Abstract: This invention relates to porous polyfluoroethylene (PTFE), shaped articles prepared therefrom, and to methods of preparing said articles.

Abstract: A bowstring release includes a handle body, the handle body supporting a jaw release housing and associated jaws actuable by means of a firing pin extending into an interior portion of the handle body; a hammer bar including a hammer head engagable with the firing pin and movable to a cocked position by means of a cocking trigger portion of the hammer bar, the cocking trigger extending outside the candle body; a firing trigger assembly including a firing trigger outside the handle body and a trigger actuating arm located within the handle body; and a roller sear housing and roller sear assembly, the housing having one end engageable with the trigger actuating arm, and the roller engageable with the hammer head, the hammer head is seated in the roller sear housing in a cocked position, such that pressure applied to the firing trigger causes the roller sear housing to release the hammer head for firing engagement with the firing pin.

Abstract: An element containing, in order: a first strippable substrate; a substantially transparent, non-photosensitive, polymeric isolation layer having a coating weight of 10 to 150 mg/dm.sup.2 ; an elastomeric layer having a coating weight of 25 to 200 mg/dm.sup.2 ; a pigmented photosensitive, preferably photopolymerizable layer; and a second different strippable substrate adjacent the photosensitive layer, wherein the photosensitive layer upon imagewise exposure to actinic radiation exhibits a lowered peel force relative to a system which does not have a polymeric isolation layer.

Abstract: There is provided a novel nucleic acid fragment for the overexpression of a high methionine seed storage protein in plants. This nucleic acid fragment is capable of transforming plants, particularly crop plants, to overexpress a corn seed storage protein in seeds or leaves. The invention is of significant interest for the nutritional improvement of sulfur amino acid-poor plants, such as corn and soybean. There is also provided chimeric genes, host cells, plants, seeds and microorganisms containing the nucleic acid fragment as well as methods for obtaining the overexpression of the seed storage protein in microorganisms.

Abstract: A wood-plastic composite material is produced in a twin screw extruder with parallel intermeshing segmented screws. The screw segments are positioned on two spline shafts and perform the various required functions of mixing, deaerating and removal of moisture followed by extrusion. A polymer is fed to the main throat of the extruder where the plastic is conveyed along a barrel formed by the case of the extruder. Cellulosic fiber is positively fed into the extruder approximately one-quarter of the way down the extruder barrel by a twin screw side stuffer. A vent is provided for entrained air in the cellulosic material to escape. The molten mixture of polymer and cellulosic material is then conveyed to a devolatilization area having a first atmosphere devolatilization area and a second vacuum devolatilization area separated by a melt seal.

Abstract: Disclosed are skin smoothing compositions containing hydroxyacids or hydroxyacid derivatives, a polymeric film-forming agent, a physical exfoliant, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Also disclosed are methods for using the skin smoothing compositions to improve the smoothness of human skin.

Abstract: A cochlea stimulation system includes a patient wearable system comprising an externally wearable signal processor (WP) and a headpiece in electronic communication with an implanted cochlear stimulator (ICS). The ICS comprises eight output stages each having two electrically isolated capacitor-coupled electrodes, designated "A" and "B", circuits for monitoring the voltages on these electrodes, and circuits for both transmitting status information to and receiving control information from the WP. Based upon information received from the WP, a processor within the ICS can control both the frequency and the widths of the output stimulation pulses applied to the electrodes and may select which electrodes to monitor. The ICS receives power and data signals telemetrically through the skin from the WP. To save power, the ICS may be "powered down" by the WP based upon the absence of audio information or "powered up" if audio is present.

Abstract: A connector for a bowstring release wrist strap includes a barrel portion having a first end adapted to receive a fastener component mounted on the bowstring release, and a second end receiving a slidable and axially adjustable link rod, the link rod rotatable relative to the barrel portion and having a distal free end adapted for connection to a wrist strap.

Abstract: An oligomer of an aspartic acid is provided having repeating monomeric units of aspartic acid of the formula: ##STR1## and by a first chain unit having formula: ##STR2## and a chain stopper unit A which is: ##STR3## wherein X is an alkali metal, R represents H or an alkyl containing from 1 to 4 carbon atoms and R.sub.1 is H or the group --COOX.

Abstract: A seal assembly for sealing a volatile liquid from escaping past a rotating shaft mounted within a housing, includes a rotating sealing ring having a seal facing keyed to the shaft and a stationary sealing ring having a seal facing mounted to the housing. The seal facing of the stationary sealing ring is in contact with the sealing facing of the sealing ring keyed to the shaft when the shaft is non-rotating. When the sealing ring is rotated by the shaft the seal faces are disengaged from one another. One of the seal facings of either the rotating or stationary sealing ring includes a plurality of notches positioned on the outer radial edge of the sealing surface at an angle of approximately 45.degree. with respect to the perpendicular peripheral surface of the sealing ring.

