Abstract: A one part, solids containing decontamination blend composition comprises a solid acetyl donor coated with a compound that protects it from hydrolysis, a peroxygen source, optionally a catalyst, optionally a surfactant, and optionally a buffer. The decontamination blend composition is generally in a dry powder, particle, etc form or in a tablet, pill, etc form and is complete in and of itself in that no additional compounds are required prior to use and is readily distributed as a one package system. Upon the addition of water, a peroxygen compound such as hydrogen peroxide is formed, and peracetic acid is generated under alkaline conditions. The decontamination blend composition is particularly suitable for oxidizing various chemical and biological compounds thereby eradicating the same in situ as on surfaces, clothes, articles, and the like. Representative contaminants include mustard gas, nerve gas, bacterial toxins, anthrax, bird flu, and the like.

Abstract: A one part, solids containing decontamination blend composition comprises a solid acetyl donor coated with a compound that protects it from hydrolysis, a peroxygen source, optionally a catalyst, optionally a surfactant, and optionally a buffer. The decontamination blend composition is generally in a dry powder, particle, etc. form or in a tablet, pill, etc. form and is complete in and of itself in that no additional compounds are required prior to use and is readily distributed as a one package system. Upon the addition of water, a peroxygen compound such as hydrogen peroxide is formed, and peracetic acid is generated under alkaline conditions. The decontamination blend composition is particularly suitable for oxidizing various chemical and biological compounds thereby eradicating the same in situ as on surfaces, clothes, articles, and the like. Representative contaminants include mustard gas, nerve gas, bacterial toxins, anthrax, bird flu, and the like.

Abstract: A prepreg which is capable of being cured-in-place into a solid surface by irradiation, heating or a combination of the two is prepared. The cured-in-place solid surfaces can be used as veneer cladding for rigid substrates such as floor and wall tiles, kitchen and bath counter tops, sinks, cabinet door veneers, bath surrounds, architectural surfaces such as columns and roofs and the like.

Abstract: Antimicrobial compositions which can be used wherever disinfecting compositions are needed, such as in a hospital, healthcare industry, workplace, recreational facility, home or similar environment. The antimicrobial compositions are particularly useful as a topical application for a substrate, such as skin and can be used as a hand sanitizer or pre-surgical scrub. The compositions comprise a synergistic combination of a simple aliphatic alcohol and an activity enhancing substance, wherein the composition provides, heretofore unexpected, persistent activity against a broad range of microorganisms, including gram-negative organisms, while moisturizing the skin.

Abstract: Antimicrobial compositions which can be used wherever disinfecting compositions are needed, such as in a hospital, healthcare industry, workplace, recreational facility, home or similar environment. The antimicrobial compositions are particularly useful as a topical application for a substrate, such as skin and can be used as a hand sanitizer or pre-surgical scrub. The compositions comprise a synergistic combination of a simple aliphatic alcohol and an activity enhancing substance, wherein the composition provides, heretofore unexpected, persistent activity against a broad range of microorganisms, including gram-negative organisms, while moisturizing the skin.

Abstract: A method and system of collecting, evaluating, and sharing information about the status of at least one child under the auspices of a child welfare agency, a juvenile justice agency or another responsible agency that comprises: enabling various individuals to asynchronously submit structured and unstructured information about a child through a multi-channel, password-protected interface; storing information about the identity, characteristics, and status of a plurality of children in a database memory or registry; automatically evaluating and prioritizing information about a status of a child according to predefined rules; providing a password-protected interface through the Internet to the memory for a child welfare worker, juvenile justice worker, other responsible agency worker, or collateral personnel; providing detailed and summary information about an individual child among the plurality of children, and about aggregate groupings of children through the password-protected interface; and facilitating the

Abstract: A finger for a crop gathering auger of a grain header for an agricultural combine, including a tether which spans a failure region of the finger and will retain a free end of the finger in connection with a mounting end thereof when the failure region is broken, and which is preferably additionally operable for automatically retracting the broken off free end into an auger drum and retaining it therein during subsequent rotation of the drum for limiting potential damage from the broken end and preventing entry of the broken end into crop handling equipment of the combine.

Abstract: Systems and methods for using automated translation and other statistical methods to convert a classifier in one language to another language are provided. In one embodiment of the invention, a method preferably includes marking target language examples of passages of text in order to obtain an initial classifier in the target language, re-classifying a plurality of target language examples in the initial classifier, and then questioning—i.e., determining the validity—of the marking used to obtain the initial classifier. Preferably, the questioning is based on the re-classifying. Then, preferably following the questioning, the method isolates a high-quality set of target examples based on the results of the questioning. Finally, the method uses the high-quality set of target examples to prepare a high-quality classifier in the target language.

Abstract: Mineral contaminants are removed from water in a system in which water is sprayed into an air head at the top of a tank through a diffuser and withdrawn through a pick-up tube. A solenoid valve operates to allows air from a compressor to flow into the top of the tank through a shuttle valve which is opened by the air pressure. Simultaneously a drain valve connected to the shuttle valve opens a drain, venting water and air from the tank. The shuttle valve, closed by the solenoid valve, closes the air supply line and connecting the shuttle valve to atmosphere, and pressure within the aeration tank can close the shuttle valve, which causes closing of the drain valve. The part of the valve which opens the drain is made responsive to excess pressure within the air tank to open the drain and so acts as a pressure relief valve.

