Abstract: A material shredding device is disclosed which comprises a power source, a first shaft and a second shaft disposed in generally parallel relation and being in communication with the power source for opposite reciprocating rotational movement about respective axes thereof, a plurality of blades attached to the first shaft and the second shaft which are interleaved so as to overlap over a central shredding area and undergo opposite reciprocating rotational movement with the shafts between first and second positions and a material feeding mechanism.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for treating protozoan infections comprising administering to a subject suffering from protozoan infection, a bacteriocidal/permeability-inducing (BPI) protein product.

Abstract: Powder coating compositions for metal substrates, a method of powder coating a metal substrate, and a metal article are disclosed. The powder coating composition is a thermoplastic material and comprises: (a) a first polyester having a weight average molecular weight of about 10,000 to about 80,000 and a Tg of greater than 45° C. to about 100° C., (b) a second polyester having a weight average molecular weight of about 10,000 to about 70,000 and a Tg of about −10° C. to about 45° C., and optionally, (c) a modifying resin, such as an epoxy resin having an epoxy equivalent weight of about 500 to about 15,000, wherein the Tg of the first and second polyesters differ by about 5 ° C. to about 60 ° C. The powder coating composition is applied to a metal substrate to provide a composition film having a thickness of about 1 to about 200 microns.

Abstract: A single longitudinal mode narrow linewidth and low threshold all fiber laser arrangement is disclosed, constructed from a ring cavity, a gain portion in the ring cavity, an input-output coupling interposed within the cavity and pumping means connected to the ring cavity and to the grating such that, upon actuation of the pumping means, the arrangement acts as a laser.

Abstract: An encoder is arranged to add a binary code bit to block of a signal by selecting, within the block, (i) a reference frequency within the predetermined signal bandwidth, (ii) a first code frequency having a first predetermined offset from the reference frequency, and (iii) a second code frequency having a second predetermined offset from the reference frequency. The spectral amplitude of the signal at the first code frequency is increased so as to render the spectral amplitude at the first code frequency a maximum in its neighborhood of frequencies and is decreased at the second code frequency so as to render the spectral amplitude at the second code frequency a minimum in its neighborhood of frequencies.

Abstract: A catheter apparatus includes a hollow needle having a first end and a sharpened tip at a second end. A catheter having a blunt end is telescopically received in the needle. A catheter hub is attached to the catheter and spaced from the blunt end. The catheter hub is disposed adjacent the needle hub in an elastomeric housing. A method of inserting a catheter in a patient's vein includes a step of providing a catheter apparatus in which the elastomeric housing biases the hubs, needle, and catheter in a rest position in which the catheter protrudes from the tip of the needle. The method also includes the steps of squeezing the housing to displace the catheter hub relative to the needle hub, causing the tip of the needle to protrude beyond the blunt end of the catheter, inserting the needle and catheter in the patients's vein, and releasing the housing to allow the catheter assembly to return to the rest position.

Abstract: A device for forming groups of cigarettes having a number of superimposed layers, whereby each layer is expelled by a movable push member from a respective outlet of a hopper having a number of outlets, and is fed into a respective movable pocket for receiving, a respective group of cigarettes; and each outlet has an intercepting member movable to and from a work position closing the outlet, and defined by a rigid plate connectable to the respective movable push member to move to and from the closed work position.

Abstract: Sequencing by Hybridization (SBH) methods and apparatus employing subdivided filters for discrete multiple probe analysis of multiple samples may be used for DNA identification and for DNA sequencing. Partitioned filters are prepared. Samples are affixed to sections of partitioned filters and each sector is probed with a single probe or a multiplexed probe for hybridization scoring. Hybridization data is analyzed for probe complementarity, partial sequencing by SBH or complete sequencing by SBH.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus for separating consecutive cartridge-receiving cells of a driven magazine for an aircraft-mounted machine gun or cannon. The apparatus includes an elongated, substantially cylindrical shaft constructed of a fiber-reinforced plastic, wherein the shaft has end portions designed for attachment to a movable transport chain, and a middle portion defined by a driver constructed of an elastomer. The driver preferably dampens the gravitational forces introduced to the shaft.

