Abstract: A method for improving the efficiency of electrolytic fuel cells and the like, and more particularly aluminum-air fuel cells, is described. The efficiency of the fuel cell is controlled by the rate of dissolution of Aluminum in an alkaline electrolyte and this rate can be increased dramatically by activating the surface of the anode with an activator such as Tin which is precipitated thereon. Self corrosion of the Aluminum anode, when the battery is not in use is a problem which is usually solved by using ultra pure Aluminum which is very expensive. The problem may be reduced by passivating the surface of the anode by electro-deposition of a passivating layer such as Pb. The passivating layer can be electrolytically removed to reactivate the battery before the activating layer is precipitated.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for predicting nodularity of a hypo or hyper eutectic cast iron melt during casting is described. The method is particularly useful for NiMg-treated melts but can also be used for rare earth treated melts. A small sample of the melt is poured into a sample cup to which up to 0.025% wt bismuth is added and a cooling curve is produced during cooling. In a NiMg treated melt, a .DELTA.T (TER-TEU) of at least 9.degree. C. indicates good nodularity. In an RE treated melt, a .DELTA.T of less than 6.degree. C. at a TER/TEU of 1140.degree. C. also indicates good nodularity will be observed upon the solidification of the melt.

Abstract: An apparatus for electrolytically generating small volumes of a selected gas such as hydrogen for introduction into a flowing gas stream is described. The gas stream flows through an electrolytic cell wherein the selected gas is generated at an electrode and a portion of the gas stream is diverted through a needle valve and a non-conducting capillary with a small orifice to deliver gas to the electrodes so as to dislodge the selected gas bubbles forming thereon and carry them into the flowing gas stream. To maintain the level of electrolyte in the cell, the cell is connected by a narrow tube to a reservoir of electrolyte. The reservoir has a volume and surface area many times greater than that of the cell and the gas volume above the reservoir is maintained at the pressure and composition of the gas stream entering the electrolytic cell.

Abstract: A cryptographic method for communication and electronic signatures is described. The system includes at least one encoding device coupled to at least one decoding device by a communications channel. The method is a form of public-key or two-key cryptosystem, where the private decoding key is not feasibly determinable from the associated public encoding key. A block of ns bits of a message-to-be-transferred M (or key-to-be-distributed) is enciphered to ciphertext by first mapping M to a set {x.sub.1, x.sub.2, . . . , x.sub.n }, where x.sub.i [0, 2.sup.s). Then the ciphertext {y.sub.1, y.sub.2, . . . , y.sub.m } is determined by ##EQU1## mod q.sub.j, for j=1 to m', and ##EQU2## for j=m'+1 to m, where ##EQU3## The encoding key (associated with the intended receiver) consists of integers a.sub.ij, g.sub.j, and positive fractions f.sub.i, for i=1 to n and for j=1 to m, and positive integers q.sub.j, for j=1 to m'.

Abstract: An acoustic transducer which is operable in air up to at least 2MHz is described. A conducting substrate, usually a silicon wafer is etched to provide a selected pattern of micro pits up to about 30 .mu.m or more deep. A dielectric film, such as a polyimide film is placed over the etched surface so as to trap air in each individual pit. A conducting upper layer is then superimposed over the dielectric film. When a potential is applied between the substrate and the upper layer the upper layer is driven into motion and enhanced by the vibrations of the air pockets. Alternatively a smooth substrate may be employed in conjunction with an etched dielectric film to achieve the same result. These transducers are useful for non-destructive testing of large structures or for medical diagnostic and therapeutic purposes, without the need for a liquid or gel coupling agent.

Abstract: A gene, sod2, which is capable of conferring sodium and lithium tolerance in Schizosaccharomyces pombe has been identified and characterized. A plasmid, psod2, consisting of about 5.8 kb of S. pombe wild type genomic DNA inserted in a plasmid vector pFL20 has been isolated and used to transfer sodium and lithium tolerance to wild type S. pombe. A mutant strain of S. pombe, sod2-1, having sodium and lithium tolerance has been selected and shown to have an amplified locus. The amplified locus corresponds to the genomic insert of psod2. The gene or homologues thereof may be inserted into higher life forms, such as plants.

Abstract: A vibrating stimulus-response device and method to monitor sleep behaviour is described. The self-contained portable device can be used in a home environment as a preliminary screen before a more extensive polysomnographic examination.

Abstract: A simple teaching kit for use by music teachers and students at any level to illustrate the theory of music. The kit comprises representations of the treble and bass clefs and two octave sections of a piano keyboard in combination with a plurality of transparent overlays upon which the student selectively affixes a plurality of coloured stickers representing any selected scale, tonal pattern or chord pattern in any selected key.

