Abstract: A refrigerator for rapidly cooling down and then maintaining a plurality of wine bottles of arbitrary configuration within a selected temperature range comprises a compression type refrigeration unit in association with the refrigerated compartment which receives the wine bottles. The refrigeration unit includes a controllable expansion valve and a control system in which a microcontroller is arranged with a plurality of stored cooldown models as references for bringing the wine bottles to temperature without damage to the wine. Temperature, pressure and air flow measurements are used by a computer programmed to determine the status of the thermal load as affected by the number of wine bottles and their temperatures, and to adjust variations in the load compartment temperature for both cooldown modes and a steady state mode. Given an arbitrary thermal load, the refrigerator system lowers the wine temperature in a maximized but controlled manner so that chilled wine is available in no more than 30 minutes.

Abstract: A thread repair tool and method of manufacturing are disclosed, along with a method for repairing damaged threads of a bolt, stud, or the like. The thread repair tool includes a pair of chaser sections each having a threaded inner diameter to match the threads of the bolt or stud to be repaired. Each chaser section has a tapered outer diameter and a longitudinal keyway in the tapered outer diameter. A driver is provided in which its inner diameter is tapered to match the outer diameter of the chaser sections. The tapered driver and chaser sections are locked together with a pair of keys, and the arrangement provides positive, force transferring engagement between the driver, the chaser sections, and the bolt or stud. The arrangement translates longitudinal pressure applied to the driver into radial pressure forcing the chaser sections tightly against the bolt or stud to be repaired.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a protection-effective amount of UV-damaged RNA fragments, in combination with a cosmetically or pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The compositions are useful in the prevention of skin damage to UV radiation and in preventing photoaging.

Abstract: A process for alleviating bleed and improving color in printed elements comprises applying an anionic printing liquid and a cationic printing liquid to a substrate adjacent to one another, wherein at least one of the printing liquids contains a polymer and reacting the anionic and cationic printing liquids with one another; wherein the color integrity of the anionic and cationic printing liquids is maintained.

Abstract: Near-Azeotropic blends of:pentafluoroethane and 1,1,1-trifluoroethane with one or more of chlorodifluoromethane, 1,2,2,2-tetrafluoroethane, 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethane, 1-chloro-1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethane, 1-chloro-1,2,2,2-tetrafluoroethane, 1,1,1,2,3,3,3-heptafluoropropane, 1,1,1,2,2,3,3-heptafluoropropane, and perfluorocyclopropane;chlorodifluoromethane and pentafluoroethane with one or more of ethane, butane, isobutane, dimethyl ether, propylene, and difluoromethane;chlorodifluoromethane with 1,1,1-trifluoroethane and 1,2,2,2-tetrafluoroethane, propane and pentafluoroethane, or 1,1,1-trifluoroethane and octafluoropropane;and pentafluoroethane with fluoroethane and 1,2,2,2-tetrafluoroethane, along with their use as refrigerants.

Abstract: Compositions, methods, and apparatus for manufacturing sheets having a highly inorganically filled matrix. Suitable inorganically filled mixtures are prepared by mixing together an organic polymer binder, water, one or more aggregate materials, fibers, and optional admixtures in the correct proportions in order to form a sheet which has the desired performance criteria. The inorganically filled mixtures are formed into sheets by first extruding the mixtures and the passing the extruded materials between a set of rollers. The rolled sheets are dried in an accelerated manner to form a substantially hardened sheet, such as by heated rollers and/or a drying chamber. The inorganically filled sheets may have properties substantially similar to sheets presently made from traditional materials like paper, paperboard, polystyrene, plastic, or metal. Such sheets can be rolled, pressed, scored, perforated, folded, and glued.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing large amounts of 7.beta.-(4-carboxybutanamido)-cephalosporanic acid acylase ("GA") enzyme, which process consists in growing, under suitable culture conditions, a recombinant Escherichia coli K12 strain and subsequently extracting the enzyme from the resulting culture.Enzyme production is controlled by a particular expression system which can be induced by corn-steep liquor, an extremely low cost component of the culture medium.The enzyme can be used in the enzymatic preparation of 7-amino-cephalosporanic acid by starting from 7.beta.-(4-carboxybutanamido)-cephalosporanic acid.

