Abstract: Various salt crystal and agglomeration settling inhibiting agents may aid the ability to keep salt crystals of a desired particle size undissolved and dissolved in an aqueous drilling fluid, including, whey, wine-making residues, “steepwater solubles” or an organic liquid formed from the residue of wet processing of grains, sugar cane, sugar beets, and similar plants for the food and beverage industries for consumption by human or animals, and combinations thereof. A fluid so treated has more uniform properties and a reduced tendency for the salt therein to settle out as compared to an otherwise identical fluid absent an effective proportion or amount of the salt crystal agglomeration and settling inhibiting agent, even for saturated salt fluids. The salt crystal agglomeration and settling inhibiting agents are also believed to be useful in inhibiting or preventing the formation of gas hydrates under gas hydrate forming conditions of low temperature and high pressure.

Abstract: A number of ?-hemolytic streptococci polynucleotides and polypeptides, particularly Streptococcus pyogenes polypeptides and polynucleotides, are described. Two or more of the polypeptides of the invention can be formulated for use as immunogenic compositions. Also disclosed are methods for immunizing against and reducing infection caused by ?-hemolytic streptococci.

Abstract: A device for the detection of the fluid leakage of utilities or appliances includes a waterproof dam sheet and a moisture indicator. The moisture indicator includes two sheets, between which there is an absorbent gauze strip containing a water soluble dye. Each of the two sheets further comprises a clear sealed indication area for viewing the detection results. The moisture indicator may include a smart moisture sensor which continuously measures relative humidity of the utility or appliance. The smart moisture sensor connects with a network to provide a real time alarm and notification to any predefined recipients via email, a cell phone, or other communication device when the humidity increases beyond a preset threshold.

Abstract: The invention relates to polynucleotides coding for the PPVO viral genome, to fragments of the polynucleotides coding for the PPVO genome and to polynucleotides coding for individual open reading frames (ORFs) of the PPVO viral genome. The invention also relates to recombinant proteins expressed from the above mentioned polynucleotides and to fragments of said recombinant proteins, and to the use of said recombinant proteins or fragments for the preparation of pharmaceutical compositions.

Abstract: A direct debit authority management system facilitates bill payments involving a customer, a bank or financial body, and multiple billers who each bill the customer. A customer service module enables a customer to create or modify direct debit authorities for the billers. A customer registration process is facilitated by the interface to capture information for multiple billers and to establish a direct debit authority for each biller before a bill is rendered by the respective biller. A repository stores customer direct debit authorities for multiple billers, storing customer information following the customer registration process and storing biller information following the biller registration process. The system links a customer with a biller through the direct debit authority and allows a biller to draw funds from a customer based on the stored direct debit authority.

Abstract: A direct debit authority management system is used to facilitate bill payments involving a customer, a bank or financial body, and multiple billers who each bill the customer. A customer service module enables a customer to create or modify a plurality of direct debit authorities for a plurality of billers. A customer registration process is facilitated by the interface, the process capturing information for use in respect of multiple billers and to establish a direct debit authority for each biller before a bill is rendered by the respective biller, each direct debit authority being established based on the captured customer information. A repository stores customer direct debit authorities for multiple billers, storing customer information following the customer registration process and storing biller information following the biller registration process.

Abstract: ?-hemolytic streptococci polynucleotides, polypeptides, particularly Streptococcus pyogenes polypeptides and polynucleotides, and antibodies of these polypeptides are described. The polynucleotides, polypeptides, and antibodies of the invention can be formulated for use as immunogenic compositions. Also disclosed are methods for immunizing against and reducing ?-hemolytic streptococcal infection, and for detecting ?-hemolytic streptococci in a biological sample.

Abstract: A liquid lubricant base oil composition comprising (i) a base stock comprising at least 95% by weight saturated hydrocarbons such as for example a Group II base stock, a Group III base stock and/or a base stock derived from Fischer-Tropsch synthesised, waxy, paraffinic hydrocarbon material and (ii) 0.2 to 30% by weight of an aromatic extract which has a dimethyl sulphoxide extractable polycyclic aromatics content of less than 3 weight % may be made by blending the components together and may be used with one or more additives in a lubricant composition which may be used in applications such as marine engine lubricants.

Abstract: Various salt crystal and agglomeration settling inhibiting agents may aid the ability to keep salt crystals of a desired particle size undissolved and dissolved in an aqueous drilling fluid, including, whey, wine-making residues, “steepwater solubles” or an organic liquid formed from the residue of wet processing of grains, sugar cane, sugar beets, and similar plants for the food and beverage industries for consumption by human or animals, and combinations thereof. A fluid so treated has more uniform properties and a reduced tendency for the salt therein to settle out as compared to an otherwise identical fluid absent an effective proportion or amount of the salt crystal agglomeration and settling inhibiting agent, even for saturated salt fluids. The salt crystal agglomeration and settling inhibiting agents are also believed to be useful in inhibiting or preventing the formation of gas hydrates under gas hydrate forming conditions of low temperature and high pressure.

