Abstract: A thermal conduction path for a heat-sensitive, heat-generating component is formed by placing a heat-generating device, such as a laser diode, in a desired orientation relative to a supporting surface. A solid-phase mass of a heat-conducting material is positioned between the heat-generating device and the supporting surface and is converted to liquid phase by heating the supporting surface. Additional heat-conducting material is then added to the liquid-phase heat-conducting material until a meniscus is formed between the heat-generating component and the supporting surface. Because the heat-conducting material has a melting point or liquidus that is less than a critical temperature of the heat-generating component, the thermal conduction path can be formed without damaging the heat-generating component.

Abstract: Scanning beam display systems based on scanning light on a fluorescent screen. The screen can include fluorescent materials which emit visible light under excitation of the scanning light to form images with the emitted visible light. Multiple lasers can be used to simultaneously scan multiple laser beams to illuminate the screen for enhanced display brightness. For example, the multiple laser beams can illuminate one screen segment at a time and sequentially scan multiple screen segments to complete a full screen.

Abstract: Scanning beam display systems based on scanning light on a fluorescent screen. The screen can include fluorescent materials which emit visible light under excitation of the scanning light to form images with the emitted visible light. Multiple lasers can be used to simultaneously scan multiple laser beams to illuminate the screen for enhanced display brightness. For example, the multiple laser beams can illuminate one screen segment at a time and sequentially scan multiple screen segments to complete a full screen.

Abstract: Three aspect of a interferometer system for testing and characterizing micro-optical components an automatic system for testing a plurality of micro-optical components in sequence, a special holding device including a vacuum chuck arrangement allows for individual micro-optical components to be picked up and held during testing, and a modified Linnik objective is used with short coherent light and preferably a opaque reference sphere to carry out reflection tests on micro-optical component having at least one curved surface.

Abstract: A laminated coating protects a metal substrate in a highly corrosive and highly erosive environment. A coating of a noble metal, such as gold, is bonded to the metal substrate, such as by electroplating or by flame spray. The noble-metal coating protects the metal substrate from the corrosive effects of a process fluid. A ceramic material, such as chromium oxide or titanium dioxide, is bonded to the noble-metal coating. Ceramic materials resist abrasion very well, which protects the underlying noble-metal coating from the erosive/abrasive effects of the process solution, which may contain suspended solids that are highly abrasive. However, the ceramic material is somewhat porous, which allows some seepage of the process fluid. The metal substrate is protected from the corrosive effects of the process fluid by the noble-metal coating.

Abstract: The invention includes a consensus nucleotide sequence found in the promoter regions of those Rhizobium and Bradyrhizobium nodulation genes which are activated by chemical inducer(s) in legume exudate. A promoter comprising the consensus sequence is a legume exudate-inducible promoter. A recombinant gene comprising a structural gene and a legume exudate-inducible promoter is selectively expressed in the presence of legume exudate or chemical inducer(s) and a functional nodD gene. The consensus nucleotide sequence isATCCAYNNYGYRGATGNWYKYKATCSAAWCAATCRATTTTACCARWYYKNSRR whereN is A, G, C or TY is C or TR is A or GW is A or TK is G or T andS is C or G.

Abstract: This invention provides useful promoters from the R. trifolii nifH gene for the construction of recombinant molecules to regulate foreign genes for expression under desired conditions. In particular, the promoters act to control expression of the foreign genes within root nodules formed by rhizobial bacterial strains in symbiotic combination with host plants.A rhizobium diagnostic segment (RDS) is also provided comprising a DNA segment found at more than one location in rhizobia, the RDS being species-specific, and detectable by DNA hybridization under stringent conditions. A recombinant plasmid comprising a RDS and a bacterial strain containing the plasmid are provided. Methods are provided for identifying species and strains of field isolates of Rhizobium, using RDS's. One RDS exemplified comprises 5' sequences from the R. trifolii nifH gene.

Abstract: A pneumatic actuator comprises a cell through which a normally laminar flow of air passes between an inlet and an outlet to provide, in the outlet, an output pressure. The cell includes an electro-acoustic transducer, for example a piezo-electric element arranged, in response to an oscillating electrical signal, to produce an acoustic signal that disturbs the laminar flow whereby at least some of the air exhausts from the cell via one or more exhaust ports and the output pressure falls. The difference in the output pressures may be used to control a pneumatic device optionally via a pneumatic amplifier. The electrical signal is produced by an opto-electrical transducer to which optical control signals are transmitted, for example along a fibre optic cable.

Abstract: Rhizobial ferredoxin genes and proteins are provided. Rhizobial ferredoxins are useful to enhance the nitrogenase systems of rhizobia. Useful rhizobial ferredoxin diagnostic segments are also provided comprising DNA sequences encoding the characteristic ferredoxin cysteine residue patterns. Exemplied rhizobial ferredoxin genes are fixX of Rhizobium trifolii and Rhizobium meliloti Between fixC and nifA, fixY of Rhizobium meliloti down stream from nifB, and frxA of Bradyrhizobium japonicum.