Abstract: Simple methods of detecting single base pair mutations and other mutations in nucleic acid sequences are provided comprising generating a sample which may comprise heteroduplexes and homoduplexes and performing gel electrophoresis on the sample. The sample may be analyzed for one or more isolated high-melting domains prior to performance of gel electrophoresis. Kits are also provided.

Abstract: A cup-shaped valve tappet (1) for activating a gas exchange valve is provided. The tappet includes a hollow cylinder (2) and a base (3). In the interior of the cup-shaped valve tappet (1), a funnel (6) is situated which has a guide casing (9) for accommodation of a play compensation element (10). The guide casing (9) is overlapped by an internal shell (21) provided with an axial channel (23). In order to prevent an emptying of the annular oil storage space (18) surrounding the guide casing (9) or the inner shell (21), a diverting element (19) is provided which consists of a disk-like section (20) and an outer shell which extends from the disk-like section (20). This outer shell (22) forms a hollow space (25) with the hollow cylinder (2) which is connected to a bore hole (17) and from out of which an overflow opening (26) leads into the annular oil storage space (18).

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the provision of a storage apparatus using a recording area management method and an error recovery processing method suitable for processing moving picture data and the like, wherein empty areas are registered separately in an empty area list for high-speed processing and an empty area list for low-speed processing according the classification made based on the result of comparing the length of each empty area with a minimum area length, and in the event of an error occurrence, a remaining time available for error processing is estimated from the difference between the time required to execute accumulated record or read requests and a limit time, and an error processing method, from among a plurality of error processing methods requiring different lengths of time for processing, is selected and carried out according to the remaining time.

Abstract: In a plasma display device having a three-dimensional matrix wiring arrangement of anodes, cathodes and address electrodes, writing discharge is caused between anodes and address electrodes to temporarily store writing charge on a dielectric layer, and the writing charge is discharged as an auxiliary discharge by applying a sustaining voltage to the cathodes, thereby inducing main discharge between the anodes and the cathodes.

Abstract: A cool white light source includes a reflectorized lamp which outputs light having a correlated color temperature of about 5830.degree. K., a first ultraviolet (UV) filter and a second infrared (IR) filter. The lamp reflector also acts as an initial IR filter and initially filters out about 80 percent or more of the infrared radiation spectrum of the lamp generated light before the lamp generated light is passed through the first UV filter and the second IR filter. The second IR filter has an effective filtration of about 90 percent at least above about 760 nm, suggestedly above about 720 nm and most desirably above about 700 nm. The UV filter has an effective UV reflectance of over 99 percent at least below about 375 nm and suggestedly below about 400 nm and desirably below about 420 nm. Since filtration occurs at the margins of the visible light spectrum, a high correlated color temperature is maintained, such that a balanced white light having a color temperature over 5000.degree. K. is delivered.

Abstract: A kitchen sink with a frame and at least one basin are prefabricated as separate parts. For the connection between frame and basin(s), one of the two parts has undercut zones and the connection takes place through pressing the other part into an undercut zones mentioned, or into an interference fitting area.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of identifying a compound capable of disrupting the addition of choline onto a bacterial cell surface component comprising incubating a sample of bacteria in a solution containing choline in the presence or absence of a test compound, and assessing the effect of the test compound on the addition of choline onto the bacterial cell surface component, wherein a lower level of choline on the cell surface component in the presence of the test compound, compared with the level of choline on the cell surface component in the absence of the test compound, is an indication that the test compound inhibits the addition of choline onto the cell surface component.

Abstract: A transfer system for transferring objects into a barrier isolator is provided. The barrier isolator includes a barrier wall to maintain a decontaminated environment in an isolated space. The transfer system includes a port opening located in the barrier wall. A first port barrier film is sealingly located over the port opening. A container is provided which includes an interior cavity which contains a second, replacement port barrier film and which is adapted to further receive and hold decontaminated objects to be delivered through the port opening and into the isolated space. A container barrier film is sealingly connected to the container to seal the second, replacement port barrier film and the decontaminated objects within the cavity in a decontaminated state. The container barrier film has a first, decontaminated side which faces the cavity, and a second exposed side, positionable adjacent to the port barrier film.

Abstract: A brushless motor has a field part 20, three-phase coils 21, 22, and 23, a drive block 40 for supplying a power to the coils in accordance with output signals of a position detecting block 30, and a rotation detecting block 10 for producing a rotation signal and a direction signal by using output signals of the position detecting block 30. The rotation detecting block 10 has a shaped position signal producing circuit 11 for producing plural-phase shaped position signals, a rotation signal producing circuit 12 for producing the rotation signal synchronized with the shaped position signals, and a direction signal producing circuit 13 for producing the direction signal in correspondence with levels of the shaped position signals at a timing of a level change of the rotation signal.

Abstract: This invention includes repair of an existing underground sump without the need for costly and time consuming excavation. A plurality of liner-forming pieces are placed inside the underground sump to create a liner preferably substantially conforming to the interior dimensions of the sump. The pieces are joined together to form a unitary containment shell by first taping and then using fiberglass cloth and fiberglass resin. A layer of gel-coat is applied to the surface of the shell to create a fluidtight containment chamber within the sump. Some of the liner-forming pieces can have openings formed therein to accommodate the pipe entries corresponding to those in the sump.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a dielectric device including a capacitor, a pyroelectric infrared detector, and the like is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of etching a dielectric substance film formed on a substrate to form a predetermined pattern with an etchant comprised of hydrofluoric acid and an oxidizing agent, and removing residues resulting from the etching by treating the etched layer with a first treating solution containing a reducing agent and subsequently with a second treating solution containing an acid.

