Abstract: A dispenser for toilet paper rolls each having a hollow tube core section on which paper is rolled, comprises an upstanding elongated container defined by a peripheral wall and a base portion at a bottom end thereof. A removable cover portion is at an open top end of the elongated container. The peripheral wall has an aperture defined therein. The elongated container comprises a circular shaft extending axially therein adapted for receiving paper rolls stacked one on another such that the paper rolls can rotate thereabout. An abutment plate is disposed in the elongated container on a biasing spring and is free to translate longitudinally on the circular shaft in the elongated container. The abutment plate is adapted for receiving a bottommost paper roll of the stacked paper rolls thereon.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of regulating the transcription of transgene in genetically-modified organisms. More specifically, the invention relates to the use of expression vectors harboring the coding sequence of a gene of interest under the transcriptional control of promoting sequences for which activity is regulated by the presence of nitrogen.

Abstract: A system (22) for removably connecting a circuit card, such as an extension card (54), to an electronic device, comprises a sliding component (28) adapted to support the circuit card (54) and having a guiding edge (32) configured to be slidably inserted in a channel (26) disposed adjacent a connector (20) of the electronic device so as to position the card mating edge (56) in register with the connector (20). A lever (40) is provided for lowering the mating edge 56 of the extension card (54) until suitable connection is made between the card connector and the connector (20). Advantages of the present invention include the fact that the system allows for ergonomic insertion and removal of extension cards without the need for manual dexterity on behalf of the user.

Abstract: A self-locking system comprising a state selector for detecting the intent of an occupant to rise from a chair and then automatically causing a lock to block the mobility functions of the chair. The state detector is responsive to movement of an upper portion of the body of the occupant while the occupant is still supported in a normal seated position on the seat of the chair, thereby advantageously allowing the locking of the mobility functions of the chair to occur before the occupant starts to lift his weight from the seat of the chair.

Abstract: A stand-alone refrigeration enclosure is comprised of a sealed housing having a solid floor, a roof and sidewalls. Air conditioning equipment is provided in the housing to maintain an internal predetermined temperature range in the housing during seasonal periods. Refrigeration, electrical and auxiliary equipment is disposed in the housing and accessible for maintenance from outside the housing through access doors. Surveillance and monitoring equipment is also provided in the housing for remote visual access and control of the equipment. The housing is also provided with a shielding enclosure to shield a working person from inclement weather conditions when working on the equipment from outside the enclosure through access doors.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for determining the effect of a test sample on UGGT activity. The method comprises the steps of: a) exposing an acceptor substrate of UGGT such as acid phosphatase to a labeled donor such as UDP-3H-glucose in the presence of the test sample and UGGT; and b) detecting the amount of donor which was transferred to the acceptor substrate wherein a decrease of donor intake when compared to a control means that the test sample is a UGGT stimulator and a decrease means that the test sample is a UGGT inhibitor. The present invention also relates to an isolated mammalian cDNA which encodes for rat UGGT and to methods of producing mammalian UGGT using recombinant vectors.

Abstract: A thermal energy retrieval system in which waste heat generated by an internal combustion engine is used to evaporate an organic working fluid in an evaporator. The evaporated working fluid is passed through a turbine to generate power which could be used to supplement the work done by the internal combustion engine. A unitary control valve is disposed between a feed pump and the evaporator to automatically regulate the flow of working fluid to the evaporator in accordance with the sensed temperature of the working fluid at its exit from the evaporator. This ensures the optimization of the thermodynamic efficiency of the system, which in turn leads to the provision of a more compact system useful with a road engine as an add-on.

Abstract: A water table used for cutting metal is comprised of an array of slat bars, a floor part below the array of slat bars, a movable platform further below the floor part. The movable platform, by the use of height changing means, will move in order to change the volume available inside the water table which results in the actual lowering or raising of the level of water inside of the water table.

Abstract: An apparatus (310) for manufacturing stranded cables comprises a supply spool assembly (320, 322) having filaments wound thereon, and a flyer (316) mounted for rotation about a central axis for imparting a rotational movement to the filaments, while guiding them axially through the apparatus (310). The filaments are wound together as they pass a gathering point centrally disposed to the central axis and downstream of the flyer (316). A filament advancing assembly (16) is provided downstream of the gathering point to impart an advancing speed to the filaments. A control system allows for the control of the number of revolutions of the flyer (316) per unit length of filaments advancing through the gathering point to ensure that a constant helical pitch is obtained. The tension in the filaments is controlled by creating an adjustable opposition to the pulling action of the filament advancing assembly (16) on the filaments thereby ensuring the production of a high quality stranded cable.

Abstract: An auxiliary closure operating device for manually operating an intermediate shaft normally driven by a motor in order to displace a closure between open and closed positions thereof. The device comprises a manual actuator and a driving member adapted to be freely mounted on the intermediate shaft so as to form a compact auxiliary device. The driving member is axially displaceable along the intermediate shaft between a first position in which the driving member and the intermediate shaft are independently rotatable relative to one another and a second position in which the driving member is engaged with the intermediate shaft and the manual actuator to transmit a torque from the manual actuator to the intermediate shaft.

