Abstract: Novel breeding lines of Big Bend Bluebonnets, Lupinus havardii, inbred to have the following characteristics: uniform deep color, blue, pink, or white; at least 15 harvestable racemes per plant; each raceme being at least 12 inches long; and reduced flower abscission from the uncut raceme. Methods for reproducibly growing Lupinus havardii in the greenhouse and methods for post-harvest treatment of cut flowers are disclosed. The new bluebonnet lines have great utility in the cut flower industry.

Abstract: An antenna for a wireless communicating device can be set at a precise frequency, in the as formed state. A coil antenna is precisely held in a mold, while an appropriate plastic is molded therearound, with no distortion of the coil, to fix a precise shape for the coil. The recovered, plastic-encased coil requires little or no follow-up treatment before it can be used in a wireless communication device as an antenna.

Abstract: A method for synthesizing alkyl glucosides by the acetalization of sugars, particularly glucose, with alcohols in excess and subsequent separation of the excess alcohol by extraction, the extraction being carried out with an extraction agent, which is close to the critical point at a reduced pressure in the range of 0.8 to 1.3 and preferably of 0.9 to 1.2 at pressures, which are selected so that the density of the extraction agent, which is close to the critical point, is greater than 180 kg/m.sup.3.

Abstract: A cylindrical screen within which rotates a rotor fitted with means causing pressure variations and/or turbulence. The rotor (1) consists of one or several cylindrical surface segments (2) which when geometrically developed are right triangles of which the two perpendicular sides (3, 4) resp. correspond to the cylinder base (3) and to the height (4) and of which the oblique side (5) constitutes the hypothenuse.

Abstract: A number of optical interferometric sensor configurations are provided. The interferometric sensors include a polarization maintaining optic fiber forming either a loop or linear optical path. Circularly polarized light propagate along the optical path and pass through a field-sensitive sensing medium. A differential phase shift induced in the light waves by a magnetic field is then detected by a photodetector and associated signal processing electronics.

Abstract: This invention discloses the DNA sequences coding for the Actinobacillus pleuropneumonia hemolysin(s). It further discloses a method of producing the A. pleuropneumoniae hemolysin(s) from recombinant cells. It also provides a method of using the hemolysin(s) antigen as a protective immunogen against porcine pleuropneumonia.

Abstract: An optical device includes a waveguide and a film or layer of a material having highly nonlinear optical characteristics, in particular a semiconductor material. The film is located so close to the waveguide core that the evanescent field of light propagating along the waveguide extends up to the film. In this optical device, the large nonlinear properties of the material influence the optical characteristics of the waveguide. When positioned along a similar D-fiber, the device can be used as a fiber-based, nonlinear coupler controlled by a relatively weak light signal. The same device can be used as an element of a laser and in a number of various other applications.

Abstract: A furniture leg attached to the underside of the frame of a piece of furniture. The furniture leg has a vertical bore through which a bolt is threadedly screwed into an internally-threaded insert on the frame, entrapping the furniture leg between the head of the bolt and the frame. In some embodiments, at least one, and preferably two, teeth extend upwardly from the upper surface of the furniture leg and pierce through the upholstery and into the frame, preventing the furniture leg from rotating about the axis of the bolt. In other embodiments, at least one, and preferably two, corrugated joiners extend upwardly from the upper surface of the furniture leg and pierce through the upholstery and into the frame, preventing the furniture leg from rotating about the axis of the bolt. One of the corrugated joiners may span a seam between bondedly and abuttingly joined pieces of the furniture leg, thereby also providing additional structural joining of the pieces of the furniture leg.

