Abstract: A method for preventing or treating microbial colonization in plants is provided. The method involves application of microorganisms such as Bacillus species or Pseudomonas species and a chitosanase inducer such as chitosan to the plants. Treatments may be made by treating the plants with a combination of the microorganism and chitosanase inducer or by sequential application of the microorganism and chitosanase inducer.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for transmitting a plurality of information streams having variable data rates. A plurality of information streams are multiplexed together into a common information frame. The information is channel encoded and multiplexed with a number of overhead bits including encoding information on the multiplexed frame. The multiplexed frame is then demultiplexed into at least one channel frames that are each transmitted over a separate code channel such that the first code channel always includes the overhead bit data.

Abstract: Viral infections are treated by the administration of alpha-interferon at a dosage of from about 0.01 to about 5 IU/lb./day such that the interferon is held in contact with the patient's oral and pharyngeal mucosae. The IFN-.alpha. is administered in a solid dosage from, e.g., a saliva-dissolvable lozenge.

Abstract: In a bandwidth-on-demand type communications system, like that provided with a code division multiple access (CDMA) cellular communications system, charging subscribers for calls based on communications length provides an inaccurate measure of communication cost, and further serves to discourage use of the system for data transmission applications. To provide a more accurate cost determination, the amount of bandwidth used by each communication is metered and multiplied by a charging rate. In particular, measurements of the maximum amount of bandwidth used during predetermined time intervals are made during the course of each communication, with the maximum bandwidth measurements being summed to determine an estimate of the total amount of bandwidth used during the communication. The charge for the communication is then determined by multiplying the estimated total bandwidth measurement by a charging rate multiplier.

Abstract: Remote access circuitry and an associated method for a pager permits remote access to a pager from a source other than a network paging terminal. Human-perceptible signals are provided to the remote access circuitry by way of a mass-market communication medium. Signals applied to the remote access circuitry permit reconfiguration of the pager, as desired, or display of messages at the pager. An external service provider generating signals from a source other than the network paging terminal of a paging system are able to reconfigure, or display messages at, the pager.

Abstract: A number of layered vanadium oxide crystalline compositions are prepared by simple hydrothermal reactions. Generally, the compositions comprise parallel layers of mixed valence vanadium oxides with guest cations intercalated between the layers. The guest cations may comprise metal coordination complexes with bidentate ligands, monomeric ammonium or diammonium cations, or mixtures of alkali metal cations with monomeric ammonium cation or diammonium cations.

Abstract: Neoplastic diseases are treated by the administration of human interferon, particularly IFN-.alpha., at a dosage of from about 0.01 to about 5 IU/lb./day such that the interferon is held in contact with the patient's oral and pharyngeal mucosae. The interferon is administered in a solid dosage from, e.g., a saliva-dissolvable lozenge.

Abstract: A substantially fat free, edible composition which is usable with a bakery product, such as a wafer, to provide a topping, icing or filling between two wafers, which composition is directed to the food technology that includes a substantially body of background such as physical properties and function of various constitutent components used in icings or fillings. The substantially fat free, edible composition includes essentially no added natural sugar and has the physical temperature characteristics of a generally hydrogenated fat. The composition is made up of sorbitol crystals partially dissolved by heat in water at a level of less than about 10% by weight of the composition and heated with the water for dissolution to a maximum temperature.

Abstract: An electronic switching device which can be connected via an outside conductor to one pole of a voltage source and only via one other outside conductor to a terminal of a consumer, in which the other terminal of the consumer can be connected to the other pole of the voltage source, therefore a two-wire switching device, with a proximity indicator (1) which can be influenced from the outside, with an electronic switch (3), which can be controlled by the proximity indicator (1) via a switching amplifier (2), and with operating voltage supply circuit (4) for making available the operating voltage required by proximity indicator (1), and optionally by the switching amplifier (2) (=internal operating voltage), the operating voltage supply circuit (4) an having in-phase regulator (5) and proximity indicator (1) and the switching amplifier (2) being connected to the output of the in-phase regulator (5).

