Abstract: A center pull tissue dispenser having an openable enclosure, and a base member located within the enclosure to support a coreless roll of towel material. The end face of the roll is placed on the same base member, and an opening in a wall of the openable enclosure defining member allows dispensing of the towel material. Downstream of the support of the roll by the base there is provided a dispensing adjustment mechanism. This includes, a passageway through which the towel can pass, and a passageway restriction controlling member that is movable relative to the passageway.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for individually wrapping drinking straws applies a web of wrapping material to sequentially supplied straws while providing separately: (i) a crimping station for the wrapping material which secures it about the straws by providing longitudinal and transverse crimps and (ii) a cutting station for separating the wrapped straws. The discrete locations of the crimping and cutting stations enables faster and more reliable production by separating operations, which reduces the amount of mechanical interaction between dies at a single location, thereby reducing die bounce. Speed increases of 15-20 percent are readily achieved.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for evaluating biological effects in a substance which method comprises sampling the substance, subjecting the sample to an assay in the presence of a biosensor engineered with a gene which expresses a light emitting protein and noting the light output; characterized in that the biosensor is eukaryotic and the substance is assayable over any pH between pH1 and pH12. Such a eukaryotic sensor may be derived from Saccharomyces cerevisiae and is useful in assaying potable waters.

Abstract: Pairs of level sensing devices are used in a method that aligns plane surfaces to one another. One of the pairs of level sensing devices is located on each of the plane surfaces. The level sensing devices of each pair are aligned and positioned parallel to two orthogonal axes of the plane. The output signals from corresponding ones of the pairs are differentially compared, and one of the platforms adjusted in pitch and roll to minimize the values produced by the differential comparison. The platforms are then tilted equal amounts and adjusted in azimuth.