Abstract: Disclosed herein is a jet propulsion unit comprising a housing including a wall defining a water tunnel having therein a water outlet port, and a recess located in the wall defining the tunnel and in surrounding relation to the port, and a screen located in the recess and extending across the port and in flush relation to the wall defining the tunnel.

Abstract: A selective culture medium which permits simultaneous detection of total coliform and Escherichia coli in a test sample with a single growth phase incubation period. The culture medium includes the required components of: (i) carbon nutrients, (ii) a nitrogen nutrient, (iii) a source of metabolizable potassium, (iv) a source of metabolizable phosphate, (v) vitamins, (vi) minerals, (vii) amino acids, (viii) sodium pyruvate, (ix) a bactericidal system selective for non-coliform bacteria which includes methylene blue, erythromycin and an azide, and (x) a sensible indicator selectively metabolized by Escherichia coli to the exclusion of other coliforms.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a jet propulsion unit comprising a housing including a wall defining a water tunnel having therein a water outlet port, and a recess located in the wall defining the tunnel and in surrounding relation to the port, and a screen located in the recess and extending across the port and in flush relation to the wall defining the tunnel.

Abstract: A selective culture medium which permits simultaneous detection of total coliform and Escherichia coli in a test sample with a single growth phase incubation period.

Abstract: A collection kit includes a sample container with a cap and a sample collector. The sample collector includes a holder, a swab and a plunger. The holder is formed out of a tube which has a first end with a slot and a second end. The swab is formed out of a collection material with a first side-edge and a second side-edge. The swab is coupled to the slot of the holder adjacent to the first side-edge. The swab has a plurality of notches cut along the second side-edge. The holder draws the swab along a tissue surface in order to collect either cells or fluids for investigation. Once the sample collector has collected a tissue sample, the plunger is slidably inserted into the holder so that the plunger dislodges the swab from the slot in the holder in order for the swab to be deposited into the sample container.

Abstract: The invention is for a furniture article having a panel mounted adjacent to a rear side of a top of the article and adapted for movement toward the front of the furniture article thereby allowing access to space rearward of the furniture article from a position beneath the top.

Abstract: A multiple access communications system comprises a node spacecraft GEO and several user spacecraft LEO.sub.1 to LEO.sub.n. Each user spacecraft LEO.sub.1 to LEO.sub.n includes a transmit/receive terminal head 18.sub.1 to 18.sub.n, and the node spacecraft GEO includes n transmit/terminals 22 to 22.sub.n and a single beacon unit 24. The beacon beam may be operated to initiate acquisition phases which allow two-way communication to be established between the transmit/receive terminals 22.sub.1 to 22.sub.n on the node spacecraft and the transmit/receive terminals 18.sub.1 to 18.sub.n on the corresponding user terminals. The acquisition phases include a period during which the beacon scans an uncertainty cone associated with the node spacecraft. This scanning period is reduced for second and subseqeunt acquisitions by using the first and subsequently acquired communication links to provide a more accurate estimate of the angular attitude of the node spacecraft, thus reducing the extent of the uncertainty cone.

Abstract: The kit comprises a base sheet (2) carrying a predetermined outline or "graphic grid", a plurality of filling elements such as pieces of adhesively backed colored diffraction foil for fitting in different areas (R, B, E) of the outline, and an overlay sheet of transparent material which carries correspondingly outlined clear areas separated by opaque (preferably black) areas. The superimposition of the overlay sheet over the color filled base sheet produces a finished picture in which the colors are highlighted by the surrounding black areas.

Abstract: A process and apparatus are provided for controlling the alignment of a transmit laser beam (1a) of a first coherent detection optical communications transmitter/receiver terminal with a further coherent detection optical communications transmitter/receiver terminal relative to a receive laser beam (8). The first terminal incorporates a transmit laser beam generator (1) operable to form and pass the transmit beam (1a) through a point ahead mechanism (2) to a telescope assembly (6) operable to receive the receive laser beam (8).

Abstract: This invention relates to mechanisms for steering or pointing transmitted optical radiation beams and/or the look directions from which optical radiation beams are received. It also relates to optical communications systems incorporating such mechanisms, more particularly but not exclusively interspacecraft communications systems.

Abstract: A process for producing silage from fermentable forage chop is provided. The process consists of first preparing a microbial product by incubating fermentable vegetable matter in a brine and isolating the microbial product from the brine. The forage chop is then inoculated with the microbial product at a rate of from 10.sup.2 -10.sup.7 colony-forming units/g forage chop. The microbial product is characterized, and an improved pickling tank producing the microbial product is described.

Abstract: A laser beam communication system for spacecraft in which each communication terminal comprises, for steering the beam projected from that terminal, four mirrors, each mounted on a mechanism capable of rotating the mirror about a constant defined axis. The mirrors and their attached mechanisms are arranged in pairs with one pair on either side of a magnifying telescope. All rotating joints in each mechanism are constructed using flexure pivots. Such a pointing element can provide both the range and accuracy required for an important class of free space laser links without introducing any extra friction into the pointing system.

Abstract: Optical communications apparatus for sending and receiving optical transmissions to and from a plurality of remote stations by a plurality of independent terminals which are multiplexed so that all operate through a single optical system for both transmission and reception of modulated beams containing encoded data.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire which can be operated in a deflated condition without damage to the tire, wherein the tire has a cord ply, a tread, a ply with wire cords in the crown, and thick sidewalls wherein the cord ply extends from the heel of the bead to a location closely adjacent to the outer surface of the midpoint of the sidewall and then towards the inner surface of the crown. The interior portion of the sidewall rubber has a high dynamic modulus with low hysteresis properties and high aging properties.