Abstract: The invention provides a method for biasing a crop plant which is heterozygous for a transgene towards the production of seeds which carry the transgene comprising the step of contacting the crop plant containing a gene construct comprising the transgene coding for resistance to a specific phytotoxin with the specific phytotoxin one or more times during the life of the crop plant. The method achieves this through selective inhibition of phytotoxin-sensitive plant ovules, embryos and pollen. The method has particular application to the production of open pollinated and synthetic varieties of crop plants, such as alfalfa synthetic varieties.

Abstract: A jumper cable system allows a person to jump start one vehicle from another vehicle without coming into the proximity of either vehicles' batteries. The jumper cable system has a pair of receptacles each attached to one of the vehicles remote of the vehicle's battery, and each having a first pin electrically connected to respective vehicle's positive battery terminal and a second pin electrically connected to the respective vehicle's negative battery terminal (or ground to the chassis). A pair of plugs each receive an end of a first jumper cable and a second jumper cable, Each plug has a first opening that removably receives the first pin and a second opening that removably receives the second pin of one of the receptacles.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for biasing a crop plant which is heterozygous for a transgene towards the production of seeds which carry the transgene comprising the step of contacting the crop plant containing a gene construct comprising the transgene coding for resistance to a specific phytotoxin with the specific phytotoxin one or more times during the life of the crop plant.The method achieves this through selective inhibition of phytotoxin-sensitive plant ovules, embryos and pollen. The method has particular application to the production of open pollinated and synthetic varieties of crop plants, such as alfalfa synthetic varieties.

Abstract: The invention relates to improved methods of hybrid seed production. More particularly it relates to the use of one (or two) phytotoxic chemical resistant genes in the male (and female) parent in a hybridization process, followed by uncontrolled pollination and dosing the resultant hybrids with the one (or two) phytotoxic chemicals to eliminate plants arising from unwanted contaminating seeds and thus producing pure F.sub.1 hybrids.

Abstract: A laparoscopic ligation clip applicator for automatically applying a plurality of ligation clips includes a handle assembly having an actuator, an elongated shaft connected to the handle assembly, and an actuating mechanism disposed within the shaft. The actuating mechanism includes a clamp for engaging a first piece of the ligation clip and a slidable driver for driving a second piece of the ligation clip relative to the first piece. The actuating mechanism also includes a hold for preventing rearward movement of the ligation clips, and an advancer for sequentially feeding the ligation clips. A slidable cam, operably connected to the handle assembly, actuates the clamp, the driver and the advancer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for converting long file names to short file names having an eight character prefix and a three character extension. The long file name is examined and separated into a prefix portion and suffix/extension portion. The prefix and suffix portions of the file name are then converted to short file names using the following steps working from right to left: 1) remove lower case vowels; 2) remove lower case consonants; 3) remove upper case vowels; 4) remove upper case consonants; 5) remove single digit numbers; 6) and remove special characters. When the prefix and suffix have been reduced to the desired number of characters, the two portion are concatenated to form a shorten file name.

Abstract: A malleable, bioabsorbable polymeric staple includes a back span with two legs depending perpendicularly therefrom that are deformed toward each other initially and then upwardly toward the back span such that end points on each leg extends to the side and past the back span. The staple has a noncircular cross-sectional shape. A surgical staple-deforming anvil for deforming the staples has a staple-receiving face formed with a pair of elongated, non-collinear pocket-like depressions each having an entry end lying on a longitudinal axis parallel to the back span of the staple, and an exit end. The respective exit ends of the pocket depressions are located on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis. Accordingly, the legs of a staple driven toward the anvil and received in the pocket depressions are initially bent toward each other and then steered upwardly toward opposite sides of the back span.

Abstract: A two-part surgical ligation clip includes a track having two substantially symmetrical arms and a clip for slidably receiving the track. The symmetrical arms are connected together at a proximal end to form an apex and have spaced-apart tips at a distal end with first complementary surface. The track also includes a connector connected to the apex and having a second complementary surface. The clip has an extended slot for slidably engaging the track and distal end tips for receiving the connector. A distal end of the clip has a first contour surface for engaging the first complementary surface on the track and locking it in a closed position and a second contour surface for engaging the second complementary surface on the track and locking it in an open position.

Abstract: A malleable, bioabsorbable polymeric staple includes a back span with two legs depending perpendicularly therefrom that are deformed along an arcuate path toward each other initially and then upwardly toward the back span such that end points on each leg extend through a gap formed between an underside of the back span and a bend in an opposite leg. A surgical staple-deforming anvil for deforming the staples has a staple-receiving face formed with a pair of guiding path depressions each having an entry end lying on a longitudinal axis parallel to the back span of the staple, and an exit end. The guiding paths are arcuately shaped and form a groove curving and crossing each other approximately at the longitudinal axis. Accordingly, the legs of a staple driven toward the anvil and received in the guiding paths are initially bent toward each other and then steered upwardly and along the horizontally curved path toward the gap formed between the back span and the bend in the opposite leg.

Abstract: Award-designation apparatus is disclosed, which includes a first surface, which is, preferably, permanently affixed to a golf club bag. This first surface is to be manufactured so that a tack or a clip, etc., may be inserted into the surface, and readily removed therefrom if necessary. The preferred material for constructing such first surface of the present invention would be plastic or a plastic-like material. This first surface should preferably be manufactured so that it includes a relatively slight curvature. In this fashion, said first surface may be more readily affixed to an outer surface of a golf club bag, or other intended curved surface. In any event, said first surface, while able to be made from a relatively rigid material, should have at least some minimal degree of flexibility. The present invention further includes a second surface which is capable of acting as the award-designation means.

Abstract: First and second metal blades made from uniform thickness stock are fashioned into scissors which may be disposable suture scissors. Each of the blades is stamped from sheet metal, they are pivoted together, and handles extend in the opposite direction from cutting edges on the blades. Resilient means is provided by the handles being resilient and stop means are provided to limit the closed position of the cutting edges to prevent overriding, namely overclosing, of the cutting edges. The stop means includes first and second stop surfaces integral with the first and second blades, respectively. The stop surfaces are close to the pivot relative to the length of the handles, the blades have only frictional opposition to movement until the stop surfaces engage, and then the subsequent stressing of the resilient means establishes a cushioned stop of movement of the handles without any further movement of the cutting edges past the fully closed condition.

Abstract: A clamp for securing in a fluid proof manner a wafer type butterfly valve to the coupling flange of a pipe. Wafer type butterfly valves are inserted between the flanges of two aligned pipes and are retained in position by bolts connecting the two flanges and engaging around the apertureless wafer flange of the valve body. The clamp of the invention is designed to secure such a wafer type butterfly valve to a pipe flange of the end of a pipe line to form a dead end pipe line. The clamp is made of two separate clamp members which are mirror images of each other. Each clamp comprises a flat arcuate flange section adapted to overlap a flange portion of the valve body. Said flange section has bolt receiving holes adapted to the aligned with half the number of bolt receiving apertures of the pipe coupling flange. Each clamp member further includes a collar section rigid with the flange section and perpendicular thereto.