Abstract: An intake manifold (1) is disclosed suitable for use with an internal combustion engine. The manifold (1) comprises a set of runners (1,2,3,4), a conical-shaped chamber (7) and a conical-shaped distribution body (8) affixed concentrically within the chamber (7). The chamber (7) has one end (9) affixed to an air intake/throttle body. The other end (10) of the chamber (7) is connected to each of the runners (1,2,3,4) such that the end (10) is evenly divided into four quadrants each quadrant being of the same cross-sectional area. The order of connection of the runners (1,2,3,4) to the end (10) is in the firing order of the cylinders 1 3 4 2. The volume of each runner (1,2,3,4) is identical. The respective ends of the runners (1,2,3,4) immediately adjacent the end (10) of the chamber are curved towards the inlet valve of the respective cylinders they serve.

Abstract: An intake manifold (1) is disclosed suitable for use with an internal combustion engine. The manifold (1) comprises a set of runners (1,2,3,4), a conical-shaped chamber (7) and a conical-shaped distribution body (8) affixed concentrically within the chamber (7). The chamber (7) has one end (9) affixed to an air intake/throttle body. The other end (10) of the chamber (7) is connected to each of the runners (1,2,3,4) such that the end (10) is evenly divided into four quadrants each quadrant being of the same cross-sectional area. The order of connection of the runners (1,2,3,4) to the end (10) is in the firing order of the cylinders 1 3 4 2. The volume of each runner (1,2,3,4) is identical. The respective ends of the runners (1,2,3,4) immediately adjacent the end (10) of the chamber are curved towards the inlet valve of the respective cylinders they serve.

Abstract: A recombinant plasmid useful as a cloning vector in lactic acid bacteria and only containing DNA of lactic acid bacterial origin, the plasmid comprising (a) a DNA fragment comprising a replication region functional in lactic acid bacteria and (b) a DNA fragment comprising a marker gene selectable in lactic bacteria, the expression of which allows one-step primary selection in lactic acid bacterial cells transformed with the recombinant plasmid; a method for constructing the cloning vector plasmid; the recombinant plasmid with an inserted gene coding for a desired gene product; a method of preparing an improved food starter culture by introducing the recombinant plasmid with an inserted gene coding for a desired gene product and food starter cultures prepared by the method are provided.