Abstract: The invention relates to a moulded plastic container which defines at least one receptacle for receiving a food material or the like, the container further including a utensil such as a spoon which is frangibly detachable from the container when the utensil is to be used for mixing, stirring or eating purposes. In a preferred form of the invention the moulded plastic container has two receptacles adjacent each other wherein the utensil is provided between the two receptacles along a fold axis between each of the receptacles, the fold axis allowing for the pivoting of each of the receptacles relative to each other for the transferring of contents from one receptacle to the other.

Abstract: A shock absorbing cushion device removable, pressure-adjustable for sports goods, comprising a cover and an air cushion enveloped in the cover, said cushion made as a hollow flat bag whose upper and lower sheets are provided and adhered with round recesses or line recesses or the both combined, said recesses furnishing the air cushion with shock absorbing elasticity and flexibility whether said cushion is inflated or not. An inflation pump or an air nipple is provided in said cushion for inflating or deflating said cushion.

Abstract: Indane compounds of general formulas (7) and (8) and their pharmaceutical use particularly to achieve smooth muscle relaxing activity and/or mast cell stabilizing activity and/or anti-inflammatory activity as described, wherein in formula (7) R2 to R13, in formula (8) R1 and R3 and R13 are selected from one or more of the same or different of: H, halo, hydroxy, alkoxy, aryloxy, acetoxy, carboxy, alkyl carbonyl, hydro carbonyl, amino, amido, alkylamino, hydroxylamino, amine oxide groups, azo groups, cyano, hydrazino groups, hydrazide groups, hydrazone groups, imide groups, iminoether groups, ureyl groups, oxime, nitro, nitrate, nitrite, nitroso groups, nitrile, heterocyclic groups containing heretro atoms containing one or more of N, O or S, aralkyl groups, mono and polybenzoid aryl groups, substituted aryl groups, thiol, thioureyl, phenylthiol groups, sulphonic acid groups, sulphoxide groups, sulphone groups, alkyl containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms or cycloalkyl groups containing 3 to 8 carbon atoms which may s

Abstract: Integrated first stage and second stage reduction mechanisms reduce coal, minerals, biomass, and other materials. A portion of the reductive work is done in the first stage by passing centrally fed feed material centrifugally from rotating rings to counter-rotating rings with destructive effects. The resulting material, significantly reduced in size, subsequently is stripped of oversize in the second stage by passing through a closely spaced and specially contoured final pair of annular rings or crushing elements between which particles larger than the limited space are crushed.

Abstract: A multiple compact disc player, particularly although not necessarily solely, directed towards an audio compact disc player. The turntable for supporting two or more compact discs is provided with connected or associated releasable clamps to engage the compact discs onto the turntable when in the out-of-play position. The clamps are released once an adjacent compact disc is engaged by the drive spindle of the reading unit to allow the compact disc to be positioned appropriately for play. The provision of the clamps allows the turntable, reading unit and disc player as a whole to be oriented in positions other than the horizontal including a substantially vertical orientation if desired. Furthermore, the reading unit itself undergoes linear transverse motion with respect to the general plane of the turntable for easier engagement with the compact disc on the turntable.

Abstract: A drive, preferably a gate drive with a belt transmission encompassing a drive pulley and an output pulley. According to the invention the drive pulley consists of at least one cylinder with inwardly tapering flanges at its ends. A round belt, rope or similar serves as a drive agent, which is wound a number of times around the cylinder. The return strand of the round belt, rope or similar can be held continuously under tension.

Abstract: A system for determining the direction that an object is pointing is disclosed. The pointing direction is calculated by determining phase differences between signals arriving at different positions on the object from a single source. Preferably the signals are received from Global Positioning System satellites and multiple antennae are positioned appropriately on the object. A number of methods are disclosed to obtain both the integer and fractional parts of the phase difference. Once the absolute value of the phase difference is determined and the satellite positions are known, it is possible to determine the direction that the object is pointing. A number of possible applications are disclosed including aerial imaging, artillery weapons aiming and satellite receive dish alignment.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for sterilizing microorganisms and/or decomposing organic and inorganic pollutants in a region of ground soil by passing a specified direct current through the contaminated soil region with a controlled voltage applied between at least one pair of electrodes incorporated into the ground soil. For decomposition of the organic and inorganic pollutants, it is postulated that the applied electric field increases the natural capacitance of the individual soil particles to over capacitance sufficient to cause the soil particles to discharge electrons. This electric discharge, in turn, provides the reaction energy to promote the redox reactions which effects decomposition of the pollutants. The voltage is preferable controlled to optimize the amplitude and frequency of the electric discharges emitted by the soil particles which have become subject to over capacitance.

Abstract: A piston assembly of a hydraulic radial piston-type machine, an essential characteristic thereof being the arrangement of a roller element in a piston head. The portion of contact surface of the roller element lying close to a crown of the piston is always arranged in the area between the piston crown and a step extending radially inwards and dividing the head of the piston from the guide portion.