Abstract: A process for the improvement of adhesion between fluoropolymers or fluorocopolymers and inorganic compounds as well as composites made by this process are disclosed. The inorganic compound is coated with an adhesion promoter. Contacting the adhesion-promoted inorganic compound with the fluoropolymer or fluorcopolymer and heating develops the adhesive bond.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of five-membered or six-membered ring lactams from aliphatic .alpha.,.omega.-dinitriles has been developed. In the process an aliphatic .alpha.,.omega.-dinitrile is first converted to an ammonium salt of an .omega.-nitrilecarboxylic acid in aqueous solution using a catalyst having an aliphatic nitrilase (EC 3.5.5.7) activity, or a combination of nitrile hydratase (EC 4.2.1.84) and amidase (EC 3.5.1.4) activities. The ammonium salt of the .omega.-nitrilecarboxylic acid is then converted directly to the corresponding lactam by hydrogenation in aqueous solution, without isolation of the intermediate .omega.-nitrilecarboxylic acid or .omega.-aminocarboxylic acid. When the aliphatic .alpha.,.omega.-dinitrile is also unsymmetrically substituted at the .alpha.-carbon atom, the nitrilase produces the .omega.-nitrilecarboxylic acid ammonium salt resulting from hydrolysis of the .omega.

Abstract: A heat seal wheel for use with a heat sealing apparatus associated with a continuous packaging machine, for forming a longitudinal seal in a flat sheet of flexible film. The heat seal wheel is characterized by a planar heater comprising a laminar resistive heating element sandwiched in between a top layer and a bottom layer of a thermally conductive and electrically insulative material. The top layer is bonded to the bottom surface a bearing disk, in contact with and supporting a rotating heat seal wheel for conductively heating the seal wheel and producing a heat seal in the seams of a moving web of plastic film.

Abstract: In a total hip replacement, a stem of a femoral component is disposed in a patient's thigh bone with a ball extending in such femoral component above the stem. The ball is disposed in a hemispherical cup positioned in the patient's pelvis and enveloping the ball for frontal movement of the ball relative to the cup. A low-friction liner (e.g., plastic or ceramic) is disposed at the bottom of the cup. To determine whether the ball is properly positioned in the cup, a first member (e.g., a coil) is disposed on the bottom of the liner. A second member (e.g., a patch defining a loop) is disposed on the patient's thigh in operatively coupled (e.g. magnetic) relationship to the first member. The operative coupling between the members is variable in accordance with variations in the disposition of the ball in the cup. When the first and second members are respectively a coil and a patch, the coil and a capacitance may be fixed in the patient's body in a circuit resonant at a particular frequency.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are described for a radio frequency document control system that enables the location of documents, such as office files, to be automatically and rapidly identified. A host transceiver, controlled via a PC, transmits a coded RF signal, at a first frequency, to individually addressable, low cost, local exciters/transceivers located on shelves and/or in drawers. The local exciters, which may be sequentially addressed, retransmit the coded RF signal at a second frequency via an antenna. A passive radio frequency identification tag, containing the same code as that transmitted by the local exciter and attached to a document, such as a file folder, when in the vicinity of the antenna of the local exciter, is energized by the RF field and modulates the second frequency signal from the local exciter. The second frequency signal modulated by the energized tag is then directly received by the host transceiver.

Abstract: Perfluoroelastomer compositions of improved processability are provided which have reduced levels of ionized or ionizable polymer endgroups.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for converting hydrogen chloride (HCl) to molecular chlorine (Cl.sub.2) and molecular hydrogen (H.sub.2), and more particularly to such process conducted in a plasma environment.

Abstract: All surfaces of yarn formed of polymeric monofilament fibers are coated with a layer of electroless nickel which can also include an electrolytic metal such as copper on the nickel. The yarn is passed through an electroless Ni aqueous bath under little or no tension so that the electroless Ni can coat all of the monofilament surface substantially uniformly. The nickel coated yarn then can be coated with electrolytic metal such as copper in an electrolytic metal plating step.

Abstract: A tube saw has a housing body with a first side, a second side, and a central opening. Surfaces of the first and second sides are machined parallel to each other. A cutter with a rotating blade is mounted on the first side and a vice is mounted on the second side to thereby maintain a work piece held in the vise perpendicular to the cutter. An indicator pin and viewing hole facilitate aligning a work piece within the saw so that the blade will cut the work piece where desired.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for preparing an aqueous solution of FeCl.sub.3. The process involves the steps of: (a) reacting an ore material comprising titanium and iron with chlorine and coke to form a metal chloride vapor stream comprising titanium tetrachloride, ferrous chloride, ferric chloride and unreacted coke and ore solids; (b) cooling the metal chloride vapor stream to a temperature in the range of 350 to 500.degree. C. to condense at least some of the ferrous chloride; (c) separating the condensed ferrous chloride and the unreacted coke and ore solids from the metal chloride vapor stream; (d) cooling the metal chloride vapor stream to a temperature in the range of 180 to 240.degree. C. to form a precipitate comprising ferric chloride; and (e) adding the precipitate to water to form an aqueous solution comprising ferric chloride. The resulting aqueous solution has a high FeCl.sub.3 content, and can be used in wastewater treatment applications.