Abstract: An embodiment of the invention involves a method for servicing a choke valve that includes disconnecting a choke actuator and at least one internal valve component engaged therewith from the choke valve body of the choke valve and moving the same in a generally linear path away from the choke valve body along the axis of the choke valve body.

Abstract: A mattress, foundation, or other upholstered sleep product or article includes a core and barrier material surrounding the core. The barrier material includes flame and heat-resistant material that is configured to prevent combustion of the core when the upholstered article is impinged with a gas flame according to California Technical Bulletin 603 of the State of California Department of Consumer Affairs. The barrier material may include an intumescent material that is configured to swell and char in the presence of a flame so as to form a barrier to the flame and to heat generated by the flame.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for detecting extension attacks made to a communication enterprise, and taking appropriate remedial action to prevent ongoing attacks and future attacks. One or more attributes of a suspect call are analyzed, and a risk is associated with each analyzed attribute. An overall risk or assessment is then made of the analyzed attributes, attack attributes are logged, and one or more remedial actions may be triggered as a result of the analyzed call attributes. The remedial actions may include recording the call, notifying an administrator of a suspect call, or isolating the communication enterprise from the attack by terminating the call or shutting down selected communication endpoints to prevent calls being made to those extensions. Rules may be applied to the analyzed attributes in order to trigger the appropriate remedial action.

Abstract: Peracetic acid is prepared on-site and on-demand in a continuous process and at a controlled rate to meet the demand of a downstream operation. In one aspect, a continuous tank reactor is used to produce quantities of peracetic acid at a controlled rate in liquid or vapor form. In another aspect, the use of super acid catalysts enhances the production of peracetic acid under milder conditions, for example, than those typically encountered when using sulfuric acid catalysts alone.

Abstract: A computer implemented method and system for automating the process of creating and placing customized manufacturing orders for complex electronic equipment and housing assemblies. In one non-limiting example implementation, a computerized customer ordering interface is provided for aiding a requisition engineer in designing and requisitioning the manufacture of customized cabinet/rack-mounted housing and wiring arrangements for complex industrial electronic equipment.

Abstract: Peracetic acid in aqueous liquid solution or vapor phase is prepared on-site and on-demand in a continuous process. Peracetic acid can be produced at a controlled rate to meet the demands of a downstream operation. In one embodiment, a pipe-line reactor and distillation column is used for the production of peracetic acid. In another embodiment, an apparatus includes a continuous pot reactor and distillation column for producing peracetic acid. The present invention has the potential of providing a much safer source of aqueous peracetic acid than currently available processes, due in part to the limited inventories of reactants in the reactor, particularly those in the vapor phase.

Abstract: A road safety barrier having four or more ropes 4-7 supported by posts 1-3 rigidly mounted on or in the ground is described. Each rope is held in tension against the posts and follows a sinuous path between the posts. The ropes are tensioned against the posts and this gives rise to a combined frictional resistance to displacement of the ropes relative to each post along the length of the safety barrier. The structure of at least some of the posts and/or their mounting with respect to the ground defines a minimum bending yield strength in a direction along the length of the barrier. This minimum bending yield strength is greater than the bending moment resulting from the combined frictional resistance forces acting on the post.

Abstract: A filler cloth includes cellulosic fibers treated with a flame retardant chemistry such that the filler cloth has a char length of less than about nine inches when tested in accordance with NFPA 701, such that thermal shrinkage of the filler cloth at 400° F. is less than about 35% in any direction, and such that the filler cloth maintains flame and heat resistant integrity when impinged with a gas flame in accordance with testing protocols set forth in Technical Bulletin 603 of the State of California Department of Consumer Affairs. The filler cloth cellulosic fibers are treated with a flame retardant chemistry such that the filler cloth has a Frazier air permeability of less than about 400 cfm and a thermal resistance rating of at least about 3 when tested according to NFPA 2112.

Abstract: A composite upholstery panel includes a layer of ticking fabric, a layer of flame and heat-resistant backing fabric, and a layer of resilient flame and heat-resistant cushioning material sandwiched between the layer of ticking fabric and the layer of backing fabric. The composite upholstery panel maintains flame and heat resistant integrity when impinged at any location with a gas flame in accordance with testing protocol set forth in Technical Bulletin 603 of the State of California Department of Consumer Affairs (TB-603). However, individually, the ticking layer, backing layer and cushioning layer would fail to maintain flame and heat resistant integrity when impinged with a gas flame in accordance with testing protocol set forth in TB-603.

