Abstract: A moisture meter (1) has an elongate probe (3) supporting at least one pair of electrodes (5, 6), and being configured for insertion into bulk material (C). There is a transmitter (50) for driving an electrode (5, 6) and a detector (51) for receiving current signals of an electrode. A controller (54) controls drive of the electrodes (5, 6) and processes detected signals to provide a moisture reading. There are at least two axially separated radial spacers (7, 8) having ridges (30) extending radially to an extent greater than the electrodes, to centralise the probe and to provide a gap between the electrodes and bulk material when the probe is inserted in a hole (H) in the bulk material. The spacers (7, 8) are configured to provide a low friction fit within a hole in the bulk material. There is a leading spacer (7) on a leading side of a first electrode (5) and a trailing spacer (8) at a trailing side of a second electrode (6).

Abstract: A multicontrast-weighted acquisition of three images is performed with an MRI system. Each image is normalized and then mapped to a separate color channel. A composite color image is formed by combining all the color channels, and this image is displayed or analyzed to identify different tissue types therein.

Abstract: The present invention provides a control system for a modular high repetition rate two discharge chamber ultraviolet gas discharge laser. In preferred embodiments, the laser is a production line machine with a master oscillator producing a very narrow band seed beam which is amplified in the second discharge chamber. Novel control features specially adapted for a two-chamber gas discharge laser system include: (1) pulse energy controls, with nanosecond timing precision (2) precision pulse to pulse wavelength controls with high speed and extreme speed wavelength tuning (3) fast response gas temperature control and (4) F2 injection controls with novel learning algorithm.

Abstract: The present invention provides a control system for a modular high repetition rate two discharge chamber ultraviolet gas discharge laser. In preferred embodiments, the laser is a production line machine with a master oscillator producing a very narrow band seed beam which is amplified in the second discharge chamber. Novel control features specially adapted for a two-chamber gas discharge laser system include: (1) pulse energy controls, with nanosecond timing precision (2) precision pulse to pulse wavelength controls with high speed and extreme speed wavelength tuning (3) fast response gas temperature control and (4) F2 injection controls with novel learning algorithm.

Abstract: Method of processing payments for goods and services using electronic payment via a peer-to-peer network includes an order for the relevant goods or services being placed by a purchaser using a payment request terminal. The payment request terminal conveys purchaser payment information to a purchase request peer within the network. In response to the conveyed information, the purchase request peer locates within the network a payment-processing peer with the ability to generate a charge against a specified account via a payment-processing terminal. The purchase request peer forwards the information through the network (via zero or more message-passing peers) to the payment-processing peer. The payment-processing peer attempts to generate the charge, and then returns the result of the attempt (successful or unsuccessful) to the purchase request peer and any other peers that have registered an interest in this information.

Abstract: A moisture meter (1) has a hand-held casing (2) with a digital microcontroller (50), LCD display (4), and a keypad (3). Spring-loaded contacts (6) contact material and allow capacitive impedance measurement via electrodes (5) and drive/pickup circuits (20). Also, a relative humidity probe (9) provides an input so that the processor generates both moisture contact near-surface measurements and also relative humidity measurements. This allows optimum analysis of material.

Abstract: A moisture meter (1) has an LCD display (8) driven by a digital microcontroller (50) which generates digital moisture reading data. Readings are stored as discrete records in files. The microcontroller (51) stores a library of material data and automatically compensates signals from a capacitive/impedance sensor circuit (51) according to both stored material parameter values and sensed temperature. Users may edit the parameter values. A non-removable cover (4) is used at the final stage of production to configure the meter for the nature of interfacing (such as serial port interfacing) required.

Abstract: A moisture meter (1) has a hand-held casing (2) with a digital microcontroller (50), LCD display (4), and a keypad (3). Spring-loaded contacts (6) contact material and allow capacitive impedance measurement via electrodes (5) and drive/pickup circuits (20). Also, a relative humidity probe (9) provides an input so that the processor generates both moisture contact near-surface measurements and also relative humidity measurements. This allows optimum analysis of material.

Abstract: A system for assaying a fluid sample for one or more types of analytes, which employs at least one class of finely divided polystyrene spheroidal particles, each class being limited to a predetermined specific narrow range of particle diameters, the particles of each such class being coated with a specific reactant unique for that class. After the coated particles are mixed with the sample to specifically react to form conjugates of the particles and any of the analyte present, the mixture is irradiated with bursts of ultrasound swept over a range of frequencies resonant to the expected conjugate sizes. The presence of the conjugates and therefore the analyte is detected directly by measuring any selective absorption or scattering of waves of frequencies to which the conjugates are resonant.

Abstract: Highly concentrated mixtures of surfactants are obtained by a method which comprises adding the acid form of a neutralizable surfactant to an aqueous composition comprised of a base and an alkyl polyglycoside.

Abstract: Highly concentrated mixtures of surfactants are obtained by a method which comprises adding the acid form of a neutralizable surfactant to an aqueous composition comprised of a base and an alkyl polyglycoside.