Abstract: A method is provided for recovering oil from a subterranean oil-bearing formation. One or more pairs of electrodes are inserted into the ground in proximity to a body of oil in said formation. A voltage difference is then established between the electrodes to create an electric field in the oil-bearing formation. As voltage is applied, the current is manipulated to induce oxidation and reduction reactions in components of the oil. The oxidation and reduction reactions lower the viscosity in the oil and thereby reduce capillary resistance to oil flow so that the oil can be removed at an extraction well.

Abstract: There are provided a receiving base serving as a base on which a seat back frame is carried in a laid state, and a setting mechanism for holding an axis of a supporting shaft interconnecting actuating shafts projecting from locking mechanisms, the setting mechanism which has held the axis of the supporting shaft being mounted through stand bases to the receiving base so as to be swingable and being adapted to be swung by a driving cylinder which generates a force to the extent that the actuating shafts are not rotated, so that the axis of the supporting shaft can rotated relative to the actuating shafts by an allowed rotational amount according to actuation of the driving cylinder.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of cleaving a recombinantly expressed protein from an intein and ligating the protein to a peptide containing an N-terminal cysteine having an unoxidized sulfhydryl side chain which comprises contacting the protein with the peptide in a reaction solution comprising a conjugated thiophenol, thereby forming a C-terminal thioester of the recombinant protein which spontaneously rearranges intramolecularly to form an amide bond linking the protein to the peptide.

Abstract: A head and neck protection system includes a head protector, a shoulder protector, and a neck guard for protecting an athlete from injury. The neck guard detachably connects between the head protector and the shoulder protector and includes a collar. The collar has a first edge and a second edge spaced apart from the first edge and longer than the first edge. The first and second edges include fasteners for detachably coupling the collar between the head protector and the shoulder protector. The collar has a perimeter that flares radially outwardly as the collar extends from the head protector to the shoulder protector. The collar interconnects the head protector with the shoulder protector to form a restraint that limits displacement of the head protector relative to the shoulder protector.

Abstract: A flashlight comprises a housing having, for example, a tapered portion and a hole at a forward end thereof with a flexible/bendable extension including a solid state light source extending through the hole at the forward end thereof. A switch, preferably in a tail cap, selectively connects the solid state light source and at least one battery in the housing in circuit for causing the solid state light source to produce light. The flexible extension preferably makes electrical contact with the housing and/or preferably includes an insulating cover having an end retained in the housing.

Abstract: A dual axis joystick control system is used intuitively for maneuvring a waterborne vessel having two or more waterjets with steering deflectors (13) and reverse ducts (14) mounted independently of the steering deflectors. The joystick (21) is operated to actuate the reverse ducts of the port and starboard waterjets for either common or differential deflections of thrust, and to actuate the steering deflectors of the port and starboard waterjets for common deflections of thrust.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for making reduced calorie cultured cheeses whereby the natural lipid content of milk is replaced with colloidal forms of synthetic or chemically structured lipids displaying low to no human digestibility. The colloidal dispersion of modified lipids contained within the milk base is initially stabilized by preferred combinations of polymeric and particulate hydrocolloidal materials such as structurally expanded cellulose. Such stabilization is important during formation of the curd to ensure homogeneous distribution and maintenance of the lipid dispersion throughout the coagulum yet allow effective concentration of the coagulum solids by means of ordinary water removal methods commonly used in the manufacture of conventional cultured cheeses. The coagulum is then processed by means similar to that employed for naturally fermented cheeses.

Abstract: A light source assembly comprises a dielectric body having a cavity and a longitudinal slot on an exterior surface thereof, and a light source mounted coaxially proximate an end of the dielectric body. A first electrical lead of the light source provides an electrical lead at an end of the dielectric body distal the light source and a second electrical lead thereof provides an electrical lead at the periphery of the dielectric body.

Abstract: A device for acupuncture is disclosed. The device has a pressure plate 100 having a polygonal profile. Both a magnet 300 and a magnetic body 400 are set in the pressure plate 100, with the magnetic body 400 being brought into contact with the magnet 300 at its upper end. The magnetic body 400 also extends through the pressure plate 100 so as to project outside the lower surface of the plate 100 at its lower end. The pressure plate 100 is also provided with both a plurality of fitting rods 130 and the same number of channelled fitting tubes 140. When it is desired to assemble two or more pressure plates 100 into an assembly, the fitting rods 130 of one plate 100 are elastically coupled to the channelled fitting tubes 140 of another plate 100. A cap 200 is mounted to the upper surface of the plate 100 and seats both the magnet 300 and the magnetic body 400 therein. A tubular member 500 is fitted into the pressure plate 100 from the lower surface of the plate 100 and is locked to the cap 200 at its upper end.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for generating mycolic acid bacterial biosensors for particular analytes (especially industrial pollutants) by the use of innovative methods for isolating DNA encoding an inducible promoter which is induced in response to the specific analyte (and/or associated operon proteins), the methods generally comprising the steps of: (a) culturing a source of mycolic acid bacteria in a selective medium containing said specific analyte and being selective for oligotriphic bacteria; (b) identifying mycolic acid bacteria capable of subsisting on said medium, especially those which do not display catabolic repression; (c) extracting DNA from said mycolic acid bacteria; (d) incorporating said DNA into vectors, such as various shuttle vectors; (e) cloning said vector into a suitable host cell (which may be E.

