Abstract: Method and apparatus for covering a free-standing body with a uniform glow discharge plasma, particularly at atmospheric pressure. The method may be used to provide a body coated with such a plasma, and also to treat a workpiece.

Abstract: A multicell storage battery, especially of the nickel/hydride type, is provided with pressure safeties for protection against high internal pressures. The pressure safeties respond at a preassigned critical pressure, causing mechanical changes in shape or through destruction which can be optically or electrically monitored. For example, a hinged lid is caused to swing up responsive to a rupture disk, interrupting a light beam. Alternatively, a rupture disk is coated with a conducting enamel and is connected by lead wires to form an electrical circuit which is interrupted responsive to damage of the enamel layer (e.g., responsive to bursting of the membrane).

Abstract: A shoreline erosion control structure comprises a longitudinally extending upright wall portion (10) for installation across the path of oncoming sea waves (44) and a floor portion (12) extending laterally from the seaward side of said wall and slanting downwardly so as to cause oncoming waves to travel up the length of said floor facing and said wall. Preferably, the structure is made up of a plurality of contiguous units. The invention also includes a method of preventing soil erosion using the structure. The structure is provided with grounding means (22) which extends downwardly from the base of said wall portion (10) below the floor portion and which can be driven into the ground to keep the structure in the upright position.

Abstract: An aqueous phosphoric bonding solution and coating composition slurry which are environmentally friendly in that they are generally free of molybdate or chromium. Yet the solution is stable with respect to inorganic metal particles, especially aluminum which are admixed to the bonding solution for the preparation of the coating slurry. The metal coated parts and the method of coating the parts with the coating composition are also described. The parts have very satisfactory properties.

Abstract: The oxidation and corrosion resistance of a nickel-base alloy are enhanced by a process which includes first enriching the surface of an alloy substrate with platinum, as by electrolytic deposition, and then simultaneously diffusing aluminum and silicon from a molten state into the platinum-enriched substrate. The invention further provides coatings and coated substrates with enhanced oxidation and corrosion resistance.

Abstract: A head for a dental contra-angle having an operating shaft is coupled to the operating shaft in the vicinity of the bend of the contra-angle. The head is produced principally from a synthetic material and comprises an element for fastening the head onto the contra-angle, a pinion engaging a drive shaft associated with the head, and a support for receiving a tool and for locking the tool in the head. These various elements are designed so that the head can be sterilized or disposed of after use.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for synthesizing new and useful single-stranded DNAs which have a stem-loop configuration (ss-slDNA). The method is an in vivo or in vitro synthesis. Replicating vehicles are provided which produce these ss-slDNAs. The slDNAs can be used for introducing random mutations in a selected gene, and they lend themselves for replication by a variant of the PCR method.

Abstract: A gastight, sealed metal oxide/metal hydride storage battery, in particular, a nickel/metal hydride button cell, includes an auxiliary electrode with an active material composed of the same hydrogen storage alloy as that of the negative electrode with which the auxiliary electrode is electrically associated. As a result, the auxiliary electrode can maintain both oxygen consumption as well as hydrogen consumption (in the event of overcharging or polarity reversal of the cell). High gas consumption rates in the event of overcharging and polarity reversal are achieved with a strongly hydrophobic adjustment of the auxiliary electrode and a relatively weakly hydrophobic or hydrophilic adjustment of the negative electrode (by means of hydrophobic or hydrophilic binder additions, respectively), and by adding a highly conductive metal powder (Cu or Ni) to the mass of the negative electrode. Also achieved is a good discharge capacity, even at high currents of up to 2 CA.

Abstract: A multi-stage hydraulic ram assembly for the accumulator drive system of an elevator assembly includes a plurality of piston-cylinder arrangements connected hydraulically in parallel and mechanically in series. The piston-cylinder arrangements are disposed in substantial side-by-side relationship, constituting adjacent or successive stages of the ram assembly. A bracket is fixed to one of the cylinders and is slidably connected to the adjacent cylinder, for interconnecting adjacent cylinders of the piston-cylinder arrangements, and a drive system is provided for operating the ram assembly. Steps are taken to control the direction and speed of movement of adjacent stages of the assembly, and to ensure that all of the stages of the assembly move at substantially the same speed.

