Abstract: A solenoid device, for example in an electrical contactor system, is provided for use with an alternating current power source. An electrical contactor includes an electromagnetic coil assembly configured to generate a non-zero effective magnetic force in response to an alternating current signal applied across the coil assembly. A switch proximate the coil assembly is configured to operate responsively to the effective magnetic force. A wave shaping device is configured to introduce a direct current component to an alternating current signal provided by the alternating current power source and to output at least part of the alternating current signal modified by the direct current component across the coil assembly.

Abstract: Organic inherently conductive polymers, such as those based on polyaniline, polypyrrole and polythiophene, are formed in-situ onto polymeric surfaces that are chemically activated to bond ionically the conductive polymers to the substrates. The polymeric substrate is preferably a preshaped or preformed thermoplastic film, fabric, or tube, although other forms of thermoplastic and thermoset polymers can be used as the substrates for pretreatment using, most preferably, phosphonylation-based processes followed by exposure to an oxidatively polymerizable compound capable of forming an electrically conductive polymer. The resultant conductive surface imparts unique properties to the substrates and allows their use in antistatic clothing, surface conducting films for electronic components and the like, and electromagnetic interference shielding.

Abstract: A crystalline polylactone is produced having reactive acrylate end groups. When incorporated into a thermosetting resin which includes reactive C.dbd.CH.sub.2 sites, the present functionalized polylactone acts as a toughener, greatly increasing the impact resistance of the final cured product. Also disclosed are carboxyl-bearing polylactones as tougheners for epoxy resin systems.

Abstract: A slow release fertilizer or pesticide composition and a method for making the same is provided. The composition is made by combining thermoplastic resin with cellulosic material and then adding a fertilizer or pesticide. The thermoplastic resin and the cellulosic material preferably come from the solid waste stream. The resulting composition can be molded into various articles or ground into a granular powder.

Abstract: An anti-bacterial agent for controlling the growth of certain lactic acid bacteria is provided. The anti-bacterial agent, or bacteriocin, is produced by Propionibacterium jensenii, and specifically by the P126 and P1264 strains of the particular species. The process employs the bacteriocins to inhibit the growth of other bacterial cultures, including yogurt starter cultures. The bacteriocins are stable across a broad range of pHs and are stable at relatively high and prolonged temperatures and have a wide activity spectrum against bacteria. The bacteriocins are particularly useful in controlling the over-acidification of yogurt to decrease the sour taste often found in yogurt.

Abstract: A system and method usable in producing a display image limited to a lesser number of colors from an input image having a greater number of colors. The invention is particularly useful in a computer system utilizing a video monitor capable of simultaneously displaying a selected number of colors stored in a lookup table. The system and method receive data representative of respective colors at a multiplicity of individual pixels in the input image. This input image data is then temporarily stored in an input buffer. An appropriate processor receives the input image data and performs image quantization thereon. Specifically, the processor first determines the selected colors to be included in the display image. Next, the processor determines which of the selected colors respectively correspond to individual pixels of the display image.

Abstract: A method for controlling the growth rate of plants is provided. The method is directed to using a ureaformaldehyde foam composition blended with a soil formulation. Depending upon the amount of foam added to the soil, the resulting mixture can be used to selectively increase or decrease plant growth rates. The ureaformaldehyde foam can also be used to increase the germination rate of seeds and to increase the percentage of seeds that germinate.

