Abstract: Antimicrobial proteins capable of isolation from seeds of Heuchera or Aesculus show a wide range of antifungal activity and some activity against Gram-positive bacteria. DNA encoding the proteins may be isolated and incorporated into vectors. Plants transformed with this DNA may be produced. The proteins find commercial application as antifungal or antibacterial agents; transformed plants will show increased disease-resistance.

Abstract: A mechanism for interconnecting a rotary component (40) and two members (25, 26) linearly reciprocable at 90.degree. to each other in respective bores (16, 18, 17, 19) in a housing (15). The first rotary component (40) has a shaft (41) with a pair of spaced toothed rings (42, 43). A second rotary component (44) has a bore (37) with internal teeth (45, 46) at the two ends thereof. The first rotary component (40) extends through the bore (37) with the respective teeth of the two components meshing. The second rotary component has external first and second eccentric surfaces (37 and 38), 180.degree. out of phase. Each reciprocable member (25) has a pair of spaced-apart pistons (26, 27) with a web (28) extending therebetween, the web having a bore (29) in which is received the first (or second) eccentric surface (38 or 39). In operation, the first and second rotary components (32 and 36) rotate in the same sense, and the first and second members (25) reciprocate linearly 90.degree. out of phase with each other.

Abstract: Antimicrobial proteins capable of isolation from seeds of Aralia or Impatiens show a wide range of antifungal activity and some antibacterial activity. DNA encoding the proteins may be isolated and incorporated into vectors. Plants transformed with this DNA may be produced. The proteins find commerical application as antifungal or antibacterial agents; transformed plants will show increased disease-resistance. The invention further provides a method of expressing polyproteins in transgenic plants using DNA constructs based on the structure of the gene encoding the Impatiens antimicrobial proteins.

Abstract: An automatically operating shut-off valve has a valve body (12) with a weakened zone (15) about which the body will break, in the event the valve is subjected to a shock load. A valve seat (25) is formed within the body (12) and a valve member (29) is pivoted to move between an open position and a closed position, against the valve seat. The valve member is spring-urged to its closed position but is held in its open position by a crank (34) having a pin (35) bearing on a brittle glass rod (33). The valve will close whenever the rod (33) breaks, even if the shock load is only sufficient to crack the valve body, about the weakened zone.

Abstract: Processing an event signifying a condition in a computer system is described. The computer system maintains an invocation stack which includes a plurality of stack frames. Such event processing operates by selecting a stack frame from the invocation stack, and then determining whether a user specified event processing procedure capable of processing the event has been registered with the selected stack frame. If a user specified event processing procedure has been so registered, then the event is processed using the user specified event processing procedure as specified by a set of rules and options defined for the disposition and/or processing of the specific event. Optionally, it is then determined whether a language specific event processing procedure capable of processing the event has been registered with the selected stack frame.

Abstract: Antimicrobial proteins capable of isolation from seeds of Heuchera or Aesculus show a wide range of antifungal activity and some activity against Gram-positive bacteria. DNA encoding the proteins may be isolated and incorporated into vectors. Plants transformed with this DNA may be produced. The proteins find commercial application as antifungal or antibacterial agents; transformed plants will show increased disease-resistance.

Abstract: A high flow filter system uses readily available filters of moderate capacity to provide a high capacity flow in a reliable and easily maintained structure. The system includes a pressure vessel (20, FIG. 2) with inlet and outlet ports (16, 42), and an outlet conduit structure (68) which holds multiple moderate capacity filters (50). The filters are exposed to the inside of the vessel, and pressured fluid in the vessel flows through the filters with the filtered fluid flowing into center conduits (54) that extend vertically through a central passage of each filter. In one system, the filtered fluid flows through the lower end of each center conduit, through radial conduits (60, 61) and a manifold or spider hub part (62) to a pipe (44) that extends through the vessel outlet port. In another system, the lower ends of the center conduits are connected through holes of a manifold plate, to a manifold region.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding solid fuel to a furnace grate comprising a conduit adapted, in use, to extend downwards through the roof of the furnace, means for feeding solid fuel to the conduit above the lower end thereof said means including at least one fuel propulsion element and drive means to cause the element to move to propel the fuel in a desired direction and means to cause a rapid deceleration in the movement of the element whereby any fuel adhering to the element is flung therefrom.