Abstract: Assembly of a lamp and of its support designed to be inserted into a printed circuit board or the like, characterised in that the lamp (2) is disposed on the support (1) perpendicularly to the axis of snapping the support home into the board, so that the lamp is parallel to the board in its position of use. The support (1) includes wires (5) that extend from the lamp and which are wound around the free ends of a resilient support beam (6) associated with the support (1). The support (1) includes snap catches (12, 13) for engaging the bottom of the board (14). The support (1) further includes a reflective surface (17) for achieving a gain in lighting supplied by the lamp (2).

Abstract: An absorbent liquid for improved absorption capacity for CO.sub.2 in a gas due to the presence of an activator for CO.sub.2 absorbent from the gas, the absorption liquid comprising a mixture of one or more tertiary alkanolamines and an activator of CO.sub.2 absorption by the tertiary alkanolamine, which activator has the general formula Y--(CpH.sub.2p)--NHZ wherein Y is a monovalent radical selected from the group consisting of piperazyl, piperidinyl, furyl, tetrahy-drothienyl and --OR.sub.2 radicals, Z is an R.sub.2 radical or hydrogen, R.sub.2 is a monovalent hydrocarbon residue, and p is an integer from 1 to 6. Also a process for using such absorbent liquid for improved CO.sub.2 absorption from a gas.

Abstract: A dispenser for blood and other biological specimens is disclosed which provides a means of obtaining a small predetermined quantity of specimen from a closed container without the need to remove the stopper from the container. The cannula of the device is caused to pierce the container's rubber stopper forming an assembly. When the said assembly is forced against a target surface, such as microscope slide, the force compresses the stopper and thereby reduces the volume inside the container sufficiently to eject a drop of fluid which is dispensed onto a target surface. Stabilizing supports are provided so that fluid emerges from a dispensing tip located a predetermined distance above the target surface which determines the quantity of fluid dispensed. The supports also transmit reactive force from the target surface to compress the rubber stopper of the closed specimen tube.

Abstract: A business form which is configured to cooperate with conventional facsimile machines to minimize the amount of time required to transmit a document includes vertical lines which are broken to extend only partially along the document, rather than extending continuously along the document as was previously conventional. Such discontinuous lines leave open spaces which can take advantage of the ability of a conventional facsimile machine to operate at a faster rate for blank (open) areas than the rate which is normally encountered for "populated" (marked) areas of the document, reducing the overall transmission rate for a given document.

Abstract: A lead storage battery is filled with electrolyte in two steps. In a first step, the filling electrolyte is a sulfuric acid which does not contain a gelling agent, and the amount of electrolyte introduced into the battery casing is selected so that the electrolyte fills only the pores in the active compound of the electrodes and the pores of the separators (to the extent that they are capable of retaining the absorbed liquid by capillary action). In a second step, the filling electrolyte is a thixotropic mixture of sulfuric acid and silicic acid, which fills the remaining electrolyte space. The state of the electrode plates that are used (i.e., formed or unformed) determines the density of the sulfuric acid used in both portions of the filling process. In the case of formed plates, the density conforms to the normal final acid density for a charged storage battery.

Abstract: Discrete locations of an electrode web or electrode segment based on a porous metallic carrier framework, which are intended to receive the take-off conductor, are briefly heated to about 450.degree. C. and then cleared of active mass with compressed air. The heating, for which a stream of hot air is particularly suitable, has the effect of destroying the organic binder present in the active material. Following such treatment, a clean metal surface is made available for the welded attachment of the take-off conductor, of a size which is limited to the precise dimensions necessary for the connection.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an isolated bacterial reverse transcriptase. The reverse transcriptase synthesizes a peculiar RNA-DNA complex called msDNA which is a single-stranded DNA structure branched out from an RNA molecule. The gene coding for the reverse transcriptase has been isolated and sequenced. It codes for a polypeptide of 485 amino acid residues. This is the first time that a reverse transcriptase has been found, identified and isolated from a prokaryotic microorganism of which the amino acid sequence is shown in FIGS. 2a-2d.

Abstract: An indicator light for installation on a printed circuit board or card is provided with a miniature incandescent bulb having leads formed as conducting wires, and a bulb receptacle having metal contacts for electrical connection with the conducting wires of the incandescent bulb. The conducting wires of the bulb are connected to the metal contacts of the bulb receptacle by a crimped connection, and by a soldered connection which is separate from the crimped connection, and the conducting wires are provided with a curvature by wrapping around base portions of the metal contacts of the bulb receptacle.

Abstract: Process for removing hydrogen sulfide at low concentration in a gas containing water vapor. The gas is cooled to a temperature below the dew point of water, which condenses and separates the water. The dry gas is scrubbed free of hydrogen sulfide by an H.sub.2 S-absorbent solvent forming a purified gas. The purified gas is contacted and rehydrated with heated water so that the water content as water vapor corresponds to a mass flow rate of water substantially equal to the mass flow rate of the water present in the H.sub.2 S-containing gas before cooling. An apparatus for carrying out the process is disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for the automated processing of bulk mail, wherein envelopes are transferred to the apparatus in bulk fashion (from incoming mail trays or the like) for the extraction of documents contained by the envelopes, communicates with a remittance processing device, preferably both automatically and without the need for human intervention. Subsequent processing of the extracted documents within the remittance processing device then proceeds in usual fashion, completing the acquisition of information which is necessary to ready such documents for deposit into the banking system.