Abstract: A system interface having a plurality of directors, one portion of such directors being adapted for coupling to a host computer/server and another portion of the directors being adapted for coupling to a bank of disk drives. The plurality of directors are interconnected through a network. A common resource section is provided having a resource shared among the plurality of directors. The common shared resource section includes a shared computer code used by the plurality of directors. The code includes computer code for booting up each one of the plurality directors. The common shared code storage section is interconnected to the directors through the network. A second, redundant common shared resource section is provided. The network is a packet switching network.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, a memory controller is provided that includes both a first processor and a second processor. If a memory device controlled by the controller indicates to the controller that an error condition exists in the device, either the first processor or the second processor is selected to handle the error condition. If the first processor is selected to handle the error condition, the first processor handles the error condition according to one or more statically preprogrammed error handling routines. Conversely, if the second processor is selected to handle the error condition, the second processor handles the error condition according to one or more dynamically programmable error handling routines.

Abstract: A method of producing vanillin comprising the steps of: (1) providing trans-ferulic acid or a salt thereof; and (2) providing trans-ferulate: CoASH ligase activity (enzyme activity I), trans-feruloyl ScoA hydratase activity (enzyme activity II), and 4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl-&bgr;-hydroxy-propionyl SCoA (HMPHP SCoA) cleavage activity (enzyme activity III). Conveniently the enzymes are provided by Pseudomonas fluorescens Fe3 or a mutant or derivative thereof. Polypeptides with enzymes activities II and III and polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides. Use of the polypeptides or the polynucleotides in a method for producing vanillin is also provided.

Abstract: A spool for use with a swimming pool cover or with a shade cover. The spool has a roller assembly, and a cover (not shown) may be wound onto the roller assembly or unwound from the assembly. The roller assembly has a pre-tensioned rubber strip that when viewed in transverse cross-section is substantially rectangular in shape and two opposing sides of the rectangle are notched. This strip is tensioned when the cover is unwound from the spool and a locking mechanism retains the cover in a desired unwound position against the tension of the rubber strip.

Abstract: An optical sensor for detection of gases such as nitrogen oxides includes a thin film of an active material comprising a highly polarisable organic material deposited by the Langmuir-Blodgett technique or otherwise on a substrate and interrogated optically, to detect changes in at least one optical property such as reflectance or complex refractive index. Preferred materials include a specific polysiloxane and low-molecular-mass compounds (FIGS 1 to 5b), having specific electron donating and/or accepting groups, including azobenzenes. The optical change may include a visible colour change.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention relates to a transgenic plant which, by presence of a transgene, is able to produce p-hydroxybenzoic acid or a &bgr;-D-glycoside or &bgr;-D-glucose ester thereof. A method is also disclosed for producing p-hydroxybenzoic acid or a &bgr;-D-glycoside or &bgr;-D-glucose ester thereof using a transgenic plant of the present invention.

Abstract: A spool (1) for use with a swimming pool cover or with a shade cover. The spool (1) has a roller assembly (4), and a cover (not shown) may be wound onto the roller assembly (4) or unwound from the assembly (4). The roller assembly (4) has a pre-tensioned rubber strip (22) that when viewed in transverse cross-section is substantially rectangular in shape and two opposing sides of the rectangle are notched. This strip (22) is tensioned when the cover is unwound from the spool (1) and a locking mechanism retains the cover in a desired unwound position against the tension of the rubber strip (22).

Abstract: A method of producing vanillin comprising the steps of: (1) providing trans-ferulic acid or salt thereof; and (2) providing trans-ferulate; CoASH ligase activity (enzyme activity I) trans-feruloyl SCoA hydratase activity (enzyme activity II), and 4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl-&bgr;-hydroxy-propionyl SCoA (HMPHP SCoA) cleavage activity (enzyme activity III). Conveniently the enzymes are provided by Pseudomonas fluorescens Fe3 or a mutant or derivative thereof. Polypeptides with enzymes activities II and III and polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides. Use of said polypeptides or said polynucleotides in a method for producing vanillin.

Abstract: A method of producing vanillin comprising the steps of: (1) providing trans-ferulic acid or a salt thereof; and (2) providing trans-ferulate: CoASH ligase activity (enzyme activity I), trans-feruloyl ScoA hydratase activity (enzyme activity II), and 4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl-&bgr;-hydroxy-propionyl SCoA (HMPHP SCoA) cleavage activity (enzyme activity III). Conveniently the enzymes are provided by Pseudomonas fluorescens Fe3 or a mutant or derivative thereof. Polypeptides with enzymes activities II and III and polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides. Use of said polypeptides or said polynucleotides in a method for producing vanillin.

Abstract: Pendant groups in the alpha-amino acid monomer residues comprising a polypeptide molecule are selectively modified by applying an electric potential across an electrochemical cell containing the polypeptide.