Abstract: Methods for treating fruits and/or vegetables to oxide any organic contaminates thereon are provided, using an aqueous solution. The aqueous solution can include a ferrous salt and an acid, and can be exposed to oxygen gas, allowing the organic contaminates to be oxidized via exposure to the aqueous solution and oxygen gas. Then, the outer surface of the fruits and/or vegetables can be washed to remove the aqueous solution. The aqueous solution can have a pH of about 4 to about 9, and can also be adjusted during the method. Methods are also disclosed for oxidizing organic compounds in an aqueous sample via measuring the pH of the aqueous sample; determining an appropriate chemical equation for oxidation based upon the pH measured; and thereafter, adjusting the pH of the aqueous sample.

Abstract: Methods for treating fruits and/or vegetables to oxide any organic contaminates thereon are provided, using an aqueous solution. The aqueous solution can include a ferrous salt and an acid, and can be exposed to oxygen gas, allowing the organic contaminates to be oxidized via exposure to the aqueous solution and oxygen gas. Then, the outer surface of the fruits and/or vegetables can be washed to remove the aqueous solution. The aqueous solution can have a pH of about 4 to about 9, and can also be adjusted during the method. Methods are also disclosed for oxidizing organic compounds in an aqueous sample via measuring the pH of the aqueous sample; determining an appropriate chemical equation for oxidation based upon the pH measured; and thereafter, adjusting the pH of the aqueous sample.

Abstract: A grappling device comprises an arm formed from a closed ended, inflatable tube (5) having a plurality of generally parallel, longitudinally spaced bands (15) disposed therearound for limiting the radial distention of the arm when inflated. A longitudinally inelastic, laterally flexible band (20) disposed on a surface of the arm causes the arm, when inflated, to wrap around an object to be gripped. The extent of the inflation of the arm determines the gripping force and geometry of the device.

Abstract: A method of making solid rocket propellant that facilitates tailoring of a variable burn rate. The method comprises molding binder and fuel and/or oxidizer to produce, for example, a molded strip of solid rocket propellant material. The molded solid rocket propellant material is formed into a desired shape by, for example, filament winding. In a preferred aspect, the solid rocket propellant is cured prior to being encased in a rocket motor casing. This improves rocket propellant to rocket engine casing bonding. Yet another aspect of this invention is a method of making solid rocket propellant comprising forming binder and oxidizer into separate strips and combining the binder and oxidizer strips to form solid rocket propellant material.

Abstract: A novel optical sensor for measuring the separation of remote optical sources includes first and second optical fibers which are characterized by non-optimum optical waveguiding such that refractive index of optical fiber cores are selected to be less than that of the optical fiber cladding. Optical detectors receive only optical signals presented within the narrow acceptance angle of the optical fibers and provide equivalent electrical signals.