Abstract: A bacteria which stimulates root production, or an extract in which the bacteria had been growing, is contacted to a portion of a plant other than a root. The root stimulating bacteria (RSB) or the extract induces the formation of roots in the plant. The RSB is well suited for inducing rooting in difficult to root species such as conifers of the Pinus genus. The RSB, the extract, the medium in which the RSB grows, the method for use of the RSB or the extract to induce rooting, and the plants treated with the RSB or the extract comprise the current invention.

Abstract: A lead storage battery with a monobloc container receives plate groups in cell compartments which are adjustable in width using a series of side wall ribs. Each rib includes a cell connector formed on the container wall, which is in turn provided with support portions which extend into the container compartment to define a roughly T-shaped cross-section. Each rib is further joined to the bottom of the container along its cross-section. Since the support portions are aligned with, or substantially aligned with the container wall, a large-surface support is provided for receiving a plate group, preventing the potential for wearing into the outermost electrodes of the plate group during vibrational stress, and the failure of the mass which can then result.

Abstract: A data base is made accessible with a data base management system that not only regulates access to the data base, but which also promotes expansion (growth) of the data base on an ongoing basis as part of such regulation. For the purpose of developing leads for promoting sales efforts, a data base is provided which assembles the needs of users of the system, for access by other users to identify potential sales leads. The data base management system provides access to the needs compiled by the data base, identifying qualified leads, but only upon the condition that users of the system first identify their needs. In this way, a constant source of leads is made available, based upon the present and actual needs of other users, and the leads that are obtained are more likely to give rise to a useful result.

Abstract: A method of synthesis of the four optically active stereoisomers of calanolide A and B which produces the compounds in high yields and in a high degree of purity.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for the removal of sulphur compounds from a residual gas so as to obtain a purified gas stream substantially free of sulphur compounds, which process comprises subjecting the residual gas to a combined hydrogenation and hydrolysis, cooling the gas to a temperature whereby water vapor in the gas is not condensed, mixing the gaseous effluent with a gas containing free oxygen, contacting the cooled gaseous effluent and the gas containing free oxygen with a catalyst for selective oxidation of H.sub.2 S to sulphur, and depositing substantially all of the sulphur formed on the catalyst.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process of automatic analysis of elements in weak concentration on a support of objects of low occurrence, having a high-contrast surface state, consisting of illuminating the observation zone with a first light source (5) emitting in a first wavelength range, and a second source (4) emitting in the excitation spectrum of the objects (23, 32) of low occurrence, proceeding to focus image acquisition means and after focusing triggering the accumulation of photons emitted by the objects (23, 32) of low occurrence illuminated with a source (4) emitting in the excitation spectrum of said objects (23, 32), characterized in that one proceeds to modify the focusing of the image aquisition means until maximization of the contrast of a zone (30) in said first wavelength range, said zone (30) being dissociatable from the observation zone illuminated from the second light source.

Abstract: A method for post-treating a laminated precursor nonwoven web which includes layers of thermoplastic man-made fibers and at least one layer of cellulose-based staple natural fibers, including consolidating the web laterally and thereby reducing the maximum pore size measure of the web. The precursor web and the resultant consolidated nonwoven web are also disclosed, as is utilization of the product web in medical uses.

Abstract: A pair of electrodes are biased to produce an electrostatic discharge while placing a thin non electron absorbing gas layer near one or both of the electrodes which are used to develop the electric field. As a result, atmospheric oxygen, water vapor and other contaminants are removed from the regions surrounding the electrodes, allowing ionization to occur more easily. This is accomplished with an electrode structure including a hollow tube for receiving a gas, a plurality of apertures extending through the hollow tube for delivering the gas to the surface of the hollow tube, and the application of a biasing voltage for producing an electrostatic discharge in the presence of the gas. The tube can take the form of a longitudinally extending structure, or a hollow shell, depending upon the configuration of the electrostatic charging apparatus with which the electrode structure is used.

Abstract: A camera stabilizing support apparatus includes motorized "x-y translation" of one or more components of the camera equipment, such that no mechanical forces are imparted to the overall system which would adversely affect the angular position of the gimbaled mass, synchronous control of the motion of lower masses of the camera stabilizing support apparatus so that both dynamic and static balance is preserved throughout the range of motion, and an adjustable gimbal mechanism which serves to isolate the system's equipment support from the support arm extending from the operator's body harness which provides both coarse and fine location adjustment, and provides positive self-centering for these gimbal locking elements so that no clamp distortion occurs.