Abstract: A method of creating an optical structure within a photosensitive light transmissive material comprising the steps of: (a) exposing a selected region of the material to radiation at a wavelength selected to effect a refractive index change in the material; (b) terminating the exposure to the radiation at a selected fluence; and afterwards (c) exposing at least one portion of the selected region to UV radiation at a level sufficient to vary the refractive index of the material within the selected region to form the optical structure; wherein the fluence is selected such that the optical structure is substantially thermally stable without a requirement for post-processing annealing.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for preparing a non-toxic, sterile, biocompatible, crosslinked collagen material with controlled in vivo biodegradation speed. It consists in subjecting a collagen constituent, either to beta radiation, or to gamma radiation. The collagen material obtained is biodegradable in a few days depending on the type of irradiation used.

Abstract: The method of improving the mould quality of a mould-forming machine comprising at least one moulding chamber with oppositely positioned and movable squeeze plates, in which the mould-forming process comprises the steps of a) filling the at least one moulding chamber with compressible mould material, b) pressing the mould material between the squeeze plates, c) opening the moulding chambers(s) by moving at least one of the squeeze plates, d) removing the produced mould or mould parts from the moulding chamber(s) and e) reclosing the moulding chambers(s) by moving at least one of the squeeze plates, ready for a new cycle starting from step (a), by moving at least one squeeze plate in a direction reducing the volume of the moulding chambers(s) during at least part of the filling step a), an improved filling of mould cavities is achieved, which compensates for the reduced filling velocity during start-up of the filling.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for analyzing the structural response of an object having an outer surface comprising a plurality of surface portions, the method including: forming a three dimensional model of said object, said model comprising a surface mesh representative of said outer surface and comprising a plurality of eccentric shell elements, wherein each of said elements is defined by a plurality of nodes on said surface and each of said nodes has one or more degrees of freedom; assigning to each of said elements a thickness indicative of half of the thickness of said object at said respective element; defining, for each of said elements, a reference surface that includes the nodes of said respective element and that is coincident with said surface mesh at said respective element; for a pair of opposed portions of said surface, establishing a constraining relationship between said degrees of freedom of each of said nodes on the first of said opposed portions and said degrees of

Abstract: The invention provides an impact armature for a solenoid device, adapted to move and perform a working stroke when the solenoid device is activated, the armature including a ferromagnetic armature provided with shoulder means; an effector member made of a non-ferromagnetic material and provided with counter-shoulder means whereby the effector member is engageable by the shoulder means of the armature; characterized in that, in operation, the armature performs a two-phase working stroke, wherein, in a first phase, the armature moves relative to the effector member for a relatively short, predetermined distance while the effector member remains stationary, and, in a second phase, the armature completes its working stroke, the shoulder means engaging the counter-shoulder means, thereby carrying along the effector member.

Abstract: Multicomponent vaccines are provided which aid in the prevention and treatment of staphylococcal infections and which include certain selected combinations of bacterial binding proteins or fragments thereof, or antibodies to those proteins or fragments. By careful selection of the proteins, fragments, or antibodies, a vaccine is provided that imparts protection against a broad spectrum of Staphylococcus bacterial strains and against proteins that are expressed at different stages of the logarithmic growth curve. In one embodiment of the invention, a composition is provided that includes at least a collagen binding protein or peptide (or an appropriate site directed mutated sequence thereof) such as CNA, or a protein or fragment with sufficiently high homology thereto, in combination with a fibrinogen binding protein, preferably Clumping factor A (“ClfA”) or Clumping factor B (“ClfB”), or a useful fragment thereof or a protein or fragment with sufficiently high homology thereto.

Abstract: A transmitter for a radio transmission system has an encoder for encoding data according to an error correction code and supplying a digital output stream of bits which are then distributed over a selectable number of carriers belonging to a group of carriers that are uniformly distributed over a transmission channel, so as to constitute a frequency division multiplex. Then the stream is subjected to time interleaving responsive to a distribution given by the bit spreading module which achieves distribution and frequency interleaving operating on the carriers; the stream is then modulated in phase or possibly a phase and amplitude.

Abstract: A tool for pre-stressing of two races to be welded to one another includes a hub having a cylindrical lateral hub wall and a tubular chuck having a cylindrical lateral chuck wall coaxially received and movable in the lateral hub wall. One of the lateral walls has a cylindrical face of revolution for radially supporting and centering the two races. A first axial abutment is immovable with respect to the chuck and against which a first free axial face is engageable, while a second axial abutment is immovable with respect to the hub and against which a second free axial face is engageable. A coaxial mechanism for axially moving the chuck towards the hub and hence for tightening the second axial abutment axially towards the first axial abutment is provided such that the two races therebetween are tightened against one another until a pre-determined pre-stress value is obtained.

Abstract: Epoxidation catalyst based on titanium zeolite in the form of extruded granules. Use of this catalyst in the synthesis of epoxides, preferably 1,2-epoxy-3-chloropropane or 1,2-epoxypropane, by reacting an olefinic compound, preferably allyl chloride or propylene, with a peroxide compound, preferably hydrogen peroxide. Process for the preparation of an epoxide, preferably 1,2-epoxy-3-chloropropane or 1,2-epoxypropane, by reacting an olefinic compound, preferably allyl chloride or propylene, with a peroxide compound, preferably hydrogen peroxide, in the presence of the aforementioned catalyst.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for casting ferrous or heavy metal articles in vertically parted sand moulds of a mould string plant through an inlet below or aside the mould cavity, by filling the moulds with molten metal by counter-gravity delivery using a source of pressure. The pressure is varied during the filling procedure to steer the flow speed and impact on the mould of the molten metal upon complete filling of the mould cavity is reduced.

