Abstract: An interactive visual communications system consists of a number of similar terminals linked together by narrow band communications links. Each terminal consists of visual display apparatus having a display and a display generator, an input interactive device for providing input instructions which are converted to graphic task instructions at the terminal, a processor for processing such graphic task instructions (GTI's) to control the display system and the input interactive device. The generated graphic task instructions are directed through an interaction handler which directs the GTI's to the processor as well as to a modem for transmission over the narrow band communications link to one or more similar terminals. In addition, the interaction handler receives GTI's from the other terminals which are also processed by the processor to control the display system. The display system may include a random vector display monitor or a raster graphic display monitor.

Abstract: A particulate solids conveying and draining device, for mounting in a solids outlet wall, comprising a funnel-shaped rotor with particulate solids scooping members attached thereto. Each particulate solids scooping member comprises a paddle scooping portion leading to a liquid draining, particulate solids spilling, rib portion. In operation, the rotor is rotated so that the particulate solids scooping members scoop a slurry of the particulate solids and, on rotation, drain liquid therefrom through liquid return ports to the center of the funnel-shaped rotor and back to the slurry. When particulate material reaches its angle of repose on a particulate solids scooping member, it tumbles across and off the rotor on the other side of the outlet wall to that at which the slurry is situated.

Abstract: Antigenic polysaccharides are modified to generate a terminally-located aldehyde group by controlled oxidation of vicinal hydroxyl groups, e.g. of unlinked terminal non-reducing sialic acid residues. In some cases where there is a reducing end group, e.g. of the type N-acetylmannosamine residue, it can be made into the most susceptible site for oxidation by initially reducing it to its open chain hydroxyl form, e.g. N-acetylmannosaminitol. The vicinal hydroxyl oxidation is controlled to yield a reactive aldehyde group which is then covalently linked to a free amino group of a selected protein by reductive amination. The resulting polysaccharide-protein conjugates are soluble and have been found to have enhanced antigenicity compared to the polysaccharide alone. This terminal aldehyde:free amine group reductive amination can be applied to various polysaccharide antigens and various well-tolerated proteins, preferably protein immunogens.

Abstract: An improvement in the method of casting a reverse osmosis or ultrafiltration polymeric membrane on a wall of porous support having a first, high pressure side under service conditions, and a second, low pressure side under service conditions, wherein the first side is coated wih a cellulose ester casting solution to at least partially impregnate the support, solvent carrier of the casting solution is partially evaporated to leave a residue, and then residues adjacent the first and second sides are gelled with a gelation liquid comprising a monohydric alcohol. The improvement comprises gelling the residue adjacent the first side with a gelation liquid which is separate from that used to gel the residue adjacent the second side, and the monohydric alcohol mole fractions of the separate gelation liquid, and their temperatures during gelation, are chosen so that relatively larger pores are formed towards the second side of the porous support.

Abstract: The apparatus comprises a chamber having an open end and an opposite closeable end, and provided with a heating device and pressure measuring device. The open end of the chamber is inserted into the fresh concrete with opposite end opened. After insertion the chamber is closed and the contents heated under predetermined conditions. The pressure increase is a function of air content of the mixture.

Abstract: Chromium and vanadium can be co-extracted from alkaline solutions or leach liquors containing these metals using quaternary amine solvent mixtures. The alkaline leach liquors usually are derived by leaching of calcined ores or concentrates. The loaded solvent mixture is scrubbed with chromium solution to remove all metals except chromium, and the chromium is then recovered from the solvent phase. The vanadium can be recovered from the scrub liquor. Recovery of aluminum is also possible.

Abstract: A collapsible arch forming assembly comprising a flexible member and two tension line lengths with one tension line length threaded through even number guides, counted from one end of the flexible member and the other tension line length threaded through the odd number guides. Tensioning the tension line lengths arches the flexible member into the arch and this may be done by a winch assembly or inserting spreader bars at the guides to deflect the free one of the first and second tension line lengths at that position. The spreader bars may be replaced by, for example, mechanical jacks or fluid pressure actuated jacks particularly for such applications as using the arch forming assembly as formwork upon which concrete is poured.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is described for reducing the gas consumption rate by controlling the gas composition in a repetitively pulsed high pressure and/or high energy density TE CO.sub.2 laser. Detrimental gas species formed in the discharge are removed by chemical reaction in the gas phase and the reaction products are removed by a trap in a recirculator loop. In particular, the primary detrimental species is oxygen, the reducing gas added to remove this is hydrogen or deuterium and the resulting oxides of hydrogen or deuterium are removed by a molecular sieve.

Abstract: The low loss access coupler includes two multimode optic fibers, each having a biconical taper section. The biconical taper sections of the fibers are fused together to provide optical coupling between the fibers. The fused fibers may also be twisted around one another to enhance mode mixing. The access couplers may be produced by fusing two fibers together along a small length, then heating the fused length and pulling the fibers to form the biconical tapers; or by twisting a portion of each of the fibers around one another, applying a tensile force to the twisted portions of the fibers and heating a region of the twisted fibers to soften and fuse a predetermined length of twisted fibers. If the fibers already have biconical taper sections, the access coupler may be produced by twisting the fibers together along their taper sections and heating a region of the taper sections to fuse them together.

