Abstract: A method for the interseparation of platinum-group noble metals (PGMs) from a gold-free halide solution using at least one chromatographic column. The solution is passed through a column containing a solid absorbent having a Kd above 1 whereby the PGMs are absorbed. The loaded absorbent is eluted by a halide salt solution obtaining thereby well-spaced fractions, each containing only one single noble metal, coming out in the order: Ru, Rh, Pd, Pt, Ir and Cs. When gold is present with the PGMs, its prior removal is required by an additional chromatographic column containing an absorbent based on polystyrene divinyl.

Abstract: A novel optical system and method for coupling and mixing a plurality of beams which may originate from different optical sources and may be of different colors. There is provided deflection and steering of light beams with automatic (self-aligning) Bragg matching over a large beam deflection range which is not limited by the Brass condition. There is also provided a novel method of spatial light filtering and modulation, image color conversion, bidirectional beam interconnection for optical communication and combining and locking of laser sources.

Abstract: A surveying and mapping implement indicates the level differences of the ground over which it travels, in relation to the distance travelled. It comprises a carriage consisting of a swivelling front wheel, two center wheels attached to the outside of a U-shaped vertical frame, and two rear wheels connected to the U-shaped frame by means of a thill and a universal joint positioned co-extensive with the axis of the center wheels. The universal joint permits the rear wheels to move up and down and sideways, as well as to twist in relation to the center wheels. The wheel base between the center wheels and the front wheel is identical with that between the center wheels and the rear wheels, in order to facilitate calculations.

Abstract: A two-dimensional video data acquisition system comprising: video detector apparatus for scanning a visual scene; controller apparatus for generating scan pattern instructions; system interface apparatus for selecting at least one scan pattern for acquisition of video data from the visual scene, the scan pattern being selected from a plurality of such patterns in accordance with the scan pattern instructions; and scan-video interface apparatus comprising random scan driver apparatus for generating scan control signals in accordance with the selected scan pattern, the video detector apparatus scanning the visual scene in accordance with the scan control signals to provide an output to the system interface such that an intensity data map is stored therein, the controller apparatus performing data processing of the intensity data map in accordance with a predetermined set of video data characteristics.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and device for an emergent treatment of hypovolemic shock caused by loss of blood. According to the new method an elastic covering tube is applied onto the injured part of a patient's body, said tube possessing two main characteristics: (1) it is twisted along its horizontal axis as a rolled-up tube the end of which is rolled onto said body parts and (2) the material used for the elastic tube has to provide a pressure of between 100 to 400 mm Hg and to possess a critical elasticity coefficient. The critical elasticity coefficient being defined by a given formula which correlates the thickness of the material, unstretched radius and length of the tube, and length and radius of the injured part of the body to be covered.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new technique and device for mass transport operation and physical separation, being substantially quantitative and involving selective barriers. According to the new technique, the mass transport through the selective barrier and physical separation are carried out in the same device. The device consists of a mixing-reservoir into which is fitted snugly a mixer-separator, having a channel in the vertical axis of the mixer-separator, the mixer-separator being provided with means for accumulating a gas pocket to decrease the pressure exerted on the barrier. The completely solid-free liquid passing through the selective barrier is removed by pushing in the mixer-separator, said liquid being accumulated in a collecting container. Typical examples of such selective barriers are: membrane, bed of adsorbent material, paper, plastic, glass and metal filters or any other porous material, hollow fibers etc.

Abstract: A method for the preparation of pure yeast chromatin for isolation of p20 polypeptide includes breaking yeast cells in a buffer solution and separating the released chromatin. The chromatin is purified through sucrose, solubilized by an enzymatic digestion and the supernatant solution is loaded on a linear sucrose gradient 5-30% in a buffer solution. The p20 polypeptide is extracted from the sucrose gradient fraction by a buffer solution comprising sodium chloride at a concentration in the range of 0.15-5 M and preferably in the range of 0.35 M to 2.0 M.