Abstract: A knife assembly includes a unique finned point with angled soil-engaging surfaces defining several fracture areas and preventing slabbing to avoid excessive soil disturbance and knife wear. The knife has an extended length between the point and upper mounting brackets to facilitate operation of the point over a substantial range of depths, and the mounting brackets operate above ground level even at maximum point depth operation.

Abstract: A knife assembly includes a unique finned point with angled soil-engaging surfaces defining several fracture areas and preventing slabbing to avoid excessive soil disturbance and knife wear. The knife has an extended length between the point and upper mounting brackets to facilitate operation of the point over a substantial range of depths, and the mounting brackets operate above ground level even at maximum point depth operation.

Abstract: An automated budget management and bill payment system is provided where there is at least one customer (1), at least one bank (5), and multiple billers (3). The system has a customer registration process which requires the customer (1) to commit to make regular customer payment to the bank (5) for the cost of bills rendered to the customer (1) by the billers (3). This enables budgeted funds for bill payment to be provided. The customer (1) payment is based on a budget setting process (25) involving all of the anticipated bills from all of the billers (3) over a period of time. The customer (1) registration process also requires the customer (1) to identify each one of the billers (3). A billers (3) registration process is required where each of the billers (3) identifies a respective bill “pay into” account.

Abstract: A non-invasive monitoring system using radiated energy to identify cardiac and respiratory waveforms in patients is discussed. The monitoring system illuminates a subject in radiated energy and then detects the reflected radiated energy caused by respiratory and/or cardiac functions. The detected reflections are used to plot a two-dimensional waveform. The waveforms represent the rise and fall of a detected signal (the reflected energy) over time and are indicative of the small movements of the patient's chest and abdomen that are associated with cardiac and respiratory function. Different implementations of the monitoring system use laser or ultrasonic energy to capture breathing and cardiac waveforms for analysis. The waveforms may be used to diagnose the effectiveness of prescribed sleep medication, perform remote line of sight monitoring from a remote location, identify crying waveforms for babies and infants, identify cardiac waveforms in a non-invasive manner and identify seizure and tremor activity.

Abstract: ?-hemolytic streptococci polynucleotides, polypeptides, particularly Streptococcus pyogenes polypeptides and polynucleotides, and antibodies of these polypeptides are described. The polynucleotides, polypeptides, and antibodies of the invention can be formulated for use as immunogenic compositions. Also disclosed are methods for immunizing against and reducing ?-hemolytic streptococcal infection, and for detecting ?-hemolytic streptococci in a biological sample.

Abstract: Ultrasound and sonar emitters that generate shock waves are disclosed. Shock wave vibrations are generated by materials fracturing, breaking or cracking. Shock wave ultrasound or shock wave sonar can be used for such as medical ultrasound imaging; security and package inspection; petroleum, mineral, subsurface and underwater exploration; quality control, non-destructive testing, and flaw detection; nautical and fresh water sonar depth sounding, fish locating and underwater bottom profiling.

Abstract: Ultrasound and sonar emitters that generate shock waves are disclosed. Shock wave vibrations are generated by shock tube diaphragms rupturing. Shock wave ultrasound or shock wave sonar can be used for such as medical ultrasound imaging; security and package inspection; petroleum, mineral, subsurface and underwater exploration; quality control, non-destructive testing, and flaw detection; nautical and fresh water sonar depth sounding, fish locating and underwater bottom profiling.

Abstract: Ultrasound and sonar emitters that generate shock waves are disclosed. Shock wave vibrations are generated by the crack-the-whip motion of materials. Shock wave ultrasound or shock wave sonar can be used for such as medical ultrasound imaging; security and package inspection; petroleum, mineral, subsurface and underwater exploration; quality control, non-destructive testing, and flaw detection; nautical and fresh water sonar depth sounding, fish locating and underwater bottom profiling.

Abstract: The present invention relates to stretchable webs having a plurality of elongated cells, and a retractive force mechanism to provide increased retractive force of the web when stretched in a given direction. The stretchable webs are useful in disposable garments such as diapers, bandages and other hygiene material so that the material fits closely without slipping off.

Abstract: A solar-powered pumping device comprising: a solar power converter for generating power from sunlight; a pump driven by power from said solar power converter; an actuator for controlling the orientation of said solar power converter; and a controller for controlling said actuator to orient said solar power converter for optimum generation of power, said controller comprising a receiver for receiving broadcast time data, and an ephemerides calculator for calculating the position of the sun on the basis of the received time data.