Abstract: New .alpha.-amylase inhibitor from wheat (WAI-53). The inhibitor is characterized especially by having molecular weight of 24,000 as determined by gel filtration, giving a single band at an electrophoretic mobility of 0.53 on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis according to the Davis Disc Electrophoresis Method and producing saturation curves of WAI-53 with human salivary alpha-amylase and with human pancreatic alpha-amylase with a ratio of the amount of WAI-53 required to produce 50% inhibition of human salivary .alpha.-amylase to that of human pancreatic amylase above 1:250. The alpha-amylase inhibitor is used for quantitative analysis of alpha-amylase isozymes in body fluid.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of boric acid from colemanite and/or howlite minerals basically comprising: treating the mineral with sulfuric acid in order to dissolve boron compounds from the minerals; separating a solution formed by the chemical reaction, from the solids in suspension; reacting said solution with hydrogen sulfide in order to precipitate arsenic and iron impurities contained in the solution; separating the impurities precipitated from the remaining solution; reacting said remaining solution with ammonia so as to precipitate aluminum impurities; separating said aluminum impurities form the remaining solution; reacting the latter with hot sulfuric acid in order to generate boric acid; cooling the reaction mixture in order to precipitate the boric acid; and separating the boric acid from the remaining solution, being the latter susceptible to be recycled to the sulfuric acid treatment stage in order to concentrate the mineral.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing glass sheets from molten glass contained in a vertical drawing chamber includes the step of placing a stratified liquid layer on the mass of molten glass, the stratified liquid layer comprising at least two phases of densities different to each other, and vertically drawing a glass sheet from the glass mass through the stratified liquid layer.

Abstract: A fuel tank construction comprising a tank and a sump is disclosed which construction includes a float operated water separator. The separator operates automatically to drain water which has separated out and accumulated at the bottom of the sump. The separator is in the sump which is secured to the underside of the tank. The tank has an opening through which the sump and tank communicate, and there is a normally open one-way valve in this opening. This valve prevents water and solids flowing back into the tank from the sump if the tank construction is inverted. Within the tank there is a filter through which fuel flows to reach the fuel outlet line. The filter is normally spaced along the tank from said opening but can be displaced to a position overlying the opening when access to it through said opening is required for servicing purposes.

Abstract: A mandrel for the support of a printing cylinder includes a hollow cylindrical shell, the axial ends of which are enclosed by trunnions and expansion heads. Compressed air is admitted into the shell through one of the trunnions and escapes through apertures in the hollow shell and into the interior of a printing cylinder, and, is employed to expand a resilient sheath positioned on the printing cylinder.

Abstract: A device for installing or removing fluorescent tubes from a lighting fixture has a cradle with drive rollers and has spring biased arms which move the drive rollers into frictional engagement with a fluorescent tube, subsequent to which the drive rollers can be rotated to rotate the fluorescent tube by rotating a pole carrying the device.

Abstract: A flushing and recharging system for an automotive engine includes a tee branch inserted in the coolant return hose from the cylinder block of an engine to the radiator, and which is employed to flush and recharge the cooling system with coolant fluid, provision being made for reversing the fluid flow through the return hose, the supply of scavening water optionally being a flow pulsating in pressure and velocity. The waste coolant scavenged from the cooling system is separated out to remove particulate matter and to separate petroleum products from the water base of the coolant fluid.

Abstract: A fiber optic connector comprising a ferrule having formed therein an elongate bore for receiving an optical fiber, an optical fiber disposed within the elongate bore; and soldering material operative to fix the orientation of the optical fiber in the elongate bore.

Abstract: In glassware article forming machines such as the well known I.S. machine, sensors continuously detect the velocity of operation of each individual mechanism of the machine in order to derive a signal for each mechanism representative of the actual velocity of operation of the associated mechanism, and a control receives the signal and compares the detected actual velocity of the mechanism with a predetermined maximum optium velocity for the mechanism to provide a signal compensating for deviations from the determined maximum velocity for that mechanism, and a command signal to trigger the operation of a succeeding mechanism of a glass forming sequence, when the preceeding mechanism has reached to its point of cushioning, thereby optimizing in this way both the velocity of each individual mechanism, and, the total time of a glassware article forming cycle of the machine.

Abstract: In a field/frame conversion system in which a field signal recorded on a track of a recording medium is repeatedly reproduced, a field signal delayed by 1/2 horizontal scanning duration and a directly provided field signal are alternately selected by a switch at each vertical scanning duration, and one of the field signals is formed by an arithmetic mean of a signal delayed by 1 horizontal scanning duration and a directly provided signal, to provide a frame signal, a flicker preventing circuit device in a field/frame conversion comprises a circuit provided in a front stage of an arithmetic mean circuit of the field/frame conversion system for bringing a gamma value of the field signal to 1, and a gamma circuit provided in a rear stage of the arithmetic mean circuit for returning the gamma value of the field signal to its original value.

Abstract: Apparatus for making a reconstituted food product such as pepper, tomato, arian, anchovies and the like including a feed hopper level control, conveyor and a calcium chloride bath for gelling the food material.

Abstract: An article of soft luggage is formable into a simulation of an article of hard luggage by the provision of axially extending stiffening members and collapsible interconnecting members arranged at the corners thereof, the article of soft luggage having a peripheral stiffening frame whereby dimensional stability of the article of soft luggage is provided in all directions along the outer surface thereof.

Abstract: A suction harvester for aquatic plants and animals comprising a variable rate centrifugal pump capable of handling solids mounted on a vessel and connected to a manoeuvrable nozzle. The operator can control the placement of the nozzle and degree of suction applied by the pump to selectively harvest weed or algal mats, etc. from the bed of the water body. A location or manoeuvring system for the vessel in shallow water is also described, comprising spiked wheels driven by independent motors on the end of adjustable arms, the spikes engaging the bed of the water body for accurate location and propulsion with minimum disturbance.

Abstract: A protective tip for a garment frame has lateral extensions at the recesses in the tip provided for the reception of barbs of the frame, the lateral extensions providing continuations of the peripheral contour of the tip at the locations of the recesses in order to minimize snagging of the tip as it is inserted into a channel formed in a garment.

Abstract: An anvil for a disposable stapler is provided by an elongate metal member of undulated transverse cross-section which is an interference fit in a recess formed in a plastic base of the stapler and which is force fit therewithin to position and locate the anvil in the absence of further securing members.