Abstract: Apparatus for the production of a product gas (eg hydrogen and ozone) comprises: a supply of reactant gas (eg oxygen and steam) (14); a pair of electrodes (24) with a space between them of less than 1 mm (28); a conduit to lead the reactant gas from the source through the space between the electrodes; a power source (26) to apply a voltage across the electrodes to dis sociate the reactant gas and ultimately permit formation of product gas; and a conduit (40) to supply the product gas to an outlet. sterilisation unit for water treatment employs such apparatus and includes a fluidic oscillator to oscillate the flow of oxygen and/or ozone, and wherein said outlet comprises a plurality of orifices (42) to be submerged in said water and for the purpose of forming micro bubbles of ozone. An analyser for detecting large organic molecules in eg air can employ the ozone generator to breakdown the large molecule into simpler and easier-to-detect-and-identify molecules.

Abstract: An inactive xylanase molecule for the recovery of xylanase activity in plant-derived material containing active xylanase enzyme(s) and xylanase inhibitors. The inactive xylanase molecule of binds to xylanase inhibitors in the plant-derived material, thereby allowing accurate measurement of xylanase enzyme activity of the enzyme contained in the plant-derived material. The invention further includes amino acid molecules depicted by SEQ ID NOS. 4 through 112, wherein the catalytically active sites of each of the amino acids have been modified resulting in inactive xylanase molecules. A method of production of the inactive xylanase molecules includes expression of the inactive xylanase molecule in microbial or eukaryal (e.g.

Abstract: A method according to one embodiment includes combining an amorphous iron-based alloy and at least one metal selected from a group consisting of molybdenum, chromium, tungsten, boron, gadolinium, nickel phosphorous, yttrium, and alloys thereof to form a mixture, wherein the at least one metal is present in the mixture from about 5 atomic percent (at %) to about 55 at %; and ball milling the mixture at least until an amorphous alloy of the iron-based alloy and the at least one metal is formed.

Abstract: A dual flush valve includes an outflow pipe, a lower seal, and an upwardly extending guide. A lower flush valve reciprocates on the guide between a lowered position sealing the lower seal and a full volume flush position unsealing the lower seal with respect to the outflow pipe. An upper flush valve reciprocates on the guide between a lower sealed position sealing the upper seal with respect to the lower flush valve, an intermediate partial volume flush position unsealing the upper seal and a higher full volume flush position unsealing the lower seal. An interconnecting lost motion member allows movement of the upper valve between the lower sealed position and the partial volume flush position without disturbing the lower valve, while transmitting additional upward movement of the upper valve to the lower valve to move the lower valve between the lowered position and the full volume flush position.

Abstract: A method of producing small bubbles (90) of gas in a liquid comprises a source (16) of the gas under pressure, a conduit (64a) opening into a liquid and oscillating the gas passing along the conduit at a frequency between 1 and 100 Hz. The oscillation is effected by fluidic oscillator (10) comprising a diverter that divides the supply into respect outputs (A, B), each output being controlled by a control port, wherein the control ports are interconnected by a closed loop (22). There may be at least two of said conduits (62a, 64a), each output port being connected to one or the other of said conduits, in which one phase of the oscillating gas is employed to drive liquid across the conduit (64a) after formation of a bubble in the other phase of oscillation, whereby the bubble is detached by the force of said driven liquid.

Abstract: An airbag ring for mounting an airbag assembly to an instrument panel including an airbag ring portion having a first aperture. The first aperture being dimensioned to allow an airbag to pass through the first aperture during airbag deployment and a duct mounting portion integral with the airbag ring portion, the duct mounting portion having a second aperture.

Abstract: A welding gun includes a handle, an input line, a neck and an acoustic wave trigger. The handle is configured to be grasped by an operator and includes first and second ends. The input line connects to a first end of the handle and is configured to deliver wire and/or gas to the welding gun. The neck is operatively connected to the second end of the handle. The wire and/or gas passes into the neck and out through a nozzle. The acoustic wave trigger is secured to the handle and activates the welding gun when merely touched, as opposed to being squeezed or pressed, by the operator.

Abstract: An airbag ring for mounting an airbag assembly to an instrument panel including an airbag ring portion having a first aperture. The first aperture being dimensioned to allow an airbag to pass through the first aperture during airbag deployment and a duct mounting portion integral with the airbag ring portion, the duct mounting portion having a second aperture.

Abstract: A mechanical stapling device for fastening deep tissue during the closing of peritoneal side of a stab wound, which is associated with a laparoscopic surgical procedure, is provided. Also provided is a unique staple for use with the stapling device of the present invention. A method of using the device and staple of the present invention is also provided.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for monitoring a flow path having plurality of different solid components flowing therethrough. For example, in the harvesting of a plant material, many factors surrounding the threshing, separating or cleaning of the plant material and may lead to the inadvertent inclusion of the component being selectively harvested with residual plant materials being discharged or otherwise processed. In accordance with the present invention the detection of the selectively harvested component within residual materials may include the monitoring of a flow path of such residual materials by, for example, directing an excitation signal toward of flow path of material and then detecting a signal initiated by the presence of the selectively harvested component responsive to the excitation signal. The detected signal may be used to determine the presence or absence of a selected plant component within the flow path of residual materials.