Abstract: A plant propagation system and method are provided for promoting the growth of plant tissue into small plantlets. The plant propagation system includes sealed, semipermeable membrane vessels for completely enclosing plant material therein. The sealed vessels generally are translucent and permeable to gases and liquids while remaining impermeable to biological contaminates. Plant tissue originally extracted from a parent plant can be placed within the sealed vessels and grown heterotrophically. Once the plant material has developed the capability to photosynthesize, the sealed vessels can be transferred to a greenhouse environment for photoautotrophic growth. Once in a greenhouse environment, the sealed vessels are supported in trays and exposed to light, gases, water and a liquid nutrient solution for optimizing growth. A central controller can be included in order to automate the system for controlling the flow of fluids in and out of the vessel support trays while also monitoring system conditions.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for qualitatively and quantitatively analyzing a complex radiation field are provided. A passive microdosimetry detector device records the energy deposition of incident radiation using an array of microstructure non-volatile memory devices. Each microstructure non-volatile memory device is capable of storing a predetermined initial charge without requiring a power source. A radiation particle incident to a microstructure non-volatile memory device is termed an "event". Each such event may generate a charge within a sensitive volume defined by the microstructure non-volatile memory device. The charge generated within the sensitive volume alters the stored initial charge by an amount falling within a range corresponding to the energy deposited by certain particle types. Data corresponding to such charge alterations for a plurality of microstructure non-volatile memory devices within an array of such devices are presented to a qualitative analyzing device.

Abstract: A device for automating operation of a stereolithography apparatus uses an STL file as an input and includes a programmable computer, a facet processor that sorts the facets of the STL file according to a predetermined slice axis. The facet processor also groups the sorted facets according to those having common minimum vertex values with respect to the slice axis. The facet processor also subgroups the grouped facet file according to facets having common maximum vertex values with respect to the slice axis. A key characteristic identifier identifies key characteristics of the STL file. A thickness calculator determines the thickness of each layer of the model according to a geometrical error of preselected magnitude. A slicer calculates the intersection of each sliced plane by the calculated thickness. A directional ordering device insures uniformity with the direction of each other contour that defines the intersection.

Abstract: A micropropagation system and process for promoting the growth of plant tissue in a sterile environment is provided. The system includes a bioreactor in which the explant tissue is contained and grown. A plurality of fluid reservoirs are connected to the bioreactor for supplying sugar, nutrients, hormones, and water to the plant material. A controller and an analyzer are also included for automating the system by controlling flow rates and by monitoring media concentrations and levels within the bioreactor. Specifically, the controller is capable of monitoring system conditions and making the desired corrections by receiving data from the chemical analyzer. In particular, the controller is capable of calculating and maintaining volume levels of liquid growth media within the bioreactor chamber and maintaining the proper concentrations and proportions of components in the growth media.

Abstract: A process for phosphonylating the surface of an organic polymeric preform and the surface-phosphonylated preforms produced thereby are provided. Organic polymeric preforms made from various polymers including polyethylene, polyetheretherketone, polypropylene, polymethylmethacrylate, polyamides, and polyester, and formed into blocks, films, and fibers may have their surfaces phosphonylated according to the present inventive process. The process involves the use of a solvent that does not dissolve the organic polymeric preform but does dissolve a phosphorus halide such as phosphorus trichloride. The solvent chosen must also be nonreactive with the phosphorus halide. Such solvents available for use in the present process include the fully-halogenated liquid solvents such as carbon tetrachloride, carbon tetrabromide, and the like.

Abstract: Small diameter fibers formed from the use of laser energy and gaseous reactants and are disclosed. Also disclosed is an apparatus and method for the formation of continuous, substrate free, crystalline or amorphous fibers. Materials which can be formed into small diameter fibers include boron, silicon, germanium, zinc, tungsten, cadium, gallium, thenium, and compounds and mixtures thereof. The fibers have a diameter of about 10 micrometers to about 170 micrometers. The apparatus for producing the fibers includes a laser, a reaction chamber, and gas supply means. The laser beam has a focal point adjusted to coincide with the tip of the growing fiber, the focal point of the laser creating a region of elevated temperature at the fiber tip.

Abstract: A fodder and a method are provided for increasing the amount of unsaturated fatty acids in the tissues and milk of ruminants. Specifically, the present invention includes feeding to a ruminant a composition containing the reaction product of an unsaturated fatty acid with a primary amine. The reaction product escapes hydrogenation in the stomachs of the ruminant allowing unsaturated fatty acids to be absorbed into the blood stream of the animal. In one embodiment, the unsaturated fatty acids used to react with the amine are derived from soybean oil. By increasing the amount of unsaturated fatty acids in the tissues and milk of ruminants, the food products obtained from those animals is healthier for human consumption.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to polymeric bone fixation devices and processes for making the devices. In making the bone fixation devices, a polymeric material having a crystalline portion is deformed by a compressive force along a particular direction which causes molecular chains contained within the polymer to orient. The resulting polymer has increased mechanical properties including increased tensile strength and modulus. The polymeric material used to make the bone fixation device can be a bioabsorbable polymer which, once implanted, is broken down and absorbed by the patient's body, eliminating the need for removal.