Abstract: A transmission mechanism for transmitting motion with a uniform speed transmission factor between first and second moveable elements comprises a set of cams adapted to rotate with the first moveable element about a revolving axis, and corresponding arrays of spaced-apart rollers connected to the second moveable element for movement therewith. The cams cooperate in relays with the corresponding arrays of spaced-apart rollers to continuously communicate motion between the first and second moveable elements. The cams are in rolling contact with the corresponding arrays of rollers, whereby torque and force transmission can be performed smoothly. Furthermore, the transmission mechanism allows for the reversal of both the direction of the input speed and the roles of the first and second moveable elements.

Abstract: Dental implant drill holes and the shape of a dental implant superstructure are chosen by creating a computer model giving jawbone structural details, gum surface shape information and proposed teeth or dental prosthesis shape information. The computer model shows the bone structure, gum surface and teeth images properly referenced to one another so that implant drill hole position can be selected talking into consideration proper positioning within the bone as well as proper positioning with respect to the dental prosthesis. Similarly, manufacture of the dental implant superstructure used for fixed dental prosthesis or overdentures can be designed based on knowledge of the actual implant position referenced to an image of the gum surface and proposed dental prosthesis.

Abstract: A filter comprises a main tank and at least two separate beds of particulate filter media contained in respective conical recipients integrated within the main tank so as to minimize the overall height and weight of the filter. A transport pipe is provided for each conical recipient in order to transport dirty filter media therefrom to a washing device in which the dirty filter media is washed as it flows downwardly in counter-current with a wash liquid. A filter media return pipe is provided for each conical recipient in order to return the cleaned filter media therein. The provision of multiple transport pipes and return pipes ensures efficient distribution of the filter media within the filter.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with a disposable electrophoresis cassette particularly suitable for pre-cast polyacrylamide gels for protein and nucleic acid electrophoresis. The invention also comprises a support plate for the said cassette that acts as a heat sink and provides a more uniform migration front in operation since the temperature of the gel is substantially the same during electrophoresis operation. Also disclosed is a novel comb element for filling the cassette, and a novel method therefor.

Abstract: A junction for the head tube of a bicycle frame with top tube and down tube members is fabricated in such a way that the top tube and down tube members are jointed. The method of mitering the top tube and down tube members to form the requested joint is cutting off a portion of walls of both the top tube and down tube members at the head ends to form a miter joint. The method of mitering provides for optimum contact area and ease of manufacturing, especially for tubes with non-traditional cross-sectional shapes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for enhancement of naturally occurring cytoplasmic male sterility and for restoration of male fertility and uses thereof in hybrid crop production. There is also disclosed a method for restoration of male fertility to cytoplasmic male sterile plants; which comprises the steps of: a) introducing into the nucleus of a plant cell a gene construct essentially consisting of a sequence encoding a mitochondrial transit peptide fused upstream of and in frame with an edited form of a normal mitochondrial gene that is co-transcribed with an unusual CMS-associated mitochondrial gene; b) selecting for plant cells that have acquired the gene construct in step a); and c) inducing regeneration of selected plant cells to produce a mature plant.

Abstract: There is disclosed a hip prosthesis to replace a damaged hip-joint. The hip prosthesis is intended to be disposed at one end thereof into a cup-shaped cavity of an acetabulum and at the other end thereof into a femur canal of a person suffering from a damaged hip-joint. The hip prosthesis comprises an acetabulum part having a cotyloid member to be tightly engaged into the acetabulum, an elongated neck part, and a femur part. The elongated neck part has an articulation head at one end thereon, the head being shaped to be articulately received in the acetabulum part, and a slidable connection at the other end thereof for engagement with the femur part. The femur part has a femur canal insertable portion formed with an arrangement to secure same in the femur canal by being embedded in regenerated bone marrow, and an engaging channel to receive the slidable connection of the elongated neck part and to securely connect the elongated neck part to the femur part.

Abstract: An apparatus for deboning a piece of meat having an elongate bone portion, such as a loin piece provided with a spine portion, comprises an elongate support mounted on a frame for receiving the loin its spine portion being substantially aligned with a longitudinal axis defined by the support, and a plurality of press devices mounted on the frame for maintaining the piece of meat in a predetermined cutting position on the support. A first embodiment makes use of a cutting tool including an elongate shearing knife having a base portion pivotally mounted on the frame and an inwardly arcuate section defining a longitudinally extending cutting edge.

Abstract: A compact cigarette making machine for compacting and inserting a quantity of tobacco into a preformed cigarette tube is described. A tobacco receiving member is slidably retained within a base and movable longitudinally thereon to load tobacco into a cigarette tube secured to a nipple at its forward end. A cover is pivotally secured to the rearward end of the tobacco receiving member and slidable therewith with respect to the base. The cover is pivotally movable from an open position to a closed position overlying the tobacco receiving member. The cover is substantially of the same width as the base and has a pair of opposed inner tongues engagable under a respective elongated flange which projects inside the open channel-shaped base from opposed side walls thereof when the tobacco receiving member is retracted rearwardly over the base. Accordingly, the cigarette making machine is very compact in dimension and can be easily carried by a user person.