Abstract: A crosslinked, predominantly polypropylene-based article comprises a silane-modified ethylene-based polyolefin, at least 50 percent by weight of a non silane-modified polypropylene, and a silane condensation catalyst. The article is moisture crosslinked to a sufficient degree that it possesses thermoset properties such that, when the article is heated to a temperature above the crystalline melting point of the non silane-modified polypropylene, it is softened but does not become liquid. The article preferably comprises a heat-shrinkable sleeve for a high-temperature transmission pipeline.

Abstract: The American legal system, judges and lawyers are continually researching an ever-expanding body of past judicial opinions, or case law, for the ones most relevant to resolution of new disputes. To facilitate these searches, some companies collect and publish the judicial opinions of courts across the United States in both paper and electronic forms, with some of the cases containing references to prior cases from other courts that have previously ruled on all or part of the same dispute. Identifying the prior cases is problematic, because, for example, conventional computer text-matching not only suggests too many non-prior cases, but also misses too many actual prior cases. Accordingly, the present inventors devised systems, methods, and software that generally facilitate identification of one or more documents that are related to a given document, and particularly facilitate identification of prior cases for a given case.

Abstract: A tracking resistant electrical insulating material or article suitable for medium to high voltage applications comprising a silane-modified polyolefin, and a heat-shrinkable article prepared therefrom. Said material or article is preferably prepared by a process comprising: (a) reacting polyolefin with a silane in the presence of a free-radical initiator to form a silane-grafted polyolefin, or copolymerising a polyolefin with silane; (b) preparing a mixture of one or more silane-modified polyolefins prepared in (a) with optionally one or more non silane-modified polyolefins, antitrack ingredients, and a silanol condensation catalyst; (c) forming the insulating material or article by melt extruding or moulding said mixture; and (d) crosslinking the insulating material or article by exposing it to moisture, preferably at elevated temperature.

Abstract: A moisture-crosslinkable polyolefin material, comprising a silane-grafted polyolefin blend, and coatings or insulations, including heat-shrinkable coatings and insulations, prepared therefrom. The coating material is formed by a process comprising: (a) reacting a pre-blended mixture of polyolefin and polypropylene, or higher polyolefin, resins and optional compatibilizing agent, with an appropriate silane and silane-grafting initiator to produce a silane-modified polyolefin blend composition; (b) forming the coating or insulating material by melt processing the composition produced in step (a) with a silanol condensation catalyst; and (c) crosslinking the formed coating or insulating material by exposing it to moisture, preferably at an elevated temperature.

Abstract: A moisture-crosslinkable polypropylene material, comprising silane-grafted polyolefin or olefin-silane copolymer and non silane-modified polypropylene homopolymer or copolymer; and coatings or insulations, including heat-shrinkable coatings and insulations, prepared therefrom. The coating material is formed by a process comprising: (a) reacting polyolefin with a silane in the presence of a free-radical initiator to form a silane-grafted polyolefin, or copolymerizing a polyolefin with silane; (b) preparing a mixture of the silane-modified polyolefin prepared in (a) with polypropylene homopolymer or copolymer, and a silanol condensation catalyst; (c) forming the coating or insulating material by melt processing the mixture formed in step (b); and (d) crosslinking the coating or insulating material by exposing it to moisture, preferably at an elevated temperature.

Abstract: A density profiler for measuring a density profile of a medium including at least two liquids and gaseous phases includes an axially distributed source array providing at least 10 collimated ionising radiation beams; an axially distributed radiation detector array, each detector associated in use with one of the beams and producing an output signal in response to incident radiation; and an analysor for the detector output signals to determine the density of the medium traversed by the beams of radiation.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method of separating or distinguishing carbohydrate substances. More particularly the method includes using fluorescent labeling reagents which have a positive charge when bound to a carbohydrate, involves separating the labeled carbohydrate substances, such as by performing electrophoresis to cause differential migration of different labeled carbohydrate substances, or by isoelectric focusing in a pH gradient. The fluorescent labeling reagents are preferably cyanine dyes.

Abstract: Portions of recorded speech waveform (e.g., corresponding to phonemes) are combined to synthesize words. In order to provide a smoother delivery, each voiced portion of a waveform portion has its amplitude adjusted to a predetermined reference level. The scaling factor used is varied gradually over a transition region between such portions and between voiced and unvoiced portions.

Abstract: An insertion machine of the type used to form and insert the lead-wires of an electronic component into openings of a printed circuit board insertion machine comprising a frame and a head assembly. The head assembly receives an electronic component and includes means for forming the lead-wires into a predetermined shape and means for inserting the lead-wires into the openings of the printed circuit board. A clinching assembly is positioned below the head assembly and includes means for trimming the lead-wires and means for clinching the lead-wires. A work-support table for holding the printed circuit board is rotatable about a vertical axis and is positioned between the clinching assembly and the head assembly.

Abstract: A clinching assembly for use with an insertion machine of the type used to form and insert the lead-wires of an electronic component into openings of a printed circuit board insertion machine. The clinching assembly includes two clinch heads that are selectively movable along a U-axis, parallel to the circuit board. Each clinching assembly is further selectively movable along a Z-axis, perpendicular to the circuit board. A single pneumatic actuator is used to raise and lower both clinch heads simultaneously. A T-shaped linkage attaches each clinch head with the single pneumatic actuator. Vertical movement of the pneumatic actuator is translated through the T-shaped linkage to vertically displace both clinch heads, and simultaneously, allow horizontal displacement of each clinch head, independent of the vertical location of the T-shaped linkage.

