Abstract: Articles and surfaces are disclosed having antimicrobial activity. Also disclosed are methods for treating surfaces and articles to confer antimicrobial activity. Such articles and surfaces are particularly adapted for food contact use, such as food preparation or packaging. Antimicrobial activity is conferred by applying molecules of a polypeptide bacteriocin, e.g., nisin, such as by contacting the surface or article with a liquid solution of a bacteriocin or bacteriocin mixture. The bacteriocin molecules are attached to the surface or article via any means enabling the molecules to subsequently detach and lethally interact with susceptible bacteria deposited on the treated surface or article. Such detached bacteriocin molecules can also kill susceptible bacteria present on foods or other substances that contact the surface or article. Attached bacteriocins are stable to drying, water rinsing, and freezing, even for long periods.

Abstract: A method and device for treating a gas stream comprising at least one non-halogenated carbonaceous compound and optionally at least one halogenated organic compound. The gas stream, at 100.degree. C. to 650.degree. C. and in the presence of oxygen is contacted with a first catalyst in a first catalyst zone. The first catalyst comprises a first catalytic material deposited on a low acidity support material. In this zone, the non-halogenated compound is selectively reacted to form innocuous materials such as water and carbon monoxide. This can be followed by contacting the gas stream with a second catalyst in a second catalyst zone. The second catalyst comprises a second catalytic material deposited on a high acidity support material. In this zone, the halogenated organic compounds are reacted.

Abstract: A deodorant equipment for an air conditioner includes a heater. A fin covers at least a part of an effective heating area of a surface of the heater. The fin has a radiator portion extending along a longitudinal direction of the heater. A vitreous coating film covers at least a part of an outer surface of the fin. A catalyst layer includes an absorption member and a catalyst. The absorption member absorbs odor components of air. The absorption member releases the odor components when being heated. The catalyst oxidizes and decomposes odor components when being heated.

Abstract: An autoclave system which uses the exhaust gas of a turbine to heat an autoclave. The exhaust gas of the turbine is approximately 1200.degree. F., low enough to be coupled to the heater coils of the autoclave. The output shaft of the turbine may be coupled to a generator that drives the autoclave motor and other subsystems. The output shaft of the turbine may also be coupled, either directly or through the generator, to the compressors of a nitrogen processing plant. The processed nitrogen can be introduced to the autoclave to reduce the risk of fires.

Abstract: A microbe propagation preventing apparatus and a microbe propagation preventing method are provided to prevent an ion from decreasing at a time of decomposing ozone generated by gaseous discharge or ionization so as to sufficiently generate air ion, and to sufficiently prevent propagation of microbes adhering to an object by using the air ion without secondary pollution. Further, in the apparatus and the method, a gas containing the ion is supplied into water so as to prevent the microbe propagation in the water. In the apparatus, an ozone decomposing chamber is mounted to be electrically insulated from an air duct. An electrode to remove a positive ion is mounted to obtain only a negative ion, and extend a lifetime of the obtained ion. An ion supplying portion is mounted to supply an ionized gas into a space housing the object in which microbes can be propagated, and return the ionized gas to an ionization chamber.

Abstract: A sterilization method is provided which includes the steps of measuring the pressure within a sterilization chamber injecting a sterilant vapor into a flow of carrier gas, introducing the sterilant vapor and carrier gas into and through a sterilization chamber, and adjusting the rate of sterilant vapor injection to reach a pre-determined percentage of saturation limit for the sterilant vapor in the chamber, immediately following the introduction of sterilant vapor and carrier gas into the chamber, in response to the measured pressure. The predetermined saturation limit is selected to optimize the rate of sterilization, while avoiding substantial condensation of the sterilant.

Abstract: An autoclave tray for the sterilization of medical and/or dental instruments, equipment and appliances includes an autoclave tray which is configured with a uniform row and column pattern of crossed-slot sterilant apertures each of which have a geometric center, the pattern being generally uniform in its overall spacing between such geometric centers. Selectively installed in selected ones of the sterilant apertures are instrument holders which begin as extruded lengths of material which are then cut to the desired length and shaped with appropriate relief for the receipt of the items to be autoclaved. The holders are loaded into selected sterilant apertures by pressing an enlarged base portion of the holders into and through the sterilant apertures. By the use of the crossed-slot apertures the holders can be arranged either vertically or horizontally in a top plan orientation or may actually be used at right angles to each other allowing items to be autoclaved to be installed diagonally.

Abstract: A door (B) of a countertop decontamination unit (A) is opened to gain access to a well (20) for receiving an anti-microbial agent carrying cup (D). A knife blade assembly (E) includes a central shaft (30) which supports a blade (40). The blade has cutting edges (46) extending in a sloped manner downward from an apex portion (42) of the blade. The blade is divided into two blade sections (44) by the shaft. The cutting edges have beveled peripheral edges which face the front of each blade section. The blades has a curvilinear configuration that defines oppositely facing upper and lower cam surfaces (50, 52). The central shaft has apertures (34a, 34b, 34c) communicating between a shaft interior passage 32 and the outside of the shaft for providing jets of fluid to the inside of the reagent cup for dissolving and flushing the reagent material from the cup. The curved configuration of the blades deflect fluid flow from the apertures into the reagent cup.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for supporting objects inside a rotating drum, particularly in a sterilizer. The drum disposed in the enclosure rotates about the axis XX'. The supporting apparatus includes pressure plates, the displacements of which are controlled by pairs of levers disposed in the lateral parts of the drum, on either side of the stacks of objects. The levers pivot about pins under the action of controlling apparatus which may be actuators.