Abstract: A wire dispensing utility cart adapted to carry wire spools for dispensing wire during installation. The present invention provides a relatively large utility cart for carrying multiple and large spools of wire in a mobile fashion for dispensing wire during the installation of electrical wiring into buildings, structures, aircraft, and the like. The cart is mobile and relatively compact to facilitate movement of the cart through standard sized doorways and elevator bays, and is sufficiently large to accommodate a large number of wire spools. In addition, the cart provides at least two elongated storage bays to facilitate transportation of relatively large objects such as ladders, conduits, and other materials and supplies needed for the installation process.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for producing edible plant tissue biomasses suitable for use as nutritional supplements. The seedlings are exposed to at least one metal and normal seedling growth is interrupted prior to the eleventh day following germination to thereby produce a metal-enriched plant seedling tissue biomass. The metal-containing edible plant tissue biomasses are also provided.

Abstract: The connection between the core 12 of the flexible joint and the external part concerned is provided by two strips mounted head to foot in a through rectangular opening in the core, on the ends of which the strips abut by their widened head 18. The body 17 of the strips, engaged completely in the rectangular opening, is slightly wider than the terminal part 19 of the strips, narrower to facilitate their assembly. The fixing holes, one in the head 18, the other (22) in the terminal part 19, lie one over the other but are of slightly different diameters.

Abstract: A slide rail for a removable vehicle seat comprises a fixed section and a shuttle sliding on this section. The shuttle carries a connector connected to the seat, and this connector is connected to an electrical circuit belonging to the vehicle floor by means of a flexible electrical cabling which is arranged under a flange of the fixed section and which is held taut by a resilient return drum.

Abstract: A filter is provided that is convertible from a filter configuration to an open, stent-like configuration. The filter includes a plurality of intraluminal filter elements (filter legs) that may be formed into a single cone or dual cone filter structure. A retainer secures the filter legs in the filter configuration upon initial deployment within a vessel. The retainer is then either self-releasing or removable to permit the filter legs to expand from the filter configuration into what may generally be described as an open or stent-like configuration.

Abstract: A hydraulic directional control valve with a regulating balance comprising a plunger which can be displaced in a housing (13) under the action of a differential pressure (&Dgr;p) between the intake pressure (P) and the highest load pressure (LS), and which is designed to open, in proportion to this differential (&Dgr;p), a lateral orifice of the housing linked to a working orifice (A, B) of the directional control valve; the wall of the housing and/or the plunger is provided with a calibrated passage linking the intake of fluid at pressure (P) and the lateral orifice when the plunger is pushed back into an end position by the pressure (LS) exceeding the intake pressure (P); consequently, in spite of the excess value of the pressure (LS) intended to inhibit operation of the directional control valve, hydraulic fluid is delivered to the lateral orifice at a low rate and allows the hydraulic receiver controlled by the hydraulic directional control valve to be displaced at a low rate.

Abstract: A weld seam opening regulator for use in constricting cylindrical structures, including a frame, first and second wheels for riding on a first edge of a band of metal, a third wheel for riding on a first edge of a cylindrical portion of the structure, and a fourth wheel for riding on an inner surface of the cylindrical portion and maintaining a minimum weld spacing between the band and cylinder. Also, an adjustable bottom roller rides on a second edge of the metal band urges the metal band toward the cylindrical portion of the structure.

Abstract: A vacuum variable capacitor includes a vacuum bellows for allowing a pressure differential between two volumes inside the capacitor, wherein one of the volumes may be a vacuum volume. The vacuum variable capacitor further includes a conductive bellows disposed within the vacuum volume. In such an arrangement, the materials selected for the vacuum bellows and the conductive bellows may be selected to optimize the function of each bellows.