Abstract: A stapler movable between a rest position and a stapling position and having a front end and a rear end. The stapler includes a base, a staple magazine coupled to the base and configured to hold staples, and a driver blade operable to drive staples out of the staple magazine during stapling operations. The stapler further includes an elastic member coupled to the driver blade and operable to move the driver blade during stapling operations. The elastic member utilizes potential energy to move the driver blade during stapling operations. The driver blade is positioned above the staple magazine when the stapler is in the rest position and the magazine is extendable from the front end of the stapler to allow a user to load staples in the magazine. The stapler is configured such that only the potential energy of the elastic member can operate the driver blade during stapling operations.

Abstract: A ground lug for receiving an electrical wire from multiple directions to be secured within the ground lug, comprising a collar forming a receptacle for receiving an electrical wire, said collar including a first aperture for receiving a screw in an upper surface of the collar, and second and third apertures on first and second side surfaces, respectively, of the collar for receiving electrical wires within the receptacle, a threaded screw located within the first aperture for securing a wire within the receptacle when the threaded screw is tightened, and a tab extending from a lower surface of the collar, the tab including a forth aperture for receiving a screw to mount the ground lug to an electrical device.

Abstract: A stapler movable between a rest position and a stapling position and having a front end and a rear end. The stapler includes a base, a staple magazine coupled to the base and configured to hold staples, and a driver blade operable to drive staples out of the staple magazine during stapling operations. The stapler further includes an elastic member coupled to the driver blade and operable to move the driver blade during stapling operations. The elastic member utilizes potential energy to move the driver blade during stapling operations. The driver blade is positioned above the staple magazine when the stapler is in the rest position and the magazine is extendable from the front end of the stapler to allow a user to load staples in the magazine. The stapler is configured such that only the potential energy of the elastic member can operate the driver blade during stapling operations.

Abstract: A network interface device (NID) and associated printed circuit board is provided that includes metallic die cast housing and doors configured so that one of the doors, when closed, physically separates service provider circuitry from the customer premise equipment (CPE) side connections on a circuit card within the NID so that an end-customer may access the CPE side connections while the service provider circuitry remains secured from end-customer access. Moreover, the metallic housing provides increased physical strength and tamper resistance, including improved heat dissipation properties to radiate internal heat build-up more efficiently. The NID may be configured to provide insertable interface cards to permit flexibility in service provisioning and includes options for a type-200 T1 module, a type-400 T1 module, a type-200 high bit rate Digital Subscriber Line (HDSL) module, a type-400 HDSL module or an ISDN module.

Abstract: A ground lug for receiving an electrical wire from multiple directions to be secured within the ground lug, comprising a collar forming a receptacle for receiving an electrical wire, said collar including a first aperture for receiving a screw in an upper surface of the collar, and second and third apertures on first and second side surfaces, respectively, of the collar for receiving electrical wires within the receptacle, a threaded screw located within the first aperture for securing a wire within the receptacle when the threaded screw is tightened, and a tab extending from a lower surface of the collar, the tab including a forth aperture for receiving a screw to mount the ground lug to an electrical device.

Abstract: Xylose isomerase (XI) muteins useful in the conversion of glucose to fructose or xylose to xylulose are obtained in usable amounts by protein structural and recombinant DNA methods, including x-ray crystallography, cloning, computer graphic modeling and site-directed mutagenesis and expression of the bacterial DNA sequences encoding native procaryotic xylose isomerase. These native sequences are altered to encode the xylose isomerase muteins having improved catalytic function and/or thermostability.