Abstract: A plant propagation system and method are provided for promoting the growth of plant tissue into small plantlets. The plant propagation system includes sealed, semipermeable membrane vessels for completely enclosing plant material therein. The sealed vessels generally are translucent and permeable to gases and liquids while remaining impermeable to biological contaminates. Plant tissue originally extracted from a parent plant can be placed within the sealed vessels and grown heterotrophically. Once the plant material has developed the capability to photosynthesize, the sealed vessels can be transferred to a greenhouse environment for photoautotrophic growth. Once in a greenhouse environment, the sealed vessels are supported in trays and exposed to light, gases, water and a liquid nutrient solution for optimizing growth. A central controller can be included in order to automate the system for controlling the flow of fluids in and out of the vessel support trays while also monitoring system conditions.

Abstract: A process for phosphonylating the surface of an organic polymeric preform and the surface-phosphonylated preforms produced thereby are provided. Organic polymeric preforms made from various polymers including polyethylene, polyetheretherketone, polypropylene, polymethylmethacrylate, polyamides, and polyester, and formed into blocks, films, and fibers may have their surfaces phosphonylated in a liquid-phase or gas phase reaction. Liquid phase phosphonylation involves the use of a solvent that does not dissolve the organic polymeric preform but does dissolve a phosphorus halide such as phosphorus trichloride. The solvent chosen must also be nonreactive with the phosphorus halide. Such solvents available for use in the present process include the fully-halogenated liquid solvents such as carbon tetrachloride, carbon tetrabromide, and the like. Gas phase phosphonylation involves treating the organic polymeric preform with a gaseous phosphorus halide such as phosphorus trichloride and oxygen.

Abstract: A process for synthesizing enediynes is provided. Specifically, the formed enediynes contain a hex-3-ene-1,5-diynyl group. Production of the enediynes involves adding a base to a propargylic halide in the presence of a chelating agent, which causes a carbenoid coupling-elimination sequence of the propargylic halides. A carbenoid destabilizing agent can also be added to the reaction mixture in order to enhance yield. Acyclic and cyclic enediynes can be synthesized according to this process. The enediynes are useful compounds that can be used in a variety of applications including use in the production of anti-tumor agents.

Abstract: A method of automatically operating a machine with respect to an object having a desired profile, wherein the machine's operation is controlled based on a model of the object's profile. The method includes generating at least a portion of the model in the form of a plurality of successive layers wherein the cross-section of each layer is defined by the intersection of a pair of parallel planes and a model profile connecting the parallel planes. Each layer's thickness is selected such that the geometrical error between the object's desired profile and the model profile of the layer remains no greater than a preselected geometrical error. More than one layer thickness is selected during the step of generating this portion of the object. The machine can be operated in successive steps with each step based on a separate one of the layers.

Abstract: A femoral intramedullary rod has a thin or reduced proximal segment so as to provide room for the use of femoral hip screws. Use of the rod for femoral shaft fixation permits subsequent independent treatment of an ipsilateral femoral hip fracture as an isolated injury, regardless of whether initially detected. Different rod embodiments are formed by the omission of different proximal portions of the rod. It is in such portions that the femoral screws may be placed to set hip fractures. The rod is cannulated for installation over a guide wire. Internal rod threads, below the thin proximal segment in some embodiments, are used for initial installation of the rod with a driving member screwed into such threads. Without driving forces on the thin proximal segment, such segment can be made even thinner. Once the rod is seated, hip screws may be installed if there is a detected hip fracture. Subsequent to healing, the femoral screws and interlocking screws (if any) may be removed.