Abstract: A parallel glass plate mounted on a rotating fixture is used to precisely control the optical path length of a light beam. The glass plate refracts the incident optical signal to increase the length of its optical path as a function of the angle of incidence. The device can easily achieve a precision in the order of nanometers and is particularly suitable to fine tune the cavity length of a resonator and the optical path difference of an interferometer. Accordingly, the preferred application of the invention is in an interferometric interleaver. The glass plate can also be coated with a partially reflective coating to attenuate the optical signal passing therethrough. By judiciously selecting the refractive index, the thermal coefficient of refraction, and the coefficient of thermal expansion of the glass, thermal effects may be virtually eliminated.

Abstract: Disclosed are purified nucleic acid molecules encoding polypeptides having ubiquitin ligase activity and the ability to bind XA21. Also disclosed are methods of making disease-resistant plants and methods of screening compounds for the ability to enhance a disease-resistant phenotype in plants.

Abstract: A flowerpot is constructed to include a pot body having a plurality of upright ventilation tubes adapted for guiding in outside fresh air and guiding out excessive amount of water accumulated in the pot body, a perforated ventilation filter mounted in the pot body above the upright ventilation tubes and adapted for carrying soil for raising plants, the ventilation filter having a perforated hollow center leg supported on the bottom wall of the pot body for the passing of air and water from the pot body into gaps in the soil carried on the ventilation filter.

Abstract: A perforated ventilation filter installed in a flowerpot to carry soil and plants in the soil, having an upwardly extended corrugated peripheral wall supported on the peripheral wall of the flowerpot and defining with the peripheral wall of the flowerpot a plurality of air passages for circulation of air between the space of inside the ventilation filter and the space outside the ventilation filter.

Abstract: An opaque container fluid indicator is constructed to include a mount fixedly fastened to the spout of an opaque fluid container, a bladder holder supported on the mount to hold an elastic transparent bladder, and two suction tubes respectively fastened to two bottom through holes of the bladder holder and suspended in the opaque fluid container to suck fluid into the bladder. Air passes through the suction tubes to force fluid out of the bladder when the level of fluid in the opaque fluid container drops below a predetermined low level.

Abstract: A double-layer flowerpot is constructed to include an outer pot body, the outer pot body having an upright bottom tube, an inner pot body mounted in the outer pot body and defining with the outer pot body a water chamber outside the inner pot body, the inner pot body having an upright bottom tube sleeved onto the upright bottom tube of the outer pot body, and a hollow lock screw bolt threaded into the upright bottom tube and stopped at the topmost edge of the upright bottom tube of the inner pot body to fix the outer pot body to the inner pot body and to provide a passage for ventilation and output of an overflow of water.

Abstract: A pot body is mounted in a transparent water container and defining a first water chamber on the inside and a second water chamber on the outside, a soil holder is mounted in the pot body above the first water chamber to hold soil for growing plants, and a flexible tube is connected to a bottom through hole of the pot body and controlled by a float to close/open a split on it subject to the level of water in the first water chamber, enabling water to flow from the second water chamber to the first water chamber for plants growing in soil in the soil holder when the water in the second water chamber drops below a lower limit level.

Abstract: Disclosed are purified nucleic acid molecules encoding polypeptides having ubiquitin ligase activity and the ability to bind XA21. Also disclosed are methods of making disease-resistant plants and methods of screening compounds for the ability to enhance a disease-resistant phenotype in plants.

Abstract: A flowerpot, which includes a pot body mounted in a transparent casing, a water chamber defined within the casing outside the pot body for keeping living fish, water animals and plants, a porous soil carrier mounted in the pot body for holding soil for growing plants, an upright locating tube for guiding outside air into a space in the pot body below the soil carrier, and a water hole for guiding water from the water chamber to the space in the pot body below the soil carrier, and a float for automatically controlling the water level in the space in the pot body below the soil carrier.

Abstract: An electric grill for cooking hamburgers and other foodstuffs includes a first grill plate assembly adapted for use atop a kitchen countertop, table top, or other horizontal support surface, a second grill plate assembly connected by a hinge arrangement to the first grill plate assembly in a clamshell arrangement, and a bun warmer portion of the second grill plate assembly that defines a compartment adapted to hold at least one bun (e.g., a hamburger bun) in order to warm the bun. In one embodiment, the bun warmer portion of the second grill plate assembly includes a metal plate adapted to support the bun, and a vented transparent lid over the plate. The first grill plate assembly may include an electric grill plate with an inclined cooking surface that slopes to facilitate grease runoff to a drip tray, and components in the form of leg extensions for adjusting the height of the first cooking surface above the horizontal support surface.