Abstract: An electrode element for plasma torches and a production method for such electrode elements. The electrode element for plasma torches includes at least one core made of a metal or a metal alloy having a smaller work function that forms the actual electrode connected as a cathode. This core is enclosed by a shell part, which is made of a metal or a metal alloy having a greater work function than the core and a greater thermal conductivity. Between the core surface and the shell part there is provided a boundary layer in a graded form, which is made up of solid solutions of the two metals or metal alloys, or an intermediate layer toward the core surface and toward the shell part, which is made of another metal or a metal alloy having a work function greater than that of the core material wherein the boundary layers of the intermediate layer form a graded transition.

Abstract: A method for making mechanical parts and objects, in particular, prototype parts and objects, from a specific computer-assisted design includes the successive steps of making the parts in elementary layers or strata, reconstructing an assembly of the layers, and assembling the layers. The layers are derived from a previous decomposition of the part along specific planes and in one or several step(s). The unit layers determined by the decomposition of the part include a central portion (8), which effectively corresponds to a layer having the shape and thickness desired for the finished part, an outer portion (11) of substantially the same thickness, surrounding at least portions of the central portion, and frangible bridges (10) linking the central portion (8) and the outer portion (11) together.

Abstract: An ink receptor sheet for ink jet printing, an ink jet printing system including an ink receptor sheet and a transfer element, a process for preparing an image on permanent support by ink jet printing, and an imaged article made by such process. By incorporation of a photopolymerizable layer into an ink receptor sheet, the handling latitude during lamination and peeling steps of ink jet printing processes was enhanced and durable and resistant images made by such ink jet printing processes were provided.

Abstract: The invention discloses a hydrogenation process for removing impurities and controlling acid for use in downstream processing of biochemically-derived 1,3-propanediol. Preferably, the biochemically-derived 1,3-propanediol, before the contacting, has an initial color and, after the contracting, has a color that is lower than the initial color.

Abstract: Disclosed is a novel fluid flow field plate for use in a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell. The flow field plate is made of a suitable electrically conducting material and comprises a substantially planar surface, a flow field formed in said substantially planar surface, said flow field comprising a plurality of staggered lands defining a network of substantially symmetric interconnected orifices and diagonal channels in the flow field and a fluid supply manifold through which fuel and an oxidant are introduced to the flow field and a fluid exhaust manifold through which reaction by-products and excess fuel and oxidant are removed from the flow field. Streams of the fuel, oxidant and reaction by-products are continually separated and diverted into separate channels, and the separated streams are then mixed with streams from adjacent channels in the orfices.

Abstract: This invention relates to an isolated nucleic acid fragment encoding a hemicellulose biosynthesis protein. The invention also relates to the construction of a chimeric gene encoding all or a portion of the hemicellulose biosynthesis protein, in sense or antisense orientation, wherein expression of the chimeric gene results in production of altered levels of the hemicellulose biosynthesis protein in a transformed host cell.

Abstract: This invention relates to an isolated nucleic acid sequence encoding isoflavone synthase. The invention also relates to the construction of chimeric sequences encoding all or a substantial portion of the enzymes, in sense or antisense orientation, wherein expression of the chimeric sequence results in production of altered levels of the enzyme in a transformed host cell.

Abstract: A method of boron removal from saline water containing boron and magnesium or calcium salts including a multi-stage reverse-osmosis (RO) separation process and comprising the steps of a first stage RO separation at pH<8.2; a second stage RO separation over at least part of the first-stage permeate; a third stage RO separation over the second-stage brine. The method is characterized in that the second stage separation is carried at pH>9 and the brine concentration is limited to a degree preventing Mg(OH)2 or CaCO3 scaling on RO membrane surfaces, the permeate constitutes product water, and the brine contains boron and magnesium or calcium ions; the third stage separation is carried at weak-acid pH, whereby the bulk of the magnesium or calcium ions are separated with the brine, while the bulk of the boron ions are retained in the permeate.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods to engineer microorganisms for the production of C30-aldehyde carotenoids. Specifically, various combinations of crtM, sqs, crtN and crtN2 genes from Staphylococcus aureus and Methylomonas sp. 16a can be co-expressed in transformant hosts, leading to the production of diaponeurosporene monoaldehyde, diapocarotene monoaldehyde, and/or diapocarotene dialdehyde. In a preferred embodiment, the genetically engineered pathway is introduced into a strain of Escherichia coli that has been engineered for the expression of carotenoids, and the C30-carotenoid product is diapocarotene dialdehyde.

