Abstract: An aircraft door drainage system includes a precipitation receptacle disposed longitudinally along an upper edge of an aircraft door opening. The receptacle is mounted along the upper edge of the door opening by a plurality of brackets that connect the receptacle to an inside ceiling panel of the aircraft. The receptacle protrudes outward from the upper edge of the door opening into a path followed by precipitation falling off of an outer peripheral surface of a fuselage of the aircraft from locations above, forward, and aft of the door opening into the door opening when the aircraft door is in an open position. The receptacle remains clear of the aircraft door when the aircraft door is closed into the door opening. Drain hoses are connected at first and second ends of the receptacle to direct precipitation collected in the receptacle to an outside of the aircraft.

Abstract: A patient securing overlay includes a sheet of fabric configured to support a patient's torso on a surgical table. The sheet of fabric includes friction enhancing elements applied to at least a portion of an upper surface. The sheet of fabric is attached near its side edges to two or more side flaps that extend laterally outward from the side edges of the sheet of fabric. Each of the side flaps is attached to the surgical table at two or more attachment points. A distance between adjacent attachment points is greater than a distance between an attachment point and the sheet of fabric in order to naturally create a favorable retaining force vector angle of less than 45° between the attachment point and the sheet of fabric.

Abstract: The present application relates to stacked piezoelectric composites comprising piezoelectric structures. Suitably, the composites are useful as tissue-stimulating implants, including spinal fusion implants. The present application also relates to methods of making stacked piezoelectric composites.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying a material to food products in a high speed packaging line at a controlled rate in compliance with applicable food-handling equipment standards, preferably in a liquid spray, without immersion, wherein the rate of application is sufficient for efficacy of the material without resulting in transfer of unacceptable quantities of the material or carrier to adjacent line components. The invention is particularly useful for spray application of a liquid antimycotic agent to cheese chunks, at a regulated rate that provides a sufficient surface concentration to inhibit mold growth on the surfaces of the cheese chunks after extended periods of exposure to ambient air, without unacceptable transfer of residue to adjacent components in the packaging line. The invention is preferably employed in application of natamycin to cheese chunks wherein a disk spray system applies a suspension of natamycin in an aqueous saline solution.

Abstract: A method for derivatizing a compound having a hydroxyl group by back to back acylation is provided. The compound is acylated with a bifunctional acyl donor in the presence of a hydrolase to form an activated acyl ester or carbonate. Preferably the bifunctional acylating donor is a di(vinyl) ester or carbonate. The activated acyl ester or carbonate is then used to acylate a nucleophile in the presence of a lipase. The method of the invention provides regioselective enzymatic acylation of the base compound.

Abstract: An electrode for an electric discharge machining apparatus comprising a wall which forms a hollow body open on at least one end, the open end having a shape of the opening to be cut in a structural member. The cutting edge of the electrode is formed by the wall at the open end of the electrode and has a contour which is complementary to the surface contour of the side of the structural member facing away from the electrode. The cutting edge has a thickness of about 0.005 inches to about 0.125 inches.