Abstract: A cell for performing optical measurements in a automatic analyzer includes a cell having a tubular body. The body has two plane-parallel walls, and is open at one end and closed at the opposite end by a bottom wall. At the open end of the body, tongues extend perpendicularly outward from each plane-parallel wall. Each tongue includes a recess, with each tongue and its recess being symmetrically placed relative to another tongue and its recess with respect to the longitudinal axis of the cell.

Abstract: The adsorption of gas on a solid surface can produce considerable variation in the optical properties of the solid surface and eventually lead to the identification of the gas adsorbed. An optical waveguide having at least a portion of its length circumferentially coated with a transparent semiconductor material may function as a gas sensor. The sensor functions by exchanging electrons with a detectable gas brought in proximity with the coating material at reactive sites on the material's surface by the process of adsorption, thereby varying the refractive index of the transparent semiconductor material and altering the ellipticity of a light transmission through the optical waveguide. Substantially monochromatic polarized light is transmitted through the optical waveguide and then quantified by a light detector. A meter or other device connected to the light detector is adjusted to register a variation in the signal received by the light detector, indicating the presence of a detectable gas.

Abstract: A control loop and fluidization quality analyzer for a fluidized bed utilizes time varying pressure drop measurements. A fast-response pressure transducer measures the overall bed pressure drop, or over some segment of the bed, and the pressure drop signal is processed to produce an output voltage which changes with the degree of fluidization turbulence.

Abstract: An aqueous solution which contains ammonium polysulfide is proportionally added to the sour water, which contains cyanide ions, ammonium ions, and sulfide ions. At least part of the cyanide ions contained in the sour water is converted to thiocyanate ions by the ammonium polysulfide. The solution which contains ammonium polysulfide is prepared from an aqueous solution by oxidation in an electrochemical cell. That aqueous solution may consist entirely or in part of sour water.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for carrying out reactions at elevated temperatures and pressures which minimizes the heat-up and cool-down times by rapid transport of the reactants using pressurized gas through a preheater to a preheated reactor, agitating the reaction mixture and discharging the reactants with high pressure gas through a precooler.

Abstract: The determination of the halogen content in a substance is carried out by oxidative combustion of the sample under a continuous flow of gas, in the presence of oxygen, the gases coming out of the combustion reactor being then carried by gas flow to analysis equipment.

Abstract: A group of dialdehydes is disclosed having an even number of atoms in the shortest backbone chain connecting the two aldehyde groups which are useful as decontaminants, fixatives, preservatives, and embalming agents. Compared to conventional aldehydes having an odd number of backbone atoms, the even-numbered dialdehydes are approximately as effective in terms of decontaminant, fixative, preservative and embalming properties, yet they are substantially safer to people, animals, and plants, and the environment.

Abstract: Air bubbles which are entrapped within the cells of an engraved applicator roller are displaced from the cells by wiping the surface of the engraved applicator roller with the bristles of a brush. An elongated brush mounted on a doctor blade head projects into a doctor blade reservoir. The bristles of the brush are disposed for wiping engagement against the engraved surface of an applicator roller which is wetted by liquid coating material. As the engraved applicator roller rotates in contact with the liquid material in the doctor blade reservoir, the bristles of the brush puncture the entrapped air bubbles and sweep the entrapped air away from the cells. The sweeping action of the bristles induces a relatively low pressure condition within the cells, which promotes the flow of liquid material into the cells.

Abstract: According to the present invention, chamber units are sequentially coupled with each other to thereby provide a volume of clean space, and whereby different environments can be maintained in the different chamber units. An air blowhole or door is provided at an opening section of each chamber unit. Moreover, a space section can be defined at the coupling part of the chamber units, and a suction pump and a suction hose can be provided in the space section, so as to prevent the environments of the different chambers from influencing one another.

Abstract: Waste materials containing pathogenic microorganisms may be processed by a method that includes granulating the waste material; treating the granulated waste material by heating at a temperature of about 160.degree. to about 200.degree. C. at a pressure of about 90 to about 226 psi in an atmosphere of the steam from a non-isotonic salt solution. The treatment is conducted for a period of time sufficient to substantially reduce the amount of pathogenic microorganisms present in the waste material. After treatment, the material is separated into useful solid and liquid phases.

Abstract: Radiochemical sterilization is accomplished by exposing a sterilant gas releasing substrate to an effective gas releasing amount of ionizing radiation and contacting an object to be sterilized with the released sterilant gas. Objects to be sterilized may be subjected to a combination of ionizing radiation and gas sterilant which is released by the ionizing radiation.