Abstract: A sheet depositing device for a sheet processing apparatus, includes a feeding section for sequentially feeding sheets or sets of sheets from the sheet processing apparatus, at least one sheet stacking element movable along a guide, for facilitating depositing the sheets or sets of sheets fed by the feeding section, and a sensor arrangement for detecting the position of a sheet stacking element along the guide. The sensor arrangement includes a stationary linear array of active elements and a passive element moving in unison with the sheet stacking element. The active and passive elements are of a kind that interact through the use of electric or magnetic fields. Examples of such sensors are an array of conductive fields arranged in parallel to a conductive strip or a second array of conductive fields, and a conductive plate connected to a capacitance meter; and an array of Hall-effect sensors and a magnet.

Abstract: Melt-fabricable thermoplastic fluoropolymer having pendant functional groups is thermally cross-linked in the presence of polyfunctional nucleophile.

Abstract: A flameless boiler comprising generator means for generating heat in fluid circulated therethrough by shearing of the fluid; a prime mover drivingly connected to the generator means for shearing of the fluid; a supply reservoir for the fluid; a first pump for circulating the fluid from the supply reservoir to the generator means; and a pressure vessel in fluid communication with the generator means for receiving heated fluid therefrom, the pressure vessel having an outlet for drawing steam therefrom.

Abstract: Video Camera for producing video images at low light levels, such as Quarter Moonlight (10 mLux) is disclosed. The camera comprises a CCD sensor 10 selected because of its larger pixel size in comparison with other sensor designs. An angled mosaic filter 18, comprising yellow and cyan stripes is disposed directly on the image plane of the sensor, though spaced slightly from it, allowing a colour signal to be produced. The spacing defocuses the image of the mosaic and reduces intermodulation errors which were found to otherwise occur. Additional circuitry is provided in the camera to filter out the intermodulation errors, as well as remove any cross chroma errors resulting from the pattern of the mosaic filter. Black level matching circuitry is also provided to equalize the black level in each of the red, green and blue colour paths. A specific geometry for the colour pattern and pixels is disclosed for digital (pixel by pixel) decoding.

Abstract: A lighting system and method and apparatus for adjusting same are described. The lighting system has LED lighting units. To adjust a lighting unit, a programmer is connected to the lighting unit, lighting information (such as color or brightness) is input into the programmer (either manually or electronically), and data representing the lighting information is transmitted from the programming device to the lighting unit. The data is stored in the lighting unit, and one or more of the LEDs emits light that corresponds to the transmitted data.

Abstract: An operating element can be used to operate or control a household appliance, for example a cook top heating element. A seven-segment display is arranged beneath a cover in the region of a contact surface. A light source and a light receiver are arranged inside respectively of four LED elements of the seven-segment display in two channel-type openings oriented towards the contact surface. The insertion of the light source and receiver into the openings enables the contact surface to the positioned directly above the display and shields the light receiver from scattered light. Placement of a finger on the contact surface results in light from the light source to be reflected and detected by the light receiver, and thus effect control of the household appliance.

Abstract: A sunblind is disclosed for use with a window of a vehicle. The sunblind comprises a rigid frame has a closed-loop configuration and a panel of flexible material secured to the rigid frame. The panel has a desired degree of opacity to sunlight and extends over the interior of the rigid frame. The sunblind further has means for fixing the rigid frame to an interior surface of the vehicle such that the panel occludes at least part of the window to sunlight.

Abstract: A switching arrangement for a high voltage load provides high voltage pulses to the load. The switching arrangement includes N switching modules where N is typically 75. A load capacitance of Cd is required to avoid voltage overshoot at the load and is provided by a capacitance of nCd arranged in parallel with each switch. In addition, a graded capacitance is arranged across each switch. The graded capacitance compensates for unequal voltage sharing during high transience. The graded capacitance and the distributed load capacitance may be arranged as a single capacitance across each switch.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sample holding device (100), particularly for cryopreserving at least one sample, which has a bundle (10) consisting of a multitude of tubular flexible sample compartments (11, 12,) and a retaining device (20), to which the bundle (10) of sample compartments is connected. The retaining device (20) has a multitude of retaining frames (21, 22,) that are arranged in a longitudinal direction of the bundle (10).

Abstract: This invention is a topical tyrosinase inhibiting combination using alpha arbutin and bearberry extract, in synergism, for the purpose of skin lightening. The active admixture is a dermatological serum comprised of alpha arbutin, octyl stearate and polyolprepolymer-2, introduced onto the human skin in liposome form for ultra-deep penetration.

Abstract: An imaging sensor comprising a substrate having a light sensitive region and an array of electrodes defining a plurality of pixels, wherein the imaging sensor further comprises a layer of an upconverter material, is provided. The sensor may be used in an imaging device capable of detecting light at wavelengths longer than 1064 nm. The imaging device may also simultaneously detect visible light.