Abstract: An electric toaster which comprises a body having a compartment (20) for accommodating a slice of bread, a vertically movable support for supporting a said slice of bread in the compartment (20), an operating member (36/42) operable to move the support downwards, heating elements provided on opposite sides of the compartment (20) for heating a said slice of bread, and a movable holder (16 & 18) having opposite sides (16 & 18) supported for movement towards each other upon operation of the operating member (36/42) in order to hold therebetween a said slice of bread in a stationary position between the heating elements. Each said holder side (16/18) has upper and lower end portions which are guided to move along respective slots (28).

Abstract: A system and method for printing a postage meter stamp, including a desired postage amount and encrypted information, onto a piece of mail. A user takes a postal storage device to the post office in order to obtain a replenishment of the amount of postage stored within the postage storage device. A desired amount of postage is entered into the storage device by a postal employee through a processor-based system. The user is then able to access this stored postage at the user's location through a complementary processor-based system. The user's processor-based system automatically calculates the required postage for a piece of mail based upon a set of parameters pertaining to that piece of mail. Additional information, such as addresses, may also be printed onto an envelope, a label, a card, a letter, etc., along with the postage meter stamp through the use of a word processor program coupled to the present invention.

Abstract: A low temperature process for polymerizing nylon monomers to freely flowing polymers is disclosed. The polymerization process is carried out at lower than conventional polymerization temperatures and produces a freely flowing polymer without thermal degradation.

Abstract: A gate assembly for tensioned fences, particularly those which encircle home swimming pools and are removable for swimming pool use. The gate in its preferred form is "U" shaped with no rigid bar at the top and has the space between the bars of the gate filled with tensioned mesh fabric similar to the tensioned fence. The gate is supported by poles on each edge which provides spring closed hinging on one edge and an automatic latch at the opposite edge. The poles are in fact pairs of poles at each side which together react to the tension of the fence without transferring the fence tension to the gate. In one form, the two poles at each edge are rigidly connected by bars which define a truss. The gate supporting poles are secured to the pole decking as by insertion in drilled holes which are at cant angles in the order of 5.degree. away from the direction of the fence tension. A process for installing the fence and gate is described.

Abstract: A method for the production of taxanes such as taxol. The method includes inducing formation of callus cells by contacting an explant tissue with a liquid medium without complete submergence of the tissue in the medium. The callus cells formed are employed in a liquid suspension cell culture to produce one or more taxanes.

Abstract: It would be desirable to have improved designs of ostomy couplings which embody a springy or resilient split ring as a locking ring.In an ostomy coupling, first and second coupling members 20, 40 are held together by a springy flexible split locking ring 30. A plurality of tabs 31, 32, symmetrically arranged on each limb of the locking ring 30, can be withdrawn generally radially outwardly by movement of the locking ring to permit separation of the two coupling members. The ring 30 is generally circular in its unstressed condition.

Abstract: A portable hold-free device is set forth for a hand phone, including an interface board and an external wire set. The interface board is sandwiched between a hand phone and a battery. A hold-free circuit set is contained in the interface board and connected to the external wire set. The external wire set includes an earphone and a microphone. The hold-free device enables the hand phone to be used without being held during driving a car, riding a motorcycle or a bicycle, walking or in other conditions in which the user is inconvenient to hold the hand phone. A speech memory IC is added to the interface board to serve as an answering machine.

Abstract: A catalyst composition comprising a zero-valent nickel and a multidentate phosphite ligand in the presence of a Lewis acid promoter.

Abstract: A gas generating mixture comprises a high nitrogen and low carbon fuel from he group nitroguanidine (NIGU), triaminoguanidine nitrate (TAGN), diguanidinium-5,5'-azotetrazolate (GZT) and 3-nitro-1,2-3-triazol-5-one (NTO), as well as copper diammine dinitrate Cu(NH.sub.3).sub.2 (NO.sub.3).sub.2 as the oxidizer and V.sub.2 O.sub.5 /MoO.sub.3 mixed oxides and/or oxide mixtures as the catalyst.