Abstract: This invention relates to a (1→3, 1→4)-&bgr;-glucanase (glucanase EII endohydrolase) enzyme, whose amino acid sequence has been modified in order to provide an enzyme whose three-dimensional structure confers improved thermostability and/or pH stability. Specific modifications are based upon a comparison between the three-dimensional structure (1→3, 1→4)-&bgr;-glucanase and that of (1→3)-&bgr;-glucanase. The (1→3, 1→4)-&bgr;-glucanase gene has been modified by site-directed mutagenesis, and modified enzymes have been expressed in E. coli. Modified sequences, DNA molecules encoding them, plasmids, expression vectors and transgenic plants are disclosed.

Abstract: Described is a method of isolating cell components, such as nucleic acids, from natural sources by filtering a sample of the digested natural sources such as cells or cell fragments. The method is characterized in that the sample is passed through a filter, the pore size of which decreases in the direction of flow of the sample through the filter.

Abstract: A technique for performing compression, encryption and transmission, and reception, decryption and decompression, respectively, of data communication packages on an area network.

Abstract: A lazing unit (1) comprises two sheets of glass (2,3) which are separated by a spacer bar (5). An outer secondary seal (10) extends around the periphery of the glazing unit. The seal (10) has a number of peripherally spaced-apart fixing inserts (50) extending around the periphery of the glazing unit for fixing the glazing unit support (17). Each fixing insert (50) has a base wall section (51), parallel side walls (52) and end wall sections (53) which define an arcuate slot (55) closed at both ends. The configuration of the fixing inserts (50) allows simple fitting while ensuring the maximum bulk of material for structural strength. Opposed fixing inserts (50) are engaged, on assembly, by a toggle (60).

Abstract: A bit line sense-amplifier for a semiconductor memory device and a method for driving the same do not apply a bit line precharge voltage by a switch in an equalization operation, perform an equalization operation by interconnecting a plurality of sense-amplifier lines, then perform a precharge operation by applying a bit line precharge voltage through NMOS transistor of the switch, increase a sensing speed by reducing a loading of a sense-amplifier, reduce a transient current, and minimize a power-consumption by performing a precharge operation after a bit line equalization.

Abstract: A paving assembly including a plurality of paving elements interconnected by a joining mesh. The mesh has a number of spaced-apart flat portions between the paving elements and a number of reinforcing portions of generally triangular shape extending into the body of the paving elements. A mold base has recesses to receive settable cementitious material and an insert tool is used to insert the mesh into the settable material. On setting, the paving assembly thus formed is readily removed from the mold base by inverting the base.

Abstract: A system for determining the hematocrit transcutaneously and noninvasively. Disclosed are a finger clip assembly and an earlobe clip assembly, each including at least a pair of emitters and a photodiode in appropriate alignment to enable operation in either a transmissive mode or a reflectance mode. At least two, and preferably three, predetermined wavelengths of light are passed onto or through body tissues such as the finger, earlobe, or scalp, etc. and the extinction of each wavelength is detected. Mathematical manipulation of the detected values compensates for the effects of body tissue and fluid and determines the hematocrit value. If a fourth wavelength of light is used which is extinguished substantially differently by oxyhemoglobin and reduced hemoglobin and which is not substantially extinguished by plasma, then the blood oxygen saturation value, independent of hematocrit, may be determined.

Abstract: A boat including a hull with a cockpit section, and a rear cabin section normally concealed by a horizontally extending cushioned deck element located adjacent the stern. The deck element is hinged along its rear edge so as to be elevatable to expose a sunken floor wherein sink and toilet facilities may be provided. An enclosure for the rear cabin area may be deployed to provide privacy for changing clothes or using the toilet. In combination with the sunken floor, the height of the enclosure permits a person to stand erect and move about freely. A portable toilet may be stored under a captain's chair immediately in front of the rear cabin area and slid rearwardly for use in the rear cabin area as needed.

Abstract: A vehicle suspension system (1) which provides roll control comprises a pair of hydraulic actuators (2, 3) mounted at wheels on opposite sides of the vehicle chassis, each hydraulic actuator (2, 3) being connected between the wheel and the chassis. Each hydraulic actuator (2, 3) has a fluid filled variable volume fluid chamber (8, 9) defined by a cylinder (4, 5) and piston (6, 7), one part being connected to the wheel and the other part to the chassis. An hydraulic accumulator (12, 13) is connected to each fluid chamber via a fluid transfer line (14, 15) to act as a spring with damping means being provided by a flow restrictor orifice (10, 11). A pump (16) communicates via fluid transfer lines (14, 15) between both hydraulic actuator fluid chambers (8, 9) through a control valve (19) which is operable to isolate both chambers (8, 9) from each other and from the pump (16) or to selectively connect one chamber (8, 9) to an inlet (17) of the pump (16) and the other chamber (8, 9) to an outlet of the pump (16).