Abstract: An in-line method for the beneficiation of coal and the formation of a coal-in-oil combustible fuel wherein the coal is wet pulverized, micro-agglomerated with light oil to dissociate a large amount of inorganic impurities and some water, agglomerated with heavy oil to form relatively larger agglomerates and dissociate mainly water with some inorganic impurities, and then mixed with further heavy oil to form the coal-in-oil combustible fuel.

Abstract: An attractant has been found for the male sunflower moth Homoeosoma electellum (Hulst.). Z-9,E-12-tetradecadien-1-ol has been found effective, optionally in the presence of Z-9-tetradecen-1-ol.

Abstract: A system of corona injection and repelling electrodes are positioned such that airborne particulates are charged in situ and are propelled to collecting grids above a furnace, or concentrated into particle streams directed into ventilation hoods to be collected by low volume, high efficiency precipitators.

Abstract: A precast concrete stairway module comprising a concrete wall assembly which is C-shaped in plan view, providing a side wall and two end walls, a concrete stair flight extending from an edge of one side wall to a mid-height position of the other side wall. The stair flight assembly is moulded integrally with the wall assembly and comprises a landing at each end and a flight of stairs therebetween. An access opening is provided in the wall assembly.

Abstract: An animal trap comprising a first frame member made of strong metal rod, generally rectangular in shape and defining a striker bar and an anvil bar connected by side bars, said frame member also having extending bars fixedly connected to the frame at the junction points of the anvil bars and the side bars, extending at a slight angle to the side bars, and ending in end connections, a second frame member similar to the first having similar extending bars ending in end connections, said first and second frame members connected together at the end connections such that their side bars pass each other in close proximity defining X-shaped structures at each end of the trap and such that relative motion may occur from an upper "set" position where the two striker bars lie close to each other to a lower "sprung" position where each striker bar approaches closely to the anvil bar of the other frame member, a metal rod spring device formed of one or more spring coils connected by arms to two rings, said rings encircli

Abstract: A miner's safety helmet having a lamp mounted on the front thereof comprising inner and outer shells made of tough, hard plastic material having a generally hemispheric shape to conform with the upper part of the wearer's head, the shells being spaced apart, and closed around the rims thereof, to form an enclosed space therebetween, a slot-like opening at the front part of the rim of the helmet into the enclosed space, a visor of tranparent plastic material rectractably and telescopically mounted in the slot and having a doubly curved shape to conform with the shape of the enclosed space such that when the visor is in a fully retracted position it lies almost completely in the enclosed space and when in fully extended position it extends over the face of the wearer, an air supply connection at the rear of the helmet adapted for connection to a source of clean filtered air, switch means mounted in the helmet in the enclosed space in relation to the visor configuration, and electrical leads from the switch to t

Abstract: A pressure bar of the fixed type for veneer cutting is heated to reduce frictional drag against the wood surface. In the preferred form, the pressure bar is contoured having a tip with a relatively small radius of curvature and a face, in advance of the tip, which has a relatively large radius of curvature. The combination of a heated contoured pressure bar provides performance comparable with that of a roller bar in terms of roughness and friction, but at significantly reduced cost.

Abstract: A method for detecting, monitoring or measuring visible and ultraviolet radiation exposure wherein a liquid crystal element covered with a coating layer transparent to the radiation is placed in the path of the radiation to be monitored and then the shift of the spectral reflectance or transmittance of the element is measured, this shift being a measure of the radiation dosage. This shift may be measured using reference liquid crystal elements or a spectrophotometer or similar measuring devices.

Abstract: A method of seam welding metal tube from a sheet metal blank wherein the sheet metal blank is provided with central key locating slots and pre-curled edges, then centrally located on a collapsible mandrel, having a heat sink liner extending therearound to a longitudinally extending gas gallery slot, by the key locating slots and then skid rolled therearound towards a longitudinally extending gas gallery slot for seam welding the curled edges while they are clamped to the collapsible mandrel over the gas gallery slot. Pre-curling the edges avoids upstanding edges at the seam weld and the method provides consistently reliable welds for tube blanks which may be manufactured in short lengths for, for example, the manufacture of bellows.

Abstract: A machine for mining hard material in-situ between adjacent auger holes is disclosed which is suitable for being drivingly connected to a conventional mining apparatus, particularly an auger mining apparatus. The mining machine includes cutting apparatus for mechanically contacting and dislocating hard material in-situ between adjacent auger holes. A power operated system is drivingly connected to the cutting apparatus for generating a cutting motion during the in-cutting operation. A guiding system is provided for maintaining the cutting apparatus in mechanical contact with hard material in-situ between the adjacent auger holes. In one embodiment of the invention a collection bin collects the dislocated material which is transported from the position at which the material is mined to a remote location for deposit.

Abstract: A photochemical device for conversion of visible light to electricity comprising one or more monolayers of dye material such as chlorophyll, an electron acceptor monolayer of saturated fatty acid between suitable electrode layers, all formed or mounted on a suitable substrate sheet.