Abstract: A product and process for laundering delicate or dry-clean only garments in a conventional home washing machine. The process represents a home version of the commercial wet-cleaning processes for cleaning of delicate garments. The product may comprise a liquid cleaning composition, a wash pretreatment composition, a wash pretreatment applicator, an apparatus for dispensing a rinse cycle conditioner and a flexible wrap container within which the garments are contained during washing.

Abstract: An adhesive dispensing tape including a transparent carrier material and pressure sensitive adhesive segments attached thereto is disclosed. The transparent carrier material permits the adhesive segments to be precisely positioned onto a craft project, thereby eliminating the guess work associated with placement of adhesives. Thus, the pressure sensitive adhesives may thereby be dispensed onto any item in exactly the proper location.

Abstract: This invention relates to novel ?-conotoxin-like peptides comprising the following sequence of amino acids: Xaa1CCSXaa2Xaa3Xaa4CXaa5Xaa6Xaa7Xaa8Xaa9Xaa10Xaa11C—NH2 in which Xaa1 is G or D; Xaa3 is proline, hydroxyproline or glutamine; each of Xaa2 to Xaa8 and Xaa11 is independently any amino acid; Xaa9 is proline, hydroxyproline or glutamine; Xaa10 is aspartate, glutamate or ?-carboxyglutamate; Xaa11 is optionally absent; and the C-terminus is optionally amidated, with the proviso that the peptide is not ?-conotoxin Ep1 or ?-conotoxin Im1. The peptides are useful in the treatment or prevention of pain, in recovery from nerve injury, and in the treatment of painful neurological conditions such as stroke.

Abstract: Hot melt thermoplastic adhesive is predeposited on a carrier strip having front and back release surfaces. The carrier strip is rolled into a coil compressing the thermoplastic hot melt into disks which may later be removed for use. The disks are spaced so that the carrier strip may be deformed to expose a single disk to a planar surface permitting simplified dispensing of the disks.

Abstract: An adhesive dispensing sheet including a plurality of pressure sensitive adhesive segments disposed on a carrier material is disclosed. The adhesive segments are separated from one another on the carrier material by perforations. The perforated adhesive dispensing sheet permits a single adhesive segment to be carefully torn away from and thereby detached from the remaining adhesive segments on the adhesive carrier sheet to allow for easy placement of a single adhesive segment. Thus, the pressure-sensitive adhesives may thereby be dispensed onto any item in exactly the proper location without damaging the adhesive segment or the remainder of the adhesive dispensing sheet.

Abstract: Interferometric two-dimensional displacement measuring system A measuring system for an apparatus having a bed, a first stage movable in a first direction relative to the bed, and a second stage movable in a second direction at right angles to the first direction, relative to the first stage. A first interferometer measures displacement in the first direction between a first reference reflector and a first target reflector fixed to the first stage. A second interferometer (a) measures displacement in the second direction between a second reference reflector and a second target reflector fixed to the second stage, (b) includes an intermediate reflector fixed to the first stage, (c) produces a beam that extends in the first direction from a position fixed to the bed to the intermediate reflector and in the second direction from the intermediate reflector to the second target reflector and (d) can therefore have a head that is mounted on the bed.

Abstract: A compound of formula (I) wherein X is aluminium, gallium or indium; each Y, which may be the same or different, is nitrogen or phosphorus; R1 and R2, which may be the same or different, are hydrogen, halogen or alkyl; and R3 to R7, which may be the same or different, are hydrogen or a saturated group, or R3 and R4, or R5 and R6 together represent a saturated divalent link thus completing a ring.

Abstract: A retroreflector has three mutually-orthogonal reflective surfaces arranged around an optical axis. The reflective surfaces stop short of the optical axis to provide a central region of the retroreflector which transmits incident light and a peripheral region of the retroreflector which retroreflects incident light. When the reflector is used in a Jamin-type interferometer with another reflector, this enables the interferometer to be used for measuring displacement between the reflectors. In the interferometer, a projected beam is disposed between a pair of return beams and/or one of the return beams is disposed between a pair of the projected beams. This enables a first contiguous area of a face of a beam splitter to be provided with a phase-shifting coating to produce a phase quadrature relationship between a pair of interferogram beams. This simplifies the masking required when applying the coating.

Abstract: Haemagglutinin polypeptides and encoding nucleic acids are isolated from eleven strains of Haemophilus paragallinarum. The haemagglutinin polypeptides are useful in vaccines for immunization against infectious coryza in chickens, as are the encoding nucleic acids when expressed in attenuated bacteria. Also provided are methods of use of the haemagglutinin polypeptides and nucleic acids for detection and diagnosis of, and immunization against, infectious coryza in chickens.