Abstract: The internal rearview mirror with courtesy lights includes a mirror device (1) and an antiglare device (2) acting on the mirror device (1) in a housing (3); a courtesy light system (4) for the rearview mirror; an electronic control module (5) including a printed circuit board (70) and having a timing device (6) which controls a ceiling lamp (200), trunk lamp (202) and door courtesy lights (201); and a detachable support (7) including a spring loaded neck (8) and a base (9) mounted centrally to the ceiling or windshield. The printed circuit board (70) has holes (72) and the housing (3) has fixing columns (71) aligned with the holes (72) for mounting the printed circuit board securely in the housing with screws.

Abstract: An acid composition comprises a polyvalent carboxylic acid solid particle coated with a polymer. The acid composition may function as a cross-linking agent in a powder coating, which also includes a resin. The resin and the polymer of the acid composition may be the same, or they may be different. The mean particle size of the coated acid solid particles is in the range of 0.5 to 50 micrometers. When used in a powder coating, such coated solid particles reduce or eliminate sublimation of the acid cross-linking agent from the powder coating during the curing step. In addition, these coated solid particles increase the storage shelf-life of the powder coating in which they are used. Such coated particles also improve the flow characteristics of the powder coating during curing thereof and the gloss and surface quality of the final cured coating.

Abstract: Methods and systems for readily and economically manufacturing hydraulically settable articles, particularly containers, from microstructurally engineered hydraulically settable mixtures. The mixture is pressed between a male die of a desired shape and a female die having a substantially complimentary configuration of the male die shape to immediately fashion a portion of the mixture into a form stable shape for the desired article. To assist in imparting form stability, the dies can be heated or cooled. Once the article has obtained form stability, the article is removed from the dies and dried under heated air to gain strength. The article can then receive printing or a coating, if desired, prior to packaging, shipping, and use.

Abstract: A plasma generating system uses three electrodes inside a chamber, connected to a low voltage three-phase AC supply. A high voltage AC plasma generator produces an ionized oscillator gas which is injected into the gap between the electrodes. A continuous arc is produced inside the chamber. The arc moves along the electrodes and then superheats and ionizes a working gas which is tangentially injected from a pneumatic ring.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for directly manufacturing a diamine/dicarboxylic acid salt with a low water content. The process includes reacting a diamine with a dicarboxylic acid to form a diamine/dicarboxylic acid salt. The reaction of the diamine and the dicarboxylic acid is carried out in the presence of about 0.5% to about 25% by weight water, based on the weight of the reaction mixture, while providing conditions in the reaction mixture such that the reaction mixture is in substantially solid particulate form.

Abstract: A system and method for printing a postage indicia, including a desired postage amount and encrypted information, onto a piece of mail. The mail when inserted into the normal mail system can be verified as having legally issued postage through realtime access to a central registered user database. A user takes a powerable postal dispensing device to an authorized agent of a postal authority in order to obtain a replenishment of the amount of postage stored within the portable postage dispensing device. A desired amount of postage is entered into the dispensing device by an authorized agent through a host processor-based system. The user is then able to access this stored postage at the user's location through a complementary host processor-based system. The authorized agent uses a PC bond system designed to allow data to be entered into the portable dispensing device only upon exercising a series of comprehensive checks based, in part, by data stored within the portable dispensing device.

Abstract: A system and method for printing a postage meter stamp, including a desired postage amount and a personalized postage indicia onto a label or onto a document directly. A processor based system is programmed to interact with a customer to produce individualized documents, printed address labels, and a printed postage meter stamp having in one embodiment, a customized postage indicia. The processor based system automatically calculates the postage due for a specific document, prints that postage amount as a meter stamp, interacts with the customer to generate a personalized stamp indicia, encrypts selected information into a machine readable format, and prints the information entered by the customer in a selected format, all on the document for transfer to the outside of a mailing envelope.

Abstract: A process for making a single layer flexographic printing plate which involves reinforcing and laser engraving a single layer flexographic printing element.

Abstract: Polar thermoplastic polyolefin blends are provided which are flexible and are particularly useful in replacing polyvinyl chloride sheeting used as liners, folders, etc. The blends comprise in general, a non-polar thermoplastic polyolefin, a functionalized polar ethylene copolymer, and a functionalized olefin polymer as a compatibilizer, all of which are chlorine-free.

Abstract: High-surface-area polyolefins grafted with certain fluoroalkylvinylether sulfonate or carboxylate monomers, and their method of preparation, are disclosed. Such materials are useful as catalysts and as membranes in electrochemical cells.