Abstract: Pictorial characters are used to replace one or more words or even one or more full sentences of a message for communication to one or more people. In the context of an electronic communication device, a person (“sending party”) can use pictorial characters to “encode” words or sentences of a message to be sent to another person (“receiving party”). The receiving party, upon receiving the message, decodes the coded message and, if appropriate or desired, replies to the message. The communication devices used by the sending and receiving parties can be provided with various pictorial character-related features. For example, the communication devices may be provided with processing circuitry that conditions the use of a particular pictorial character for sending messages upon prior entry of a valid authorization (unlocking) code for that character.

Abstract: A nucleic acid construct comprising a promoter capable of directing expression in the suprabasal cells of the epidermis and means to cause expression of an integrin subunit in the suprabasal cells. Preferably the means to cause expression of an integrin subunit is an integrin subunit coding sequence. A transgenic animal which expresses an &agr; subunit and a &bgr; subunit of integrin in the suprabasal cells of the epidermis and methods for making the transgenic animals. At least some of the transgenic animals are useful models of human disease, especially psoriasis. A method of treating psoriasis comprising administering to the patient a compound which modulates integrin function.

Abstract: An arrangement for controlling the feed motion of the feed beam of a rock drill, the arrangement including sensing elements for detecting the position of the front and for rear end of the rock drill and for controlling the feed and the return motion. In the arrangement of the invention, inductive sensors are mounted in the middle of the feed beam, and indicators are secured to the cylinder sleeve of the feed cylinder so that the position of the cylinder sleeve indicates the position of the front and the rear end of the drill and thus controls the feed motion of the drill.

Abstract: Tolerance to an antigen is induced in a subject by administering a non-depleting CD4 monoclonal antibody and a non-depleting CD8 monoclonal antibody. Tolerance to the antigen can be induced under cover of these antibodies. A depleting CD4 monoclonal antibody and/or a depicting CD8 monoclonal antibody may be administered prior to the non-depleting antibodies.

Abstract: An arrow release and bow string nock system includes a bow string nock mounted on a bow string adapted to position a tail end of an arrow on the bow string; the bow string nock comprising a substantially spherical ball formed in two pieces and secured about the bow string by one or more fasteners with the bow string passing through a hole formed in the nock. An associated release device includes a pair of spring biased gripping arms pivotally secured within a housing and movable between grip and release positions by a trigger. The gripping arms each have a substantially semispherical socket for engaging the substantially spherical ball nock. The release device may also be designed for use with a pair of ball nocks bracketing the tail end of an arrow.

Abstract: A compound fish hook assembly includes a hook support ring; first, second and third adjacent hooks each having a shank portion, a connector loop at one end thereof and a hook portion at an opposite end thereof, the support ring extending through each of the connector loops. The first, second and third adjacent hooks are shaped such that when hanging loosely from the ring, the shank portion and hook portion of each hook lies in a radial plane angularly spaced from a corresponding radial plane of the adjacent hook relative to a vertical centerline of the compound fish hook assembly, and the shank portion of each hook lies on an opposite side of the vertical centerline from the hook portion.

Abstract: An overbased metal salt of a hydrocarbyl-substituted sulphurised or non-sulphurised phenol, a calixarene having a substituent hydroxyl group or groups available for reaction with metal base or a linear phenol/formaldehyde resin wherein the metal moiety comprises a first metallic component which is at least one alkaline earth metal and a second metallic component which is at least one of either (i) at least one alkali metal or (ii) at least one metal selected from Groups IIIa, IVa, Va, VIa, VIIa and VIII of either the first or the second transition series of the Periodic Table of the Elements, the weight ratio of the first metal component to the second metal component being in the range from 1000:1 to 2:1.

Abstract: Slide switches include an electrically insulated support housing having opposing pairs of side walls which establish an interior space. An upper wall is joined to an upper edge of the opposing pairs of side walls to close an upper end of the interior space and defines an opening in communication with the interior cavity. An electrically insulated slide body which is slidably disposed within the interior space of the support housing so as to be movable reciprocally between at least first and second positions therewithin. The slide body also defines a cavity and has a knob which projects through the opening defined in the upper wall of the support housing to allow movement of the slide body between the first and second positions. At least one pair of elongate conductors are fixed to the support housing such that the at least one pair of fixed elongate conductors extend parallel to one another but are positioned in spaced relationship transversely relative to the reciprocal movement of the slide body.

Abstract: A method of growing in vapor phase a semiconductor crystal layer supplies a reaction gas to a portion above the surface of a heated substrate so as to be parallel or obliquely to the substrate, and uses a transparent blow tube widened toward its blow port like a funnel to blow a pressing gas, which is inert with respect to the reaction gas, toward the substrate, thereby bringing the reaction gas into contact with the surface of the substrate.

Abstract: Novel fluid flow field plates for use in a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell include in a major surface thereof, multiple continuous open-faced fluid flow channels each of which traverses the central area of the plate surface in a serpentine manner. Each of the channels has a fluid inlet at one end and a fluid outlet at the other end which are directly connected to common fluid supply and exhaust openings, respectively, defined in the plate.

