Abstract: The invention provides MurA polypeptides and polynucleotides encoding MurA polypeptides and methods for producing such polypeptides by recombinant techniques. Also provided are methods for utilizing MurA polypeptides to screen for antibacterial compounds.

Abstract: A composition comprising (a) a metal complex of a cyclic thiohydroxamic acid such as the 2:1 zinc complex of 3-hydroxy-4-methylthiazol-2(3H)-thione and (b) a salt of the metal such as zinc chloride, acetate or oxide. The presence of component (b) gives enhanced microbiological activity.

Abstract: Stable aqueous dispersions of 1,2-benzisothiazolin-3-one containing Xanthan gum which is substantially free from organic solvents.

Abstract: A composition comprising a cellulosic non-woven material containing a mixture of polymeric biguanides such as poly(hexamethylene biguanide) together with an anionic polymer such as a polyacrylic acid super-absorbent and the use of such composition in disposable articles such as nappies.

Abstract: A compact pellet tester for testing the durability of animal feed pellets. The tester comprises a perforated hopper into which a high velocity stream of air is directed upward to agitate the pellets to measure the amount of material or fines which break off during testing.

Abstract: An optical projector is described that orients its optics engine preferably vertically within an enclosure that is higher than it is wide or deep. The invented optics engine uses a prismatic cube for color separation or beam splitting, with the prismatic elements within the cube being secured within a durable frame that mounts the three color light valves, e.g. twisted nematic liquid crystal display (LCD)-type shutters, in a predefined position and orientation relative to the prismatic cube. In order to improve image quality and brightness, especially of the notoriously difficult-to-reproduce green color, red and blue beams are S polarized, as is conventional, but the green beam is P-polarized.

Abstract: An optical projector is described that orients its optics engine preferably vertically within an enclosure that is higher than it is wide or deep. The invented optics engine uses a prismatic cube for color separation or beam splitting, with the prismatic elements within the cube being secured within a durable frame that mounts the three color light valves, e.g. twisted nematic liquid crystal display (LCD)-type shutters, in a predefined position and orientation relative to the prismatic cube. In order to improve image quality and brightness, especially of the notoriously difficult-to-reproduce green color, red and blue beams are S polarized, as is conventional, but the green beam is P-polarized.

Abstract: Antimicrobial treatment of textile material with an oligomeric or polymeric biguanide and a strong organic acid having a pK value below 4.5. Acid protects treated material against yellowing the presence of chlorine bleaches and loss of antimicrobial activity on laundering. The preferred biguanide is poly(hexamethylene biguanide) hydrochloride.

Abstract: An optical projector is described that orients its optics engine preferably vertically within an enclosure that is higher than it is wide or deep. The invented optics engine uses a prismatic cube for color separation or beam splitting, with the prismatic elements within the cube being secured within a durable frame that mounts the three color light valves, e.g. twisted nematic liquid crystal display (LCD)-type shutters, in a predefined position and orientation relative to the prismatic cube. In order to improve image quality and brightness, especially of the notoriously difficult-to-reproduce green color, red ahd blue beams are S polarized, as is conventional, but the green beam is P-polarized.

Abstract: The perforations of a pre-perforated tubular are plugged with interior protruding, mostly hollow plugs which temporarily seal the perforations. The plugs are capable of withstanding a significant pressure differential and, when combined with an insert, forming a flotation cavity containing a buoyant fluid. The temporarily sealed tubular is then run into a wellbore, the tubular is set, and the plugs are unsealed. The unsealing is preferably accomplished by drilling out the interior protruding portions. Solid baffles may also be placed in the string to limit buoyant fluid loss in the event of premature unsealing in another embodiment of the invention.

Abstract: An implement depth control system includes a rotating link pivotally connected to the frame adjacent the depth control cylinder. A cylinder pin contacts and rotates the link when the implement is lowered toward the field operating position. One end of an adjustable length member is threaded through a turnbuckle mounted on the link and contacts an actuator to limit cylinder retraction and set operating depth. The opposite end of the member extends to an easily accessed location on the implement and includes a crank handle for turning the member and thereby adjusting the length between the turnbuckle and actuator to vary the depth setting. An indicator near the crank handle provides an accurate depth indication at any depth setting, and relative depth adjustments may be made quickly while the implement is in the lowered field working position.

