Abstract: A feeding device is provided for forwarding a pliable thermoplastic rod into a heated pressure chamber for extrusion through an outlet nozzle to effect thermoplastic welding. The device includes a block with a machined channel through the block including an arcuate inlet portion for receiving the pliable rod and a tubular outlet portion dimensioned to closely surround the rod to prevent buckling of the rod for ejecting the pliable rod under longitudinal force into the chamber. A rotatable drive disk has an outer serrated cylindrical surface engaging one side of the rod in the arcuate inlet portion so that the rod is pinched by a counteracting surface portion in the channel in opposition to the contacting portion of the disk whereby angular movement of the disk around the disk axis acts to forward the rod along its length along the channel. The disk sits in a slot cut in the block with the channel at the bottom of the slot with the same width as the slot.

Abstract: There is provided a disc unit for mounting a plurality of discs to an outer end of a mouldboard of a grader. The disc unit includes a mounting bracket for securing to a rear face of an outer end portion of the mouldboard. A frame is pivotally mounted on the mounting bracket and supports an axle which mounts the discs thereon. A hydraulic cylinder pivots the frame supporting the discs in relation to the mounting bracket for raising and lowering the discs to engage the ground at various depths of cut. A cushion valve releases the hydraulic cylinder in the case of an obstruction engaging the discs. The discs include a concave inner surface which are arranged to face towards the grader and partially in the direction of travel for urging particulate material away from the shoulder and towards a center of the road.

Abstract: The use of non-porous membranes as sample supports for MALDI-TOFMS analysis of peptides and proteins as well as for the analysis of whole blood is herein described. Non-porous membranes have a uniform surface, allowing for greater sensitivity and accuracy. Specifically, the non-porosity favours crystal growth on the surface of the membrane only, thereby providing enhanced spectral quality over membranes with porous structures. Studies were performed using polyurethane (PU) membranes as an example of non-porous MALDI sample supports and showed that PU membranes yielded higher quality spectra compared with porous membrane sample supports such as polyether and poly(vinyl difluoride) and the spectra obtained from PU membranes are of comparable quality as those obtained with metallic targets. However, the sample preparation for use with PU membranes is much less arduous compared with the preparation necessary for metallic targets. On membrane proteolytic digestions of proteins were performed using trypsin.

Abstract: An integral guided tissue regeneration barrier for root from dental implants is herein described. The barrier is meant to facilitate osseointegration of implants placed with trans-mucosal healing elements immediately into tooth extraction sites. The barrier comprises an absorbable circumferential membrane arranged to exclude epithelial cells but not osteoblasts from the tooth extraction socket in which the implant is placed. As a result of this arrangement, the implant becomes osseointegrated into the jaw of the patient. If an increase in bone volume around the implant is required, the membrane may be supplemented by a sheet membrane of titanium mesh or foil or absorbable material such as bovine or porcine collagen or synthetic polymer.