Abstract: Measurements of the load being carried on the control channel of a cellular telephone network air interface are made and then processed to identify a maximum permitted short message service message length for control channel transmission. Short message service messages with lengths less than the permitted maximum are authorized for transmission over the control channel. Any short message service message having a length exceeding the determined maximum length, however, is refused authorization for control channel transmission. The refused messages are either saved for control channel transmission at a later time when the measured loading permits or transmitted over the traffic channel portion of the air interface.

Abstract: A threshold limit representing the number of handovers allowed to be performed by a mobile station within a predetermined period of time is assigned to a serving mobile network. In case a fast moving mobile station exceeds the prescribed number of handovers, a cell selection in accordance with the hierarchical cell location method is overruled. Instead, a cell selection in accordance with the normal cell location method is implemented to reduce the number of future handovers by the fast moving mobile station.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for cleaning fecal matter from the interior of an extracted animal intestine. The apparatus has a water supply conduit, a water tube connected to the water supply conduit and at least one outlet for discharging water into an intestine surrounding the tube, and a transporter for moving intestines from one end of the tube towards the opposite end. A method for cleaning extracted tubular animal intestines by placing an animal intestine over a water tube, discharging water from the tube into the intestine and passing the tubular intestine along and off the tube without reversing the direction of movement is also disclosed.

Abstract: A vibratory conveyor capable of fluidizing particulate material permits control of direction, speed and fluidization of the material. The material is placed on a conveyor and vibrated by a linear vibrator which provides horizontal and vertical components of vibrational forces in a direction of movement. The amplitude and frequency of vibration are controlled to maintain a predetermined degree of fluidization. The vector angle of the linear vibrator is positioned to define a predetermined speed and direction of movement of the material on the conveyor.

Abstract: A new type of Blackjack (21) game, table and method is disclosed wherein a number of betting options are provided for the Blackjack player. In addition to the standard betting option against the Dealer, a Dealer Bust option, a jackpot option where the Blackjack player can obtain over 1,000 to 1 return payout and several other betting options are provided to bet on various possible cards such as receiving a 3 or a 6, a 4 or 5, a 10, Jack Queen, King or Ace for one or both of the initial two cards.

Abstract: Bacterial infections are treated by the administration of alpha-interferon at a dosage of from about 0.1 to about 5 IU/lb./day such that the interferon is held in contact with the patient's oral and pharyngeal mucosae. The method is particularly suitable for the treatment of antibiotic-resistant infections. IFN-.alpha. is administered in solution or in the form of a saliva-dissolvable lozenge.

Abstract: A lifting apparatus for lifting a heavy object. The lifting apparatus including a frame assembly having a pair of side beams spaced parallel to one another. A sliding sheave assembly is mounted to the frame assembly. The sliding sheave assembly is positioned between the pair of side beams. The sliding sheave assembly has a first shaft with a plurality of first sheaves mounted thereto and a second shaft with a plurality of second sheaves mounted thereto. The first and second shafts are separated by a distance which can be varied. A cylinder has a first end connected to the frame assembly and a rod end attached to the sliding sheave assembly. The cylinder rod end is capable of moving longitudinally relative to the first end to thereby alter the distance between the first and second shafts. A cable having first and second ends attached to the frame assembly is reeved between the pluralities of first and second sheaves.

Abstract: Alkanes are catalytically oxidized in air or oxygen using iron-substituted polyoxoanions (POAs) of the formula:H.sub.e-z ?(n-C.sub.4 H.sub.9).sub.4 N!.sub.z (XM.sub.11 M'O.sub.39).sup.-eThe M' (e.g., iron(III)/iron(II)) reduction potential of the POAs is affected by selection of the central atom X and the framework metal M, and by the number of tetrabutyl-ammonium groups. Decreased Fe(III)/Fe(II) reduction potential has been found to correlate to increased oxidation activity.

Abstract: A new Picea pungens variety discovered as a chance seedling in a field of Picea pungens seedlings, has brilliant yellow new growth, that hardens to green with a blue tint four to six weeks later, which makes the variety a superb specimen plant for landscape use.