Abstract: A pharmaceutical composition for preventing and/or treating the expression of brooding behavior in a bird is disclosed, wherein the composition is comprised of a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle in combination with one of the following: (a) an active ingredient comprising a hybrid construct comprising a carrier group and a protein, wherein said protein comprises at least one antigenic determinant for bird prolactin; (b) a microorganism which expresses the hybrid construct at its surface, or which excretes the hybrid construct; and (c) antibodies directed against at least one bird prolactin antigen site.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for recovering metals from used nickel/hydride storage batteries, in which storage battery scrap has been mechanically comminuted and divided into at least a coarse fraction and a fine fraction capable of being treated separately from one another. The process comprises the steps of digesting and dissolving the fine fraction with a mixture of sulfuric acid and hydrogen peroxide, performing a double sulfate precipitation of the rare earths by raising the pH, performing a precipitation of the iron and of the aluminum by further raising the pH, performing a solvent extraction of other metals to separate nickel and cobalt which remain in the aqueous phase from the other metals which are extracted into the organic phase. Optionally, the nickel and the cobalt can be separated from each other and, if desired, the mixed-metal rare earth component which has been recovered can be melted together with cobalt and nickel alloy for the fabrication of new batteries.

Abstract: At least two thermoplastic polymers in a divided state are stirred to produce a homogeneous thermoplastic material. The polymers are inserted into the enclosure and stirred by the blades of the rotor, whereafter the resulting homogeneous material is discharged through the outlet. A sharp increase in the power consumption of the engine indicates that the material has become homogeneous.

Abstract: A method of determining denitrification time for at least a portion of wastewater in a wastewater treatment process including isolating a wastewater sample from the wastewater in the wastewater treatment process; detecting changes in fluorescence emitted by NADH from microorganisms contained within the sample; detecting changes in pH of the sample; analyzing the changes in NADH and pH and establishing that the sample is denitrified at a point where NADH shifts from a steady state or a decreasing state to an increasing state and, substantially simultaneously, the pH shifts from a steady state or an increasing state to a decreasing state; and calculating elapsed time between when the sample was taken and when the sample was denitrified to determine the denitrification time for the portion of the wastewater treatment process.

Abstract: The invention relates to a laminated lithium-ion cell which comprises flexible layers, wherein the negative electrode is lithium metal, lithium alloy or a metallic bonded fiber web or a foam, which comprises a lithium-intercalating material such as carbon, graphite, tungsten dioxide, molybdenum dioxide, titanium dioxide, titanium disulfide or vanadium pentoxide as the active component, the separator is made of a porous polymer in which a non-aqueous electrolyte is immobilized, and the positive electrode as the active material comprises lithiated manganese dioxide, manganese spinel, lithium-metal oxides, lithium-metal mixed oxides or lithium-metal sulfides.

Abstract: The invention pertains to linear electrochemical functional elements which have strip-shaped ion-exchange membranes (IEMs) and/or hydrogen-diffusion electrodes accessible at the ends which are enclosed on all sides in an insulating manner by a jacket of a solid material. The invention describes the structure, production, and use of the functional elements in electrochemical measuring techniques. In one embodiment, a charge state indicator is created by the incorporation of a lead/lead sulfate half-cell into a lead/lead oxide cell. This coupling takes place via a linear functional element in the form of an installed ion-exchanger membrane. It makes it possible to measure three voltage values on the cell and to evaluate them in order to determine the current charge state by conventional methods.

Abstract: A brushing device (1) for lubricating and cleaning guide and drive elements has a lubricant dispenser (2), a brush element (4) for applying the lubricant to the machine element, a delivery line device (3) connected to the lubricant dispenser for feeding lubricant to the brush element (4), where the delivery line device (3) is provided with a delivery line path (10) composed of an absorbent pad of a felt-like or fleece-like material.

Abstract: A CS31A protein capsule subunit having an aminoacid sequence modified by at least one heterologous peptide, the CS31A protein capsule comprising said subunit, and micro-organisms having the CS31A protein capsule with its subunit aminoacid sequence modified by at least one heterologous peptide, are disclosed. Methods for preparing said subunits, CS31A protein capsules comprising same, and micro-organisms having CS31A protein capsules, as well as the use thereof for preparing vaccines, producing peptides and preparing immunoassays, are also disclosed.

Abstract: A protein called transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-.beta.) is important in causing the inflammation and progressive scar tissue in pulmonary fibrosis. The TGF-.beta..sub.1 isoform is important in the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis. It is usually secreted non-covalently bound to a latency associated peptide (LAP) which renders it biologically inactive. The inactive form is called latent TGF-.beta..sub.1 (L-TGF-.beta..sub.1). Activation of L-TGF-.beta..sub.1 involves L-TGF-.beta..sub.1 /TSP-1 complex which interacts with the TSP-1 receptor, CD36, to process L-TGF-.beta..sub.1 to the mature form in the presence of plasmin. Synthetic or natural CD36 peptides or fragments thereof can be used to prevent activation of TGF-.beta..sub.1, in mammalian alveolar macrophages, thereby controlling the inflammation process.