Abstract: Liquids for cleaning, disinfecting and lubricating dentistry handpieces are distributed to the handpieces by a device which includes reservoirs for storing liquids for the cleaning, disinfection and lubrication procedures which are to take place, and a series of solenoid valves for sequentially opening at different stations according to a prescribed cycle. To this end, each liquid to be utilized is conveyed through each handpiece in actual liquid form, and not in an atomized form, and then atomized in the handpiece by compressed air entering through a conduit which is separate from the conduit for passing the liquids.

Abstract: A series of documents to be processed are optically inspected, and compared with a reference standard to identify the relative orientation of each document. To this end, an image acquired from the document (preferably from each side of the document) is focused on an array of picture elements (pixels) for electronically converting the acquired image to digital form. This produces a digitally encoded image, which can be enhanced if desired, defined by an array of pixels corresponding to the acquired image. For each acquired image, two reference areas, which are preferably symmetrically located on the document, are inspected for the presence of a preselected reference mark. Location of the reference mark in one of the two reference areas operates to determine the orientation of the document.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided for a stair-lift platform including a stair-lift carriage which runs up and down a flight of stairs and a platform which form a bridge to the carriage at the top of the stairs, the platform being lowered so as to constitute the bridge and raised out of the way when the carriage descends, the mechanism comprising a coupling unit fixed with respect to the stairs, a linkage from the coupling unit to the platform and a pick-up on the carriage, the pick-up engaging the coupling unit so as to cause a following movement of the coupling unit with respect to the carriage, which following movement causes the platform to be raised and lowered via the linkage.

Abstract: A method for facilitating the transfer of nucleic acids into cells comprising preparing a mixed lipid dispersion of a cationic lipid with a co-lipid in a suitable carrier solvent. The lipid has a structure which includes a lipophilic group derived from cholesterol, a linker bond, a spacer arm including from about 1 to about 20 carbon atoms in a branched or unbranched linear alkyl chain, and a cationic amino group selected from the group consisting of primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary amino groups. The method further comprises adding the nucleic acids to the dispersion to form a complex. The cells are then treated with the complex. There is also disclosed a novel cationic amphiphile useful for this purpose.

Abstract: A device for stepping down and/or stepping up the speed of rotation of a motor element, such as a dental micromotor, includes two toothed pinions with common axes of rotation and which are mounted in a support piece. The support piece can turn through an angle (.alpha.) with respect to the body o the motor element about an axis (A) parallel with an axis (o) of the input pinion of the device and offset with respect to the axis (o) by a distance (OA). The axis (A) is further offset with respect to the axis (O') of rotation of the output pinion by a distance (AO') equal to the distance (OA). As a result, in a first position, the axis (O') is merged with the axis (O), and a first one of the pinions (or a crown wheel) is meshed with elements upstream of the kinematic chain. In a second position, following rotation of the support piece through a defined angle (.alpha.

Abstract: Liquid absorbing acid gas compounds presenting an improved CO.sub.2 absorption capacity, said absorbing liquid containing one or a plurality of tertiary alkanolamines and a CO.sub.2 absorption activator. The activator is comprised of at least one amino compound selected among polyalkylene-polyamines, alkylenediamines or cycloalkylenediamines, the aminoalkylated compounds of heterocycles such as piperazine, piperidine, furan, thiophene, tetrahydrofuran and tetrahydrothiophene, the alkoxyalkylamines and the alkylmono-alkanolamines having an alkyl residue in at least C.sub.2. Application of said absorbent liquid to the deacidification of gases containing CO.sub.2 and optionally other acid gas compounds, particularly H.sub.2 S and/or COS.

Abstract: There are provided improved aqueous chemical cleaning compositions for removing organic and inorganic combustion residues from steel products, said compositions meeting the hydrogen embrittlement potential test criteria set forth in ANSI/ASTM F 519-77. These compositions are of particular utility in cleaning gas turbines in the motoring and running modes. The compositions comprise ethoxylated amines, ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid and demineralized water having a conductivity of or below 0.9 microhms. The composition has important application for the aviation and outer-space industries.

Abstract: Improved ram extruded composite products, methods of manufacture. The composite is a thermoset resin which is tailor-made for specific industrial applications. A typical composite is constituted of a phenolic resin which contains carbon fibers of various lengths where each length of fibers are oriented in a pre-selected, pre-determined orientation. The products are preferably made by ram-extrusion. A large variety of different types of fibers and resins are useful.

Abstract: Gas-filter in the form of an axisymmetric one-part cartridge (1), characterised in that it is essentially constituted by:a) a rigid ring (2) comprising an axisymmetric lateral wall (21) bounded by a flat-forming extremity (23) and by another, fold-down extremity (24), openings (22) being disposed on the wall (21) between the extremities (23) and (24),b) a gas-impermeable backing piece (3) surrounding on the outside the lateral wall (21) of the ring (2) by bearing on the plane extremity (23) of the ring (2) and crimped into the fold-down extremity (24) of the ring (2),c) filter elements (4) disposed between the ring (2) and the backing piece (3).

Abstract: A tubular structure, such as a pipe or pressure vessel, is provided with a wall formed from plastic, composites and elastomeric materials. The composite materials are spirally wound and are separated by elastomeric strips. The wall has an inner wall element formed by a continuous flexible plastic cylinder with a spiral projection on its outer surface. An outer layer is formed from alternating spirally wound strips of composite and elastomer. The composite strip has a radially inward projection axially spaced from the projection on the plastic cylinder but overlapping in the radial direction. The cylinder and layer are separated by an intermediate layer formed from composites and elastomeric strips. A composite strip is located between each pair of adjacent projections and separated from the projections by an elastomeric strip. An outer wall element is formed from alternating spirally wound composite and elastomeric strips having pitch greater than the inner wall element.