Abstract: The present invention is a gas component sensor comprising novel electrolyte compositions. The electrolyte compositions in bulk, sintered or thin film embodiments are capable of forming with different-metal sensing and reference electrodes a highly stable gas oxide sensors. The novel electrolyte composition changes electrochemical reactions at the sensing and reference electrodes and the overall reaction of the electrodes and electrolyte. The novel electrolyte compositions have: (1) excellent chemical stability and thermal compatibility as to the electrodes and a preferred ceramic substrate, (2) excellent chemical stability with the environment as to the reference and sensing electrodes, which need not be sealed against the atmosphere to be sensed, (3) effective adherence to the substrate and electrode metals.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a system and method for transdermal sampling, comprising: at least one sampler for retrieving and transferring at least one analyte obtained transdermally from the skin of a subject; at least one detector system for identifying and quantifying said at least one analyte; and at least one logic module for (i) receiving and storing input data from said at least one detector, (ii) relating the input data to other data obtained from the subject, (iii) displaying output information, (iv) transmitting the output information to another system, and (v) controlling the operation of said at least one sampler and at least one detector.

Abstract: An egg-shaped anaerobic sludge digester has upper and lower draft tubes, and an optional middle draft tube. The draft tubes are arranged so that liquid can be (1) simultaneously pumped downwards through the upper (or middle) draft tube and upwards through the lower (or middle) draft tube; (2) simultaneously pumped upwards through two or more draft tubes; or (3) simultaneously pumped downwards through two or more draft tubes. When a middle draft tube is provided, it can be used in place of the upper draft tube when the liquid surface in the digester falls below the top of the upper draft tube. Alternatively, the middle draft tube can work as a coordinated relay conduit to move liquid either in the same direction as the upper draft tube or to move liquid in the same direction as the lower draft tube.

Abstract: A method of branch metric calculation of trellis coded data, suitable for a decoder of phase angle on a carrier modulated with phase shift keying (PSK) modulation, begins with an expressing angles of phase shift by a vectorial representation of sectors within quadrants of a circle. The sectors are subdivided into sub-sectors of differing sizes, and the sub-sectors are divided further into equal increments of angle referred to as PIEs. The PIEs and the quadrants are identified and, in each quadrant, there is an assigning of a set of branch metrics to serve as identifiers of respective ones of the sub-sectors in each sector of the quadrant. The set of branch metrics in one sector of the quadrant differs from the set of branch metrics in another of the sectors of the quadrant by a permutation of the branch metrics. The phase data is outputted in the form of branch metrics and quadrant for use by a decoder such as a Viterbi decoder.

Abstract: A continuous process for producing a silicone polymer comprises the sequential steps of (i) polymerisation of a linear silanol group containing siloxane by condensation polymerisation, or of a cyclosiloxane by ring opening polymerisation, or of a mixture of said linear and cyclosiloxanes with a phosphazene base in the presence of water and the presence or absence of a filler in an extruder, (ii) neutralising the reaction mixture in an extruder, and (iii) stripping the neutralised reaction mixture to remove volatile materials. Preferably, step (iii) is performed in an extruder, more preferably steps (i), (ii) and (iii) are all performed in the same extruder.

Abstract: A continuous process for producing a silicone polymer comprises the sequential steps of (i) polymerisation of a linear silanol group containing siloxane by condensation polymerisation, or of a cyclosiloxane by ring opening polymerisation, or of a mixture of said linear and cyclosiloxanes with a phosphazene base in the presence of water and the presence or absence of a filler in a static mixer, (ii) neutralising the reaction mixture in a static mixer, an in-line mixer or an extruder, and (iii) stripping the neutralised reaction mixture to remove volatile materials. Preferably step (ii) is performed in a static mixer and step (iii) is performed in a thin film stripper, extruder or co-rotating processor.

Abstract: A process for producing a silicone polymer having a volatile material content of less than 1% by weight, preferably less than 0.1% by weight, comprises the sequential steps of (i) producing an unstripped silicone polymer by polymerisation of a linear silanol group containing siloxane by condensation polymerisation, or of a cyclosiloxane by ring-opening polymerisation, or of a mixture of said linear and cyclosiloxanes, with a phosphazene base in the presence of water and the presence or absence of a filler, (ii) neutralising the catalyst, and (iii) stripping the unstripped silicone polymer, preferably at temperatures of 200.degree. C. and above.

Abstract: This circuit permits M-sequence signals to be generated and decoded very fast while using relatively low power, low speed circuitry components.

Abstract: A photographic apparatus has a camera beneath which is arranged a circular array of open topped tanks for processing liquid. A film carrier is arranged to receive exposed film from the camera and can move up and down as well as rotate step by step in order to dip film received from the camera and carried by the carrier into each tank of the array in turn. Each tank has an agitator therein. Each agitator has an operating stem which can move up and down in the tank. The stem has a plurality of agitator blades which are caused to move by the upward and downward movement of the operating stem so as to agitate the liquid in the tank.