Abstract: A product and process for laundering delicate or dry-clean only garments in a washing machine, such as a conventional home washing machine. The process may utilize a garment container, such as a flexible wrap to protect the garments. The process also includes at least one cleaning composition specially formulated for delicate garments. The cleaning composition(s) can be in a number of suitable forms, and can be introduced into the process in a number of different manners. The products used in the process may be provided in the form of a kit. The kit may also include a pretreatment applicator.

Abstract: An automatically adjustable seat system (10) includes a sensor (48) for detecting the position of a physical feature of the driver, such as the eyes. The sensor (48) is in communication with a controller (46), which transfers the detected physical feature of the driver thereto. A seat positioning (50) mechanism is in communication with the controller (48) to automatically locate the seat (14) in a position which provides the driver with an optimum field of view. The controller (48) is also in communication with a pedal box (28) and a steering column (26) to automatically position the pedals (26), based on the information from the sensor (48), in an optimum position for use by the driver.

Abstract: A retroreflector has three mutually-orthogonal reflective surfaces arranged around an optical axis. The reflective surfaces stop short of the optical axis to provide a central region of the retroreflector which transmits incident light and a peripheral region of the retroreflector which retroreflects incident light. When the reflector is used in a Jamin-type interferometer with another reflector, this enables the interferometer to be used for measuring displacement between the reflectors.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for transferring funds. The invention supports funds transfers from a source account to a cash access file which can be accessed virtually twenty-four hours a day by both customers and non-customers. Access is achieved by the recipient entering a codeword selected by the sender, along with a transaction code randomly generated by the system. Once the sender provides the codeword and the transaction code to the recipient, the recipient can receive transferred cash through an ATM, even without using a card to access the system. Cash may be transferred across international borders and dispensed in a currency different than that of the sender's source account. Although cash is made available to a recipient virtually as soon as the requested transfer is approved and confirmed by the sender, the sender's account is not debited until the cash is actually received by the recipient. Other features, including security, cancellation, and status inquiries are also described.

Abstract: A Michelson interferometer has a wedge-shaped beamsplitter (7) and compensator (9) plates of substantially identical wedge angle and thickness. The compensator plate is positioned to cancel out beam displacement and deviation introduced by the beamsplitter plate.

Abstract: A system and method for allowing funds to be transferred instantly to an account so that the funds are available to the beneficiary at the time they are sent, based on customer information which can be automatically accessed by the system, rather than needing to be manually entered. Further, the system automatically computes the appropriate exchange rate and any fees to be charged to the account and displays them to the user so that the user may authorize or cancel the transaction. They system also analyzes the parameters of the transfer to assure that the transfer conforms with pertinent government regulations. The system also enables the user to quantify the amount to be transferred in the currency of the originating account or the currency of the receiving account, thereby maximizing the flexibility of the system. The system further is designed so that it can be understood and accessed by individuals having no special expertise in computers, wire transfers and the like.

Abstract: Gelled detergent compositions comprise a polyhydroxy fatty acid amine surfactant and an alkyl alkoxylated sulfate surfactant. Gels form spontaneously without the need for extraneous gelling agents. Thus, a mixture of coconutalkyl N-methyl glucamide and an AEmS surfactant gels in water to provide a composition which is useful for cleaning hard surfaces, especially tableware. Grease-cutting gels which contain magnesium and/or calcium ions are also provided.

Abstract: A system and method for allowing funds to be transferred instantly to an account so that the funds are available to the beneficiary at the time they are sent, based on customer information which can be automatically accessed by the system, rather than needing to be manually entered. Further, the system automatically computes the appropriate exchange rate and any fees to be charged to the account and displays them to the user so that the user may authorize or cancel the transaction. The system also analyzes the parameters of the transfer to assure that the transfer conforms with pertinent government regulations. The system also enables the user to quantify the amount to be transferred in the currency of the originating account or the currency of the receiving account, thereby maximizing the flexibility of the system. The system further is designed so that it can be understood and accessed by individuals having no special expertise in computers, wire transfers and the like.

Abstract: A cam follower shoe for a fuel injection pump is constructed to hold captive the roller of the cam follower. Two shoes are constructed at the same time from a single block of material which is bored to produce a bore and is then divided into two parts by a pair of cuts which extend axially crossing from one side of a diametral plane to the other, the plane being normal to the direction of movement of the shoe in use. At one end of each shoe the surface subtends an angle of less than 180.degree. but at the other end of the shoe when the cuts are straight, the surface subtends an angle of greater than 180.degree..