Abstract: A coated corn grit product is provided that has individual pieces of corn grit having a fat-free coating. The fat-free coating is made from at least one material selected from colorants, flavors, nutrients, and sweeteners.

Abstract: A method for preparing a hand-held snack item is disclosed. The method includes the steps of (a) applying a first edible, heat-sensitive food material to an initial formed hand-held food item, thereby forming a preliminary coated hand-held food item; (b) applying a second edible food coating material to said preliminary coated hand-held food item, thereby forming a secondary coated hand-held food item, wherein said second edible food material is applied to said preliminary coated hand-held food item in such a manner as to substantially completely coat said first edible, heat-sensitive food material, and wherein said second edible food material is selected from a material which possesses sufficient physical characteristics to act as a protective medium for said first edible, heat-sensitive food material when said secondary coated hand-held food item is subjected to a temperature in the range of from about 35° C. to about 350° C.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing a puffed grain food product having a mixture of puffable low expansion grain and puffable high expansion grain. Flavoring agents, coloring agents or mixtures thereof are absorbed into the puffable low expansion grain pieces. The treated puffable low expansion grain pieces are then mixed with the puffable high expansion grain pieces, placed in a mold, and puffed to form an edible puffed grain food product.

Abstract: The method for abstracting high levels of &bgr;-glucan from a grain product such as oat or barley grain to produce a &bgr;-glucan product containing at least about 18% by weight &bgr;-glucan is provided. The &bgr;-glucan product can be produced as an agglomerated food additive having at least about 18% by weight &bgr;-glucan. Methods are provided for enriching a food product with the &bgr;-glucan agglomerated food additive to produce an enriched resulting food product.

Abstract: An automated system and method for developing an increased level of associate accountability in a production process by obtaining a performance projection from the associate, inputting this projection data into a computer system, obtaining and inputting actual performance data into the system and utilizing the system to compare the associate's projected performance to the associate's actual performance. The system and method of the present invention provides timely, objective and quantitative feedback to the production process associate. This feedback is subsequently used as a pay for performance incentive program.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method of making a puffed food starch material snack, in particular starch material from grains, having an improved crispy texture and a more aesthetic appearance. The products may be snack chips, cakes, crackers or the like, made from food starch material. Preferably, the starch material is provided primarily in the form of individual kernels or pellets of a cereal grain, such as rice, corn, wheat, rye, oats, millet, sorghum, barley, buckwheat, or mixtures thereof. Quantities of other food starch materials may also be employed as a co-mixed constituent, or the primary source of bulk starch material, for example potato starch material. A quantity of the grain is puffed (expanded) in a manner which forms a snack product of considerable crispiness, lightness, and unique texture to both the mouth and eye.

Abstract: A table separator is provided, wherein the table separator comprises a plurality of solid-bottomed trays and a plurality of dimples for facilitating separation of degerminated corn into endosperm and germ fraction, the dimples being aligned in linear juxtaposition on the surface of the trays and having a center portion raised with respect to the perimeter of the dimples.

Abstract: A storage system (10) includes an interior envelope (12) and an exterior envelope (14). Tissue or other material to be stored may be placed in interior envelope (12), sealed and placed in exterior envelope (14). Exterior envelope (14) is sealable in a first sealed position that allows gas sterilization of the interior of exterior envelope (14) and the contents contained therein. After sterilization, exterior envelope (14) is sealed in a gas impermeable position. Each of interior and exterior envelopes (12, 14) have one side which is transparent. A grid (22) may be provided on the transparent side of interior envelope (12) for sizing tissue contained therein.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making electrode material from high hardness active electrode alloy powder are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method involves feeding the powder onto a carrier web, aligning a mesh or screen substrate with the carrier web, and compacting the powder and mesh in a series of roller mills. The carrier is removed after it has passed through the first roller mill, and the remaining green electrode web is passed through the second roller mill and into a sintering furnace. After sintering and cooling, the web is calendared, and then is wound on a take-up reel. The furnace provides a substantially water and oxygen-free argon-hydrogen atmosphere for sintering which discourages web oxidization at the elevated sintering temperature. A loss-in-weight feeder can be used to accurately deposit the desired amount of active material on the carrier web.

Abstract: An amorphous silicon semiconductor alloy having multiple layers is used to form a photoelectrode (either a photoanode or a photocathode) for use in a photoelectrochemical cell for the photoelectrolysis of water to produce hydrogen or the conversion of solar energy into electrical energy. Each layer of the semiconductor alloy has a different dopant concentration ranging from no dopant to a heavy dopant concentration. The photoelectrochemical cell can utilize a photocathode and a conventional metal anode, a photoanode or both a photocathode and a photoanode according to the present invention. The semiconductor alloy of the photoelectrode is a-Si:F:H or a-Si:H.sub.x deposited on a reflective layer of aluminum or molybdenum which is deposited on a substrate of glass or stainless steel. A tunnelable oxide layer can be deposited or intrinsically formed to cover and protect the top surface of the semiconductor alloy body.

