Abstract: A rapid, sensitive, non-radioactive diagnostic kit for the direct detection of both Shiga-like toxin, type I, and Shiga-like toxin, type II, produced by enterohemorrhagic Escherichia Coli in food and clinical samples. This diagnostic kit is comprised of a monoclonal antibody capable of detecting Shiga-like toxin, type I, and a monoclonal antibody capable of detecting Shiga-like toxin, type II, together with a chemiluminescing detection reagent with a sensitivity enhancer.

Abstract: A flange driver for a cardan joint with a spider comprised of two pins mutually offset by 90.degree. and two essentially same-design yoke halves. Each yoke half includes a base and a bearing part with a bore contained in it. Both yoke halves abutt along an interface which is essentially perpendicular to the axis of a first spider pin supported by the yoke. Both yoke halves feature a system for torque transmission from the shaft adjoining the joint to the flange driver and to the spider or in reverse order. Both yoke halves of the flange driver are joined to each other positively. Each yoke half features on its interface a toothing directed toward the respective complementary interface. The flank lines of the toothing or a plurality of tangents to the flank lines, projected in a common plane with the yoke axis, extend at an angle greater than 0.degree. to smaller than 180.degree. relative to the yoke axis.

Abstract: A circuit for actuating a door chime has a dc power source in series with a resistor and in shunt with a capacitor. A remote push button transmits a radio signal to the circuit, to connect a solenoid in series with the power source and the resistor and in shunt with the capacitor, which causes a relatively large pulse of current from the instantaneous combination of the power source current and the current from the charge of the capacitor to be applied to the solenoid which is arranged to strike a tone bar. The resistor in series with the capacitor has a time constant that charges the capacitor adequately between cycles of the operation of the push button and the resistance of the resistor limits the current flow from the power source.

Abstract: An improved urea recovery process is presented. In the improved process, multiple vacuum rated surface condensers used to condense water vapor evolved during urea vacuum evaporation/concentration are replaced by a direct contact cooler/absorber to obtain substantial capital and utility cost savings. Improved heat exchange efficiency of the present process significantly reduces cooling water usage in comparison to the surface condensers.

Abstract: A new and improved collapsable, combination chair/walker for aiding elderly and/or disabled people in independent movement includes an upstanding foldable, or collapsable frame including a front rail, a pair of opposite side rails and a back, and the frame supports a removable seat at an intermediate level for a person to sit within the frame. An open space is provided forwardly of the seat for accomodating the legs of an occupant in both a standing/walking position and/or a seated position. The open space is defined between the front rail and a forward edge of the seat and a flexible detachable safety strap extends into the open space between the seat and front rail for preventing an occupant from sliding out of the seat onto the floor or falling to the floor from a walking or standing position. Rollers or casters are provided for easy movement of the chair/walker and brakes are provided on at least some of the rollers to immobilize the chair/walker when desired.

Abstract: Circuitry, and an associated method for a multi-user communication system, such as a cellular communication system. Additional communication is selectively permitted in the communication system through operation of the circuitry. Levels of communication quality of ongoing communication in the communication system are determined. When a request is made to admit additional communication, the additional communication is admitted only when the level of communication quality is better than a selected threshold.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for adaptive mobile station presence verification in a cellular system. Mobile station presence verification is performed only for selected requested handoffs from a first base station to a second base station, where the selected requested handoffs are chosen based on a rate of mobile station presence verifications per requested handoffs from the first base station to the second base station, that is adaptively changed as handoffs occur. In an embodiment of the invention, the rate of mobile station presence verifications per requested handoffs from the first base station to the second base station is adaptively changed based on the rates of unsuccessful verifications per verification attempts and, the rate of unsuccessful handoffs per requested handoff attempts, from the first base station to the second base station.

Abstract: Method for separating paper fibers and contaminants for mixtures containing water, fibers, contaminants, paper or cardboard pellets, wherein the mixture is subjected firstly to a screening, secondly to a mashing and then thirdly to a further screening with addition of water, subsequent to which the pulp retained by the screen is evacuated.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack power bus system which includes a plurality of current collectors mounted to the peripheral edge portion of a fuel cell stack end plate. The current collectors form lapped connections with a layered power bus which can be easily positioned to extend from any side of a fuel cell stack and which has improved heat transfer characteristics.

Abstract: A retrofit method for increasing production capacity of an ammonia plant having a front end including in series primary and secondary reformers and a shift converter for reacting a hydrocarbon feed, steam and air to form a make-up syngas stream comprising hydrogen and nitrogen at about design stoichiometry, and a synthesis loop wherein a recycle syngas stream is combined with the make-up gas to form a syngas feed to ammonia converters. The retrofit involves the installation of an air separation unit to supply oxygen and nitrogen streams. The oxygen is used to enrich air supplied to the secondary reformer and increase the hydrogen content of the make-up gas substantially above the design stoichiometry and capacity. The nitrogen stream is supplied to the synthesis loop to obtain a desired hydrogen to nitrogen ratio in the syngas feed to the ammonia converters and compensate for the excess hydrogen in the make-up gas.

Abstract: Surgical devices such as implants or suture fastenings are assembled from a plurality of discrete components, one of which components includes a heat bondable plastic material for bonding the components together. At least two components are bonded to each other by the applying heat to the heat bondable plastic material of one component. The heat bondable plastic material is preferably a polymeric or composite material suitable for surgical applications and implantation in humans, and may be a biodegradable material. A laser may be used as the heat source. The present invention is advantageously embodied in heat bonded fastenings for sutures or K-wires, in which a variety of different suture anchors are usable, including expandable distal suture anchors.

Abstract: A chest exerciser has a pneumatic resister (1) of linear motion and a selection of handle (8, 9), attachment (29) and/or anchor means (34, 40, 42) that are positional on opposite ends for direction of selectively push exercise and pull exercise to select muscle groups and to specific muscles in the select muscle groups. The pneumatic resister of linear motion can be a cylindrical pump (6, 7), an accordion bellows pump (4), a variously telescopic bellows pump (5), a resilient pump or other pneumatic pump or combinations of pneumatic pumps. The pneumatic resister of linear motion can be selectively resistant to linear motion by means of flow resisters (2, 3) that can be adjustable of resistance or rate of inflow and outflow of air. Separate inflow and outflow resisters (2, 3) can be provided for adjustment of push and pull exercise. Handle means can be different for different sizes of hands and for different positioning of the pneumatic resister in relation to muscles.

Abstract: The invention comprises a process for selectively oxidizing hydrogen in a mixture with other gaseous materials by contacting the hydrogen containing gas under oxidation conditions with a catalyst comprising a phosphate of a metal wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of germanium, tin, lead, arsenic, antimony and bismuth.