Abstract: Materials and processes are provided for the detection of Legionella species in a sample. The inventive process includes exposing a sample to a forward primer and a reverse primer to yield an amplicon. The amplicon is detectable by at least one probe. The inventive process detects multiple species of Legionella bacteria or is specific for Legionella pneumophila. A kit is provided with inventive primers and probes for the detection of a Legionella species in a sample.

Abstract: This invention relates to the extraction of carbonates of magnesium and/or calcium with a strong hydrogen form cation-exchange resin from a phosphate rock composition in an aqueous slurry, wherein the phosphate rock and the resins have been classified to different non-overlapping particle sizes and separating the slurry into the leached composition and the loaded ion exchange resin; and recovering the calcium and magnesium, and regenerating the ion exchange resin for further use in the process.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for optimizing the drilling position of a multi-layer printed circuit board prior to drilling. A template having precisely located target holes and fixture reference marks provides initial coordinate reference information for multi-layer printed circuit boards to be inspected by x radiation. Each board is processed by insertion into a holding fixture, examination of four quadrant target areas using x-ray sources and detectors, digitization of the target area images in each quadrant, and computaton of the optimum board position in a follow-on drilling apparatus. After optimization, three reference holes are punched along one edge of the board to provide accurate fiducial positioning marks when the board is placed in the drilling apparatus.

Abstract: An inspection system for use in the fabrication of circuit boards of multiple, precisely registered layers. Each layer that is to be precisely registered within the circuit board is formed with at least two targets, each target corresponding in position to a target of another layer, and the targets of each layer defining a pattern that is unique to that layer. Radiography techniques allow a viewing of the registration of each target of a layer relative to a test target pattern. The test target pattern may be carried on a master template for the testing of individual layers for dimensional stability prior to stacking of the layers for lamination. Alternatively, the multiple layers may be stacked in their desired order, in which case the test target pattern for the targets of one layer are formed by the targets of at least two other layers.

Abstract: A method for leaching magnesium from a magnesium hydroxide-containing composition, especially a mineral, which comprises contacting said composition with an aqueous solution of an ammonium salt whose corresponding magnesium salt is soluble in said aqueous solution to thereby produce said soluble magnesium salt; separating said aqueous solution from said composition; and transforming the magnesium of said soluble magnesium salt into an insoluble magnesium compound. The method is particularly useful for leaching magnesium from brucite-containing chrysotile asbestos fibers, to yield both a magnesium compound and brucite-free, dispersed chrysotile fibers.