Abstract: A continuous casting and rolling line for casting, rolling, and otherwise preparing metal strip can produce distributable metal strip without requiring cold rolling or the use of a solution heat treatment line. A metal strip can be continuously cast from a continuous casting device and coiled into a metal coil, optionally after being subjected to post-casting quenching. This intermediate coil can be stored until ready for hot rolling. The as-cast metal strip can undergo reheating prior to hot rolling, either during coil storage or immediately prior to hot rolling. The heated metal strip can be cooled to a rolling temperature and hot rolled through one or more roll stands. The rolled metal strip can optionally be reheated and quenched prior to coiling for delivery. This final coiled metal strip can be of the desired gauge and have the desired physical characteristics for distribution to a manufacturing facility.

Abstract: A method and system for auto-provisioning communications devices, the system includes a network appliance associated with a software and/or hardware module with instructions for managing the automatic configuration of communications devices.

Abstract: A method and system for auto-provisioning communications devices, the system includes a network appliance associated with a software and/or hardware module with instructions for managing the automatic configuration of communications devices.

Abstract: A continuous belt casting apparatus is provided with a casting cavity, and at least one flexible metal belt having an elongated casting surface passing through and at least partially defining the casting cavity. A motor is provided for rotating the metal belt in the longitudinal direction of the casting surface whereby the casting surface passes through the casting cavity in the longitudinal direction. A molten metal supply device delivers molten metal continuously to the casting cavity, so that molten metal supplied to the casting cavity is solidified and removed as a continuous strip ingot from the casting cavity by rotation of the belt. The casting surface is provided with a plurality of grooves oriented in substantially the same direction. The invention also relates to a casting belt for such an apparatus and a method of casting using the apparatus.

Abstract: A cooking utensil for use with a cooking appliance having a hingedly mounted cover includes a food engaging portion; and a shaft mounted on the food engaging portion and which supports the cover in a given spaced orientation relative to the cooking appliance.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for forming thermal, mechanical and electrical connections between circuit traces in different layers of a multilayer electronic assembly. The method includes the steps of providing circuit layers with circuit traces of appropriately chosen metal, aligning the layers to form a lay up and exposing the lay up to selected conditions of temperature and pressure, over a period of time, sufficient to fuse the circuit layers to each other and to diffusion bond weld the circuit traces to each other. The present invention also provides a multilayer electronic assembly having circuit trace bonds formed according to the method of the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for producing sialyloligosaccharides in situ in dairy sources and cheese processing waste streams, prior to, during, or after processing of the dairy source during the cheese manufacturing process. The methods of the present invention use the catalytic activity of &agr;(2-3) trans-sialidases to exploit the high concentrations of lactose and &agr;(2-3) sialosides which naturally occur in dairy sources and cheese processing waste streams to drive the enzymatic synthesis of &agr;(2-3) sialyllactose. &agr;(2-3) sialyloligosaccharides produced according to these methods are additionally encompassed by the present invention. The invention also provides for recovery of the sialyloligosaccharides produced by these methods. The invention further provides a method for producing &agr;(2-3) sialyllactose. The invention additionally provides a method of enriching for &agr;(2-3) sialyllactose in milk using transgenic mammals that express an &agr;(2-3) trans-sialidase transgene.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for producing sialyloligosaccharides in situ in dairy sources and cheese processing waste streams, prior to, during, or after processing of the dairy source during the cheese manufacturing process. The methods of the present invention use the catalytic activity of &agr;(2-3) trans-sialidases to exploit the high concentrations of lactose and &agr;(2-3) sialosides which naturally occur in dairy sources and cheese processing waste streams to drive the enzymatic synthesis of &agr;(2-3) sialyllactose. &agr;(2-3) sialyloligosaccharides produced according to these methods are additionally encompassed by the present invention. The invention also provides for recovery of the sialyloligosaccharides produced by these methods. The invention further provides a method for producing &agr;(2-3) sialyllactose. The invention additionally provides a method of enriching for &agr;(2-3) sialyllactose in milk using transgenic mammals that express an &agr;(2-3) trans-sialidase transgene.

