Abstract: A spray forming method for producing a metallic ingot and metallic powder from a metallic source of metal or metal alloy includes: forming one or more streams of metal or alloy from the source, gas atomizing one or more streams of metal or alloy to form one or more sprays of atomized droplets, directing the spray(s) of droplets through a spray nozzle to a rotatable hot body, depositing the droplets to the hot body to form the ingot, controlling the process parameters 1) temperature of metal or alloy, 2) inlet and outlet pressure of the spray nozzle, 3) rotation speed of the hot body, and/or 4) distance between the hot body and the spray(s) of droplets, and collecting the metallic powder having a predefined size distribution. The process parameters are controlled such that the ingot yield is 60-80% and the metallic powder yield is 40-20%, relative to the metallic source.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of sterilization of items that are sensitive to e.g. temperature, pH, positive or negative pressure, radiation or oxidation. More particularly, the invention concerns a method, the use of this method and an apparatus for sterilization or disinfection, comprising the steps of contacting one or more item or part of an item with a water-based fluid comprising at least one reductant, followed by the step of contacting with a gas having oxidative properties in a substantially water-free environment. According to the invention, items can be sterilized that are otherwise impaired by conventional sterilization procedures, such as laboratory items, medical items, dental items, military items, biological items, and food processing-related items.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of sterilization of items that are sensitive to e.g. temperature, pH, positive or negative pressure, radiation or oxidation. More particularly, the invention concerns a method, the use of this method and an apparatus for sterilization or disinfection, comprising the steps of contacting one or more item or part of an item with (a) a water-based fluid containing at least one enzyme, and (b) a substantially water-free environment with a gas having oxidative properties, where said step (a) precedes said step (b). According to the invention, items can be sterilized that are otherwise impaired by conventional sterilization procedures, such as laboratory items, medical items, dental items, military items, biological items, and food processing-related items.

Abstract: A novel class of substituted homopiperidine, piperidine and pyrrolidine derivatives, methods for their preparation, pharmaceutical compositions comprising them and use thereof in the treatment of disorders related to the histamine H3 receptor. More particularly, the compounds possess histamine H3 receptor antagonistic activity and are thus useful in the treatment of disorders in which a histamine H3 receptor blockade is beneficial.

Abstract: In a method of injection molding a plastic product having a base wall and a sidewall (24), wherein plastic injected into a base-wall section of the mold cavity is conducted through a flow guide (28) in the base-wall section and thence into a sidewall section (24) of the mold cavity, a portion of a base-wall section flow guide is shaped by partially opposing a row of successive recesses (33) in a first mold part with a series of successive recesses (34) in a second mold part, with the recesses in the first mold part being so staggered with respect to the recesses in the second mold part as to provide a chain of overlapping recesses that form a sequence of variable-opening throttles (30) having openings that can vary whenever the alignment between the first and second mold parts varies. The recesses (34) in the second mold part are more than the recesses (33) in the first mold part.

Abstract: A device for dispensing water in portions, preferably hot water portions in a vending machine for beverages includes a water container (1), at least one outlet pipe (15, 16) connecting said water container (1) to the inlet of a pump (17), a feeding pipe (19) connecting the outlet of the pump (17) to a plurality of dispensing valves (30 to 34), which in turn are connected to said feeding pipe (19) through their respective inlet pipes (35 to 39), where each dispensing valve is adapted to dispense a water portion through an associated feed nozzle (40 to 44). The feeding pipe (19) is furthermore connected to a return valve (20) arranged at a level above the fluid level inside the water container (1), said return valve (20) in turn being connected to a return pipe (21) with an outlet opening (22) discharging into the water container (1).

Abstract: A novel class of substituted homopiperidine, piperidine and pyrrolidine derivatives, methods for their preparation, pharmaceutical compositions comprising them and use thereof in the treatment of disorders related to the histamine H3 receptor. More particularly, the compounds possess histamine H3 receptor antagonistic activity and are thus useful in the treatment of disorders in which a histamine H3 receptor blockade is beneficial.

Abstract: The invention facilitates a determination of the rate at which soil organic nitrogen is converted to inorganic nitrogen or mineral nitrogen. This conversion is known as N-mineralization. The total release of plant available nitrogen in a soil, i.e., the gross N-mineralization rate quantifies the conversion in the soil of organic nitrogen to inorganic nitrogen. The present invention provides a quick and reliable method for measuring the gross N-mineralization rate of a soil sample. The method exploits that a microbial enzyme activity of a functional ornithine acid cycle present in said sample is correlatale with the rate or gross N-mineralization of that same sample. The method of the invention can be used e.g. in a determination of the amount of a nitrogen-containing fertilizer to be applied to a soil such as e.g. a field of agricultural crops.

Abstract: In a method of extracting castings (1, 2, 3) from moulds in a mould-string plant, the downstream-most mould (1) is gripped by a robot gripper (9) and made to cooperate with an engagement member (14), the latter first penetrating into the mould adjacent the casting (4) and then pulling the latter away from the mould. By proceeding in this manner it is possible to achieve a reliable extraction using relatively simple equipment and procedures. Other types of engagement members could be suctions cups or electromagnets.