Abstract: A flexible finishing shoe for finishing a workpiece have a bearing surface and an adjacent side, the flexible finishing shoe comprising a shoe base having a first side and an opposing second side and a finishing body disposed between the first and second sides, the finishing body made from a flexible non-metallic material capable of conforming to the bearing surface and adjacent side.

Abstract: An aqueous dispersion has an addition polymer (B) formed in situ on a sulfopolyester (A). The sulfopolyester (A) is formed as a polycondensation product of first and second reaction mixtures. The first reaction mixture includes at least about 70 mol. % of terephthalic acid or an ester thereof, and about 4-20 mol. % of a difunctional ester forming sulfomonomer containing at least one metal sulfonate group attached to an aromatic nucleus, wherein the functional groups are selected from the group consisting of hydroxyls, carboxyls and alkyl esters. The second reaction mixture includes at least two different glycols, at least about 20 mol. % of the second reaction mixture being ethylene glycol. The addition polymer (B) is formed in situ on the sulfopolyester (B) by polymerizing styrene monomer.

Abstract: An assembly for transferring current comprises at least one electrically conductive slip ring; at least one electrically conductive brush for supplying current to the at least one slip ring; and an electric or pressure actuator driven vibration source for changing the position of the brush with respect to the slip ring. If desired, brush current can shared by using inductance variations or by selective coupling of rotor windings to the slip rings.

Abstract: A method for inducing an immune response in a mammalian animal includes the steps of coating an immunogenic peptide onto small, dense particles, and delivering the coated particles into target skin cells of the animal. The method is useful as a strategy for obtaining large quantities of specific diagnostic antibodies from laboratory animals and as a method for vaccinating animals or humans against foreign biological agents.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for improving the expression of Cry1A in plants that makes use of codons preferentially used in native plant genes. The coding sequence of the gene for the Bacillus thuringiensis delta endotoxin Cry1A crystal protein was analyzed and found to have codons not preferred by plants. By constructing a synthetic protein coding sequence that uses codons which are preferred in plant genes, expression of the protein in plant cells was improved.

Abstract: A thrustwall surface polishing tool for use with a power means for rotating a workpiece about an axis for treating a workpiece thrustwall surface.

Abstract: A strategy for effecting virus resistance in plants causes the transcription in the plant cells of negative RNA strands which are substantially complementary to a target RNA strand. The target RNA strand can be an mRNA transcript created in gene expression, a viral RNA, or other RNA present in the plant cells. The negative RNA strand is complementary to at least a portion of the target RNA strand to inhibit its activity in vivo.

Abstract: The compositions and methods are provided that enhance the selection of transgenic plants having two T-DNA molecules integrated into a plant genome at different physical and genetic loci. The compositions are DNA constructs that comprise novel arrangements of T-DNA molecules containing genes of interest, positive selectable marker genes, and conditional lethal genes. The methods disclosed herein comprises transforming a plant cell to comprise the DNA constructs of the present invention, regenerating the plant cell into a plant and identifying independant transgene loci, where the selectable marker genes or transgenic elements can be segregated in the progeny.

Abstract: A direct current machine monitoring system includes a current sensor for monitoring load current of the machine; and a computer for obtaining a power spectrum in a range including a machine trait-passing frequency, determining a magnitude of a maximum peak in the power spectrum in a range including the trait-passing frequency plus or minus an uncertainty frequency, and evaluating the magnitude of the maximum peak to assess a condition of the machine. The computer may additionally or alternatively be used for obtaining a low frequency power spectrum of the load current, obtaining at least one magnitude of a component of the power spectrum at a respective predicted frequency, and evaluating the at least one magnitude of the component to assess the condition of the machine.

Abstract: A quick change insert system for a microfinishing machine comprising an insert body having a connection side and a finishing side, the connection side including a keyway defined by a central wall and a pair of oppositely disposed sidewalls, the finishing side including at least one finishing support surface; and a finishing arm having an extending key including a central shoulder and a pair of oppositely disposed side walls wherein the insert body keyway and finishing key are correspondingly matingly shaped in a press fit relationship whereby the insert body is retained on the finishing arm during finishing.

Abstract: An electrical current collector system (20) comprises a rotatable shaft (28) having at least one and preferably plural electrically conductive slip rings (27) mounted thereon. For each phase, a slip ring is paired with a fixed conducting ring assembly (44). The fixed conducting ring assembly forms an envelope within which slip ring-contacting members are situated. The slip ring-contacting members can take many forms, including brushes (240) or rollers (404). The fixed conducting ring assembly comprises a first conducting plate (200T) and a second conducting plate (200B) positioned parallel to one another to form a conductive ring channel (220) therebetween. The slip ring-contacting members (240, 404) are mounted in the conductive ring channel. An at least partially transparent wall (200W) extends between the first conductive plate and the second conductive plate of the fixed conducting ring assembly to further define the conductive ring channel and permit visual inspection of the slip ring-contacting members.