Abstract: Optical apparatus, particularly useful as an optical gyro for measuring rotation, comprises a light source, an optical system defining a closed-loop optical path, an optical-wave-mixer producing form the light source beam an oscillating beam in the closed-loop optical path, and a circuit for measuring the phase or frequency shift produced in the oscillating beam by the optical-wave-mixer resulting from the non-reciprocal or reciprocal phase-shift thereof. A mathematical analysis is set forth showing how the non-reciprocal phase-shift is related to the frequency shift, so that the frequency shift provides a measurement of the non-reciprocal phase-shift, which depends on the rotation of the closed-loop ring optical path, thereby enabling the apparatus to serve as an optical gyro.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for amplifying and/or generating electromagnetic wave radiation, a gas plasma region having a non-Maxwellian electron distribution is produced by effecting collisions between scattering particles in the gas with free electrons which have been accelerated to an energy level which is greater than that providing maximum probability of collision of the electrons with scattering particles in said gas; and the electromagnetic wave radiation is subjected to the plasma region such as to produce amplification of the radiation by stimulated emission of Bremstrahlung from scattered free electrons in the plasma region.

Abstract: Equipment for drilling a row of equidistant holes comprises a carriage attached to a tractor and two earth augers rotated about their axes by the tractor power-take-off through transmission means. The augers are fastened in opposite alignment to a horizontal axle which is mounted in bearings on the carriage and is rotated by one of the road wheels through a chain drive causing the two augers to rotate about the axle in a plane parallel to the direction of travel. The rotating augers enter the soil alternately and drill equidistant holes during progress of the tractor and the carriage.

Abstract: A device for attachment to an uprooting implement is designed for compacting plant residue into cylindrical or rope-like shape and to cut the compacted cylinder into short wafers. The device comprises four rollers in parallel alignment symmetrically positioned around a central space defining the compacted cylinder, and urged toward the central space by springs. The rollers are positioned with their axes in the direction of travel of the uprooting implement and all are rotated in the same sense of rotation. Each roller has a cylindrical rear portion and a frusto-conical front portion provided with a broadthreaded screw, the screws serving to press the plant residue into the space between the cylindrical roller portions. Conveyor means are provided for feeding the plants into the compacting device, and cutting means are provided to the rear of the rollers.

