Abstract: A dental implant coated with a composition containing desmodontal cells, where the cells are not propagated in vitro prior to being coated on the implant.

Abstract: A method of forming pellets or agglomerates of high density boron nitride from high purity hexagonal boron nitride by crushing the high purity hexagonal boron nitride into boron nitride particles extending over a size range of at least 100 microns with the majority of the particles having a particle size above 50 microns and cold pressing the crushed particles into a compacted form. The compacted form is then granulated into a granulated powder and again cold pressed to form pellets or agglomerates of boron nitride particles with the operations of cold pressing and granulation occurring in one or more stages.

Abstract: A process and a device for severing wrappings (11) in each case surrounding a stack (10) of blanks and for removing the wrappings (11).To guarantee that they are held together better, stacks (10) of blanks are surrounded by a strip-shaped wrapping (11). In the region of a wrappings station (19), these are severed by a horizontally movable knife (23). The knife (23) enters into the upper area of an upright limb (12) of the wrapping (11), between upper blanks of the stack (10) of blanks, and is moved along a guide rail (25) whilst severing the wrapping (11). The latter is subsequently drawn away downward by a drawing force.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a boron nitride composition of particles of boron nitride and a nonionic surfactant for use as a filler with a distribution of agglomerates having an average particle size in the range of between 20-80 microns and to a molding compound having a high thermal conductivity of above at least 5 W/m.degree. K. The molding compound comprises a polymer base material, a filler and a nonionic surfactant with the filler comprising boron nitride in a concentration of at least 60% by weight of said composition and wherein the nonionic surfactant is selected from the class consisting of carboxylic acid amides and carboxylic acid esters.

Abstract: Boron nitride formed to an optimum density and composition of soluble borates and oxygen forms a material which deforms under pressure and reforms to make a very low permeability seal. The boron nitride seal is formed by precompacting a boron nitride powder having a soluble borate concentration of between 0.5 and 1.90% by weight, hot pressing the powder to a density of about 1.85 g/cc and machining the hot pressed powder into a seal of desired shape.

Abstract: Immobilized yeast for the production of alcoholic beverages is produced by forming calcium alginate beads containing yeast, hardening the beads for 30 to 180 minutes in a CaCl.sub.2 solution, washing the beads for 100 to 500 minutes at 5.degree. to 35.degree. C. with water which may have a salt content of up to 0.5 g/l and drying the beads at a temperature of 10.degree. to 50.degree. C. The immobilized yeast is particularly suitable for use in the bottle fermentation of sparkling wine.

Abstract: Apparatus and a related method for regulating access to a communication bus to which multiple communication nodes are connected. Control logic at each of the nodes determines which of them has priority to access the bus, by means of a parallel arbitration sequence in which all nodes contending for bus access participate. Specifically, each contending node generates a relative priority node number and asserts it onto an arbitration bus. All of the asserted node numbers are logically combined into a composite node number on the bus, and the winning node is determined in a bit-by-bit ripple comparison circuit at each node, the composite node number being compared with the locally generated relative priority node number. Priority is determined in advance of data transmission, and synchronization and arbitration take place without any central or master control unit.

Abstract: A process for the production of useful steroids obtained by side chain degradation of sterol source materials through the use of microorganisms is described.

Abstract: A process for the production of baker's yeast with improved activity or leavening power under acid leavening conditions is carried out by cultivating fresh yeast conventionally to the last propagation stage, propagating the fresh yeast in the last propagation stage in the presence of from 0.1 gm to 10 gm per liter of culture broth containing a source of carbon and nitrogen, of an aliphatic carboxylic acid having from 2 to 4 carbon atoms, and recovering baker's yeast with improved activity or leavening power.

Abstract: A battery charging system includes an alternator, a main rectifier for charging the battery, and an auxiliary rectifier for supplying current to the alternator field winding under control of its voltage regulator 20. A first transistor switch is sensitive to under voltage to illuminate a first warning light and a second transistor switch is sensitive to over voltage to illuminate a second warning light. The two transistor switches are cross-connected so that failure of either light causes illumination of the other.

Abstract: A liquid level detector circuit includes a capacitive probe, a reference capacitor and two further capacitors connected as a capacitor bridge, with one terminal of each of the probe and the reference capacitor earthed and a common terminal of the further capacitors providing an output to a warning circuit. An oscillator is provided by two transistors connected so as alternately to interconnect the other terminals of each of the probe and the reference capacitor and to connect these to two different fixed potentials. The further capacitors charge slowly but discharge rapidly so that when there is any imbalance there is an excursion of the mean voltage at the common terminal during discharge which, depending on the polarity of the excursion can trigger the warning circuit.

Abstract: A starter motor control circuit for an engine includes an input circuit which is controlled by the ignition contact breaker of the engine, the capacitor charging each time the contact breaker opens and discharging relatively slowly when it is closed. The capacitor is connected by a complementary emitter follower transistor pair to a level detector circuit which produces an output when the voltage on the capacitor is between predetermined limits. At below a predetermined speed this output is a train of constant length pulses which control charging and discharging of a further capacitor. When the voltage on the capacitor is less than a predetermined minimum a regenerative switching circuit is operated to cut out the starter circuit. A feedback transistor maintains the capacitor discharged until the engine stops.

Abstract: A spark ignition system includes a variable reluctance pick-up providing the input signal to a saturating amplifier which includes a feedback path constituted by a capacitor and a resistor in series. This amplifier has a transfer function while it is being driven towards saturation, such that its output is the sum of an integral part and a proportional part and does not saturate as a result of oscillatory high frequency spurious signals since these have a low integral. A resistor in the input of the amplifier is shorted out by a diode connected transistor when the polarity of the signal from the pick-up reverses, to increase the gain of the amplifier while it is being driven towards de-saturation, such change of polarity signalling production of a spark.

Abstract: An i.c. engine fuel system uses a conventional carburettor modified by the addition of an air pressure control to the float chamber thereof. The air pressure control includes a bank of valves connected in parallel to exhaust a chamber connected by an orifice to the engine intake manifold. The chamber is connected to the float chamber and the valves are controlled by the individual bits of a digital output signal produced by a digital read only memory addressed by digital signals corresponding to two engine parameters such as engine speed and throttle angle.

Abstract: A road vehicle electrical system has an alternator which provides power through a rectifier to a battery, and also supplies a third supply line used for feeding an ignition warning lamp. Control means for the starting system of the vehicle is associated with the supply lines in such a way that once the engine has started and the third supply line is energized, a further attempt cannot be made to start the engine until the engine has stopped.

Abstract: A temperature sensitive electronic switching arrangement has a casing with two terminals, one of which may be constituted by the casing. In the casing is a positive temperature coefficient resistor and associated trigger circuit. As the temperature rises, a point is reached at which the circuit between the casing terminals changes from a high resistance to a low resistance. The arrangement has many uses, particularly in road vehicles.

Abstract: A liquid level detection system has a monitoring device which contacts the liquid when the liquid level is above the predetermined level, and a positive temperature co-efficient resistor mounted in the system at the position where the temperature is to be sensed. The components are connected up in such a way that a warning is given if the liquid level falls or the temperature at a given point rises beyond a predetermined value.