Abstract: Nucleic acid probes and primers are described for detecting fungi that cause disease in humans and animals, as well as spoilage of food and beverages. These probes can detect rRNA, rDNA or polymerase chain reaction products from a majority of fungi in clinical, environmental or food samples. Nucleic acid hybridization assay probes specific for Acremonium sp., Aspergillus clavatus, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus glaucus, Aspergillus nidulans, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus ochraceus, Aspergillus terreus, Aspergillus unguis, Aspergillus ustus, Beauveria sp., Bipolaris sp., Blastoschizomyces sp., Blastomyces dermatitidis, Candida albicans, Candida glabrata, Candida guilliermondii, Candida kefyr, Candida krusei, Candida lusitaniae, Candida parapsilosis, Candida tropicalis, Chrysosporium sp., Cladosporium sp., Coccidioides immitis, Cryptococcus neoformans var gattii serotype B, Cryptococcus neoformans serotype A, Cryptococcus laurentii, Cryptococcus terreus, Curvularia sp., Fusarium sp.

Abstract: A method for determining the susceptibility of a strain of M. tuberculosis to isoniazid is provided comprising employing the techniques of restriction length polymorphism analysis to determine whether or not the DNA of said strain has an NciI-MspI restriction site at the codon corresponding to codon 463 of an M. tuberculosis katG gene consensus sequence.

Abstract: A thumbguard 50 has a unique dynamization strap 30 which assists is resisting abduction of the basal joint. The strap 30 is contoured to fit neatly about a wearer's hand and be connected at both ends to adjacent portions of glove 12. Enlarged regions 34 and 36 assist in applying sufficient pressure across the surface of the hand to achieve abduction. Thumb abduction maximizes basal joint contact area and minimizes shear forces by maintaining the direction of force perpendicular to the joint surface. The dynamic nature of the strap 30 increases support pressure as the force of opposition increases, but still allows a comfortable degree of thumb and basal joint motion.

Abstract: A method for determining the susceptibility of a strain of M. tuberculosis to isoniazid is provided comprising employing the techniques of restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis to determine whether or not the DNA of said strain has an MspI restriction site at the codon corresponding to codons 315 or 463 of an M. tuberculosis katG gene consensus sequence.

Abstract: An anatomically molded wrist support for use by persons requiring protection from the effects of vibration and repetitive motion is described. The support is comprised of one or more stays and a means for securing this plurality of stays to a hand of a wearer in a wrap-around manner. On the palm side of the support, the stays are used to provide a bias for a slight dorsiflexed position of the wrist. The stays are splayed or flared outwardly towards the palm engaging end to provide a broader region of support. The stays are preferably positioned inside pockets in a wrap-around wrist support.

Abstract: A process plant has a process control system and a plurality of production lines, each production line having a predetermined equipment configuration. The process control system further includes a controller for interfacing to each production line. The process control system has information pertaining to the equipment configuration of each production line stored in an equipment data base, the operations performed by each production line stored in an operations data base, and raw materials information of the process plant stored in a raw materials data base. A method for controlling the production of a product by a production line comprises the steps of building a formula based on the product to be produced. The formula data provides information relating to relative quantities of raw materials included in the product and the manner of combining the raw materials.

Abstract: A microscope stand and armrest system for placement on a conventional desktop includes height adjustment/levelling feet at each corner of a base plate and a top surface hingedly attached to the base plate for receiving a microscope and for tilting the microscope rearward toward the user to a position that allows the user to look directly forward when operating the microscope. Left and right sloping armrests are provided for placement on the desktop at each side of the microscope stand to support the user's forearms in natural positions while operating the microscope.

Abstract: A keyface for increasing the speed and accuracy of an operator of any key-operated or touch-operated system is adapted to be attached in a keystem of a keyboard. The keyboard is equipped with a plurality of keystems arranged in a predetermined order, and each keystem has a contoured surface area which normally faces upwardly. The keyface is made up of a element which has an operative upper convex surface of a prearranged surface area, and an operative lower surface adapted to be attached to the contoured surface area of the keystem. The lower surface area defines an area substantially matching at least a portion of the contoured surface area of the keystem. The element is dimensioned so as to be free from interfering with a similar element attached to a neighboring keystem of the keyboard.

Abstract: A nucleonic gauge (10) is disclosed for effectively assessing the amount of lubricating fluid in a hinge joint (12) having an elongate reservoir (23) without disassembly of the joint. The gauge includes a disc-type radiation source (54) at one end of the joint for emitting radiation cooperatively with respect to the lubricant reservoir and providing a substantially collimated beam pattern (60), and a detector element (64) in the path of the pattern at the other end of the joint for measuring the radiation activity.

Abstract: A dewatering press which is particularly suited for use on a self-propelled vehicle designed to field process alfalfa for obtaining therefrom fiber and protein components and a deproteinized liquid component which is simultaneously applied on the field as the vehicle advances. The dewatering press includes a pair of conical pressure members mounted in a frame assembly which provides outward and downward pivotal movement of the conical members to afford access to the interior of the press. Material to be pressed is charged downwardly between the pressure members as they are rotated slowly by motors mounted in the frame assembly, and after having passed through a pressing zone located below the rotational axis of the conical members, the pressed material is discharged outwardly by a deflector mounted between the conical members. Expressed juices are collected in a pan which extends along the lower periphery of the pressure members.

Abstract: Apparatus carried on a self-propelled vehicle field processes alfalfa to obtain therefrom fiber and protein components and a deproteinized liquid component which is simultaneously applied on the field as the vehicle advances. A specially-designed macerator for shredding the harvested alfalfa is disclosed. The macerator includes a cylindrical die ring having an open end and a series of peripheral apertures through which the alfalfa is extruded by means of a pair of rollers mounted inside the die ring for rotation therewith. The die ring is rotatably supported in a frame, and the rollers are coupled to the die ring for rotation in synchronism. A shroud surrounds the periphery of the die ring to collect macerated alfalfa, and an impeller is mounted inside the shroud for displacing macerated alfalfa downwardly through an outlet in the bottom of the shroud.

Abstract: Apparatus carried on a self-propelled vehicle field processes alfalfa to obtain therefrom fiber and protein components and a deproteinized liquid component which is simultaneously applied on the field as the vehicle advances. The apparatus includes a harvesting head assembly which is mounted on the front of the vehicle to cut the alfalfa and means to convey the alfalfa rearwardly to a macerator which shreds the harvested alfalfa. The macerated alfalfa is separated into fibrous and liquid fractions by a dewatering press which is connected to the macerator by a conveyor. The fibrous fraction is blown rearwardly into a trailer pulled behind the vehicle. The liquid fraction is heated to a predetermined temperature and is pumped into a holding tank wherein the protein in the liquid coagulates and floats on the deproteinized liquid. The protein is skimmed from the deproteinized liquid and is collected in a storage container mounted on the vehicle.

Abstract: A heat exchanger system and ducting arrangement therefor includes a pair of heat exchanger units defining an elongated space between them, and individually having a first fluid flow path and a second fluid flow path therethrough for transferring heat from a relatively hot fluid to a relatively cool fluid, a bifurcated inlet channel for delivering the hot fluid to the heat exchanger units, a pair of exhaust conduits for conducting the hot fluid away from the heat exchanger units after heat is extracted therefrom during its travel through the first fluid flow paths, an elongated duct for delivering the cool fluid to the elongated space and from there oppositely outwardly to the heat exchanger units, and a pair of outlet manifolds for conducting the relatively cool fluid away from the heat exchanger units after it is beneficially heated during its travel through the second fluid flow paths.