Abstract: A method of preparing coffee aromatizing compositions. A coffee aroma such as a coffee aroma frost is contacted with a volatile organic carrier liquid at a processing temperature at which the carrier is in the liquid state and at which any moisture present is in the form of ice, to effect fixation of the aroma into the carrier liquid. The carrier liquid has a freezing point below the processing temperature, a boiling point above the processing temperature, a vapor pressure of at least 0.01 mm Hg at 25° C. and atmospheric pressure, and a water solubility of not more than 10% by weight.

Abstract: A system (10) and method is disclosed for generating and supplying industry-specific statistical information relating to use of computer systems in an industry. The system (10) comprises a data gathering application (12, 14) for gathering non-sensitive computer system data from a plurality of members of the industry, a system database application (24) for storing the gathered data, and a data forwarding application (13, 15) for forwarding the gathered data to the system database application (24). The system database application (24) is arranged to generate and provide each member with statistical information indicative of a comparison of characteristics of the member's computer systems with average characteristics of a plurality of members' computer systems.

Abstract: A process for the removal of primarily iron impurities from acidic aqueous electrolytic solutions used in the electro-winning of copper is described. Strong base Type 1 ion exchange resin is used to remove acid from the solution resulting in a treated solution that contains only a small amount the original acid but all of the dissolved salts. This low acid treated solution is then processed using standard processes such as adjustment of the pH or oxidation potential to remove the iron impurities and the solution containing valuable process cobalt is returned to the electrolyte solution to continue the extraction of copper.

Abstract: A method and composition for the passive immunization of patients infected with or susceptible to infection from Staphylococcus bacteria such as S. aureus and S. epidermidis infection is provided that includes the selection or preparation of a donor plasma pool with high antibody titers to carefully selected Staphylococcus adhesins or MSCRAMMs, or fragments or components thereof, or sequences with substantial homology thereto. The donor plasma pool can be prepared by combining individual blood or blood component samples which have higher than normal titers of antibodies to one or more of the selected adhesins or other proteins that bind to extracellular matrix proteins, or by administering carefully selected proteins or peptides to a host to induce the expression of desired antibodies, and subsequently recovering the enhanced high titer serum or plasma pool from the treated host.

Abstract: A cache memory (35) has a logical organisation in which its memory space is divided into sub-sections or partitions (P). This permits different data objects to be allocated to different partitions during the operation of the cache memory (35). Commands led used by the cache memory (10) may contain an extra parameter which is used to identify the appropriate partition within the cache memory (35). The parameter is extracted from the command by a decoder (37) and is passed to a specific line of an equator set (38) which contains identifiers which determine the partition to be used. To minimise data collisions for a given partition size, a stride may be defined which expresses the separation of addresses and from which a mapping function can be selected which covers all addresses in the cache memory (35) in an efficient way.

Abstract: Process for the production of sodium chloride crystals from a sodium chloride brine contaminated by potassium chloride and sulphate ions, according to which a calcium compound (32) is added to the brine (48) to crystallize glauberite (35), which is isolated, the resulting aqueous solution (36) is subjected to evaporation to crystallize sodium chloride (40), which is collected, and the aqueous mother liquor (41) from the crystallization of the sodium chloride is subjected to cooling (42) to crystallize glaserite (45).

Abstract: A developing system for a bore matrix in a printer using toner in the form of a dry toner powder, and comprising a feeder brush (3) which receives toner from a toner container (1), a printer brush (5) receiving toner from the toner feeder brush (3) and transporting same through bores of a bore matrix (8) and down to a document (9) to be printed, and means (15) for charging the toner particles by mechanically rubbing the toner particles (2) against the printer brush (5), and in which a means (19) may be provided for ripping free the charged toner particles (2), so that said particles form a cloud (7) of charged toner particles (2) adjacent the bore matrix (8), which pass down to the document (9) to be printed through open bores of the bore matrix (8).

Abstract: A method for making a cigarette container wherein a hollow container body is constructed having an open end which includes a step portion defining a surrounding rim and interior abutments. A plug is prepared which is sized to be received between the rim of the body and to abut the abutments. The plug includes a main plate, a metal layer attached to the main plate, and a heat activated adhesive located adjacent the metal layer and positioned to be immediately adjacent the step portion. An induction heating device is then located adjacent the open end of the body, and activated to heat the metal layer and hence to heat the adjacent adhesive so that after cooling the plug is bonded to the body by the adhesive and the plug thus permanently closes the open end of the body.

Abstract: A passive motion exercise and/or treatment apparatus is provided which includes a main support assembly for supporting at least part of the body of a user of the apparatus. The assembly includes a first support member and a second support member disposed in a common plane. The second support member is pivotably connected to the main support member and is movable relative thereto so as to provide passive movement of a part of the body of a user supported by the second support member relative to a part of the body supported by the first support member. A separable leg support assembly is adapted to be connected, in use, to the main support assembly at either end so as to support the calves of the legs of the user in a plane parallel to, and elevated with respect to, the common plane while the apparatus provides the passive body movement referred to above. A motorized drive arrangement is used to provide the aforementioned relative movement of the second support member.

Abstract: A compact bio-sensor is provided, particularly suitable for measuring biological oxygen demand, which includes micro-organisms for altering a biological parameter and sensors upstream and downstream of the organisms.