Abstract: A low pH disinfectant composition comprises an aqueous composition of a phenolic compound, an organic acid, and/or a dispersing surfactant and/or solvent. The disinfectant solution can be concentrated, or more preferably diluted ready to use, and is very effective in eradicating fungi including Aspergillus niger.

Abstract: A faucet includes a base and a body. The body may be coupled and decoupled to the base with a bayonet fitting which is configured to prevent a forward rotation of the base relative to the body and to permit backward rotation and disconnection of the body from the base without the use of any tools. The faucet may have an internal chamber that houses a water sensitive device such as an electronics package and that is sealed from within and without by a system of seals located between the body and the base, between the base and a support surface, such as a countertop or a sink, and between individual components of the faucet.

Abstract: A faucet includes a base and a body. The body may be coupled and decoupled to the base with a bayonet fitting which is configured to prevent a forward rotation of the base relative to the body and to permit backward rotation and disconnection of the body from the base without the use of any tools. The faucet may have an internal chamber that houses a water sensitive device such as an electronics package and that is sealed from within and without by a system of seals located between the body and the base, between the base and a support surface, such as a countertop or a sink, and between individual components of the faucet.

Abstract: Antimicrobial compositions which can be used wherever disinfecting compositions are needed, such as in a hospital, healthcare industry, workplace, recreational facility, home or similar environment. The antimicrobial compositions are particularly useful as a topical application for a substrate, such as skin and can be used as a hand sanitizer or pre-surgical scrub. The compositions comprise a synergistic combination of a simple aliphatic alcohol and an activity enhancing substance, wherein the composition provides, heretofore unexpected, persistent activity against a broad range of microorganisms, including gram-negative organisms, while moisturizing the skin.

Abstract: A low pH disinfectant composition comprises an aqueous composition of a phenolic compound, an organic acid, and/or a dispersing surfactant and/or solvent. The disinfectant solution can be concentrated, or more preferably diluted ready to use, and is very effective in eradicating fungi including Aspergillus niger.

Abstract: A talking calendar suitable for use as an educational toy for a child or a calendaring device for an adult includes a housing, an input microphone, an output speaker, a plurality of fixed function switches for accessing preprogrammed educational informational messages according to their subject matter, and a plurality of switches defining user-definable switches by which a user can record audio messages and play back those messages according to user-definable categories of information. Printed monthly calendar sheets for the different months of the year can be slid into the unit. The unit reads the month and year encoded on the calendar sheet. A switch matrix located underneath the monthly sheet senses when a user has pressed a day of the month and thereby selected a date for recording or playback of audio messages associated with the selected date.

Abstract: A faucet includes a base and a body. The body may be coupled and decoupled to the base with a bayonet fitting which is configured to prevent a forward rotation of the base relative to the body and to permit backward rotation and disconnection of the body from the base without the use of any tools. The faucet may have an internal chamber that houses a water sensitive device such as an electronics package and that is sealed from within and without by a system of seals located between the body and the base, between the base and a support surface, such as a countertop or a sink, and between individual components of the faucet.

Abstract: A wine fermentation device for fermenting wine, and skins, seeds and stems which form a cap. The device includes a tank having cylindrical walls, an axis and a bottom. One or more optional interior baffles may be provided. At least one drain is located at or near the tank bottom. The device includes at least one impeller, and in a preferred embodiment two impellers, each impeller having a plurality of blades to radially and axially move the cap during fermentation and to blend the cap with liquid to permit draining of the cap (or pomace) through the drain.

Abstract: Mineral contaminants are removed from water in a system in which water is sprayed into an air head at the top of a tank through a diffuser and withdrawn through a pick-up tube. A solenoid valve operates to allows air from a compressor to flow into the top of the tank through a shuttle valve which is opened by the air pressure. Simultaneously a drain valve connected to the shuttle valve opens a drain, venting water and air from the tank. The shuttle valve, closed by the solenoid valve, closes the air supply line and connecting the shuttle valve to atmosphere, and pressure within the aeration tank can close the shuttle valve, which causes closing of the drain valve. The part of the valve which opens the drain is made responsive to excess pressure within the air tank to open the drain and so acts as a pressure relief valve.

Abstract: Disclosed are &bgr;-peptides containing cylcoalkyl, cycloalkenyl, and heterocylic substituents which encompass the &agr; and &bgr; carbons of the peptide backbone. The &bgr;-peptides adopt stable helical and sheet structures in both the solid state and in solution. Method of generating combinatorial libraries of peptides containing &bgr;-peptide residues and the libraries formed thereby are disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed are .beta.-peptides containing cylcoalkyl, cycloalkenyl, and heterocylic substituents which encompass the .alpha. and .beta. carbons of the peptide backbone. The .beta.-peptides adopt stable helical and sheet structures in both the solid state and in solution. Method of generating combinatorial libraries of peptides containing .beta.-peptide residues and the libraries formed thereby are disclosed.