. A drive mechanism is located within the drive cavity and includes a drive mechanism with a curved rack gear engaged with the rotatable platform. There is a horizontally disposed worm drive mounted in communication with the curved rack gear to enable rotation of the rotatable platform about the axis of rotation. As the platform is rotated, the food tray moves from a first position where the tray is concealed under the housing to a second position outside of the housing, thereby allowing access to the food tray by an animal.

Abstract: A device for sequentially dispensing individual objects includes a housing having a first housing portion which is conically-shaped. The first housing portion has a first end proximate a supply of objects and a second end proximate a location where the objects are to be dispensed. There is a spiral race, disposed on an interior surface of the first housing portion and extending from the first end to the second end of the first housing portion, along which the objects to be dispensed travel.

Abstract: An animal interaction device with a base, a housing, and a feeding mechanism having a rotatable platform mounted on the top surface of the base to rotate about an axis of rotation. There is a low profile drive cavity between the platform and the base and a food tray disposed on a top surface of the platform. A drive mechanism is located within the drive cavity and includes a drive mechanism with a curved rack gear engaged with the rotatable platform. There is a horizontally disposed worm drive mounted in communication with the curved rack gear to enable rotation of the rotatable platform about the axis of rotation. As the platform is rotated, the food tray moves from a first position where the tray is concealed under the housing to a second position outside of the housing, thereby allowing access to the food tray by an animal.

Abstract: Analysing fluid samples for target biological or chemical species comprising a detector unit with a body incorporating a SAW sensor (29) for said target species, in a microfluidic channel (27) and a reader unit adapted to receive the detector unit. The reader unit includes electrical contacts with said SAW sensor and a processor to analyse the sensor signals to determine if the target is present. The detector unit includes a storage reservoir (23) for the calibrating and sample solutions arranged so that the fluid flows through the microfluidic channel over the SAW sensor to a storage reservoir. The sensor is calibrated by using a first liquid having a known quantity of a form of the target species to provide a first frequency change and then a sample solution to be measured and measuring a second frequency change and using the first and second measurements to calibrate the sensor and determine the quantity of the target in the sample solution.

Abstract: A fuel cell gas separator (14) between two planar solid oxide fuel cells (12) comprises a first layer (22) which is formed of a material that is impermeable to gases, a second layer (24) which is formed of a material that is impermeable to gases. The first and second layers have perforations (28) through their thickness which are closed by electrically conductive plug material (30). A third intermediate layer (26) between the first and second layers is electrically conductive and is in electrical contact with the plug material in the perforations through the first and second layers. The perforations in the first layer may be offset relative to the perforations in the second layer. The electrically conductive plug material in the perforations of the first and second layers may be the same, and may also be the same as the material of the third intermediate layer. The electrically conductive material may be silver or a silver-based material such as a silver-glass composite.

Abstract: A fuel cell gas separator (212) for use between two solid oxide fuel cells (210) and having a separator body with an anode-facing side and a cathode-facing side and with paths (234) of electrically conductive material therethrough in an electrode-contacting zone (236). In a first aspect, the electrically conductive material comprises a silver-glass composite, preferably containing 15 to 30 wt % glass. In this aspect the material of the separator body is preferably zirconia and the silver is commercially pure, a silver mixture or a silver alloy. In another aspect, the material of the separator body is zirconia, the electrically conductive material comprises silver or a silver-based material, a coating of nickel is formed on the electrode-contacting zone (236) on the anode-facing side preferably with an undercoating of Ag, and a coating of Ag—Sn alloy is formed on the electrode-contacting zone (236) on the cathode side.