A microorganism capable of producing substances K97-0239 comprising K97-0239A represented by the following formula [I]: and K97-0239B represented by the following formula [II]: is cultured in a medium and the substances K97-0239 thus accumulated in the medium are collected from the culture medium. The obtained substances have a low toxicity and specifically inhibit the foaming of macrophages. Owing to these characteristics, they are useful in preventing and treating human arteriosclerosis and di...

An animal litter scoop retaining system is described for creating a litter box area, protected from the digging and other motions of a cat or similar animal, for storing animal litter scoops "stabbed" into the litter. A preferred bar member extends diagonally across a corner of, and within, a typical rectangular litter box and is detachably attached to the litter box, thus separating a small corner litter area for "stabbing" the scoop into the litter and a large area for normal litter use. The b...

A child motion device has a frame assembly configured to rest on a floor surface. The device also has a drive system and a cantilevered arm extending from part of the device. The arm is supported above the floor surface and has a driven end coupled to and movable by the drive system and a distal end opposite the driven end. The drive system is configured to pivotally move the arm through a partial orbit around a generally vertical axis of rotation. A child seat is supported on the distal end of ...

A track for equestrian sports and the like, comprising a base layer of compacted polymeric particles, the majority of which have a size in the range from 20 60 mm, an intermediate layer overlying the base layer and comprising compacted polymeric granules whose mean particle size is in a range from 3 25 mm and a top layer comprising finely divided composite particles formed from a thermoplastic polymer, a finely divided filler material such as sand and a wax-based binder. The invention also provi...

A non-lethal method of cock fighting includes providing each gamecock (12a, 12b) with a garment such as a vest (16a, 16b) or collar (100a, 100b) that at least partially covers the body of the gamecock and carries a sensor (19a-19e, 103-107) at a predetermined location on the garment and a signal transmission device (20). The signal transmission device generates a signal when the sensor is struck by a gamecock. The spurs (12c) of each gamecock are covered with a protective device (60) to prevent ...

Improved NF.sub.4.sup.+ compositions for solid propellant NF.sub.3 -F.sub.2 gas generators are described which produce NF.sub.3 and F.sub.2 free of gaseous Lewis acids and do not require clinker forming additives for their complexing. The novel self-clinkering compositions (NF.sub.4).sub.2 SnF.sub.6, NF.sub.4 SnF.sub.5, (NF.sub.4).sub.2 TiF.sub.6, NF.sub.4 Ti.sub.2 F.sub.9, NF.sub.4 Ti.sub.3 F.sub.13, and NF.sub.4 Ti.sub.6 F.sub.25 and processes for their production are disclosed.

A disposable cardboard birdhouse including a cardboard shell having rectangular walls and a roof, the shell having holes in the outer walls thereof for the birds to pass through. Smaller individual cardboard nesting boxes are stacked within the cardboard shells and holes in the nesting boxes align with holes in the shell to allow birds to come in and out of the disposable birdhouse. The entire birdhouse can be discarded at the end of the nesting season.

A ventilated cage and rack system which maximizes cage density within the rack is provided. The rack includes at least one air exhaust plenum, and at least one canopy disposed within the rack. The canopy is capable of supporting a first cage within the rack above the canopy, and also positioning a second cage below the canopy so as to maintain a gap between the top of the second cage and the canopy to permit air to be drawn into the air exhaust plenum from the interior of the second cage through...

A system for orienting or biasing swings before installation uses a device having a bed adjusted to the desired orientation or bias. The swing is supported from a temporary support by its normal semi-elastic supports which are stretched in a manner to conform to the bias of the bed. In order to obtain the necessary amount of stretching in the semi-elastic support, the swing is forced into the bed during a process in which the bed is moved vertically to facilitate the stretching of the semi-elast...

A dog performance apparatus and method for competition trial runs has an enclosed area divided into a series of communicating passages forming an endless convoluted course that each dog must run. Distributed in series along the course are a number of obstacles the dog must traverse. The obstacles may include tunnels, jumps, apertured partitions, hurdles, A-frames, teeters, and constricting arches. A lure attached to an endless cord loop is remotely pulled along the course by a mechanism. Guides ...