Abstract: A foam marking apparatus and method for applying foam to both pre-emergence and post-emergence crops in order to demark the boundaries of a spray application. The foam marking apparatus includes a foam generating system, a distribution line, and a foam sock applicator. The foam sock applicator includes a body having at least one opening and a flexible finger which aids in the application of the foam.

Abstract: An improved lint handling system for a household laundry dryer is provided. The lint handling system for a laundry dryer has a dryer drum with an exit grill. The lint handling system provides a blower speed increaser to increase airflow in the dryer. The lint handling system also has a lint container and a foreign objects trap connected to the exit grill. Also a lint separator to separate lint from the airflow in the dryer is provided. The lint separator has an input connected to the foreign objects trap and an output connected to the lint container. A laundry dryer having a lint handling system as described is also provided. The lint handling system of the invention also provides a scroll-shaped centrifugal blower housing having a cylindrical base to accept airflow tangentially, a cutoff and a throat region to produce high velocity airflow. The blower housing further has a Helmholtz resonator located in the throat to reduce the acoustic emissions at a blade passage frequency.

Abstract: An essentially pure preparation of thermostable RNase H isolated from Thermus flavus is disclosed. In one preferable form of the invention, the RNase H is capable of biological activity after incubation at temperatures equal to or greater than 70.degree. C. for at least ten minutes. The present invention is also a method of digesting RNA polymers that are in duplex form with a DNA molecule. The method comprises exposing the duplex to the isolated thermostable RNase H. The present invention is also a genetic construct capable of expressing a thermostable RNase H.

Abstract: A class of cysteine protease inhibitors which inactivate a cysteine protease by covalently bonding to the protease and releasing a heterocyclic leaving group is presented. The cysteine protease inhibitors of the present invention comprise a first portion which targets a desired cysteine protease and positions the inhibitor near the thiolate anion portion of the active site of the protease, and a second portion which covalently bonds to the cysteine protease and irreversibly deactivates that protease by providing a carbonyl or carbonyl-equivalent which is attacked by the thiolate anion of the active site of the cysteine protease to sequentially cleave a heterocyclic leaving group. The heterocyclic leaving group of the protease inhibitor is of the formula: --O-- Het, where Het is a heterocycle having 4-7 atoms in the ring, with at least one of the heterocycle atoms being N, O or S.

Abstract: A hydraulic coupling having a pressure-equalizing valve in the female coupler body is disclosed. A passage extends between the central bore or receiving chamber and the external surface of the female member. A valve in the passage allows sea water to flow into the annulus during connection or disconnection of the male and female coupling members, thus equalizing the pressure and preventing implosion of seals during disconnection of the coupling members.

Abstract: An essentially pure preparation of thermostable RNase H isolated from Thermus flavus is disclosed. In one preferable form of the invention, the RNase H is capable of biological activity after incubation at temperatures equal to or greater than 70.degree. C. for at least ten minutes. The present invention is also a method of digesting RNA polymers that are in duplex form with a DNA molecule. The method comprises exposing the duplex to the isolated thermostable RNase H. The present invention is also a genetic construct capable of expressing a thermostable RNase H.

Abstract: A system and method for safely altering the function of an implanted pacemaker in a noninvasive manner includes an implantable programmable pacemaker and a non-implantable programming device. The pacemaker includes a pulse generator that generates stimulation pulses as controlled by a control program. The control program, and associated control parameters, are stored in an implantable memory included within the pacemaker. The pacemaker further includes a telemetry circuit that allows the control parameters to be selectively changed or altered from a location remote from the pacemaker (i.e., a non-implanted location). The programmer includes a telemetry head for establishing a telemetry link with the pacemaker's telemetry circuit. Once a telemetry link is established, the programmer may be selectively operated to download a new control program into the pacemaker memory, thereby replacing the old control program previously stored in the pacemaker memory.

Abstract: A dual station hot debossing stamper for a report or book cover includes a print engine having a character finger daisy wheel forcer and a logo die forcer which are actuatable independently by a common servo motor through respective gear trains. The print engine moves line-by-line and a platen moves character-by-character. A print wheel is inserted and locked into the engine in a character debossment operation with a motor driving the print wheel. When using a logo die, the print wheel and casing is removed and using a loader-unloader tool the die is articulated under the logo die forcer. Insertion of a logo transfer tape cartridge shifts the gears in the print engine. A second character tape cartridge is used with the print wheel. A dedicated personal computer and associated software and firmware programs control the stamping apparatus.

Abstract: Electrode joint for threadably joining two abutting carbon electrode sections is provided with an elongate carbon fastening element which is force fitted into a passage extending from outside of the electrode joint through a portion of the interface contact between the abutting carbon electrode sections.