Abstract: A water heater includes a water container, a combustion chamber adjacent said water container having at least one inlet to admit air and extraneous fume species into the combustion chamber, at least one inlet comprising a metal plate having a thickness of about 0.4 to 0.6 millimeters and through which pass a plurality of ports, each port having a quenching distance not greater than about 0.6 mm, and being capable of confining ignition and combustion of the extraneous fume species within the combustion chamber; and a burner associated with the combustion chamber and arranged to combust fuel to heat water in the container.

Abstract: A process for catalytically oxidizing the H.sub.2 S present at low concentration in a gas to sulphur wherein the gas together with a gas containing free oxygen in a quantity to provide and O.sub.2 to H.sub.2 S mole ratio ranging from 0.05 to 10 are contacted with a catalyst for selectively oxidizing H.sub.2 S to sulphur, the catalyst comprising a support based on silicon carbide associated with a catalytic active phase containing at least one transition metal such as Fe, Ni, Cr, Co, Cu, Ag, Mn, Mo, Ti, W or V, in a form of a metal compound and/or in the elemental state. Prior to treating the gas, the oxidation catalyst is subjected to an activation treatment which loads the active phase of the catalyst to provide maximum sulphurization of the metal of the catalyst. In an alternate embodiment, the oxidation of the H.sub.2 S is performed below the dew point of the sulphur. In another embodiment, the oxidation is performed at a temperature above the dew point of sulphur and in particular between 200.degree. C.

Abstract: A plant peptide transport gene and its nucleotide sequence are disclosed. The gene may be used to confer herbicide resistance to plants, and to render plants resistant to insect pests. The invention also relates to plants that possess non-naturally occurring alleles of peptide transport gene.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for preparing polymer electrolytes for rechargeable lithium intercalation cells which contain a dissociable lithium salt dispersed in a polymeric matrix, the polymeric matrix being a self-supporting film of a copolymer of vinylidene difluoride and hexafluoropropylene, in which the plasticizer is exchanged for a solution of the dissociable lithium salt, so that the polymeric electrolyte 20 to 70 wt % of the solution of the dissociable lithium salt, and is characterized in that a plasticizer is used which is stable under the electrochemical conditions of a rechargeable lithium intercalation cell and is selected from the group consisting of hexylene carbonate, octylene carbonate or tributyl phosphate.

Abstract: The cooking vessel has a bottom with a region of metallic material with incorporated ceramic parts. The aforementioned region is, for example, produced from metal-impregnated ceramic or ceramic-reinforced metal. According to one variant, the aforementioned region displays infiltrated iron for the production of induction capability. The physical properties of the bottom can be adjusted to desired values by varying the metallic material and the ceramic parts.

Abstract: A self aligning connector to engage with a tapered surface of a body to be connected, having a head with a tapered surface capable of engaging the tapered surface of the body to be connected to the receiving body, a shaft portion having threads capable of threadingly engaging threads of the receiving body, a retainer sized and shaped to engage the shaft portion and to seat against a retaining surface of the body to be connected, and a substantially conical spring having an end portion engaging the head and/or shaft portion and another end engaging a surface of the body to be connected opposing the retaining surface and biasing the head and/or shaft portion away from the receiving body.

Abstract: An external plug-in module is inserted, or field retrofitted, between a validator and a phone chassis and incorporates circuitry to condition the coin signals generated by the validator. This signal conditioning eliminates the possibility of the chassis being improperly triggered and generating false coin tone signals during periods of interrupted power.

Abstract: An LED light string employs a plurality of LEDs wired in a series-parallel block. Further, each series-parallel block may be coupled in parallel, the parallel connection coupled across a supply voltage through an electrical interface. LEDs of the light string may comprise either a single color LED or an LED including multiple sub-dies, each sub-die of a different color. LED series-parallel blocks of the light string may be operated in continuous, periodic or pseudo-random state. The LED light string may provide polarized connectors to couple LED light strings end-to-end and in parallel with the supply voltage. The electrical interface may have one or more parallel outputs and a switch so as to operate multiple LED light strings in continuous, periodic or pseudo-random states. The LED light string may be adapted so as to employ LEDs of different drive voltages in each series section of the series-parallel block.

Abstract: The invention relates to a galvanic cell comprising an outer metallic jar which on its outside has an insulating and a decorative layer, which has been applied directly onto the metallic jar by means of a printing and/or coating process.

Abstract: In a voltaic cell, especially in the form of a button cell, with a metal housing sealed liquid-tight including a cell cup and a cell lid electrically insulated against it by a seal, the seal is formed from a sealing part produced by deep drawing from a plastic film. This sealing part is shrink-fitted onto the edge of the cell lid. To produce the voltaic cell, a sealing part is formed by deep drawing from a plastic film, which sealing part is subsequently placed on the edge of the cell lid, shrink-fitted onto the edge of the cell lid and the cell cup is flanged around it.

Abstract: The invention relates to a rechargeable button cell, which contains negative and positive electrodes in the form of tablets separated by a separator and an alkaline electrolyte in a casing which is formed from a lower part in the form of a cup and an upper part in the form of a lid which fits therein, the casing parts being sealed in a gas-tight manner by swaging or crimping with the interposition of a sealing ring. The button cells according to the invention have a sealing ring (4) which has on the edge pointing into the button cell at least 3 retaining tabs (9) which hold and center the electrode tablet (3) located in the casing upper part (1). The method according to the invention for manufacturing the button cell is distinguished by separate prior assembly of the casing lower part with the positive electrode and the casing upper part with the negative electrode.