Abstract: A method produces a coating including a conjugated polymer on a substrate. The method includes the steps of: —providing a substrate, —introducing a conjugated polymer coating forming material into an atmospheric pressure plasma discharge, or into the reactive gas stream resulting therefrom, —simultaneously with the introduction of a coating forming material, introducing an additional material into the plasma discharge or the reactive gas stream resulting therefrom, —exposing the substrate to the plasma discharge or the reactive gas stream resulting therefrom, thereby obtaining the coating.

Abstract: A plasma jet apparatus for performing plasma processing of an article includes: an elongated central electrode (2,15), an elongated cylindrical outer electrode (1) or two outer electrodes (15,16) surrounding the central electrode and being coaxial with the central electrode, or two electrodes substantially parallel to the central electrode. an electrical insulator (3) or insulators (18,19) are disposed between the outer electrode(s) and the central electrode, wherein a discharge lumen having a distal end and a proximal end is defined between the central electrode and the electrical insulator(s). A supply opening (6) is disposed at the distal end of the discharge lumen for supplying a plasma producing gas to the discharge lumen, A power source (9) provides a voltage between the central electrode and said outer electrode. The electrical insulator has a radial or outward extension (40,20) at the proximal end beyond the outer surface of the outer electrode(s).

Abstract: An apparatus and method are for disinfection and purification of a liquid, gaseous or solid phase, or a mixture thereof. The apparatus includes: a central electrode, a dielectric layer adjacent to the electrode, a first area adjacent to the dielectric layer, and is configured to introduce a first medium into the first area, a second area adjacent to the first area. The apparatus is also configured to introduce a second medium into the second area, and for creating a plasma in the first medium, while the first medium is present in the first area, by applying a voltage between the first electrode and a second electrode. An injector injects the plasma into the second area, in order to be mixed with the second medium.

Abstract: A desalination plant, includes a sea water intake, a desalination unit having a reverse osmosis or a thermal desalination unit, a fresh water outlet and a brine outlet. The plant also includes a salinity gradient power unit having a brine inlet, a seawater inlet and a mixed water outlet. The brine outlet is connected to the brine inlet and the salinity gradient power unit is arranged to generate an electrical current. A solar power heater is between the brine outlet and the brine inlet. A method for reducing the power consumption of a desalination plant providing fresh water and brine from sea water, includes a first step of providing a salinity gradient power unit, a next step of feeding the salinity gradient power unit with brine from the desalination plant as high salinity feed and sea water as low salinity feed.

Abstract: A method for applying a coating (4) on a substrate (1), includes: —scanning a laser beam (2) along a line on the surface of said substrate. The method also includes supplying a coating forming material from a supply system (3), the system moving along the same line as the laser beam but coming up behind the laser beam, so that the coating forming material is deposited on a spot which has previously been heated by the laser beam to a temperature above the melting temperature of the coating forming material. Substantially no physical contact occurs between the laser beam and the coating forming material. Preferably, the method further includes a second step of scanning the surface a second time with the laser beam, without adding coating forming material during the second step.

Abstract: A process for preparing an ion-permeable web-reinforced separator membrane includes the steps of: providing a web (2A) and a suitable paste (5), guiding the web (2A) in a vertical position, equally coating both sides of the web with the paste to produce a paste coated web (2B), and applying a symmetrical surface pore formation step and a symmetrical coagulation step to the paste coated web to produce a web-reinforced separator membrane.

Abstract: A method and apparatus coats a substrate with an inorganic-organic hybrid polymer material. The method generates and maintains a plasma according to the Dielectric Barrier Discharge (DBD) technique, method including the steps of introducing a sample in the space between two electrodes, generating a plasma discharge between the electrodes and admixing aerosols containing hybrid organic/inorganic cross-linked pre-polymers to the plasma discharge. Also, an apparatus generates the plasma and admixes the liquid coating material (precursor solution) in the form of aerosol to the plasma discharge.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a method and devices for controlling at least one load connected to an AC power line. The method is based on the introduction of interruptions in the line voltage, which correspond to data being sent. The method centers on interruptions of variable length, yielding the opportunity of sending more data with a reduced number of interruptions. The invention is further related to a particular design of the transmitter and receiver. The transmitter is equipped with a means for measuring the line current. The receiver is equipped with a comparator with a feedback connection. The receiver is also capable of increasing momentarily the line current, which creates the possibility of sending information back towards the transmitter.