Abstract: A method is presented for writing a permanent spatially periodic phase-matching second-order non-linearity grating in an optical waveguide. Single frequency exciting radiation is launched in a pair of guided modes of the waveguide in the presence of an external DC electric field applied in a direction transverse to the waveguide. The exciting radiation may be either co-propagating or counter-propagating. The above method may be refined by performing it once for an estimated value of exciting radiation frequency, testing the waveguide to determine error in the chosen estimate, erasing the grating and re-performing the method using a corrected value for the frequency of the exciting radiation.

Abstract: A semiconducting internal boundary layer ceramic composition having a fine grain structure suitable for use in thin-layer multilayer capacitors is made in one step by firing a mixture comprising a major amount of finely divided strontium titanate, a minor amount of a compound containing either strontium or titanium, or an element functionally equivalent thereto, a minor amount of a semiconductor forming ingredient (dopant), the identity of which depends on whether the mixture is rich in strontium or in titanium, and a minor amount of a counterdopant selected from cuprous oxide or silver oxide. When the mixture is rich in titanium, the chemical doping agent used to produce semiconductivity is an oxide of a trivalent metal selected from bismuth, boron, iron, antimony, lanthanum and the rare earth and transition metals. When the mixture is rich in strontium, the dopant is an oxide of a pentavalent or hexavalent metal selected from tungsten (+6), niobium (+5), tantalum (+5), and molybdenum (+6).

Abstract: An improved polycrystalline semiconducting ceramic composition comprises an alkaline earth metal titanate doped with a hexavalent metal oxide such as (MO.sub.3)(Bi.sub.2 O.sub.3).sub.x where M is tungsten or molybdenum, and x ranges from 0 to 7, which is liquid phase sintered with lead germanate to produce internal insulating boundaries. The composition is fine grained and provides thin-layer, multi-layer capacitors that exhibit high dielectric constant values, low dissipation factors, and low temperature and voltage coefficients of capacitance.

Abstract: An improved polycrystalline semiconducting ceramic composition can be produced from a novel powder which comprises a reduced alkaline earth metal titanate doped with a hexavalent metal oxide such as (MO.sub.3) (Bi.sub.2 O.sub.3).sub.x where M is tungsten or molybdenum, and x ranges from 0 to 7. This powder, which has a mean particle size on the order of less than 10 microns, may be liquid phase sintered with lead germanate to produce a ceramic composition having an extremely fine grain size. By reducing the earth metal titanate (either chemically or gaseously) prior to the liquid phase sintering with lead germanate, particle or grain size growth is substantially eliminated, and the grain size of the ceramic composition is similar to the original particle size of the earth metal titanate.

Abstract: An improved polycrystalline semiconducting ceramic composition comprises an alkaline earth metal titanate doped with a hexavalent metal oxide such as (MO.sub.3)(Bi.sub.2 O.sub.3).sub.x where M is tungsten or molybdenum, and x ranges from 0 to 7, which is liquid phase sintered with lead germanate to produce internal insulating boundaries. The composition is fine grained and provides thin-layer, multi-layer capacitors that exhibit high dielectric constant values, low dissipation factors, and low temperature and voltage coefficients of capacitance.

Abstract: Liquid phase sintering of a mixture comprising a major amount of barium titanate and a minor amount of a lead germanate composition at temperatures in the range of from about 750.degree. to about 1050.degree. C. provides a heterophasic ceramic body of high dielectric constant and strength, and low dissipation factor. Consequently, relatively inexpensive low melting point metals such as silver and copper can be utilized as electrodes in the fabrication of monolithic multi-layer capacitors.

Abstract: The invention provides the functional reliability of an automatic device, constituted by the association of phase cells comprising, for each phase, a pneumatic AND gate and bistable memory, which is ensured by the interposition of a threshold relay between the feedback interrupter associated with a phase all and the control input of the memory.

Abstract: Liquid phase sintering of a mixture comprising a major amount of BaTiO.sub.3 and a minor amount of Pb.sub.5 Ge.sub.3 O.sub.11 at a temperature of 750.degree.-1050.degree. C. provides a heterophasic ceramic body of high dielectric constant and strength, and low dissipation factor. Consequently, relatively inexpensive low melting point metals such as silver and copper can be utilized as electrodes in the fabrication of monolithic multi-layer ceramic capacitors.