Abstract: A power-driven structure comprises a long grider (I) supported at its both ends by self-propelled carriages (II) which raise and lower the girder, the implement being designed for travel across planted fields or orchards without compacting the soil. Various implements, such as a cotton harvester (34), a potato picker (VIII) or a fruit collecting device may be suspended from, and propelled along, the girder (I). A mechanical conveyor (15) extends along the top of the girder, and a pneumatic conveyor system (13) is arranged underneath the mechanical conveyor. The pneumatic conveyor system is provided with spaced nozzles (40) for connection to flexible suction pipes (34).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for obtaining a tenacious in-situ coating deposition of calcite on the inner surface of water pipes at very high rates. The calcite producing ingredients are supplied to the water stream in quantities supplementing concentrations available in the natural water used, giving the required supersaturation levels by addition of suitable salts to provide an aqueous lining solution supersaturated with respect to calcium carbonate containing dissolved calcium and carbonate ions. The method consists in maintaining the suspended calcium carbonate particles concentrations in the lining solution below 300 ppm, the excess suspended particles being removed by physical means. The calcite coating deposition according to the present invention has the advantage that it occurs at the rate of above 5 microns/h and even above 50 microns/h, maintaining a completely corrosion-free system during the coating. The method is applicable to lead pipes, cement mortar linings or asbestos pipes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for carrying out simultaneous heat and mass exchange operations between two input streams, where a gradient of at least 30 degrees C. exists between the streams, each stream containing at least two components. According to the invention, the two streams are introduced into a reactor containing a solid or liquid adsorbent material, which retains at least one component preferentially to the other components. The adsorbancy power of the component by the adsorbent material is higher at lower temperatures than at high temperatures. A stream results from the reactor in which the diluted component becomes more concentrated in respect to the input stream. The equilibrium concentration of the adsorbable species in the adsorbent, at the conditions of the colder stream, is higher by at least 0.01 g adsorbed species per g adsorbent than that prevailing at the conditions of the hot feed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the electrodeposition of an ordered alloy structured in alternate discrete layers said alloys possessing high elastic modulus and adjustable magnetic susceptibility. According to the invention, the electrodeposition of at least two metals, characterized by a redox potential gap of at least 0.1 V between said metals, is obtained by the pulse plating technique with a frequency in the range of 0.02 Hertz to 15 Hertz. The concentrations of the noblest metal in the electrodeposition solution should be in the range of 0.001M to 2.0M while that of the less noble metal is about its saturation at room temperature. The discrete layers obtained according to the method are less than 90 Angstroms thickness, being substantially pure. Examples of the metals to be electrodeposited according to the invention are copper-nickel; copper-palladium; nickel-gold; copper-nickel-iron and corresponding alloys with cobalt or iron replacing nickel.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a simple and accurate method to be applied in immunoassay technique for separating the free ligand from the antibody-bound ligand.The method involves the use of a solvent extraction operation which at equilibrium provides the formation of two distinct phases the free- and bound-fraction. The solvent to be utilized should be slightly water miscible or completely water immiscible, having the property of marked selective extraction power toward the gamma-labelled constituent to be determined. The method is applicable in a liquid-liquid system, a solid-liquid system and solid-solid system.The method is useful for radioimmunoassay, free radical assay or metallo-immunoassay, being most versatile having also the advantage that as a result of the free ligand being extracted into the solvent, the determination of the quantity of gamma-labelled substance in the free and/or bound fraction compares very favorably with the known prior art methods in immunoassays.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for preparing metal-embedded porous metallic-hydride (pmh) compacts capable of with standing repeated hydriding-dehydriding cycles without disintegrating. According to the invention, the finely divided hydridable metal alloy hydride is admixed with a finely divided metal selected from Al, Ni, Cu or other transition metals and charged with hydrogen. The resulting mixture is sintered in a furnace in which hydrogen is introduced at a pressure above the equilibrium pressure to the prevailing temperature, mechanical stress being applied simultaneously. The compacts obtained possess outstanding stability, as shown by the fact that they have remained intact even after more than 6000 cycles.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method which eliminates centrifugation and decantation steps, to be performed in an automatic manner for carrying out specific binding assay tests, wherein liquid and solid phases are present.According to the invention, use is made of a specially designed device, consisting of a mixing reservoir into which is fitted snugly a mixer separator having a channel in the vertical axis of the mixer-separator. A rack holding a number of said mixing reservoirs containing the incubated reagents and analytes, capped with the mixer separators, is placed into a press-device designed to perform at a controlled rate a downward movement. The mixer separators are pushed downwards into the mixing reservoirs at a chosen rate for a preselected distance to complete the mass transport and separation operations. The separation devices are removed and either one of the separated phases can be measured in the desired analytical instrument for a quantitative or qualitative determination.

Abstract: The present invention relates to selective surfaces for collectors of solar and other thermally useful radiation. According to the invention, a zinc-coated metal plate having a thickness of between 2.mu. and 30.mu. is immersed in an alkaline bath containing 2 to 30 g/l OH.sup.- and comprising sodium nitrate and sodium hydroxide. Subsequently, the anodized plate is passivated in an acidic bath which contains more than 2 g/l H.sup.+. Preferred constituents in the acidic bath are selected from acidic phosphate salts, oxalic acid, chromium ions, sulfuric acid or mixtures of two or more thereof. The selective thermal radiation collector surfaces obtained possess improved radiation properties, being capable of maintaining them even under corrosive conditions.

Abstract: A high-pressure, low-capacity pump comprises a rotor (3) of a smooth, planar, circular surface rotating in a pump casing (1) provided with a stator surface (21) facing the rotor surface at a short distance. The stator surface (21) is in the shape of a circular, flat-topped ridge having its center displaced in respect of the rotor center by a given distance. The circular ridge is characterized by that it is bisected along a line extending through both the center of the circle and the rotor center and that it is of different height on both sides of the bisecting line, creating a respective narrow gap (h) and a wide gap (H) between the ridge and the rotor surface. A fluid inlet (11) is provided in the casing on the outside of the circular ridge and a fluid outlet (22) on the inside of the ridge.