Abstract: An apparatus and method for adjusting the height of a wheel, particularly a caster wheel, in relation to a structure such as a mower deck of a lawnmower includes a frame member, a hollow guide member, a transverse element, and a lever. The frame member is interconnected between one or more caster wheels and the structure. The frame member includes an angled section disposed along an angled adjustment direction. Spaced recesses are formed in the angled section and arranged along the adjustment direction. The guide member and transverse element are attached to the structure. The angled section is slidable through the guide member. The lever is pivotably connected to the transverse element and includes a locking element. By pivoting the lever, the locking element can be brought into engagement with a selected one of the recesses to fix the angled section at a desired position relative to the guide member and thus the height of the structure relative to a ground surface over which the caster wheel or wheels roll.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for recovering hematopoietic function in a patient. The method includes administering orally to the patient an amount of a peanut seed coat-substance which exhibits bone marrow cell-proliferating activity and which is soluble in either water or ethanol, effective to recover hematopoietic function in the patient.

Abstract: An improved method of modifying keratin fiber represented by wool is disclosed. Mechanical force is applied to keratin fiber in the presence of an aqueous solution of a transition metal salt to weaken and destroy the structure of the parts under the keratin layers in scales (surface cells) so that the transition metal may be introduced in the under-keratin layers locally at high a concentration. Then, the keratin fiber is immersed in a bath containing oxidizing agents such as hydrogen peroxide and monopersulfuric acid. The oxidizing agents are decomposed by catalytic effect of the transition metal. Mainly due to pressure of oxygen gas evolved by the decomposition keratin layers, which are scales on the keratin fiber, are peeled off. Thus, it is possible to remove only the keratin parts, which are not agreeable to the touch, without damaging the non-keratin protein, and to provide modified fiber which substantially contains no remaining metal.

Abstract: A novel wound dressing material is produced by a chemical treatment of animal fibers, particularly, wool, to strip off the keratin layers of the surfaces of the fibers so as to expose the non-keratin protein in the underlayers, which is hydrophilic. The wound dressing material provides healing and regenerating effects on the wounds, and can be produced at a low cost.

Abstract: A lawn mower has a cutter blade rotatable in a substantially horizontal plane, and a cutter housing with the cutter blade being rotatably accommodated therein, the cutter housing comprising an upper wall having a raised scroll, and a circumferential wall having a discharge duct contiguous to the scroll and defining a discharge port. A first inner member is detachably disposed along inner surfaces of the upper and circumferential walls of the cutter housing, the first inner member having an inner surface of arcuate cross section. A second inner member is detachably disposed in the discharge duct contiguously to the first inner member in closing relationship to the discharge port, the second inner member being separate from the first inner member and having an inner surface of arcuate cross section.

Abstract: This present invention relates to a method of improving the quality of animal fibers collected from sheep, goat, llama, or alpaca by removing scales.Firstly, (a), an oxidizing catalyst is absorbed in the hydrophilic areas on the surface of a fiber, that is, the joint sections (2) of the scales (1) and the end cuticles (3). Then, (b), the fiber is immersed in a solution of a chlorinating agent or an oxidizing agent to decompose the scales rapidly by oxidation in order to remove the scales (1). Then, (c), the fiber is treated with a solution of a reducing agent.

Abstract: A method for modifying wool fiber materials to advance quality grade thereof, wherein a wool fiber material is dipped in a saturated solution of a neutral salt of a strong electrolyte and an acid, whereby the acid is included in the edge portions of the endo cuticles of the scales of the wool fiber, and then the wool fiber is dipped in a saturated aqueous solution of the neutral salt having a pH in the neutral range or in water to effect gradual chlorination of the wool fibers, wherein the aqueous solution or the water contains a compound such as sodium hypochlorite, sodium chlorite, chlorocyanuric acid salt and mixtures thereof. The wool fiber is then removed from the saturated aqueous solution, dipped in water to swell the chlorinated portions thereof and washed with water to remove the chlorinated portions. Finally, the thus treated wool is contacted with a solution containing sodium pyrosulfite and an alkaline liquid to provide wool fibers having a smooth surface.