Abstract: An electrical current collector system (20) comprises an electrically conductive slip ring (27) mounted to a rotatable shaft (28), as well as a fixed conducting ring assembly (44) having slip ring-contacting members (240, 404) mounted thereon. The slip ring (27) and fixed conducting ring assembly (44) are mounted to have an annular gap (48) formed therebetween. A slip ring support assembly (42) comprising plural post insulators (102) spaced radially about the rotatable shaft attaches the conductive slip ring to the rotatable shaft. The slip ring and fixed conducting ring assembly are at least partially enclosed in a compartment (57), to which a source (302) applies a cooling/cleaning fluid. In accordance with the structure and method of the invention, the source directs the fluid over at least some of the post insulators for cleaning of the post insulators.

Abstract: A thrustwall surface polishing tool for use with a power means for rotating a workpiece about an axis for treating a workpiece thrustwall surface.

Abstract: An electrical current collector system (20) comprises an electrically conductive slip ring (27) mounted to a rotatable shaft (28), as well as a fixed conducting ring assembly (44) having slip ring-contacting members (240, 404) mounted thereon. The slip ring (27) and fixed conducting ring assembly (44) are mounted to have an annular gap (48) formed therebetween. A slip ring support assembly (42) comprising plural post insulators (102) spaced radially about the rotatable shaft attaches the conductive slip ring to the rotatable shaft. The slip ring and fixed conducting ring assembly are at least partially enclosed in a compartment (57), to which a source (302) applies a cooling/cleaning fluid. In accordance with the structure and method of the invention, the source directs the fluid over at least some of the post insulators for cleaning of the post insulators.

Abstract: An assembly for transferring current comprises at least one electrically conductive slip ring; at least one electrically conductive brush for supplying current to the at least one slip ring; and an electric or pressure actuator driven vibration source for changing the position of the brush with respect to the slip ring. If desired, brush current can shared by using inductance variations or by selective coupling of rotor windings to the slip rings.

Abstract: An assembly for transferring current comprises at least one electrically conductive slip ring; at least one electrically conductive brush for supplying current to the at least one slip ring; and an electric or pressure actuator driven vibration source for changing the position of the brush with respect to the slip ring. If desired, brush current can shared by using inductance variations or by selective coupling of rotor windings to the slip rings.

Abstract: A method for improving the expression of genes in plants making use of a pattern of codon usage discerned for native plant genes which express preferentially. The coding sequence of the gene for the Bacillus thuringiensis delta endotoxin crystal protein was analyzed and found to have codons not preferred by plants. By constructing a synthetic protein coding sequence including codons which are preferred in plant genes, expression of the protein in plant cells was improved.

Abstract: A plant expression vector is constructed to cause the expression of an amino-terminal portion of the Bacillus thuringiensis delta-endotoxin gene in plant cells and the vector is used to create transgenic plants expressing the toxin. A truncated form of the toxin is used, with carboxy-terminal prolines added for stability. A translational enhancer sequence derived from the untranslated leader sequence from the mRNA of the coat protein gene of alfalfa mosaic virus coat protein gene is placed between a promoter and the toxin gene to increase translational efficiency. The transgenic plants produced are toxic to Lepidopteran pests and can transmit that trait to their progeny by normal Mendelian inheritance.

Abstract: A surface finishing tool for use in combination with a power driver for rotating a workpiece about a central axis including a microfinishing assembly adapted to be positioned adjacent the workpiece and having at least one finishing means for surface finishing the workpiece, the finishing means lying in a plane generally perpendicular to the central axis of rotation of the workpiece and a burnishing assembly for applying a burnishing pressure to the workpiece, the burnishing assembly positioned adjacent the workpiece and spaced apart from the microfinishing assembly, the burnishing assembly having at least one burnishing roller lying in the plane generally perpendicular to the central axis of rotation of the workpiece wherein the microfinishing assembly and burnishing assembly are operable upon rotation of the workpiece to microfinish and burnish the workpiece respectively.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a stack of motor laminations comprises forming cooling holes in each of the motor laminations and stacking the motor laminations with respective ones of the cooling holes in the laminations at least partially coincident to form a staggered cooling passage by having at least some of the cooling holes extending further into the cooling passage than others of the cooling holes. In one embodiment, the cooling holes can be perturbed cooling holes which are radially displaced from another cooling hole, azimuthally displaced from a hole axis, having an asymmetrical shape, being a different size from another cooling hole, or being shaped so that the rotation and stacking of a subsequently applied lamination results in a situation wherein adjacent cooling holes are not precisely aligned.