Abstract: Stimulus signalling protocols and message protocols are methods for transferring information over a communications network. Stimulus signalling protocols (e.g. P-Phone) are typically used for connecting simple terminals to a more powerful host whereas message protocols (e.g. H.323 standard) are typically used to connect between such hosts. Equipment has typically been developed and manufactured for use with either but not both systems and this has led to the need for protocol conversion devices which are complex and time consuming to develop and maintain. Voice data is sent via an H.323 channel over a data network and associated P-Phone signalling data is sent via a T.120 channel as part of the H.323 call. This enables stimulus signalling protocol equipment (e.g. business telephony handsets) to be used in message protocol systems without the need for protocol conversion.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for producing sialyloligosaccharides in situ in dairy sources and cheese processing waste streams, prior to, during, or after processing of the dairy source during the cheese manufacturing process. The methods of the present invention use the catalytic activity of &agr;(2-3) trans-sialidases to exploit the high concentrations of lactose and &agr;(2-3) sialosides which naturally occur in dairy sources and cheese processing waste streams to drive the enzymatic synthesis of &agr;(2-3) sialyllactose. &agr;(2-3) sialyloligosaccharides produced according to these methods are additionally encompassed by the present invention. The invention also provides for recovery of the sialyloligosaccharides produced by these methods. The invention further provides a method for producing &agr;(2-3) sialyllactose. The invention additionally provides a method of enriching for &agr;(2-3) sialyllactose in milk using transgenic mammals that express an &agr;(2-3) trans-sialidase transgene.

Abstract: Jointing systems for plastics pipes are known where electrofusion is employed to create a welded joint between two pipe ends. Conventional electrofusion units work well on pipes of small diameter, below 400mm, but with larger diameters difficulties arise. The invention seeks to overcome difficulties of joining large diameter pipes, an objective met by a jointing system comprising a strip of plastics material wound with a resistance wire, and a containment strip of a compatible plastics material. Both of the wound strip and the containment strip can have a tightening means such that with the wound strip wrapped around a pipe joint, and the containment strip wrapped around the wound strip, both can be tightened onto the pipe ends at the position of the joint. Once fusion has taken place, the wound strip and the containment strip are welded together onto the pipe ends to create a sealed joint in the form of a hoop of high strength.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for producing sialyloligosaccharides in situ in dairy sources and cheese processing waste streams, prior to, during, or after processing of the dairy source during the cheese manufacturing process. The methods of the present invention use the catalytic activity of &agr;(2-3) trans-sialidases to exploit the high concentrations of lactose and &agr;(2-3) sialosides which naturally occur in dairy sources and cheese processing waste streams to drive the enzymatic synthesis of &agr;(2-3) sialyllactose. &agr;(2-3) sialyloligosaccharides produced according to these methods are additionally encompassed by the present invention. The invention also provides for recovery of the sialyloligosaccharides produced by these methods. The invention further provides a method for producing &agr;(2-3) sialyllactose. The invention additionally provides a method of enriching for &agr;(2-3) sialyllactose in milk using transgenic mammals that express an &agr;(2-3) trans-sialidase transgene.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for decontaminating radioactive materials by stimulating the atomic system of radioactive materials. The stimulus is kept applied to the radioactive materials for a predetermined time. In this way, the rate of decay of the radioactivity of the materials is greatly accelerated and the materials are thereby decontaminated at a rate much faster than normal. The stimulus can be applied to the radioactive materials placing them within the sphere or terminal of a Van de Graaff generator and allowing them to be subjected to the electrical potential of the generator, such as in the range of 50 kilovolts to 500 kilovolts, for at least a period of 30 minutes or more.

Abstract: Accelerated decay of radioactive materials is used for power production. In the method of this invention an alpha-emitting radioactive material is placed in a region. The region is selected so that when a negative potential is applied to the region, enhanced alpha decay of the radioactive material results. The energy of the alpha decay particles is captured and converted to thermal energy.