Abstract: A surface treating head assembly for an appliance such as a vacuum cleaner includes a head and a drivable agitator in the form of a brush bar, rotatably housed in the head. A cam arrangement is rotatably driven in the head. The cam arrangement includes a pair of cams, each having a plurality of cam faces, each cam face corresponding to respective predetermined vertical positions of the brush bar. Thus, the height of the brush bar is selectively controllable between the predetermined positions, such that the depth of penetration of the bristles of the brush bar may be optimized for different types of carpet.

Abstract: A cleaning appliance such as a vacuum cleaner includes a main body housing a motor and fan unit for generating a fluid flow. The main body also houses a removable pre-motor filter located upstream of the motor and fan and a removable post-motor filter located downstream of the motor and fan. It is beneficial to permit the user to be able to monitor the condition of both the pre-motor filter and the post-motor filter, and to remove and replace them as required, and so access to both filters may be provided. It is more important that the user checks the pre-motor filter as it gets dirtier than the post-motor filter. Therefore, the post-motor filter is not accessible or removable from the main body until the pre-motor filter is removed from the main body, by removing its housing.

Abstract: A surface treating head assembly for an appliance such as a vacuum cleaner includes a head and a piston assembly operable to apply a force to the head. The piston assembly is connected to the main motor of the vacuum cleaner by a valve. When the valve is opened, suction airflow flows through tubes connecting the motor to the piston assembly. The resulting suction force causes the piston assembly to contract, thereby drawing the cleaner head downwards. Thus, the head is urged towards the floor surface so as to improve the efficiency of a cleaning operation.

Abstract: A surface treating head assembly for an appliance such as a vacuum cleaner includes a head and a drivable agitator in the form of a brush bar, rotatably housed in the head. A cam arrangement is rotatably driven in the head. The cam arrangement includes a pair of cams, each having a plurality of cam faces, each cam face corresponding to respective predetermined vertical positions of the brush bar. Thus, the height of the brush bar is selectively controllable between the predetermined positions, such that the depth of penetration of the bristles of the brush bar may be optimized for different types of carpet.

Abstract: A cleaning appliance such as a vacuum cleaner includes a main body housing a motor and fan unit for generating a fluid flow. The main body also houses a removable pre-motor filter located upstream of the motor and fan and a removable post-motor filter located downstream of the motor and fan. It is beneficial to permit the user to be able to monitor the condition of both the pre-motor filter and the post-motor filter, and to remove and replace them as required, and so access to both filters may be provided. It is more important that the user checks the pre-motor filter as it gets dirtier than the post-motor filter. Therefore, the post-motor filter is not accessible or removable from the main body until the pre-motor filter is removed from the main body, by removing its housing.

Abstract: A separator is disclosed for separating particles of at least first and second mass/size ranges from an ambient fluid (e.g. gaseous) medium in which they are present, particles of the first range being of generally larger size/mass than particles of the second range. The separator is especially designed for use in an air monitoring device which is designed for rapid detection of micro-organisms such as bacteria, viruses, pathogens and the like, and is designed to be portable so that it can be readily and rapidly deployed in both civilian and military environments and can be used indoors and outdoors; it can also be designed for personal use.

Abstract: A medical apparatus (10) for use in the treatment of an animal. The apparatus (10) includes a chamber (12) for accommodating at least one animal. The chamber (12) includes a first opening (26) for entry of each animal into the chamber (12). The first opening includes a door (30) for sealing the opening (26), such that the inside of the chamber (12) can be subjected to an increased atmospheric pressure relative to the pressure outside the chamber (12). The apparatus (10) also includes a means for increasing the atmospheric pressure within the chamber (12), and a means for supplying oxygen to each animal in the chamber (12) at a greater concentration that that found in air. At least one stall (36) is provided for retaining an animal in a desired position within the chamber (12). A fire deluge system for activation in the event of a fire inside the chamber (12) is also provided.

Abstract: A radioimmunoassay method for determining the quantity of an analyte of interest in a sample is disclosed. The analyte of interest may be an antigen or other chemical entity. A known antibody to the antigen or other entity is employed and is conjugated to a functionalized nanoparticle. Because of the high surface area presented by the present nanoparticle-antibody conjugates, the present radioimmunoassay method is particularly suited for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of low molecular weight chemicals.

Abstract: An assembly for converting a catamaran into a trimaran, the assembly comprising a center hull, left and right side linkage members, with each linkage member having front and rear lateral portions and an interconnecting longitudinal portion, and a plurality of adaptors with each adaptor having a bottom surface which is adapted to be located in a catamaran hull tops surface recess for a cross piece and a top surface for receipt of the longitudinal portion, wherein each longitudinal portion is adapted to be connected to forward and rear ends of respective catamaran hulls by a coupling means.

Abstract: GLUT 10 is an insulin-responsive glucose transporter gene located in the type 2 diabetes linked region of chromosome 20Q12-13.3. Isolated nucleic acids encoding the GLUT 10 glucose transporter, the encoded protein, antibodies that bind the protein, and methods of use are described herein.

Abstract: An assembly for converting a catamaran into a trimaan, the assembly comprising a centre hull, left and right side linkage members (14, 15), with each linkage member (14, 15) having front and rear lateral portions (16, 17) and an interconnecting longitudinal portion (18), and a plurality of adaptors (21), with each adaptor (21) having a bottom surface which is adapted to be located in a catamaran hull tops surface recess (20) for a cross piece and a top surface (23) for receipt of the longitudinal portion (18), wherein each longitudinal portion (18) is adapted to be connected to forward and rear ends of respective catamaran hulls by a coupling means (27, 31).

Abstract: The use of the cloned genes for the ileal/renal bile acid cotransporter to screen for compounds that inhibit or activate bile acid cotransporter activity is disclosed. When expressed in the cell membrane of a suitable host cell, the cotransporters coded for by these clones transport bile acids with the proper enzymatic and pharmacological profiles including ion dependence, bile acid substrate affinity and bile acid substrate specificity. Also disclosed are vectors comprising a cloned gene encoding an ileal/renal bile acid transporter and cells transformed with such vectors for screening compounds that modulate ileal/renal bile acid cotransporter activity. The cloned genes are useful for obtaining the ileal/renal bile acid cotransporter gene sequences to screen for candidate substances that modulate ileal/renal bile acid cotransporter gene expression.

Abstract: Bile acids are absorbed from the small intestine by an passive and an active mechanism. The active mechanism involves a Na.sup.+ /bile acid cotransporter. A cDNA encoding the ileal bile acid cotransporter has been isolated and sequenced. The amino acid sequence of the cotransporter protein is also disclosed. The renal bile acid cotransporter is also shown to be identical to the ileal cotransporter. The cotransporter disclosed herein will have use in treatment of hypercholesterolemia, diabetes, heart disease and liver disease. In addition, methods of screening man made and naturally occurring substances for the discovery of new bile acid transport inhibitors and activators and methods of detecting mutations in human ileal/renal bile acid transporter genes are disclosed.