Abstract: An ironing station has a cabinet defining an interior space, an accessible storage area defined within the interior space of the cabinet, an ironing board stowably mounted in the cabinet for movement between a stowed position and a use position. The ironing board can be coupled to the cabinet via a non-vertical guide rail. A handle can be coupled to the ironing board to aid a user in moving the ironing board between the stowed and use positions. A multi-position docking station can be provided on the top wall of the cabinet for receiving an iron. A cover can be provided for selectively covering the docking station.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and compositions for increasing telomerase activity in cells. Such compositions include pharmaceutical, including topical, and nutraceutical formulations. The methods and compositions are useful for treating diseases subject to treatment by an increase in telomerase activity in cells or tissue of a patient, such as, for example, HIV infection, various degenerative diseases, and acute or chronic skin aliments. They are also useful for enhancing replicative capacity of cells in culture, as in ex vivo cell therapy and proliferation of stem cells.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for a speech system that includes one or more speech controls incorporated into one or more speech-enabled applications that run on the speech system. The controls allow applications to be developed with minimal programming effort to incorporate common speech-enabled application functions. A question control provides a customizable template for requesting information from a user. An announcer control allows a speech-enabled application to provide a user with information without having to re-create an entire announcer process each time it is used. A command control provides a simple way to attach command and control functions to speech-enabled applications. A word trainer control provides a way to associate user-selected voice tags with certain information. Providing the controls for use with speech-enabled applications ensures standardized user interfaces across multiple speech-enabled applications.

Abstract: The present invention addresses one of the major issues in molecular biology today, “functional genomics.” The inventors have provided methods that utilize the phenomenon of RNA interference as a tool for identifying cDNAs that encode proteins with assayable function.

Abstract: According to an illustrative example of the invention, a suspension strut of a motor vehicle comprises a protective bellows for the piston rod. This protective bellows protects the piston rod in all positions of the piston rod between an axially innermost operational position and an axially outermost operational position. When the piston rod approaches its axially outermost operational position, the folding bellows is elongated. When the piston rod approaches its axially innermost position, substantially no compression of the folding bellows occurs.

Abstract: A holster for use with a handgun having an open ended barrel, the holster being formed of a support structure having a generally horizontal base member with an interchangeable elongated barrel receiving member affixed to and extending upwardly from the base member and configured to removably telescopically receive the open end of the barrel of a handgun, and elongated guide members affixed to the base member at each end and extending upwardly therefrom, the base members and barrel receiving member being substantially in a common plane and dimensioned to be received in a pocket or pouch so that the holster apparatus comfortably supports a handgun in a pocket or pouch in a way so that it can be readily withdrawn.

Abstract: A pneumatic control system, control unit and method of making the same are provided, the system comprising a pneumatic source, a pneumatically operated device that produces an output, and a control unit for interconnecting the source to the device. The control unit has an input interconnected to the source and an output interconnected to the device, the control unit having a set point for selecting a desired output of the device. The control unit has a valve unit for controlling the interconnection between the input and the output thereof so as to regulate the pressure value in the output of the control unit. The control unit has a regulating unit for operating the valve unit to tend to produce an output of the device that corresponds to the selected output of the set point.

Abstract: A pneumatic control system, control unit and method of making the same are provided, the system comprising a pneumatic source, a pneumatically operated device that produces an output, and a control unit for interconnecting the source to the device. The control unit has an input interconnected to the source and an output interconnected to the device, the control unit having a set point for selecting a desired output of the device. The control unit has a valve unit for controlling the interconnection between the input and the output thereof so as to regulate the pressure value in the output of the control unit. The control unit has a regulating unit for operating the valve unit to tend to produce an output of the device that corresponds to the selected output of the set point.

Abstract: A process for preheating particulate material is disclosed. The process also may be used for drying the particulate. The invention uses a heat exchange method that preferably employs furnace exhaust gases. In one embodiment, glass batch is preheated before being fed to a melting furnace. The invention involves the use of glass-ceramic materials as the heat exchange media.

Abstract: Respirable dust particles in air are reduced by spraying with water from high pressure spray nozzles. The removal of particles in the size range most likely to cause pathological damage is enhanced by addition of a surfactant to the spray water.

Abstract: An intra-vaginal device for supplying minerals, hormones or medicoments to an animal is formed as an injection moulded polymeric body having a skin in which adjacent at least part of the surface thereof at least one active ingredient is incorporated. The body is preferably separately moulded before the skin is applied and the skin is preferably of a two part silicone rubber or a polymer such as ethylene vinyl acetate or a polymer substance and the active ingredient is selected from one or more of progesterone oestrogen testosterone, mineral trace elements such as selenium cobalt copper and boron and anthelmintics.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with the production of glass-ceramic articles wherein the crystal phase consists essentially of celsian (BaO.Al.sub.2 O.sub.3.2SiO.sub.2) with a minor amount of rutile (TiO.sub.2). Such articles consist essentially, by weight, of about 20-40% SiO.sub.2, 20-35% Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, 20-35% BaO, 5-15% PbO and/or 2-15% P.sub.2 O.sub.5, and 7-12% TiO.sub.2. Such articles can have a use temperature up to about 1250.degree.C, exhibit a coefficient of thermal expansion (room temperature to 900.degree.C) between about 35-50 .times. 10.sup.-.sup.7 /.degree.C, may demonstrate modulus of rupture values in excess of 20,000 psi, and will have a high density (about 3.1-3.5 g/cc), thereby recommending their utility as heat transfer media in a process such as that devised for extracting oil from oil-containing shale.

Abstract: An improved dust control apparatus for a shearing machine which has attached thereto a spray bar apparatus mounted to and extended from said shearing machine and containing a curtain for dust control and a plurality of spray heads along said spray bar, an improvement in the spray bar apparatus is provided by mounting an extendable spray bar to said spray bar with a hydraulic cylinder attached to said extendable spray bar so that it can be extended or retracted as said shearing machine reaches the end of its cut so that said extendable portion is not damaged when the shearing machine reaches the end of its cut. The extendable portion includes spray heads and a curtain for dust control purposes.