Abstract: A method for making a carbon commutator assembly by forming an annular carbon cylinder of a conductive carbon composition and metalizing an inner surface of the carbon cylinder by bonding a first layer of metallic material to the inner surface of the carbon cylinder. A metallic substrate is soldered to the metalized inner surface of the carbon cylinder and an insulator hub is disposed in a position supporting the metallic substrate and carbon cylinder. The carbon cylinder and substrate are then segmented by forming radial interstices through the carbon cylinder and the metallic substrate thus forming a carbon/metal commutator array comprising electrically isolated carbon/metal commutator sectors.

Abstract: A method and kit for detecting nucleic acid modification enzyme activity by monitoring the change in fluorescence polarization upon the change in mass of a fluorescently labeled oligo. A nucleic acid substrate comprises a template having a nucleic acid sequence annealed to a labeled oligo, wherein there is a nick or break located between the adjacent ends of the template and the labeled oligo. A nucleic acid modification enzyme is added to the substrate to form a reaction mixture. A stop reagent may or may not be used to further process the reaction mixture. A test compound is added to the reaction mixture, preferably prior to addition of the nucleic acid modification enzyme, whereby the resulting fluorescence polarization signal is compared to a standard signal to determine if the test compound inhibits nucleic acid modification enzyme activity.

Abstract: A method and kit for detecting nucleic acid modification enzyme activity by monitoring the change in fluorescence polarization upon the change in mass of a fluorescently labeled oligo. A nucleic acid substrate comprises a template having a nucleic acid sequence annealed to a labeled oligo, wherein there is a nick or break located between the adjacent ends of the template and the labeled oligo. A nucleic acid modification enzyme is added to the substrate to form a reaction mixture. A stop reagent may or may not be used to further process the reaction mixture. A test compound is added to the reaction mixture, preferably prior to addition of the nucleic acid modification enzyme, whereby the resulting fluorescence polarization signal is compared to a standard signal to determine if the test compound inhibits nucleic acid modification enzyme activity.

Abstract: A mechanical stapling device for fastening deep tissue during the closing of peritoneal side of a stab wound, which is associated with a laparoscopic surgical procedure, is provided. Also provided is a unique staple for use with the stapling device of the present invention. A method of using the device and staple of the present invention is also provided.

Abstract: An inkjet printer for printing on a print medium includes a printhead having an ink orifice formed therein through which an ink drop is ejected into a print zone between the printhead and the print medium during printing, and an air movement system which directs a stream of gas through the print zone as the ink drop is ejected during printing. When ejected, the ink drop forms a head and a tail. As such, the stream of gas converges the tail of the ink drop and the head of the ink drop during printing so as to improve the shape of a dot formed by the ink drop on the print medium.

Abstract: An inkjet printer for printing on a print medium includes a printhead having an ink orifice formed therein through which an ink drop is ejected into a print zone between the printhead and the print medium during printing, and an air movement system which directs a stream of gas through the print zone as the ink drop is ejected during printing. When ejected, the ink drop forms a head and a tail. As such, the stream of gas converges the tail of the ink drop and the head of the ink drop during printing so as to improve the shape of a dot formed by the ink drop on the print medium.

Abstract: A system is set forth for locating a handicapped individual in a vehicle compartment. In one embodiment, a seat is mounted on telescoping rails to telescope outside of the vehicle to seat the individual. The seat is thereafter pushed as guided by the rails to the stowed position inside the vehicle. In another embodiment, a ramp is provided for rolling a wheelchair-bound individual onto a turntable in the vehicle. The individual while still in the wheelchair is secured to the turntable and the turntable is fixed inside the compartment.

Abstract: The present invention provides plant ENR-A, CBL, UROD, PBGD, and CPPO genes. Also disclosed are the recombinant production of ENR-A, CBL, UROD, PBGD, and CPPO enzymes in heterologous hosts, screening chemicals for herbicidal activity using these recombinantly produced enzymes, and the use of thereby identified herbicidal chemicals to suppress the growth of undesired vegetation. Furthermore, the present invention provides methods for the development of herbicide tolerance in plants, plant tissues, plant seeds, and plant cells using ENR-A, CBL, UROD, PBGD, and CPPO genes of the invention.

Abstract: An improved process for producing n-butyl acrylate in high yield and high purity substantially free of acrylic acid, incorporates one or more of the following new process components in an acid-catalyzed esterification process for producing n-butyl acrylate: 1. A hydrolytic recovery component, wherein heavy end adducts produced during the acid-catalyzed esterification are hydrolyzed, recovered, and recycled as valuable reactants from a hydrolytic recovery unit (HRU); 2. A cracking reactor component, preferably used with the HRU, wherein additional valuable reactants are recovered and recycled after treatment in the cracking reactor; and 3. A new distillative component, wherein a crude n-butyl acrylate stream is efficiently distilled in an aqueous mode through an acrylic acid separation column, thereby providing n-butyl acrylate substantially free of acrylic acid and in high yield. The first two components also are applicable to acid-catalyzed processes producing C1 to C4 alkyl acrylates.

Abstract: A lift truck having horizontal arms straddling the kettle it is to lift, carry, and tilt. On the outer end of each arm is a tilting unit, one being a drive unit, and on the other an idler unit. These units grip the handles of the kettle. They are symmetrical, but otherwise identical. Each includes a swinging pendant latch, which yields on engaging the kettle handle, and then swings back into latching position. The units in the arms have interengaging elements preventing sliding of the kettle when it is in tilted position. Two sets of proximity switches are included for shutting off the tilting driving motor when the movable parts of the gripping units are not in safe position.