Abstract: The present invention is directed to a downhole pump assembly having a housing, a standing valve located near the lower end of the housing, a plunger disposed in the chamber of the housing below the upper and lower internal shoulders thereof and adapted for reciprocating movement through at least a portion of the chamber of the housing, and a traveling valve located in the plunger. A pull rod has one end connected to the plunger and an opposite end connected to a sucker rod string to affect reciprocating movement of the plunger. A sliding valve is positioned in a chamber of the housing between an upper internal shoulder and an internal shoulder.

Abstract: A subsurface drainage assembly for directing fluid drainage from a surface including a plurality of drain structure panels linked together in a manner that permits movement of one drain structure panel relative to the adjacent drain structure panel. The drain structure panels have a laterally extensive backing grid and a plurality of spaced apart support members projecting therefrom. The support members have at least one fluid flow opening formed through a sidewall so as to intersect a lower end of the support members at two rounded corners. The support members are spaced so that the support members are nestable between the support members of an identical drain structure panel when the drain structure panels are arranged in an inverted relationship with respect to one another. The drain structure panel may be placed on an impermeable liner having an upper surface with a plurality of ridges defining troughs therebetween.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a nucleic acid segment having a coding region segment encoding enzymatically active Streptococcus equisimilis hyaluronate synthase (seHAS), and to the use of this nucleic acid segment in the preparation of recombinant cells which produce hyaluronate synthase and its hyaluronic acid product. Hyaluronate is also known as hyaluronic acid or hyaluronan.

Abstract: A Master Operating Software System stored and/or run on a remote portion of a Split Personal Computer System, or a Multiple Computer System, such that remote users can operate such Master Operating Software System.

Abstract: A device for filling an open trench with the dirt previously removed from the trench lying alongside the trench, using a skid-mounted frame having blades to initially fill the trench and leveling the dirt, followed by a compactor.

Abstract: A flexible sleeve for containing a pot and/or floral grouping and/or growing or retaining medium. The flexible sleeve has a body and a flap. The body has an outer peripheral surface, an inner peripheral surface and a skirt. The flap is connected to the inner peripheral surface of the body, preferably near the skirt. The flap is adapted to be positioned in: a storage position extending downward, a receiving position extending upward, and a deployed position extending substantially inwardly from the inner peripheral surface of the body when the body is in an open configuration. The flap can be a sheet, or may be folded or slitted. Water or other chemicals my be impregnated into the flap to aid in the maintenance of the floral grouping or growing medium. The flap may also be used to secure the sleeve about the pot and/or floral grouping and/or growing or retaining medium.

Abstract: A multilayer circuit board is provided with at least one signal layer, at least one feedback layer, and at least one dielectric layer positioned between the signal layer and the feedback layer. The signal layer is connected to at least one plated hole. The feedback layer has a contact pad, which is positioned adjacent to the plated hole, but is electrically isolated from the plated hole. The contact pad is connected to a measurement unit. The dielectric layer is positioned between the signal layer and the contact pad of the feedback layer. A portion of the plated hole forms a stub portion, which extends a distance away from the signal layer and typically extends a distance away from the contact pad of the feedback layer. To remove the stub portion, a hole is bored or routed into the multilayer circuit board until electrical feedback is received by the measurement unit upon contact of a portion of the boring device with the contact pad.

Abstract: A sleeve used to wrap items such as potted plants. The sleeve may have an open or closed bottom. When closed, the bottom may have a gusset for allowing expansion upon the depositing of the pot into the sleeve. The sleeve has a detachable upper portion. The sleeve has a bonding material disposed upon an inner and/or outer portion of the sleeve for crimping the sleeve adjacent the pot to hold the sleeve about the pot.

Abstract: The present invention relates, in general, to tintable abrasion resistant coating compositions utilizing a tint additive and methods of making and using same. More particularly, but not by way of limitation, the tint additive is a polyethylene oxide polymer that is end capped on at least one “R” group with a silica containing compound.

Abstract: A functionally active hyaluronan synthase having at least one modified amino acid residue therein as compared to a corresponding functionally active native hyaluronan synthase such that the functionally active hyaluronan synthase has an altered enzymatic activity as compared to the corresponding functionally active native hyaluronan synthase is disclosed. Methods of producing hyaluronic acid utilizing a recombinant host cell having an expression construct encoding the functionally active hyaluronan synthase with altered enzymatic activity are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of producing a carbon nanotube product comprising a catalytic particle and single-walled carbon nanotubes deposited thereon. The catalytic particles preferably contain at least one metal from Group VIII, including for example Co, Ni, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ir, and Pt, and at least one metal from Group VIb including for example Mo, W and Cr. The catalytic particle preferably further comprises a support material such as silica. The carbon nanotube product is preferably formed by exposing the catalytic particle to a carbon-containing gas at a temperature sufficient to form the single-walled nanotubes as a primary portion of a solid carbon product on the catalytic particles.

