Abstract: Solid residues arising from the reclamation of metal from, for example, insulated wires and automobiles, have lead (Pb) sufficiently insolubilized to pass the EPA toxicity test. Addition of water soluble phosphate, especially phosphoric acid, increases the immobilization of lead (Pb) so as to make such residues in compliance with the toxicity tests over a substantially broader pH range, particularly with respect to the more stringent TCLP extraction test.

Abstract: A water suction apparatus for scrubbing machines having a non-rotatable frame (11), a rotatable scrubbing-brush (1 a) and a rotatably driven holder (1) therefore. The holder has a ring (7) around its periphery, the ring being provided with nozzles (2) which have lower ends in gliding contact with or positioned immediately above the floor and which suck dirty scrub water therefrom, the ring also being provided with lips (5) which are located between the nozzles and have lower ends in gliding contact with the floor and which transmit dirty scrub water to the nozzles when the ring rotates. The frame (11) has a ring (4) connected thereto which sealingly cooperates with the rotatable ring (7) on the holder (1) and which is provided with at least one nozzle (6) which is connected to a conduit (12) transmitting dirty scrub water from the nozzles (2) on the rotatable ring to a water separator or the like.

Abstract: A card cutting machine is disclosed herein, which includes a feeder and a cutting unit. A sheet with a mark affixed to an end thereof is conveyed from the feeder to the cutting unit, where it is cut into a desired card size. The machine further includes a mark reading device mounted in a sheet passage between the feeder and the cutting unit for detecting the mark affixed on the sheet, whereby only desired sheets are passed through the cutting unit.

Abstract: An optical communications system provides optical signals of different wavelengths over an optical fiber having a zero dispersion wavelength. Electrical dispersion compensating elements independently compensate optical signals having wavelengths different than the zero dispersion wavelength for dispersion in the optical fiber. Limiting radio frequency signals for modulating a light emitting device or laser outputting signals at a wavelength different than the zero dispersion wavelength to less than one octave of frequency permits second order harmonic distortion resulting from dispersion in the fiber to be filtered at a receiving location. The optical communications system may include a reverse transmission path.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for demodulating and remodulating a transmitted signal prior to presentation to a television receiver, the transmitted signal comprising a video signal, a first channel signal, and a second channel signal, wherein one of the two channel signals is selected, demodulated and remodulated with the video signal prior to presentation to the television receiver. The apparatus allows the viewer of a television receiver which accepts a single channel signal to select between one of two alternate channel signals associated with a video broadcast without the need to modify the television receiver. The apparatus is particularly well suited for television broadcasts using a dual carrier transmission format. A novel varactor diode tuning means is used in one embodiment for changing the center frequency of a frequency modulation demodulator. The disclosed apparatus also transparently allows stereo demodulation for television receivers which are capable of such stereo demodulation.

Abstract: This invention relates to a predictive control method and apparatus for controlling a nonlinearly controlled object, such as a manipulator. The method and apparatus can control an object having unknown dynamic characteristics and can compensate for disturbances. A multi-layered neural network is provided as an identification model for the object to the controlled. A controlled variable signal received from the object and a manipulated variable signal for controlling the object are fed into the neural network to predict a future value of the controlled variable signal using forward calculation. The predicted future value is compared with a desired control variable value to produce an error value. The error value is input to the neural network to compute a correction value for the manipulated variable signal using back-propagation. The correction value is used to modify the manipulated variable signal value to thereby control the object.

Abstract: A system and method for representing and solving problems allows a user to enter objects and attributes, and to form a table of at least two dimensions having object-attribute pairs. An object hierarchy is then implemented using the entered objects. A score is maintained reflecting how closely the constraints of a particular problem are to being satisfied and the degree of progress in the direction of stated objectives of the problem.

Abstract: A semiconductor device comprising a plurality of circuit blocks to which various potentials, including at least one potential either raised or lowered, are assigned. The device further comprises means for selectively and reversely changing the potentials assigned to the circuit blocks.

Abstract: A lymphokine is taught which can be used to activate and stimulate CD3.sup.+, CD4.sup.+ T cells, as well as Sezary leukemic T cells. The lymphokine can be obtained from mitogen-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells or urine of Sezary Syndrome patients. The lymphokine upregulates interleukin-2 receptors.

Abstract: According to this invention, a debugger for supporting a debug operation for a program used in a computer having a memory and a register includes a user interface section for inputting a command from a user, an event history recording section for recording an event history of events occurring when the program undergoing debug is executed, a program behavior reproducing section for controlling the program in accordance with the event history to reexecute a portion of the program, an instruction execution history recording section for recording an instruction execution history including all instructions which are executed when the execution corresponding to the program are reproduced by the program behavior reproducing section, contents of the memory and register before the instructions are executed, and an instruction execution history reproducing section for selectively performing a back track for recovering an internal state of the computer to a state, obtained prior to execution of at least one instruction

Abstract: A corrugated pallet construction wherein first and second blanks are used to form first and second intersecting runners respectively, by folding adjacent panels against each other in accordion-like manner. The runners are assembled in an intersecting grid pattern. The assembled runners are wrapped with two identical additional blanks to form a multilayer upper platform, sidewalls, and a lower surface portion allowing for use of a floor jack to elevate the pallet.