Abstract: Anti-Fas (APO-1, CD95) autoantibodies arm found in human s, which antibodies arm biologically functional. Peptide fragments of Fas recognized by such antibodies, and antibodies specific for such peptides, inhibit or promote apoptosis and cellular proliferation. Assay methods making use of Fas peptides or antibodies enable identification of further agents which modulate apoptosis and/or cellular proliferation.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for surveying the geometry of tunnels comprising measuring the position of a tunnel surface relative to an absolute three-dimensional coordinate system, using at least one reflectorless distance sensor mounted for orientation in three dimensions and calculating a deviation from a predefined geometry for the surface and displaying said deviation in real time.

Abstract: Flavor components, particularly for a vanilla composition, are produced by essentially natural methods employing biotransformation of plant-derived materials. Ferulic acid, a component of many plant cell walls, may be converted into vanillin, directly or indirectly. A plurality of such compounds may undergo bioconversions to produce components of a flavor composition.

Abstract: A stapling device for use as an attachment to an electromechanical device driver comprises an upper jaw and a lower jaw, the upper jaw having staple guides corresponding to one or more staples in a removable staple tray disposed within a lower jaw, whereby a wedge having a threaded bore travels upon a matching threaded shaft in a channel disposed in the lower jaw behind the staple tray, such that rotation of the threaded shaft causes movement of the wedge through the channel while a sloped surface of the wedge contacts the staples to push the staples against the staples guides, closing the staples.

Abstract: Disclosed are novel strains of Xenorhabdus bovienii deposited with NCIMB under accession numbers NCIMB 40985 and NCIMB 40986 which are a source of orally acting pesticides. Also disclosed are pesticidal agents which are (i) obtainable from a X. bovienii strains; (ii) have oral insecticidal activity against one or more species of insect of the order Lepidoptera, Coleoptera or Homoptera; (iii) are substantially heat stable to 50° C.; and (iv) act synergistically with B. thuringiensis cells as an oral insecticide. The invention further makes available nucleic acids encoding these and variant toxins, plus vectors, host cells and plants transformed with the same. Also disclosed are insecticidal polypeptides (and antibodies raised to them) and compositions, plus methods of using all of these materials for the control of pests, particularly insects.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel organic/inorganic-oxide multilayer materials. In particular novel organic/inorganic-oxide materials based on single or multiple atomic layers of tungsten oxide, molybdenum oxide or other metal oxides interspersed between organic spacer layers is disclosed along with a method of preparing the materials, preferably via self assembly.

Abstract: A replaceable, electronically-isolated, MCP-based spectrometer detector cartridge with enhanced sensitivity is disclosed. A coating on the MCP that enhances the secondary electron emissivity characteristics of the MCP is selected from aluminum oxide (Al2O3), magnesium oxide (MgO), tin oxide (SnO2), quartz (SiO2), barium fluoride (BaF2), rubidium tin (Rb3Sn), beryllium oxide (BeO), diamond and combinations thereof A mass detector is electro-optically isolated the from a charge collector with a method of detecting a particle including accelerating the particle with a voltage, converting the particle into a multiplicity of electrons and converting the multiplicity of electrons into a multiplicity of photons. The photons then are converted back into electrons which are summed into a charge pulse. A detector also is provided.

Abstract: An MP-3 player includes a first speaker portion in which a speaker is mounted so as to be positioned at an ear of a user, an electric device portion which is mounted in the first speaker portion and provided with electric parts for reproducing sounds from an MP-3 file, a second speaker portion in which a speaker is mounted so as to be positioned at the other ear of the user; and a wearing means for connecting the first speaker portion and second speaker portion which is worn on the user's head. The speaker portions and the main body are integrally formed into a headphone or back-phone arrangement, thereby minimizing the size of the MP-3 player. Further, a separate wire is not needed in the MP-3 player, thereby reducing the trouble such as a short of the wire.

Abstract: A fiberscope training apparatus comprises mouth and/or nose aperture(s) leading to a network of multiple pathways through which a fiberscope may be manipulated. The pathways are formed by connection together of a number of individual branch components which are individually typically of a general Y-configuration. They may be connected together sequentially to form an expanding number of pathways in two or three dimensions. Further components may represent internal organs.