Abstract: Methods of identifying agents or compounds which are capable of inhibiting the replication and/or accumulation of DNA circles in cells are described. Also described are methods of assessing the ability of a compound to extend life span, as well as methods of extending life span, comprising administering to a cell a compound identified by the assays described herein which extends life span. The invention also pertains to isolated mWRN, or an active derivative or fragment thereof and to an isolated nucleic acid molecule which encodes mWRN, or an active derivative or fragment thereof.

Abstract: A computer-driven information management system selectively matches credit applicants with money lenders through a global communications network. The system includes an applicant data entry device for entering applicant data into the system. The applicant data defines an electronic applicant profile of a credit applicant seeking financing. A model data entry device is provided for entering model data into the system. The model data is established by the lender and defines an electronic model profile representing characteristics of a desired applicant. A filter electronically compares the applicant profile with the model profile, such that for those credit applicants matching the model profile, the applicant data is made available through the system to lender. For those credit applicants not matching the model profile, no applicant data is made available through the system to the lender.

Abstract: A system software solution for controlling an enterprise which defines and illustrates the electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic, logic, diagnostics, external behavior, controlled resources and safety elements of an enterprise control system. The elements of the control system are encapsulated in objects of an object-oriented framework within a control assembly. The control assembly is the fundamental building block for providing object-oriented control of the enterprise. A control assembly component is a deployable control subsystem that provides an interface using a common object model that is configurable. The enterprise control system is used to define user interfaces including sequence charts that are updated in a substantially realtime manner utilizing the control assemblies associated with the generated code for the enterprise control system.

Abstract: A drip field manifold system comprises an upper manifold, a flush manifold and a plurality of drip lines operatively connected to the upper and flush manifolds. The upper and flush manifolds are disposed vertically above the upper most drip line in a drip field to isolate the drip lines from one another during periods of suspended effluent flow from a waste water treatment system, preventing back flow of effluent through the manifolds to the lower most drip line and resulting over saturation of the drip field.

Abstract: An on-site waste water treatment system is disclosed suitable for domestic or other sewage. After the initial separation of the gravity settleable solids in a treatment tank, the effluent is conveyed to a recirculation/dosing tank. The recirculation/dosing tank has three level indicators which transmit information to the system controller. The low level indicator provides enough waste water to dose a media bed and dilute effluent from the treatment tank. While the low level indicator is activated, the waste water will circulate through a disc filter to a recirculating media bed. From the media bed, the effluent is returned to the recirculation/dosing tank, the waste water flows from the treatment tank to the recirculation/dosing tank and activates the second level indicator, enabling the system to pass the combined effluent through a disc filter to a final disposal field.

Abstract: A pump device for metering and/or feeding liquid materials, particularly colorants and plasticizers for molded plastics. The pump consists of a linear metering tube which is straight throughout of length of the compression zone, thereby reducing stress and fatigue on the tube, thus prolonging tube life. The metering tube is compressed by compression rollers attached to an endless drive belt which moves within a track cut into a housing. In another embodiment of this invention, wherein the linear metering tube is inclined slightly, stresses on the tube are distributed over the tube by the gradual compression of the tube. The pump provides for simple, precise, long-life dispensing of polymer additives.

Abstract: The microphone of a breathing mask such as an aircraft flight crew oxygen mask is disabled during inhalation to prevent transmission of air flow sounds. In the preferred embodiments, selected mechanisms determine when breathable gas has been delivered to the mask and in response, disable the microphone by disconnecting it during this time. In another embodiment, a cover shifts into position over the microphone to prevent or reduce reception of sounds thereby during delivery of gas to the mask.

Abstract: A waste water treatment and disposal system for further treating waste water effluent from a primary treatment system in which a system controller controls the operation of the system. A dosing tank accepts effluent from a primary treatment system and is evacuated on demand by a pump which is energized in response to a fluid level switch in the dosing tank. The pump forces the effluent through a filtering system to remove solid waste therefrom, and then forces a portion of the filtered effluent into a hydro-pneumatic pressure tank which, upon call, will backflush the filter to remove the trapped solids therein. The system controller will monitor the system to operate the level of the dosing tank, the operation of the pump and the various valves which control the flow throughout the system. The filtered effluent will ultimately be discharged into a disposal area by any number of well known methods.

Abstract: Alkylthioethylamine salts are prepared by reacting certain alkenes with mercaptoethylamine salts in a glycol or glycol ether solvent in the presence of a free radical initiator. The product mixtures obtained are useful as antimicrobials as is or after the addition of inert formulation additives.

Abstract: In a display system an array of data values such as, for example, an array of speech waveform samples, is represented in a display field by logically dividing the display field into a number of display areas and determining (e.g. in 16), for each value of the data array, the area of the display field within which that value should be displayed, comparing that value to a range for the area in question and updating the range to include that value if it lies outside the range previously defined for that area and then plotting, within each area of the display field, a line joining display screen positions defined by the range in the range storage for that area.