Abstract: A process for nitrocarburizing ferrous materials, and the product thereof is described. Material to be treated is packed in a container with a triazine polymer, preferably melone, melem or melam and heated to 500.degree.-900.degree. C. for up to 120 minutes. After treatment the material can be oil quenched to produce a product having a diffusion layer and or a relatively thick hard nitrocarburized (outer) layer which is 40-200 3/4m thick and has a hardness in the range HV 400-1500.

Abstract: A method of detecting and treating malignant and non-malignant tissue abnormalities and lesions of the skin; conjunctiva; respiratory, digestive and vaginal mucosa; endometrium and urothelium; and for ablating the endometrial tissue and treating body fluids containing suspended abnormal cells, and for treating cancers of the nervous system in which 5-aminolevulinic acid or precursor thereof is administered to the patient in an amount sufficient to induce synthesis fluorescence and/or photosensitizing concentrations of of protoporphyrin IX in the abnormal cells, followed by exposure of the abnormal cells to light of photoactivating wavelengths.

Abstract: This invention relates to new preparations which are valuable for photodetection and photochemotherapy of tumors and malignant tissues. The active compounds of these therapeutic preparations are mono-, di- or polyamides of an amino alcohol and a cyclic tetrapyrrole containing at least one carboxyl group. The general structure of these active compounds is(ZNHCO).sub.n Xwherein Z is the amino alcohol molecule less the amino group, X is the tetrapyrrole molecule less a carboxyl group, and "n" is an integer from 1 to 8.

Abstract: A method of detecting and treating malignant and nonmalignant tissue abnormalities and lesions of the skin, conjunctives, respiratory, digestive and vaginal mucosa; endometrium and urothelium in which 5-aminolevulinic acid is administered to the patient in an amount sufficient to induce synthesis of protoporphyrin IX in the lesions, followed by exposure of the treated lesion to a photoactivating light in the range 350-640 nm.

Abstract: A method for coating implantable medical devices, such as orthopaedic prostheses, with a dense, substantially non-porous oxide coating so as to minimize ion release therefrom, and the product of that process is described. The prosthesis is subjected to anodic electrolytic deposition in an alcoholic electrolyte containing alkali metal nitrate or nitric acid. In a preferred embodiment the anodically coated prosthesis is also coated with a bioactive layer of calcium phosphate.

Abstract: A process for electro depositing bioactive coatings, such as calcium phosphate or aluminum oxide, onto conductive substrates, such as prosthetic implant devices, is described. An electrolyte bath containing an aqueous solution of the desired oxide or phosphate is prepared with an inert anode such as a platinum anode. A porous or non porous substrate, such as a stainless steel or titanium implant is used as the cathode and a D.C. potential is applied so as to raise the interfacial pH at the cathode sufficient to precipitate the desired oxide or phosphate thereon as a dense adherent film.

Abstract: A method for ion implantation of relatively high concentrations of alloying elements into a metal target without sputtering the target, in which the target is precoated with a layer of preselected thickness of a light, low sputtering yield element such as carbon, which is ablated during the ion implantation process.

Abstract: An adjustable fascia board holder which comprises a channel section mountable on a roof rafter and having a pivotally mounted quadrant thereon which can be locked at any selected angle thereto. A second open channel is mounted on the quadrant at right angles thereto to receive a fascia board therein and hold it against the end of the rafter to facilitate nailing of the board to the rafter.

Abstract: A device for accurately setting the cutting height of a grass mower, especially a golf green mower in the field is described. A semi-rigid bar is placed between the rear fixed roller and the front adjustable roller of the mower and locked into place with a height adjusting screw which is set to a selected height-of-cut and releasably attached to the bed knife intermediate the front and rear rollers. A rigid bar is secured at the rear-end of the semi rigid bar and extends forwardly past the front roller. A spring loaded dial indicator is mounted at the forward end of the rigid bar and contacts the semi rigid bar so as to provide a reading of deflection of the semi rigid bar as the front roller is adjusted.

Abstract: A novel series of azo polymers, copolymers and polymer blends for reversible optical storage devices are described. Various azobenzenes can be bound in the side chain or within the main chain of long chain polymers such as polyester, polystyrene and poly methacrylates with very short or no spacers to a form amorphous polymers which as a film or deposited on a transparent substrate can be used to record optical information using a linearly polarized laser beam which induces optical anisotropy in the film. The information can be erased thermally by heating above the glass transition temperature, or optically by overwriting with light polarized in a predefined zero direction or with circularly polarized light.

Abstract: An aqueous steeping process for producing a relatively pure bran and flour products from cereal grains such as oats, wheat and rye without conventional dry milling techniques. The aqueous steeped grains are macerated with an ethyl alcohol solution and the bran and flour products recovered therefrom. The aqueous alcoholic waste solutions are further processed by ion-exchange techniques to recover small quantities of high value by-products.