Abstract: Polyester molding compositions include an effective amount of a triazine-based antioxidant and a benzophenone ultraviolet light absorber sufficient to achieve a clor difference, as calculated in CIELab units under illuminant "D-65" according to ASTM Standard D-2244, of less than about 10,0, when exposed in a Xenon arc weather-ometer operated according to SAE J1885 for 315 Kj/sq.m. The triazine-based antioxidant is of the formula: ##STR1## wherein R is a phenolic group attached to the triazine ring via a C1 to C5 alkyl or an ester substituent. Preferably, the triazine-based antioxidant is 3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyhydrocinnamic acid triester with 1,3,5-tris-(2-hydroxyethyl)-s-triazine-2,4,6-(1H, 3H, 5H) trione. The benzophenone UV-absorber is of the general formula: ##STR2## where R' is hydrogen or an alkyl radical.

Abstract: An apparatus for treating fibre material containing liquid, comprising two rotating drums (2, 3), an endless driven belt (17) pervious to liquid and gas and extending between and passing around the surfaces (8, 9) of the drums, a feeding device (10) for the supply and a discharging device (13) for the removal of the fibre material, at least one container for collecting liquid, the liquid being displaced from the fibre material through the endless driven belt (17), a continuous wall (18) impervious to liquid and gas and extending along a main part of and at a distance from the belt (17) from the feeding device (10) to the discharging device (13) in such a manenr that a continuous space (19) is defined for the fibre material between said wall (18) and the belt (17), and at least a part of the space (19), seen in the direction of movement of the belt (17), forms one or more treating zones where liquid is displaced from the fibre web through the movable belt (17) to one or more containers.

Abstract: A door and a ceramic handle or knob assembly are disclosed. The ceramic handle has a socket extending from a rear end wall and into the body of the handle. A plastics insert is received in the socket, so that the handle may be secured to the door, either by means of a conventional spindle or by means of a threaded bolt, passing through a hole in the door.

Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit includes cascaded asynchronous sequential logic circuits. Scanning shift registers are provided between the asynchronous sequential circuits to permit test data to be applied to the inputs of the circuits and to latch and shift out output data provided by the circuits in response to the test data. Additional gating circuitry is provided between the scanning shift registers and the inputs of the asynchronous sequential circuits to prevent new data latched into the scanning shift register from causing the asynchronous sequential circuit connected to the scanning shift register output from changing state during testing. This same additional circuitry may be used to provide pulses of controlled width and/or timing to asynchronous sequential circuit inputs in response to externally generated gating control signals.

Abstract: A method of heat treating cold rolled steel strapping comprising rapidly heating the strapping to the dual phase temperature range at a rate of the order of 100.degree. C. per second, with little or more soaking, and rapidly cooling the strapping at a rate of the order of 1000.degree. C. per second to form a microstructure comprising a matrix of recovery annealed cold work ferrite containing martensite and carbides dispersed through the matrix. A heat treatment line for performing this method is described. A heat treated cold rolled steel strapping produced by the method is also described. The steel from which the strapping is made preferably has less than 0.2.degree. C. and includes Ti in the range 0.06 to 0.15% preferably about 0.08% and Nb in the range 0.02 to 0.05% preferably about 0.04%.

Abstract: A method of removing lignin from bleach plant effluents by using cellulose fibres. The method comprises an acidous phase during which sludge containing cellulose fibres is added to the acidous effluent, and an alkaline phase during which alkaline waste water is added to the effluent-sludge solution. A portion of the produced fraction containing fibres is recirculated to the acidous phase for reuse of the fibres.

Abstract: Disclosed is a solenoid having a central and a peripheral air gap between the armature and the pole piece. The energizating coil is located in the space between the central core and the peripheral portions of the pole piece and armature. In one embodiment, an output shaft is received in an aperture in the central core of the pole piece and connected to the armature. In preferred embodiments, a longitudinally and radially extending slot is provide to produced eddy current losses. Additionally, mass is removed from non-critical portions of the armature to reduce its weight and increase its acceleration during energization of the solenoid. By utilizing stepped changes in the pole piece and armatures, peripheral portions and central core portions as well as variations in the central and peripheral gaps, the force/distance curve of the solenoid can be tailored to the specific application.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for gasifying carbonaceous material in a circulating fluidized bed reactor having a lower reactor chamber and an upper reactor chamber interconnected by a throttled throat portion. Carbonaceous material is supplied to a first fluidized bed gasification zone maintained in the lower chamber and is gasified there by a gasifying agent and recycled hot particles separated from the product gas. The effluent from the first gasification zone is passed upwardly through the throttled throat portion to a second fluidized bed gasification zone of the spouting-bed type maintained in the upper chamber to complete gasification of unconverted carbon remaining in the particles entrained in the gaseous effluent from the first zone at a higher temperature than that of the first zone.

Abstract: A SAW device is formed by applying metallized areas (11) to a surface of a SAW substrate (10) and attaching conductive leads (18) to the metallized areas. The substrate is inverted and located on a hybrid circuit so that the leads (18) contact and are supported on conductive areas (30) of the circuit. This mounting arrangement minimizes the stresses which occur in the substrate in its operational life. A novel shape for the device is also disclosed.

Abstract: Graphite gaskets with an improved release characteristic are treated with a finely powdered release agent such a graphite powder which is then pressed into the gasket surface.