Abstract: The present invention includes a cable having reduced surface friction and the method of manufacture thereof having steps in which a conductor wire is coated with a mixture of a plastic material and lubricating material and in which the coated conductor wire is cooled. The cable includes at least one conductor core and at least one coating of plastic material and incorporates a lubricating material in and/or on the plastic material. The equipment for the manufacturing of electrical cable includes a reel for supplying a conductor wire to an extruding head, which is connected to tanks containing plastic material and lubricating material for coating the conducting wire, and a reel for taking up the cable.

Abstract: An optimum signal is assembled from a set of data streams originating from a transmitter. Corresponding bits of the data streams are compared, and for each set of corresponding bits, an output bit is selected based on a majority vote of the data streams. If a majority vote does not yield a result, an output bit can be selected from a default stream, or from a stream which yielded a preceding output bit. Data streams having a signal quality below a predetermined limit are disregarded for purposes of conducting the majority vote. The output stream therefore includes bits taken from different data streams and different times, and has a quality greater than is achievable by any one of the original data streams.

Abstract: The present invention provides nucleic acids and amino acids for novel olfactory receptors as well as methods for identifying olfactory receptors. More specifically, the present invention provides nucleic acids and amino acids for novel olfactory receptors in Drosophila as well as methods of using the provided nucleic acids and amino acids. In addition, this invention provides methods of identifying ligands which bind to the novel olfactory receptors as well as a variety of methods for using the ligands so identified.

Abstract: A crossbar bus network of nodes is coupled to a crossbar switch circuit that operates as a communications hub routing messages simultaneously to and from the nodes over multiple links. The crossbar switch circuit includes a dedicated communications bus ring adapted to transmit data such as programmed input/output (PIO) messages between components of said crossbar switch circuit. The communications bus ring can be used for secondary high latency data communications thereby freeing switching matrix links of the crossbar switch circuit for simultaneous unimpeaded important low latency data communications to the same device.

Abstract: The present invention provides nucleic acids and amino acids for novel gustatory receptors as well as methods for identifying gustatory receptors. More specifically, the present invention provides nucleic acids and amino acids for novel gustatory receptors in Drosophila as well as methods of using the provided nucleic acids and amino acids. In addition, this invention provides methods of identifying ligands which bind to the novel gustatory receptors as well as a variety of methods for using the receptors and ligands so identified.

Abstract: The present invention provides nucleic acids and amino acids for novel olfactory receptors as well as methods for identifying olfactory receptors. More specifically, the present invention provides nucleic acids and amino acids for novel olfactory receptors in Drosophila as well as methods of using the provided nucleic acids and amino acids. In addition, this invention provides methods of identifying ligands which bind to the novel olfactory receptors as well as a variety of methods for using the ligands so identified.

Abstract: A multi-domain, distributed arbitration system, and a method performed by a plurality of arbiters to control arbitration of requests for a multiprocessor system bus. The requests are generated by a plurality of nodes coupled to the multiprocessor system bus. The requests are presented on a plurality of arbitration request lines. Each node comprises one of the arbiters such that each arbiter is associated with a corresponding node. A plurality of domains are created by the arbiters based on a bit-wise combination of the requests on the arbitration lines. A priority is assigned to each domain relative to the other domains. Each arbiter monitors the requests on the arbitration request lines and generates an i.sub.-- win result that indicates whether or not the associated node is an overall arbitration winner if a request from that node is pending. In addition, the arbiters generate a who.sub.-- won result that indicates which node was the overall arbitration winner according to the assigned priorities.