Abstract: A method for recovering silver from a refractory manganese dioxide-silver ore. The ore is contacted with an effective amount of a culture of direct manganese-reducing Bacillus polymyxa bacteria. The ore-bacteria mixture is maintained at an approximately neutral pH until a sufficient amount of the manganese dioxide in the ore is reduced from Mn(IV) to Mn(II). The silver present in the ore is then recovered by conventional methods such as cyanide leaching.

Abstract: A portable clipboard includes an integral storage box for transporting various accessories such as pens, pencils, erasers, rulers, calculators, etc. The writing surface of the clipboard is provided with a spring retaining clip for securing papers and is mounted by a hinge to a shallow rectangular box. In a second embodiment, a battery operated light is secured by a flexible stem on the upper surface of the clipboard and a digital clock is also provided.

Abstract: A toggle bolt assembly that includes a flexible elongated strip that is hung upon the bolt so that the strip loops over the winged trunnion nut. One end of the strip is hung between the nut and the wings while the opposite end of the strip is hung between the bolt head and the nut. The opposite end of the strip is expanded so that it can be wedged tightly into the clearance hole formed in a hollow through which the wings are passed in assembly. The wedged strip holds the unfolded wings in a non-rotating condition inside the wall.

Abstract: A pressure-sensitive adhesive layer is crosslinked between carboxyl groups along one surface by polyvalent cations, thus making that surface substantially tack-free while leaving at least one broad surface of the layer tacky and pressure-sensitive. When a broad surface of the adhesive layer is thus made completely tack-free, the adhesive layer can be wound upon itself in roll form without a backing for convenient storage and shipment. Preferably a low-adhesion backsize coating covers the broad tack-free surface to insure that the adhesive layer can be unwound after prolonged storage without delaminating.

Abstract: A polyhydridosilane has a catenated silicon backbone of 9 to 4000 silicon atoms with an average number of hydrogen atoms per silicon atom in the range of 0.3 to 2.2, at least 0.1 gram of the polyhydridosilane being soluble at 20.degree. C. in 100 grams of tetrahydrofuran, toluene, or methylene chloride. The polyhydridosilane can be derivatized or it can be converted to a pyropolymer or a nitrogen-containing pyropolymer which is useful as an abrasive, ceramic, electrical, or electro-optical material.

Abstract: A pressure-sensitive adhesive layer is crosslinked between carboxyl groups along one surface by polyvalent cations, thus making that surface substantially tack-free while leaving at least one broad surface of the layer tacky and pressure-sensitive. When a broad surface of the adhesive layer is thus made completely tack-free, the adhesive layer can be wound upon itself in roll form without a backing for convenient storage and shipment. Preferably a low-adhesion backsize coating covers the broad tack-free surface to insure that the adhesive layer can be unwound after prolonged storage without delaminating.

Abstract: A polyhydridosilane has a catenated silicon backbone of 9 to 4000 silicon atoms with an average number of hydrogen atoms per silicon atom in the range of 0.3 to 2.2, at least 0.1 gram of the polyhydridosilane being soluble at 20.degree. C. in 100 grams of tetrahydrofuran, toluene, or methylene chloride. The polyhydridosilane can be derivatized or it can be converted to a pyropolymer or a nitrogen-containing pyropolymer which is useful as an abrasive, ceramic, electrical, or electro-optical material.

Abstract: A polyhydridosilane has a catenated silicon backbone of 9 to 4000 silicon atoms with an average number of hydrogen atoms per silicon atoms in the range of 0.3 to 2.2, at least 0.1 gram of the polyhydridosilane being soluble at 20.degree. C. in 100 grams of tetrahydrofuran, toluene, or methylene chloride. The polyhydridosilane can be derivatized or it can be converted to a pyropolymer or a nitrogen-containing pyropolymer which is useful as an abrasive, ceramic, electrical, or electro-optical material.

Abstract: Dark field viewing apparatus comprises either (a) a source of coherent plane wave radiation and focused coherent receiving means, or (b) a source of focused coherent radiation and a coherent receiver of plane wave radiation, the source and receiver being axially aligned in both cases; and elimination means to eliminate any radiation which in the region of the focus would travel substantially parallel to the axis of the apparatus. The apparatus may be a transmission or a reflection scanning acoustic microscope or a holographic recording system, and the elimination means may be a small acoustically-absorbent stop.

Abstract: The concentration of alkali metal hydroxide contaminants in solutions of alkali metal alkoxides in alcohols is reduced to below about 0.1 percent by adding an alkyl alkanoate ester. For example, a solution of sodium methoxide in methanol containing about 0.04 percent sodium hydroxide was obtained by adding a small amount of methyl acetate. The alkali metal alkanoate salt formed as a by-product does not deleteriously affect most uses of such solutions.