Abstract: Methods are provided for determining the digestibility of protein-containing compositions, including food and feed ingredients. The methods comprise incubation of the compositions with proteases, followed by determination of the hydrolyzed peptide bonds. The methods are suitable for rapid, routine determination of digestibility for food and feed processing plants.

Abstract: A ring binder mechanism for retaining loose leaf pages. The mechanism includes an elongate plate, hinge plates supported by the plate for pivoting motion relative to the plate, and ring members mounted on the hinge plates which are moveable between a closed position and an open position. A control structure controllably pivots the hinge plates to thereby move the ring members between the closed and open positions. The control structure includes a single actuator at one end of the mechanism, a travel bar movable relative to the elongate plate, and two connecting links operatively connecting the travel bar to the hinge plates. The control structure is configured to selectively place the mechanism in a locked position wherein the ring members are securely closed.

Abstract: A process for controlling the amount of insoluble gas trapped by a silicon melt is disclosed. Polycrystalline silicon is charged to a crucible in a crystal pulling apparatus and the apparatus sealed and evacuated. After evacuation, the crystal pulling apparatus is backfilled at least once with a gas having a high solubility in silicon, such as nitrogen. The highly soluble gas fills in cavities between the polycrystalline silicon pieces and between the pieces and the crucible such that when the silicon is melted and bubbles form in the molten silicon the bubbles will solubilize into the melt instead of becoming entrapped in the growing crystal.

Abstract: N-Substituted glucamine compounds of formula I are effective in treatment of hepatitis infections, including hepatitis B and hepatitis C. In treating hepatitis infections the compounds of formular I may be used alone, or in combinatioin with another antiviral agent selected from among nucleosides, nucleotides, immunomodulators, immunostimulants or various combination of such other agents.

Abstract: A wiper bar for application to a rail of a railroad track for applying lubricant to the head of the rail having a series of lubricant outlets and a rubber or the like guide or brush for confronting the gage face of the rail head and guiding lubricant discharged from the outlets up on the gage face, and the wiper bar/rail installation.

Abstract: This invention describes a method of removing N-terminal alanine residues from polypeptides, preferably recombinant proteins, using an aminopeptidase derived from the marine bacterium Aeromonas proteolytica. Accordingly, Aeromonas aminopeptidase (AAP; E.C. 3.4.11.10) can be used to remove N-terminal alanyl residues from derivatives of human somatotropin (hST, human growth hormone, or hGH), porcine somatotropin (pST), and bovine somtotropin (bST), for example, to yield proteins having their native amino acid sequences. The enzyme reactions can be carried out in free solution, or the AAP can be immobilized on a solid support, for reactions carried out in vitro. An efficient method for converting Ala-hGH to hGH, for example, comprises expression of Ala-hGH in E. coli, recovery of inclusion bodies, solubilization and refolding in detergent, detergent removal by ultrafiltration, selective precipitation, enzyme cleavage, followed by two column chromatography steps.

Abstract: A thermal annealing process for producing a low defect density single crystal silicon wafer. The process includes thermally annealing a wafer having a first axially symmetric region which extends radially inwardly from the circumferential edge, contains silicon self-interstitials as the predominant intrinsic point defect and is substantially free of agglomerated interstitial defects and a second axially symmetric region which has vacancies as the predominant intrinsic point defect. The wafer is subjected to a thermal anneal at a temperature in excess of about 1000° C. in an atmosphere of hydrogen, argon or a mixture thereof to dissolve agglomerated vacancy defects present in the second axially symmetric region within a layer extending from the front side toward the central plane.

Abstract: A novel gas injection valve for injecting discrete charges of gas into a mobile phase or carrier stream is provided. Injection valves of the invention comprise a plurality of microvalves capable of receiving gas at different pressures and emitting discrete charges of gas at approximately the same pressure. The invention further provides for parallel injection valve arrays capable of injecting multiple samples substantially simultaneously and a method of injecting discrete gas samples at a controlled pressure to a high-resolution gas chromatograph.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing silicon wafers that reduces the size of silicon wafer surface and/or sub-surface defects without the forming excessive haze. The process entails cleaning the front surface of the silicon wafer at a temperature of at least about 1100° C. by exposing the front surface to a cleaning ambient comprising H2, HF gas, or HCl gas to remove silicon oxide from the front surface and exposing the cleaned front surface of the silicon wafer at a temperature of at least about 1100° C. to a vacuum or an annealing ambient consisting essentially of a mono-atomic noble gas selected from the group consisting of He, Ne, Ar, Kr, and Xe to facilitate the migration of silicon atoms to the exposed agglomerated defects without substantially etching silicon from the front surface of the heated silicon wafer.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting a registration mark associated with an object which provides improved resolution between matching and non-matching inputs. The registration mark represents a binary code sequence. Upon detecting a sequence of bits with a sensor, the detected sequence is provided to a code matching filter, which compares the detected sequence with the binary code sequence and produces a detection signal. The code matching filter increases a value of the detection signal for each matching pair of compared bits, and decreases the value of the detection signal for each non-matching pair of compared bits. In this manner, a penalty is assessed for mismatches. This results in a filter output having a high amplitude in response to a matching input, and a low amplitude for non-matching inputs. The system may sample the detected sequence of bits in such a manner as to avoid potential edge timing problems.