Abstract: In absorbent products, such as sanitary napkins, discreet areas of dry fibrous materials such as fluid-repellent materials are precisely placed in various planes within the product so as to provide barriers to bodily fluid leakage from the product. In a preferred embodiment, hydrophobic fibers are placed around the periphery of a central absorbent area of an absorbent product to discourage and/or prevent side or end leakage from the product.

Abstract: The present invention provides for the use of the fluorescent label 2-aminoacridone for use in separating carbohydrate mixtures and analyzing the structure of carbohydrates. Carbohydrates for analysis may be labeled by 2-aminoacridone and subsequently separated from one another by electrophoresis. The electrophoresis may be in one or two dimensions. Band produced by the electrophoresis may be visualized and quantitated directly by UV illumination or by means of a charge coupled device for photoelectric detection. 2-aminoacridone labelling of carbohydrate may also be used to analyze the structure of carbohydrates by cleaving (or adding to) various 2-aminoacridone labeled carbohydrates by carbohydrate modifying enzymes of known specificity, and subsequently separating the carbohydrates by electrophoresis in either one or two dimensions. The subject invention also provides for kits for performing 2-aminoacridone labelling and electrophoresis.

Abstract: Heat-shrinkable cap comprising a heat-shrinkable tube sealed at one end by heat recovering that end of tube over a dimensionally stable, solid plug. The tube and plug are mutually weldable under heat, or are bonded together, thereby providing an air and water-tight seal at the sealed end. The open end of the cap may be internally coated with adhesive to provide an air and water-tight seal over an object such as a cable-end when the cap is heat recovered over said object.

Abstract: A heat shrinkable wrap-around sleeve comprises a heat shrinkable sheet with a heat stable strip welded on one end. The free end of the heat stable strip is overlapped on the outer side of the opposite end of the sheet and welded thereto by heating applied directly on the outer side. This allows the material of the strip to differ in its properties from the material of the sheet, so that the nature of welded closure can be tailored to particular applications. It also allows manufacture of sleeves having hold-down adhesives applied on them to be conducted with greater ease and economy. The sleeve can be manufactured using continuous welding, for example by heated wedge welding.

Abstract: Carbohydrate substances are separated or distinguished by a method which involves labelling carbohydrate substances with a labelling reagent comprising a fluorescent naphthalene ring structure having as a substituent a reactive group capable of reacting with a reducing sugar to bind thereto and also having at least one substituent group capable of carrying a charge but which does not react with reducing sugars and does not extinguish fluorescence of the labelling reagent; applying the labelled substances to an electrophoretic gel; and running the gel to cause differential migration of different substances. The preferred labelling reagents are aminoaphthalenesulphonic acids with one, two or three sulphonic acid groups, particularly 8-aminoaphthalene-1,3,6,-trisulphonic acid (ANTS), and 1-amino-4-naphthalene sulphonic acid (ANSA).

Abstract: A method of separating or distinguishing proteins by isoelectric focusing (IEF), comprises fluorescently labelling proteins by reacting monobromobimane or monochlorobimane with free sylphydryl groups of proteins, and subjecting the labelled proteins to isoelectric focusing. The IEF may be followed by a second electrophoretic separation step, resulting in 2-D electrophoresis of flourescently pre-labelled proteins in a way that has not hitherto been possible.

Abstract: Charged carbohydrate substances which have been run on an electrophoretic gel are transferred onto a porous membrane by a blotting technique such as an electrotransfer technique. This enables recovery of carbohydrate substances from a gel in a form that is well suited to storage or further treatment, for example analysis by probing with labelled protein probes.

Abstract: A twin wire forming apparatus for forming a web from stock having an ash content above 20% has upstream end disposed closely adjacent to a headbox. A curved shoe cooperates with a second wire and is immediately downstream relative to the upstream end of the forming section. The second wire is between a first wire and the shoe, so that a first portion of water is removed through the first wire when the wires and the stock move over the shoe. A dewatering device is between the shoe and the downstream end of the forming section and cooperates with the first wire and is on the opposite side of the wires relative to the shoe. The dewatering device has a curvature which is less than, and opposite to that of the curved shoe. A second portion of water is removed from the stock through the second wire during movement of the stock and the wires over the dewatering device.

Abstract: A heat shrinkable wrap-around sleeve comprises a heat shrinkable sheet with a heat stable strip welded on one end. The free end of the heat stable strip is overlapped on the outer side of the opposite end of the sheet and welded thereto by heating applied directly on the outer side. This allows a good quality welded connection to be formed without requiring the use of hold-down adhesives. The sleeve can be manufactured using induction welding or more preferably by heated wedged welding.

Abstract: A carbohydrate structure, possibly in the form of or derived from a glycoprotein or glycolipide, is analyzed by decomposing the structure into various constituent fragments, separating the fragments and viewing light from the separated fragments using a charge coupled device (CCD). Carbohydrate units can be distinguished or separated by gel electrophoresis, e.g. using a relatively dense polyacrylamide gel run using a stacking buffer system. The two aspects can be used separately or in combination.