Abstract: An electrode of the present invention comprises a complex of at least one organic disulfide compound and at least one copper ion. The electrode maintains a high charging and discharging efficiency and has favorable charge and discharge cycle characteristic without losing a high energy density that is characteristic of the organic disulfide compound.

Abstract: There is described a device for the detection of objects lying in the earth which, irrespective of topography, soil structure and state of the terrain, permits high surface yields with great precision in identifying the position of the objects to be detected without endangering the operating personnel. On a mobile device (10) is arranged at least one jib (20) swivellable about a vertical axis, on whose free end are arranged adjacent to each other several measuring heads (40) for sweeping over strip-shaped surface areas (2a-d) of the terrain to be investigated. With the measuring heads (40) on the free end of the jib (20) at least one ground marking device (60) is arranged for distinguishing the find site determined by the measuring heads (40). The ground marking device (60) includes a paint spraying device (61) as well as a stake marking device (66) next to each measuring head (40).

Abstract: A non-burnout controller for a switching coil is disclosed. The controller has a pulse timer, a relay switch, and an actuation switch. After being reset and actuated, the pulse timer defines a pulse having a predetermined pulse period. The relay switch has a switch actuation input for receiving the pulse and first and second switch outputs for being electrically coupled to first and second taps of the switching coil. The relay switch places a switching voltage across the outputs during the pulse period such that the switching coil has a switching current running therethrough. The relay switch places a substantially zero voltage across the outputs before and after the pulse period such that the switching coil has substantially no switching current running therethrough. The actuation switch has first and second positions. Upon being changed to the first position, the actuation switch resets the timer, whereby the switching coil has substantially no current running therethrough.

Abstract: An ozone sterilizer includes a generator capable of generating a gas containing at least about 10% by weight ozone, a holding tank, a humidification chamber for receiving the ozonated gas and humidifying it to form a sterilant including at least about 8% by weight ozone at a humidity of at least about 60%, a vent for bleeding sterilant from the humidification chamber over a first catalyst, a sterilization chamber for receiving a controlled flow of sterilant which is in fluid communication with a pump for evacuating the sterilization chamber over a second catalyst, a vent for bleeding the sterilant from the sterilization chamber and a heater for providing warm air drawn into the sterilization chamber by the pump.

Abstract: Hybrid materials are formed having a homogeneous distribution of a conductive organic polymer or copolymer in an inorganic matrix. The conductive organic polymer may be electronically conductive, e.g., polyaniline, or may be ionically conductive, e.g., sulfonated polystyrene. The inorganic matrix is formed as a result of sol-gel chemistry, e.g., by the hydrolysis and condensation of tetraethyl orthosilicate and trialkoxysilyl groups in the organic polymers. A homogeneous distribution of organic polymer in the inorganic matrix is achieved by preparing separate solutions of organic polymer and sol-gel monomer, and then combining those solutions with a catalyst and stirring, to form a homogeneous clear solution. Upon evaporation of the solvent and other volatiles, a monolithic hybrid material may be formed. The combination of conductive organic polymer in an inorganic matrix provides desirable adhesion properties to an inorganic substrate while maintaining the conductivity of the organic polymer.

Abstract: A highly safe fluorescent lamp is disclosed, in a mixed layer having couplings of phosphors and a metal oxide such as yttrium oxide is formed on the inner surface of a glass bulb. The couplings of the mixed layer strongly couples the grains arranged in crosslinked state between the phosphor grains of the phosphor material. A first thin film of the metal oxide is formed between the glass bulb and the mixed layer. A second thin film of the same metal oxide is formed on the inner surface of the mixed layer nearer to the bulb center. The amount of mercury sealed in the glass bulb thus is reduced, thereby minimizing the mercury consumption which has so far been the problem against environmental protection.

Abstract: A method is provided for increasing the pH of acidic foods and beverages, to thereby reduce the tendency of such foodstuffs to cause heartburn and other esophageal and/or gastrointestinal distress to the consumer. An acidic food or beverage, such as coffee, is combined with an amount of calcium glycerophosphate (CGP) effective to raise the pH of the food or beverage, preferably by at least about 0.5 pH units, and more preferably to a pH of between about 5.4 and 7.0. Edible compositions including CGP, having a pHl of greater than about 5.4 are obtained. The CGP may also be added to acidic foods to remove the biting flavor that such foods have, and thus CGP serves as a flavor modulator, Packages comprising CGP inside a container, where the container may be easily opened to provide a single dose of CGP, are useful in the method and in forming the edible compositions.

Abstract: An ink jet printer has a print head mounted on a movable carriage. The print head prints by ejecting drops of ink. A cap is detachably mounted on the print head during non-printing periods. The cap moves together with the print head when the print head and the movable carriage move during the non-printing periods. The cap protects the print head by preventing accumulation of dirt and drying of ink. A cap holder detachably holds the cap. The cap holder carries the cap to the print head after printing ends, and carries the cap away from the print head before printing begins.

Abstract: An earthmoving apparatus collects windrows of loose material left behind during roadmaking via a ground tracking pick up head and without damaging the ground surface. The apparatus can be used for removing other types of loose material from the ground without damage to the ground.