Abstract: A right angle bend mount for bending an optical fiber into the plane of a circuit board. The mount includes a base and a cover that is pivotably connected to the base by a hinge. A clamp is formed by a first pair of opposed surfaces of the base and cover adjacent the hinge. This clamp fixedly grips a ferrule portion of the optical fiber when the base and the cover are closed together. A second pair of opposed surfaces of the base and cover forms another clamp. This clamp fixedly grips a non-ferrule portion of the optical fiber when the base and the cover are closed together. A bent portion of the optical fiber between the ferrule portion and the gripped non-ferrule portion is disposed in a non-gripping gap between the base and the cover when the base and the cover are closed together.

Abstract: A method for wrapping a wrapper about a floral grouping wherein the wrapper is a sleeve having a cinching tab or strip of bonding material or both, a reservoir disposed in the interior space of the sleeve, a closure flap for closing the sleeve and optionally a detaching element such as perforations for detaching a portion of the sleeve or sheet of material. The cinching tab is preferably attached near an edge of the sleeve. The cinching tab when present preferably has a bonding material disposed thereon which, when the cinching tab is pulled tightly about the wrapper, causes the wrapper to be crimped and tightly bound about the stems of the floral grouping.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a recombinant Bacillus host cell containing a recombinant vector including a nucleic acid segment having a coding region segment encoding enzymatically active hyaluronan synthase (HAS). The recombinant Bacillus host cell is utilized in a method for producing hyaluronic acid (HA).

Abstract: A cabinet for supporting electronic equipment. The cabinet has a rigid internal assembly structure and a cladding kit. The internal assembly defines a cavity into which the electronic equipment can be fitted. The internal assembly structure has height, a plurality of posts, and at least two panels. Each of the panels has a plurality of recesses formed therein. At least one post includes mounting tabs positionable within the recesses formed within the panels for precisely locating the post with respect to the panels. The cladding kit has at least two post trims connected to the internal assembly structure and at least one panel connected to the post trims. Each of the post trims has a body member, a first connector and a second connector. The first connector and the second connector of the post trim cooperate to connect the post trim to the posts of the internal assembly structure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a nucleic acid segment having a coding region segment encoding enzymatically active Streptococcus equisimilis hyaluronate synthase (seHAS), and to the use of this nucleic acid segment in the preparation of recombinant cells which produce hyaluronate synthase and its hyaluronic acid product. Hyaluronate is also known as hyaluronic acid or hyaluronan.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a kissing shield game and method teaching safe affection to at least one person playing the kissing shield game. The kissing shield game includes a plurality of removable pegs, a playing surface, a gaming member, a plurality of frames and a plurality of thin, flexible membranes forming a kissing shield, and a resetable timer. The playing surface has a plurality of holes arranged in a predetermined pattern with each of the plurality of holes being capable of receiving at least one of the plurality of removable pegs. Each side of the gaming member has a different color associated therewith as well as a predetermined set of alphanumeric symbols associated therewith. The kissing shield is used when a selected person or object determined by a player is kissed so that the player learns safe affection and the proper use of the kissing shield through repetition.

Abstract: A method for repairing damaged or diseased urinary tract tissue includes providing a urinary tract tissue graft composition that includes a distal ileal segment of small intestinal submucosa. The distal ileal segment of small intestinal submucosa may be utilized as an unseeded tissue graft composition, or the distal ileal segment of small intestinal submucosa may be positioned in a tissue culture frame, and smooth muscle and urothelial cells isolated from a tissue specimen of a subject and cultured are then seeded upon the distal ileal segment of small intestinal submucosa, thereby forming a urinary tract tissue graft.

Abstract: An integrated optical mode transformer provides a low loss interconnection between an optical fiber and an integrated optic waveguide having a spot size different from that of the fiber. The mode transformer is comprised of two waveguide layers, an upper layer and a lower layer, with the upper layer being contiguous to the lower layer. The lower layer is the integrated optic waveguide layer forming the optical circuit. The input dimensions of the composite two-waveguide structure supports a fundamental mode that accepts all of the light present on the optical fiber. The upper waveguide layer is tapered down from an input width to an output width and then terminates in such a way that at the termination substantially all of the input optical power resides in the lower waveguide layer. The two waveguide layer structure is fabricated by deposition and planarization techniques.

Abstract: A decorative assembly for a floral grouping wherein the decorative assembly includes a floral holding material and a sheet of fluid impermeable material. The floral holding material is a preformed shape-sustaining support member movable between a flattened condition and an expanded condition. A stabilizing member or assembly is connected to the preformed shape-sustaining support member for stabilizing and maintaining the preformed shape-sustaining member in the expanded condition.