Abstract: Silver halide recording material for making negative images having ultrahigh contrast.Known silver halide recording materials for making negative images having ultrahigh contrast contain hydrazine compounds and contrast enhancing compounds (so-called boosters). The invention involves a material having a new class of such a booster, containing in its molecule at least one nitrile group and a tertiary amino group. The invention also includes a process for making black-and-white negative images having ultrahigh contrast by using the invention's materials. The invention is particularly useful in the pre-press stage for printing.

Abstract: Compositions, methods, and systems for manufacturing articles, particularly containers and packaging materials, having a fiber-reinforced, starch-bound cellular matrix. Suitable mixtures used to form the articles are prepared by first preparing a viscous preblended mixture comprising water, a gelatinized starch-based binder, and fibers having an average length greater than about 2 mm. The highly viscous preblended mixture effectively transfers the shearing forces of the mixer to the fibers. The final moldable mixture is then prepared by mixing into the preblended mixture the remaining starch-based binder, water, and other desired admixtures, e.g., mold-releasing agents, inorganic filler rheology-modifying agents, plasticizers, coating materials, and dispersants, in the correct proportions to form an article which has the desired performance criteria.

Abstract: 1,1,1,3,3,3-Hexafluoropropane is disclosed as a refrigerant.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved process for dyeing cationic-dyeable polyamide fibers, especially carpet fibers, with an acid dye to provide stain-resistant fibers. The polyamide fibers contain cationically dyeable sulfonate groups along the polymer chain. The improvement involves adding certain water-soluble salts to a dyebath at a concentration of at least 20% based on the weight of fiber.

Abstract: The present invention discloses methods for preparing antibodies which bind to specific isoforms of the human retinoic acid receptor-.gamma. (RAR-.gamma.). In addition, several monoclonal antibodies are described which bind to human RAR-.gamma., but not to mouse or which bind to RAR-.gamma.1, but not to RAR-.gamma.2. Methods and kits are described which allow one to detect the isotype of RAR-.gamma. which is expressed in a test sample. Such methods are useful in determining the tissue specific pattern of expression of various RAR-.gamma. isoforms.

Abstract: An improved process for preparing high molecular weight polyester polymers, such as poly(butylene terephthalate), an alkylene glycol and a di- or tricarboxylic acid by first preparing a pre-polymer in the form of uniform solid particles having an intrinsic viscosity of from 0.1 to about 0.3 dL/gm and a chemical composition which contains greater than a 1% stoichiometric excess of the alkylene glycol above the amount required to produce a high molecular weight polymer, and polymerizing the pre-polymer in the solid state.

Abstract: A central medical record repository for a managed health care organization accepts and stores medical record documents in any format from medical service providers. The repository then identifies the document using information automatically extracted from the document and stores the extracted data in a document database. The repository links the document to a patient by extracting from the document demographic data identifying the patient and matching it to data stored in a patient database. Data is extracted automatically from medical records containing "unstructured" or free-form text by identifying conventional organization components in the text and is organized by executing rules that extract data with the aid of such information. Documents for a patient are retrieved by identifying the patient using demographic data.

Abstract: A coupling, which may be an ostomy coupling but could be any kind of tube or pipe coupling, includes a first coupling member 10 and a second coupling member 30 which are mutually interengageable and which surround an orifice 70. The coupling also includes a resilient split ring 50 which encircles the two coupling members and has a handle member 51 which can be manipulated to cause the split ring to be deformed. This causes the radially-inwardly extending tabs 52 on the ring to be shifted between respective first positions in which the split ring is undeformed and the tabs lock the two coupling members together and respective second positions in which the split ring is deformed in such a way as to shift the tabs radially outwardly to positions where they permit separation of the two coupling members.The split ring is desirably made of a relatively rigid but springy plastics material, for example an acetal resin.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for treating used aluminum chlorofluoride catalyst either alone or mixed with organics. It involves forming a solution of the catalyst in water or an aqueous acid and then adjusting the pH and/or composition of the aqueous phase formed to precipitate compounds containing the aluminum and/or fluorine.