Abstract: The invention is a wiping bar of a rail lubrication apparatus of the type used with a rail having a base with outwardly extending flanges, a head, and a web connecting the base and the head, where the lubrication apparatus is comprised of a wiping bar and a first set of clamps for maintaining the wiping bar in position with respect to the rail. The lubrication apparatus also comprises a pump actuator and a second set of clamps for maintaining the pump actuator in position with the rail. The rail lubrication apparatus may be used with a pump, responsive to the pump actuator, for pumping a lubricant from a reservoir to the wiping bar to form a complete rail lubrication system. Specifically, the wiping bar of the present invention includes an improved distribution blade over those known in the art. Further, the wiping bar of the present invention includes the improvement of coating the surface of the wiping bar contacting the lubricant with an anti-stick material.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and compositions for the treatment of hair. Treating compositions comprising cysteine and/or another active shaping compound, cysteamine and a non-reducing disaccharide are disclosed. The methods of the present invention comprise application of the composition to the hair for permanently altering the natural shape of the hair.

Abstract: A water based drilling fluid which is environmentally non-toxic containing a sodium alkylsufosuccinate and well drilling additives, said sodium alkylsulfosuccinate is water dispersible and imparts anti-bit balling, lubricity and environmentally non-toxicity properties to said drilling fluid and does not precipitate in the presence of the said well drilling additives.

Abstract: A bottle for spraying or dispensing liquids comprising a principal chamber, a siphon tube extending alongside the chamber and a separate trigger bulb connected to the top of the siphon tube. The siphon tube is also pinch molded so that a valve seat is formed therein. When the trigger bulb is decompressed, the liquid that is drawn up into the siphon tube cascades over into the trigger bulb. When the trigger bulb is fully primed, any pressure subsequently applied to the trigger bulb will cause the liquid to be sprayed out of the bottle.

Abstract: Several embodiments of an improved absorbent insert or core are disclosed. According to one embodiment, the insert comprises a fluff layer physically integrated to at least one layer of laminate consisting of at least one tissue layer and polymer powder secured to it and supported on it. The fluff layer and the laminate are embossed between rollers that physically integrate the two layers and produce transfer sites through which liquid is rapidly transferred into the fluff layer, away from a wearer. In another embodiment, an absorbent insert is produced by embossing a laminate between a smooth roller and a patterned roller and trimming and folding the embossed laminate to produce an insert with a central region with an exposed pattern of embossed depressions and, on each side of the central region, lateral regions with an exposed, smooth surface.

Abstract: A procedure for winding a wrapper (1) around a piece of goods (2) includes the steps of pulling a shrinkable film (5) over the upper part of the goods, winding the wrapper around the goods so that the film is partly impacted under the wrapper, and cutting off and seaming the wrapper. The wrapper is unshrinkable relative to the film. Only the film is heated, and it shrinks and becomes tightened around the upper part of the goods. An apparatus includes assembly for pulling a shrinkable film over the upper part of the goods, assembly for winding a relatively unshrinkable wrapper around the goods, assembly for cutting off and seaming the wrapper, and a heating device for heating only the film wherein the heating device is disposed above the film whereby a hot air is blown against the film. The tightened film supports the upper part of the goods so that the goods cannot fan out during transport or delivery.

Abstract: A remote annunciator system in which the emission of an acoustic signal by a first annunciator is detected by an acoustic signal detector which causes a radio frequency transmitter to transmit a radio frequency signal. A radio frequency receiver which receives the signal operates a second annunciator which is remote from the first annunciator, to cause the second annunciator to emit an audible or visual signal. Preferably, the radio frequency signal is encoded and is decoded at the receiver, and if the first annunciator can emit two different accoustic signals, the transmitted signal is encoded dependent upon which acoustic signal is emitted and the receiver decoder causes the second annunciator to emit an audible signal or a visual signal which depends on the transmitted signal encoding.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for a roulette-type game comprising two sets of concentric indicia. According to a preferred embodiment, players may wager on either set of indicia and on the occurrence of the same indicia from both sets of indicia being indicated. A preferred roulette table comprises two independently rotatable plates each bearing identical indicia, and a mechanism for accurately aligning the indicia from the inner plate with indicia on the outer plate when the plates are not in relative motion.