Abstract: The present invention generally relates to salts of S-(+)-abscisic acid having enhanced performance, aqueous liquid compositions containing these enhanced performance salts of S-(+)-abscisic acid and methods of their preparation for agricultural use.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to anesthetic compositions comprising low doses of a selective a-2 adrenergic receptor agonists in combination with anesthetic agents. The invention also relates to methods of using these compositions; in particular, the use of these compositions in humans to enhance the efficacy of a local peripheral anesthetic injection. The compositions and the methods are particularly useful in regional block anesthetic injections, and more particularly, in dental anesthetic injections.

Abstract: A semiconductor radiation detector device comprises a conductive backside layer (102) of first conductivity type and a bulk layer (103). Opposite to the conductive backside layer (102) there are a modified internal gate layer (104) of second conductivity type, a barrier layer (105) of the first conductivity type and pixel dopings (110, 112, 506, 510, 512) of the second conductivity type. The pixel dopings are adapted to be coupled to a pixel voltage, which is defined as a potential difference to a potential of the conductive backside layer (102), and which creates potential minima inside the detector material for trapping the signal charges.

Abstract: A method of determining the state of a cable including at least one electrical conductor, uses a generated test signal and applies it to at least one conductor by a non-contact coupling transmitter. The resulting signal is propagated along the at least one conductor and a non-contact electrical coupling receiver picks up a reflected signal, and compares the reflected signal to expected state signal values for the cable to determine its current state.

Abstract: A server acts as the hub of a collaborative commerce system. Suppliers of goods or services self publish information to the hub. Buyers are able to query the hub for product and service availability, price etc. Buyers are able to integrate real time multi product and multi service orders from multiple suppliers, carriers and field serve providers and thus secure available goods as well as the delivery and installation of those goods from the records available on the hub. Once an order is complete to the buyer's satisfaction, the order is transmitted to the hub. The hub then transmits the appropriate information to the relevant suppliers, carriers and installers as required. The system also provides for a system of virtual partitioning of a supplier's inventory.

Abstract: A gas venting needle for use in gas injection moulding the open end having a flow valve with no moving parts; the flow valve being provided by a plurality of individual flow channels sized such that in use gas may freely flow through these channels but liquid moulding material may not freely flow through.

Abstract: A drift detector produces an indication of an occurred hit of a quantum in the detector element. For neutralising accumulated charge in the detector element, indications of occurred hits are used to trigger pulses of deliberately increased neutralisation current into the drift detector for the duration of a limited time interval. Alternatively such triggering may be based on the operation of a timer.

Abstract: A headwear piece has a crown defining a receptacle for the head of a wearer and a rim projecting angularly away from the crown. The rim has a core layer that is made from at least one of an animal hide and a synthetic animal hide, and a second layer. The core layer has an upwardly facing surface and a downwardly facing surface and at least part of one of the upwardly facing surfaces and downwardly facing surfaces is covered by the second layer.

Abstract: A multi-fluid heat exchanger having separate fluid flow paths for two fluid streams to be heated or cooled by a third fluid stream includes first and second elongated, parallel tubular headers (10, 12), having opposed ends (14), generally uniformly spaced elongated tube slots (16) in each of the headers (10, 12) with the tube slots (16) in one header (10) facing-and aligned with the tube slots (16) and the other header (12), a plurality of flattened tubes (20) extending between the headers (10, 12) and having ends (22) received in aligned ones of the tube slots (16), one tube slot (24) in each header being unoccupied by any of the flattened tubes (20), the one tube slots (24) being aligned with each other and located at a predetermined location between the ends (14) of the headers (10, 12) and between two groups (A, B) of the flattened tubes (20) so there are two groups of the flattened tubes (20) on each side of the one tube slot (24), a pair of baffles (30) in each header (10, 12) with one on each side of t

Abstract: An adjustable plant cage comprises an elongate rod having opposite first and second ends. The first end is for insertion into a ground surface with the rod extending upwardly. A plurality of wheels are provided. Each wheel comprises a hub slidably received on the elongate rod, a ring, and spokes connecting the ring to the hub. A plurality of annular flexible support elements are each positioned at a select longitudinal position in the elongate rod to support an associated one of the wheels.

Abstract: In the manufacture of an articulated, predominantly concrete mat, which comprises concrete blocks and a flexible geogrid embedded in such blocks and in which the flexible geogrid defines flexible members connecting such blocks to one another, an intermediate article being a concrete slab is cast, in which a flexible geogrid is embedded. The slab has relatively thinner portions, along which the slab is breakable to form such blocks, and relatively thicker portions, which become such blocks when the slab is broken along the relatively thinner portions. The relatively thicker portions are arranged in parallel rows and are staggered in adjacent rows, before the slab is broken therealong, and the relatively thicker portions in alternate rows are aligned in parallel columns, before the slab is broken therealong.

Abstract: A protective garment for a military or paramilitary firefighter or emergency worker has an outer shell, which has two expansive surfaces comprised of a surface of high visibility and a surface of low visibility. The outer shell is reversible so that, when the protective garment is worn, one such surface becomes an outer surface of the outer shell and the other surface becomes an inner surface of the outer shell. The outer shell having portions that are reflective, fluorescent, or both on the surface of high visibility but not on the surface of low visibility. The protective garment has an inner liner, which is attachable detachably to the outer shell so as to be wearable within whichever of the expansive surfaces becomes the inner surface of the outer shell.

Abstract: A composite structure for a protective garment, such as a protective garment for a firefighter, has a moisture absorber, a moisture barrier and an outer shell. The moisture barrier is disposed outwardly in relation to the moisture absorber, while the outer shell is disposed outwardly in relation to the moisture barrier. The moisture absorber has a fibrous matrix incorporating a superabsorbent polymer, as particles or as fibers, and is disposed between an inner cover pervious to moisture and an outer cover. The inner and outer covers may be quilted so as to segregate discrete regions of the fibrous matrix.