Abstract: A recombinant nucleic acid sequence comprising an SOS regulated promoter with an induction ratio higher than 40, said promoter being operatively linked to a reporter encoding nucleic acid sequence encoding a reporter resulting in a signal that can be assayed as light production. A biosensor compromising such a nucleic acid sequence and methods for determining genotoxicity and the presence of multiple genotoxic compounds using such a biosensor are disclosed.

Abstract: This invention concerns a diagnostic system made of: a transformed microorganism capable of an increased reporter activity upon exposure to an environmental insult, said microorganism having a stress inducible promoter sequence being operatively linked to a reported encoding nucleic acid sequence encoding a reporter molecule resulting in a signal that can be assayed, and of a transformed microorganism having a constitutive and non stress inducible promoter sequence being operatively linked to a reporter encoding nucleic acid sequence encoding a reporter molecule resulting in a signal that can be assayed.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a purification method metal(s) containing water wherein: the process is fully continuous, the water flows through a sand filter, inoculated with viable micro-organisms, a part of the micro-organism biomass, loaded with metals, is evacuated, and the micro-organism biomass loss is equal to the micro-organism biomass growth.

Abstract: Precipitating of metals and degrading of xenobiotic organic compounds is carried out with a reactor containing microorganisms immobilized on a membrane made of an inorganic oxide such as ZrO.sub.2, Sb.sub.2 O.sub.3, or Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 and an organic polymer such as polysulfone. The membrane has a skin side and an open side, and pores of the skin side are smaller than pores of the open side. The microorganisms are immobilized as a biofilm on the skin side of the membrane. A nutrient chamber supplies a nutrient solution to the open side of the membrane and the nutrient solution passes through the membrane from the open side to contact the microorganisms on the skin side. An effluent chamber supplies an effluent solution containing a metal in the form of a salt, a xenobiotic compound such as a chlorinated organic compound or both to the biofilm of microorganisms on the skin side, and the microorganisms precipitate the metal and/or degrade the xenobiotic compound.

Abstract: A universal joint 10 for the extension of billiard cues. The joint comprises a joint element 12 generally tubular and adapted to hold at one end the front end of an extension and to receive at the other end the butt end of a billiard cue, and a generally tubular tightening element 14 adapted to lock the cue inside the joint element 12. The joint 10' is operative irrespective of the outer diameter of the butt terminal part of the cue received therein, by the combined action of slits 42, tapered portions 28, 38, 40 and resilience of the material of which the joint element 12 is made.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fused gene containing: the promoter sequence of (a) gene(s) encoding the resistance to one or several metal(s) or encoding the catabolism of one or several xenobiotic compound(s), said promoter being inducible in the presence of said metal(s) or xenobiotic compound(s), or both, and downstream the promoter, a gene producing a detectable signal such as light emitting gene, said gene being under the control of said promoter, said gene producing a detectable signal being located at a position such that the induction of the promoter causes the transcription of the gene producing a detectable signal and such that there is no terminator between the promoter and the gene producing a detectable signal.

Abstract: An enhanced motor vehicle warning system provides flashing lights in response to the sounding of the horn. The driver can either enable or disable the system. When the system is enabled and the horn is sounded, latching and time delay relays close to provide power to various lamps and in particular to the high beam lamps and back-up lamps. This power, through the latching relay, is provided through a flasher so that these lamps provide a visible flashing light signal in synchronism with the flasher for the predetermined time period set by the time delay relay. Parking lamps may also be energized, if they are off. But preferably not through the flasher.

Abstract: A silk screening fixture for umbrellas to enable limited quantities of umbrellas to be silk screened in local shops. The fixture is adjustable in height for umbrellas of different length handles, in width, for umbrellas of different diameter, and in angle, for umbrellas of differing curvature. Two legs and a lateral arm are shown with one of the legs carrying a support plate for the silk screen which plate is adjustable in angle. The distance between the legs adjusts for the diameter of the umbrella, while a series of differing length collars are provided on the other leg to adjust for handle length.