Abstract:
Magnetic films for very small magnetic devices are produced by applying a paste to a substrate and curing it. The paste has magnetic particles in a binder which has binding particles dissolved in a solvent. The solvent evolves during curing and thus the cured film has a very high magnetic density. The method of curing ensures that porosity does not arise to a significant extent.
Abstract:
A two-phase variable reluctance electric motor has four stator poles (81, 82), each pole having a magnetising winding. Pole (81) has a first phase winding and pole (82) has a second phase winding and the phases of the windings alternate around the machine periphery. The rotor has two rotor poles (85) and rotates in an anticlockwise direction. Each rotor pole has a dimension between the outer poleface surface (87) and an inner poleface surface (88) which increases progressively along the rotor pole in a clockwise direction from the leading poletip (T) of the rotor pole (85). The progressive increase in this dimension between outer surface (87) and inner surface (85) is such that a magnetic constriction is defined within the rotor pole throughout progressive overlap of the rotor pole (85) with stator pole (82) from initial overlap of the poletip (t) to full overlap as shown in the drawing. This magnetic constriction represents a limiting constriction in the path presented to magnetic flux in operation of the motor.
Abstract:
A method for rapidly detecting the presence or absence of a particular nucleic acid sequence at a candidate locus in a target nucleic acid sample comprises the steps of: i) introducing a modified base which is a substrate for a DNA glycosylase into said candidate locus at one or more preselected positions; ii) excising the modified base by means of said DNA glycosylase so as to generate an abasic site; iii) cleaving phosphate linkages at abasic sites generated in step ii); and iv) analysing the cleavage products of step iii) so as to identify in said target nucleic acid sequence the presence or absence of said particular nucleic acid sequence at said candidate locus. The method has particular application for detecting specific mutations in a DNA sample, including the detection of multiple known mutations in DNA. Large throughput of sample can be achieved rapidly and easily.
Abstract:
An ac/dc converter has a two switch buck boost (2SBB) ac/dc stage (2) integrated with an isolated full or half-bridge dc/dc stage (3). A modulator (4,25) for the 2SBB input switch (Q1) controls the current in the power transfer inductor of the 2SBB. It causes discontinuity of the current while minimising its peak level by exerting control on both turn-on and turn-off of the input switch. An intermediate dc voltage generated by the 2SBB has a level below that of the maximum peak input voltage and control is exerted over the inrush current.
Abstract:
A method for generating DNA probes specific for an organism and capable of distinguishing in a non-empirical manner between species. The method comprises amplifying, using a pair of oligonucleotide primers, a variable region of the genome of a number of phylogenetically related organisms to, or of a number of organisms suspected of being present in a given sample containing, said organism to be identified and having said variable region in its genome, at least one of said primers corresponding to a DNA sequence known or suspected of being conserved in said organisms, determining the sequence of the amplified region, selecting said sequence or a portion thereof to generate said probe specific for said organism to be identified by comparison with said other amplified regions and defining the hybridization conditions required to obtain a specific signal based on the precise nucleotide sequence of the selected probe. Specific probes are disclosed for a variety of species including Aeromonas hydrophila, Aeromonas salmonicida, Clostridium difficile, Mycobacterium bovis, Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Salmonella typhimurium.
Abstract:
PCT No. PCT/IE92/00007 Sec. 371 Date Mar. 11, 1994 Sec. 102(e) Date Mar. 11, 1994 PCT Filed Sep. 11, 1992 PCT Pub. No. WO93/04641 PCT Pub. Date Mar. 18, 1993.A dental floss device (1, 40, 50, 60, 70) comprises a handle (2) having a shank (3) terminating in a head piece (4). A disposable dental floss holder (5) comprises a base portion (10) and a pair of spaced-apart jaws (11, 12) with a length of dental floss (13) extending therebetween. The head piece (4) has a groove (20) in which the base portion (10) is securely retained when the device is used in all flossing directions. Snap-fit projections (15) extend inwardly from the jaws (11, 12) of the floss holder (5) and are retained behind marginal edges (25) of a floor (24) of the groove (20). When used, the floss holder (5) is removed and a new floss holder (5) is fitted.
Abstract:
PCT No. PCT/IE92/00007 Sec. 371 Date Mar. 11, 1994 Sec. 102(e) Date Mar. 11, 1994 PCT Filed Sep. 11, 1992 PCT Pub. No. WO93/04641 PCT Pub. Date Mar. 18, 1993.A dental floss device (1, 40, 50, 60, 70) comprises a handle (2) having a shank (3) terminating in a head piece (4). A disposable dental floss holder (5) comprises a base portion (10) and a pair of spaced-apart jaws (11, 12) with a length of dental floss (13) extending therebetween. The head piece (4) has a groove (20) in which the base portion (10) is securely retained when the device is used in all flossing directions. Snap-fit projections (15) extend inwardly from the jaws (11, 12) of the floss holder (5) and are retained behind marginal edges (25) of a floor (24) of the groove (20). When used, the floss holder (5) is removed and a new floss holder (5) is fitted.
Abstract:
A paving assembly (1) comprises a plurality of paving elements (2) interconnected by a reinforcing and interconnecting mesh (5) of plastics material. Adjacent paving elements (2) are joined by frangible links (15) which assist in spacing the elements (2) to define interstices (9) to receive bedding sand. The links (15) have fault line (16) along which the links (15) may be broken to accomodate articulation between adjacent paving elements (2), on fitting. A mechanical interlock is formed when the paving is in place and the faces of the link posts (15) re-engage. In some cases a paving assembly (100) may comprise paving elements (101) which do not have a joining mesh.