Abstract: A lighter than air apparatus is provided with a gas impermeable sheeting material having a pathway either extending through the apparatus itself or adjacent to the apparatus. One or more control surfaces are provided proximately to an aperture in the pathway for deflecting air passing through the pathway. A propulsion unit with the pathway propels air through pathway. The pathway, the control surfaces, and the control unit allow the lighter than air apparatus to control its bearing and efficiently maintain its position over the Earth.

Abstract: Method and device for stunning poultry (8a, 8b, 8c, 8d), which poultry are taken into a first chamber (23) by means of a conveyer (2, 6), which chamber contains a first straining gas or gas mixture which is mixed with oxygen, and are subsequently taken into a a second chamber (33) which is essentially separated from the first chamber as regards gas and which contains a second stunning gas or gas mixture for increasing the stunning achieved in the first chamber.

Abstract: A woodturning scraper burnisher and method of burnishing woodturning scrapers. The burnisher is a cast aluminum carrier having a substantially flat face penetrated by three unequally spaced holes into which a conical fulcrum pin and burnishing rod having a protruding truncated conical surface are slip fit. With the carrier fixed in place on a work surface, the underside of a turning scraper is pressed against the face of the carrier while a side of the scraper is positioned against the fulcrum pin and the scraper bevel is forced against and slid relative to the conical surface of the burnishing rod to form a "hook" on the working edge or arris of the scraper.

Abstract: A method for the treatment of a cutaneous, ocular, or mucosal pathological condition which is associated with immune response in a human or other mammal, that includes topical application of an effective amount of spiperone or a spiperone derivative or its pharmaceutically acceptable salt, in a pharmaceutically-acceptable diluent or carrier for topical application.

Abstract: A method for the topical or systemic treatment of disorders mediated by proteases which result in skin or mucosal lesions, and in particular, pemphigus, cicatricial pemphigoid, bullous pemphigoid, lichen planus, and canker sores, is disclosed wherein the host is treated with an effective amount of N-acetyl ysteine or a derivative thereof, or its pharmaceutically acceptable salt, optionally in a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent or carrier for systemic or topical delivery.

Abstract: A method for the treatment of a cutaneous, ocular, or mucosal pathological condition which is associated with an immune response in a human or other mammal, that includes topical application of an effective amount of buspirone or a buspirone derivative or its pharmaceutically acceptable salt, optionally in a pharmaceutically-acceptable diluent or carrier for topical application.

Abstract: A home automation system comprises a number of sub-systems for controlling various aspects of a house, such as a security sub-system, an HVAC sub-system, a lighting control sub-system, and an entertainment sub-system. The network comprises a host computer connected through a host interface to a plurality of nodes. The network is in a free form topology and employ asynchronous communication. The host computer polls each node on the network to determine system configuration and to perform a diagnostic check on the system. The messages that are transmitted between the nodes are comprised of a source address, a destination address that uniquely identifies the location of each piece of hardware on the system, a message type field, and a data length segment. Each hardware device has a mirror image software object in the host computer to which messages are directed. The user interfaces for the various sub-systems share a common interfacing method whereby use of the system is greatly simplified.

Abstract: A transducer system for an acoustic instrument such as a guitar or violin including a receptacle for mounting on the instrument coupled electronically to an output jack for mounting in a remote location on the instrument and a transducer or pickup assembly that plugs into the receptacle.

Abstract: A composite spin lock prepulse method compensates for magnetic field inhomogeneities in objects or materials under study using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The effective magnetic field seen by an object or material under study using NMR often is characterized by an off-resonance component, which results in the magnetization of the object or material having a component that diverges from the intended orientation after RF pulses. The method according to the present invention recognizes and utilizes the observation that aligning the off-resonance component of the magnetization in the x-z plane can be achieved when the amplitude of a preceding 90.degree. y flip pulse is known, and that the effective field can be placed in alignment with the resulting magnetization, if necessary or desired, by adjusting the amplitude of the locking pulse as a function of the amplitude of the flip pulse.

Abstract: Detachable chevron-shaped panels that fit within chevron-shaped apertures in the cover of an exit sign. The panels are dimensioned to fit integrally into the apertures in order to withstand years of stress, temperature changes, and wear and tear but continue to perform in a light-fast and reliable manner. Yet they may be easily installed from the exterior of the exit sign, with minimum risk that they will fall into the interior during installation. Surprisingly, the present devices permit such easy installation without the need to use conventional "slide `n` snap" exit sign arrow fasteners that usually allow reliable installation but have proven to be destructive of a secure fit and light fastness. The panel accomplishes this by employing at least three tabs positioned in a certain manner about the perimeter of each wing of the panel which engage the (preferably bevelled) edge of the chevron-shaped aperture.