Abstract: Refusal-based methods of establishing a cat or dog food preference, which can include methods of selecting a preferred cat or dog food among multiple foods as well as methods of determining palatability are provided. The methods can include presenting a cat or dog with one or more small samples of a test food and observing for refusal behavior, which can include refusing to eat a food sample. Higher numbers of instances of refusal of a particular food can be correlated with lower palatability.

Abstract: One embodiment of a bidirectional pedal assembly includes a base structure connectable to a vehicle structure and a pedal support member pivotally mounted on the base structure to be pivotable around an axis of rotation from a rest position in a first direction and in a second direction opposite to the first direction. First and second spring elements to urge the pedal support member to its rest position. First and second frictional mechanisms are disposed between the pedal support member and the first and second springs, such that the first and second frictional mechanisms, respectively, moves with the pedal support member and transmits force from the pedal support member to one of the first and second spring elements. Each frictional mechanism is arranged to increase a frictional resistance to retard pivotal movements of the pedal support member upon force being transmitted through the respective frictional mechanism.

Abstract: The presently disclosed subject matter provides refusal-based methods of establishing a cat or dog food preference, which can include methods of selecting a preferred cat or dog food among multiple foods as well as methods of determining palatability. The methods can include presenting a cat or dog with one or more small samples of a test food and observing for refusal behavior, which can include refusing to eat a food sample. Higher numbers of instances of refusal of a particular food can be correlated with lower palatability.

Abstract: The present invention provides a bidirectional pedal assembly comprising: a base structure (2) connectable to a vehicle structure; a pedal support member pivotally mounted on the base structure to be pivotable around an axis of rotation from a rest position in a first direction and in a second direction opposite to the first direction; first and second spring elements (20, 40) which are tensioned when the pedal support member is pivoted in the first and second direction, respectively, and which urge the pedal support member to its rest position; characterized in that a first (24, 26, 28) and a second frictional mechanism (44, 46, 48) is disposed between the pedal support member and the first and second springs, respectively, such that, when the pedal support member is pivoted in the first and second directions, one of the first and second frictional mechanisms, respectively, moves with the pedal support member and acts on one of the first and second springs, respectively, by transmitting force from the pedal

Abstract: Apparatus and method for preventing and extinguishing fires in storage silos containing flammable materials, especially biomass. A liquid carbon dioxide storage vessel has a liquid outlet supplying at least two flow paths. At least one of the flow paths supplies gaseous carbon dioxide to a storage silo for controlling smouldering fires, and the at least one other flow path supplies carbon dioxide vapour and carbon dioxide snow to the storage silo for fire extinguishing. The liquid carbon dioxide vessel may be arranged to supply gaseous and liquid carbon dioxide to more than one storage silo.

Abstract: A clamp has first and second movable jaws and a catch mechanism having a movable detent arranged to engage with a locking element in a number of different positions dependent upon the degree of separation of the jaws. The tightening force to tighten the jaws is transmitted through the catch mechanism and an actuator may be used to both engage/release the catch mechanism and move the jaws to the open position.

Abstract: A method of initiating sequential pulse firing of a motor to reduce energy consumption in machines that have both rotational and linear kinetic energy stored in them by pulsing the motor at variable frequency without reducing total kinetic energy in the machine below a predetermined level.

Abstract: A powered binary masses flywheel assembly device that will extract gravitational energy and store it together with the energy inputted externally into the flywheel in the form of rotational kinetic energy while rotating in the substantially vertically plane. The device can be used as part of a drive motor assembly to power machinery or as an electrical generator assembly. The binary masses arrangement in the flywheel enables the system to rotate at ever higher rpm using less power input per revolution the higher the rpm. This phenomenon starts to take place when the kinetic energy being stored in the rotating flywheel disc is exceeded by the kinetic energy stored in the binary masses attached to the flywheel disc which form the flywheel assembly.

Abstract: A clamp has first and second movable jaws and a catch mechanism having a movable detent arranged to engage with a locking element in a number of different positions dependent upon the degree of separation of the jaws. The tightening force to tighten the jaws is transmitted through the catch mechanism and an actuator may be used to both engage/release the catch mechanism and move the jaws to the open position.

Abstract: A clamp has a first jaw and a second jaw mounted to be movable with respect to one another between a clamping configuration and a release configuration. A catch mechanism has a movable detent operable to engage with a locking element in a plurality of different positions dependent upon the degree of separation of the jaws. A tightening mechanism is manually operable to tighten the jaws by providing a tightening force acting via the catch mechanism.

Abstract: A passenger seat assembly for a vehicle, particularly an aircraft, which is adapted to provide self-contained, individual seating and sleeping accommodation for a passenger, said seating assembly includes a supporting structure (42) for supporting said assembly off the floor of a vehicle; one or more movable, passenger-bearing, structural components (71,72); and means for connecting said movable, structural components to said structure such that said components can be selectively moved between a seat configuration, in which a plurality of passenger-bearing surfaces on said one or more structural, movable components (71,71) or said supporting structure form a seat for the passenger, and a bed configuration, in which a plurality of said bearing surfaces (47,48,67,74,76) are disposed substantially coplanarly and substantially contiguously to form a bed for the passenger; characterized in that at least one of said movable components (72) is double-sided, comprising first and second opposite sides, one of said sid

Abstract: A system for facilitating sharing of experience comprises a database (52) storing people identifiers and features of their experience. A user can query the database (52) from a client machine (1, 2) using details of a task that they are undertaking to obtained a ranked list of people with relevant experience.