Abstract: An undersea hydraulic coupling having a male member with a stepped outer body is inserted into a female member having a bore with stepped internal cylindrical surface. The step in the male member defines first and second external cylindrical surfaces which are slidably received in the female member bore and in a sleeve member before the seals, which are retained by the sleeve member, engage the male member. Thus, the male member is more accurately positioned and guided into the seals, insuring greater seal reliability and longer seal life. The stepped surfaces also help prevent implosion of the seals due to sea pressure when the end of the male member comes out of the seals.

Abstract: A method of treating medical conditions with proteinase inhibitors of the formula: ##STR1## wherein B is H or an amino acid blocking group for the N-terminal amino acid nitrogen;R.sub.1 is an optionally protected .alpha.-amino acid side chain such that P.sub.2 is the residue of an .alpha.-amino acid selected from the group consisting of phenylalanine (Phe), leucine (Leu), tyrosine (Tyr) and valine (Val), and substituted analogs thereof, particularly including Tyr(OMe);R.sub.2 is an optionally protected .alpha.-amino acid side chain such that P.sub.1 is the residue of an .alpha.

Abstract: An undersea hydraulic coupling including a male member and a female member, each of the members having a poppet valve biased to a closed position. At least one of the members has a bleed passage through the poppet valve and a bleed valve which opens to allow hydraulic fluid at high pressure to escape through the bleed passage until the pressure is below a predetermined amount.

Abstract: An undersea hydraulic coupling having a poppet valve movable between an open and a closed position is disclosed. The poppet valve operates without substantial fluid pressure exerted axially against the face of the poppet valve. When the poppet valve is opened, radial passages are interconnected through an annular cavity between the poppet valve body and the valve bore.

Abstract: An undersea hydraulic coupling have a pair of hollow metal seals which are pressure energized to seal between the male and female members of the coupling. One of the hollow metal seals is configured to expand radially while the second hollow metal seal is compressible along the longitudinal axis of the coupling. These seals provide a fluid tight sealing arrangement upon pressurization of the coupling, without the need for external pre-load devices.

Abstract: An undersea hydraulic coupling with a hollow metal o-ring seal for sealing between the male and female members is disclosed. The hollow metal o-ring seal is held captive between an internal shoulder and a retainer insertable into the internal bore of the female member. The retainer may be slidable to compress the metal o-ring seal axially. The metal o-ring seal also may be pressure-energized to expand the seal cavity in response to fluid pressure in the coupling.

Abstract: A packaging system for components of a computing system includes an external, modularized, ecto-skeletal support frame for supporting a plurality of uniformly, horizontally dimensioned cabinets in stacked arrangement. The support frame is formed from a plurality of support shelves that form the support platforms for the cabinets. Separating and support shelves are support sleeves, that can be of variable lengths in order to accommodate the varying vertical dimensions of the cabinets held by the support frame.

Abstract: A coupling having a seal member with an annular flexible metal seal surface for sealing with a male member or probe. The metal seal surface is integral with the seal member and extends into the bore of the female member. The metal seal surface is urged radially inwardly against the male member in response to internal fluid pressure in the coupling.

Abstract: An undersea hydraulic coupling having a pair of flexible, pressure-energized seals is disclosed. The seals are configured to seal radially between the male and female members of the coupling so that hydraulic fluid does not leak from the annular space between the receiving chamber and outer surface of the male member. The coupling is pressure-balanced for fluid communication through mating radial passages and the annular space between the members.

Abstract: Under the present invention, a method and apparatus are provided for compensating for the effect temperature variations have on the wavelength of light emitted by the oximeter sensor light source (40, 42). In pulse oximetry, LEDs (40, 42) are typically employed to expose tissue to light at two different wavelengths. The light illuminating the tissue is received by a detector (38) where signals proportional to the intensity of light are produced. These signals are then processed by the oximeter circuitry to produce an indication of oxygen saturation. Because current oximetry techniques are dependent upon the wavelengths of light emitted by the LEDs (40, 42), the wavelengths must be known. Even when predetermined combinations of LEDs (40, 42) having relatively precise wavelengths are employed, variations in the wavelength of light emitted may result. Because the sensor (12) may be exposed to a significant range of temperatures while in use, the effect of temperature on the wavelengths may be significant.

Abstract: A probe member for an undersea hydraulic coupling is disclosed having at least one circumferential depression in its outer cylindrical body, for disengaging one or more radial seals during insertion or withdrawal of the probe member from the receiving member of a coupling. The disengagement of the radial seals allows seawater to bleed from or into the space between the coupling members and thereby balance the coupling and seals to seawater pressure.