Abstract: An athletic shoe has a sole with a rearfoot strike zone segmented from the remaining heel area by a line of flexion which permits articulation of the strike zone during initial heel strike of a runner. The line of flexion is located to delimit a rearfoot strike zone reflecting the heel to toe running style of the majority of the running population. In addition to allowing articulation of the rearfoot strike zone about the line of flexion, the sole incorporates cushioning elements, including a resilient gas filled bladder, to provide differential cushioning characteristics in different parts of the heel, to attenuate force applications and shock associated with heel strike, without degrading footwear stability during subsequent phases of the running cycle. The line of flexion may be formed by various means including a deep groove, a line of relatively flexible midsole material, and a relatively flexible portion of a segmented fluid bladder.

Abstract: A hard facing chromium-base alloy consisting essentially of 30.0 to 48.0% by weight of nickel. 1.5 to 15.0% by weight of tungsten and/or 1.0 to 6.5% by weight of molybdenum, the balance being more than 40.0% by weight of chromium, and the maximum sum of tungsten and molybdenum being 15.0% by weight. The alloy may also contain one or more of iron, cobalt, carbon, boron, aluminum, silicon, niobium and titanium. When the alloy is used in powder form as a material for hard facing by welding, the alloy may further contain 0.01 to 0.12% by weight of aluminum, yttrium, misch metal, titanium, zirconium and hafnium. 0.01 to 0.1% by weight of oxygen may also be added to the alloy. The alloy has a high degree of toughness wear resistance and corrosion resistance. The alloy can be used as a hard facing material to be applied to various objects, such as automobile engine valves.

Abstract: This invention relates to a surgical instrument. Specifically, a surgical instrument is disclosed which dispenses incising, transecting, or tissue treating energy to a body site or part undergoing an operation or treatment where energy is discharged from a conduit to effect the treatment. The disclosed instrument is inserted to an operative site that effectively rules out proximal manipulation of the instrument. Therefore, proximal insertion with subsequent distal manipulation excluding proximal side-to-side or up and down manipulation is disclosed. The disclosure further includes a deployable shield and is ideal for operative engagement to surgical sites on the body such as the carpal tunnel, tarsal tunnel, the wrist, temporomandibular joint, or scar tissue capsules forming around implants of the breast.

Abstract: A decoder in a multiservice communication system receives a plurality of services as data streams, including video, audio, teletext, and utility data, multiplexed in sequence of frames. Each service defines a virtual channel. Virtual channel packets contained in the multiplex include information for locating the data streams that compose the virtual channels and information for decrypting the data streams. Each virtual channel packet is transmitted in the multiplex each session of frames. When a user selects more than one virtual channel at a given time, the decoder extracts a virtual channel packet for a first selected virtual channel in a first session. The decoder can then provide the decrypted data streams for the first selected virtual channel to peripheral equipment. The decoder stores the information for locating and decrypting such data streams.

Abstract: A device for rotating a parabolic antenna (10) by an actuator (20) to enable reception of electric waves transmitted from a plurality of satellites with the antenna (10). A data for rotating the antenna (10) to enable reception from each satellite at a predetermined receiving position is stored in a ROM (24). A CPU 22 sets the antenna (10) in a position corresponding to the data in the ROM (24) for each satellite different initial receiving from the former for each satellite. From this state, the antenna (10) is moved east and west to detect disappearance of a synchronizing signal which is part of a signal from a tuner (18) by a synchronizing signal detector (50), and the midpoint of the positions of disappearance of the synchronizing signal in the east and west is stored in a RAM (26) as a position of the best receiving condition. The data in the RAM (26) is read out by a control unit (36) and the position of the antenna (10) is changed correspondingly.

Abstract: A system for encoding, storing, and displaying captions includes a modem for transmitting a signal including one or more closed captions generated in real time, a videotape player for playing a videotape of a television program including both a video signal and a time code signal corresponding to a time position of the video tape, an encoder for receiving the video signal and a caption input and integrating the video signal and the caption input into one integrated signal for transmission, and a computer that receives captions from the modem and a time code output from the video tape player. The computer transmits the received captions to an encoder and simultaneously generates data records storing the received captions with a time code stamp corresponding to the time code signal input when the caption was received.

Abstract: A spiral overlay having multiple variations, but generically, comprised of wire spirals intermeshed together by connecting rods extending across the conveyor in the transverse direction. Broadly, a first overlay is made up of spirals which may be tapered and afford pitch control by incorporating elongated loops in the spirals to limit the movement of the rods therein. The elongated loops also provide for collapsibility of the spirals relative to one another. A second overlay is made of integral or modular spirals such that the overlay includes upstanding spiral elements on its conveying surface to provide traction and separation of the articles being conveyed.