Abstract: A bone prosthesis for implantation at a joint includes a stem having a tip generally at one end thereof. The stem is sized and shaped for reception in a bone at the joint such that the tip of the stem is exposed to locations outside of the bone. The stem has a passageway extending from a first location on the bone prosthesis to a second location on the bone prosthesis.

Abstract: An apparatus having a discharging energy source, two electrodes adapted to make electrical contact with a patient, a connecting mechanism forming an electrical circuit between the energy source and the electrodes and a controller operating the connecting mechanism. The apparatus delivers electrical energy from the energy source to the electrodes having a waveform optimized in the frequency domain to have a dominant frequency in a preset range.

Abstract: A grease gun having a compressed-air-operated reciprocating motor for reciprocating a pump plunger through forward and return strokes. The motor comprises a motor cylinder and a motor piston operable in the cylinder and itself acting as a valve for effecting its return through each return stroke.

Abstract: A method of controlling twisting in ribbon material fed from a coil of ribbon material into a processing machine. The coil has a central axis perpendicular to a plane of the coil. The method includes pulling ribbon material from the coil in a direction having a twist-promoting axial component relative to the plane of the coil and continuously rotating the coil during the pulling step at a rotational speed greater than zero so that a number of twists in the unwound ribbon is maintained below a predetermined number.

Abstract: Method of manufacture a wide bore, high field superconducting magnet. The superconducting magnet has a plurality of superconducting coils impregnated with epoxy and nested within each other. An innermost one of the nested coils has a bore therethrough that defines a bore width of the magnet. The bore width is greater than approximately 100 millimeters. The nested coils are electrically connected in series and cooled to an operating temperature less than approximately 4 degrees K. The magnet also has external reinforcements on the coils that are applied prior to impregnating the coils with epoxy. An active protection circuit protects the coils in response to a quench in the magnet. The protection circuit includes heater elements positioned in thermal contact with the coils prior to impregnating the coils with epoxy. The magnet further has lead supports for supporting the lead wires with epoxy that extend from the coils.

Abstract: A temperature controlled food serving bar. The food serving bar includes a cabinet having a bottom, opposite sides and opposite ends defining an interior-space. A top wall and an opening in the top wall are above the interior space. A plurality of elongate, generally parallel spaced apart dividers of thermally conductive material extend lengthwise of the cabinet in or below the opening. The dividers have side walls dividing the interior space into elongate generally parallel cavities. A temperature control system for controlling the temperature of the dividers has heat transfer lines extending along the side walls of the dividers. Upwardly facing surfaces on the dividers support food-holding pans such that the pans extend down into the cavities adjacent the side walls. Thermal barriers below the upwardly facing surfaces inhibit the transfer of heat between the side walls and the upwardly facing surfaces.

Abstract: A compact wooden smoking apparatus wherein the body of the apparatus has a constant peripheral contour in cross sections taken in any plane generally parallel to the body top and body bottom. A wooden blank for use in the manufacture of a plurality of compact wooden smoking apparatuses, the wooden blank having a constant peripheral contour in cross sections taken in any plane generally perpendicular to its longitudinal axis. A method for manufacturing a compact wooden smoking apparatus involving milling an elongate piece of wood into an elongate wooden blank imparting a constant peripheral contour in cross sections taken in any plane generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the piece of wood, and cutting lateral sections from the wooden blank to produce a plurality of smoking apparatus body sections.

Abstract: A switch for an electric motor which inhibits vibratory noise during operation of the motor. The switch includes a housing with a wall, an electrical terminal, and a flexible switch arm. A control lever is engageable with the switch arm to actuate movement of the switch arm between positions engaging or disengaging the electrical terminal. A cantilevered spring urges movement of the lever toward a generally stationary position against the wall of the housing to inhibit vibration of the lever during operation of the motor. The spring is attached to the switch arm.

Abstract: Co-based cutting tool insert alloys having a wrought microstructure and 3-15% Mo, 25-35% Cr, 0.5-2.5% C. The presence of W is avoided, and held below 1%. The alloys have enhanced resistance to abrasive and corrosive attack, and are especially suited for manufacturing router bits, router cutters, shaper cutters, molder cutters, etc. for cutting wood in secondary cutting operations such as furniture making or other cutting inserts such as inserts for cutting optical fibers.

Abstract: A nutrient formulation including moisture, a coloring agent, a palatability modifier, and/or an adjuvant which is designed for use in poultry and other animals, and a method of feeding it which improves subsequent livability, cumulative feed efficiency, weight gain, and resistance to disease challenge or other stresses is disclosed.