Abstract: Coatings and methods for forming same are provided. Generally, the coatings are wear resistant disordered coatings of at least one nonmetallic element and a transition metal that are deposited on an article surface, such as a tool surface or other surface that is subjected to wear or friction. The resulting tools generally exhibit increased life with excellent lubricity thereby improving the surface finish of workpieces machined therewith.Adherence coatings are provided for achieving improved adherence of the wear resistant coating to the substrate.

Abstract: Multilayer protective coatings that are applied over a substrate are disclosed that comprise a plurality of superimposed multilayer units. Each multilayer unit contains two or more superimposed thin layers in which at least two layers are compositionally different. The properties of the resulting coating are a combination of the properties of the individual layers. One layer of a multilayer unit may provide hardness or wear resistance and another layer may provide lubricity, for example. The thickness of the individual layers can be related to the microscopic surface relief of the substrate to which the protective coating is applied.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electrode which uses a disordered active material preferably formed by rapid solidification. The active material does not need a binder to be used as an electrode, and thus, is considered self-supporting. The material also is substantially non-porous or impermeable to an electrolyte and when used as an electrode exhibits an increase in cell capacity with improved resistance to corrosion. An electrode of the present invention provides greatly improved cycle life and energy density without a significant decrease in cell capacity. Methods of making the electrode by rapidly solidifying a disordered material are also included. A method of assembling an electrochemical cell using a self-supporting electrode includes the step of producing a disordered active material and aligning the material in a predetermined position in a cell casing.

Abstract: Methods are provided for analyzing multilayer structures. The multilayer structure is electrolytically anodized at constant current through a plurality of layers of the structure over a predetermined surface area. During the anodization, the change of the anodization voltage or a time derivative thereof as a function of time is monitored as the anodization through the layers occurs to obtain data. The data may be analyzed in several ways to determine whether degradation of the multilayer structure has occurred, to determine the number of layers present in the multilayer structure and to determine the layer thickness of the multilayer structure.The disclosed methods are accurate, inexpensive and rapid.

Abstract: An improved battery utilizing a hydrogen rechargeable anode of a disordered non-equilibrium multicomponent material including one or more elements forming a host matrix and at least one modifier element incorporated therein. The anode is capable of electrochemically absorbing hydrogen from an electrolyte during application of a charging current thereto. The hydrogen is stored in the anode bulk until discharge is initiated, whereupon an electrical current is produced when the hydrogen is released. The superior battery of the invention has attained high density energy storage, efficient reversibility, high electrical efficiency, bulk hydrogen storage without structural change or poisoning and hence long cycle life and deep discharge capability.

Abstract: Multilayer protective coatings that are applied over a substrate are disclosed that comprise a plurality of superimposed multilayer units. Each multilayer unit contains two or more superimposed thin layers in which at least two layers are compositionally different. The properties of the resulting coating are a combination of the properties of the individual layers. One layer of a multilayer unit may provide hardness or wear resistance and another layer may provide lubricity, for example. The thickness of the individual layers can be related to the microscopic surface relief of the substrate to which the protective coating is applied.One disclosed multilayer unit comprises three layers: an oxidation resistant layer; a nitride layer; and a layer of disordered boron and carbon material.

Abstract: A synthesis method is provided for the synthesis of quinone compounds of the formula ##STR1## where n is 0-3, Y.sup.1 is alkoxy, Y.sup.2 is alkoxy, chloro, bromo or hydrogen and R' and R" each and independently are hydrogen, alkyl or phenyl. These compounds are useful as reductant precursors in tellurium imaging compositions.

Abstract: A coating and method of depositing it is provided. The wear resistant coating comprises a thin layer of disordered boron and carbon applied to a substrate. The coating has good adherence and provides good resistance to wear so that it is useful as a tool coating. In a more specific embodiment, the coating is disordered boron carbide. The coating can have a high gloss and can also be used as a decorative coating.The coating can be made by sputtering boron and carbon onto a substrate. A bias voltage may be applied to the substrate during sputtering.In accordance with one embodiment, the disordered boron and carbon coating is of a composition B.sub.x C.sub.1-x where x is from about 0.60 to about 0.90.In accordance with another embodiment, an improved molding tool is provided that includes a disordered carbon coating on at least a portion of the working surface of the molding tool.