Abstract: In an archery bow, a handle riser includes a generally horizontally extending shelf forming the base of a sight window and having plural sets of threaded bores, and/or alignment pins thereon or a tongue or groove formed thereon for receiving a preset arrow holder or arrow rest to be aligned with the draw plane of the bow. The arrow holder may also be mounted on an intermediate rest member which may be mounted on the shelf in a selected position to extend the overdraw capability of the arrow rest. The arrow holder may be supported on an extension member mounted on a rearward face of the shelf. The shelf of the handle riser, the rest member, the extension member and the arrow holder are all prefabricated for connection of these members to provide an arrow rest which is pre-centered in the bow draw plane or may determine the bow draw plane for bows with adjustable bow string supports and adjustable limbs.

Abstract: A hydrogen storage material is disclosed with no collapse due to pulverization of hydrogen storage alloy particles by repeated hydrogen absorption and desorption thereby permitting repeated use while manifesting excellent electric and thermal conductivities. Pressure molding of hydrogen storage alloy particles, each being covered with a plated metal film having microgranules of a thermoplastic resin, at a temperature higher than a glass transition temperature or a melting point of and below a thermal decomposition temperature of the thermoplastic resin can produce a porous hydrogen storage material of hydrogen storage alloy particles being bonded to each other via the thermoplastic resin. The hydrogen storage material can become firm and strong because the plated metal films covering the hydrogen storage alloy particles are clasped with each other complexly.

Abstract: A book is provided, especially for children, having a cover and a content including several pages, on which pictures and/or text are found. In order to ensure that children approach a book of this type with great enthusiasm, this book is individualized, in that the owner of the book appears in the book him-/herself. Since mentioning by name in the continuous text would lead to undesirable empty spaces, or even to unwanted line, paragraph and page breaks, however, areas are provided in the pictures, which are already present in the book, for applying a photographic representation of the owner of the book.

Abstract: A method for chemical vapor deposition of a film comprising tantalum onto a substrate includes introducing into a deposition chamber: (i) a substrate; (ii) a source precursor in the vapor state; and (iii) a reactant gas, and maintaining the temperature of the substrate within the chamber as from about 70.degree. C. to about 675.degree. C. for a period of time sufficient to deposit a film comprising tantalum on the substrate. The source precursor has a formula (I):Ta(F.sub.5-q-p)(X.sub.q-p)(R.sub.p) (I)wherein X is selected from the group consisting of bromine, iodine, chlorine, and combinations thereof; q is an integer from 0 to 4; p is an integer from 0 to 4; and R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and lower alkyl.

Abstract: The invention relates to compositions and methods for delaying the onset of fetal membrane rupture in a human. The method comprises administering to the human a metalloproteinase-9 inhibitor in an amount effective to delay the onset of fetal membrane rupture in the human.

Abstract: In a distributed constant circuit, a first line is connected between a first node and a second node. The first node is grounded through a series connection between a first capacitor and a second line, and the second node is grounded through a series connection between a second capacitor and a third line. The parameters of the first, second and third lines and the first and second capacitors satisfy a predetermined relational expression such that characteristics equivalent to a .lambda./4 line are obtained with respect to the frequency of a fundamental wave, and the second and third lines and the first and second capacitors respectively resonate with respect to an arbitrary frequency.

Abstract: A piston-cylinder arrangement, in particular a shock absorber (1), has a housing (2) as well as a piston (3) guided therein and pushed against a damping medium, and on which a piston rod (5) acts. The shock absorber has a screw-in-plug (10), within which a position transmitter (19), constructed as a proximity sensor, is housed. The screw-in plug with the proximity sensor (19) located therein and evaluation electronics are arranged coaxially on the rear end of the shock absorber housing (2). The piston is connected on the rear end to a magnet (15), and the proximity sensor is constructed of at least one magnetic field-dependent sensor.

Abstract: A motor driven system for steering a vehicle is provided, the system including a steering control device and a steering device connected through a motorized device, the motorized device transmitting movement to the steering device, the movement having an amplitude different from the movement given to the control device by the driver. The change in amplitude is controlled by a control unit according to various parameters. In this way, the degree of movement of the steering control device is changed by the motorized device such that operators having diminished physical capacity are able to operate the steering control.

Abstract: A distributed system is provided for controlling excimer laser eye surgery. A topography system, a computer system, and an excimer laser eye surgery system are provided, with the topography system providing profile data to the computer system, and the computer system calculating and providing an ablation shot pattern to the excimer laser eye surgery system. At least the computer system and the excimer laser eye surgery system are located remotely, and the excimer laser eye surgery system can receive data from more than one computer system and more than one topography system. This allows for better utilization of resources.

Abstract: A valve assembly having a body assembly mounted to a vessel opening. The body assembly includes a valve seat and a valve throughbore. A valve disk co-acts with the valve seat for opening and closing the valve throughbore. A receiver member having a receiver portion extends from the valve disk. A lock member is mounted in the body assembly and is capable of being received in the receiver portion to lock the valve disk in a locked position restricting movement of the valve disk relative to the valve seat. A valve operator assembly is in cooperative relationship with the valve disk and is capable of forcing the valve disk away from the valve seat to open the valve throughbore when the lock member is in an unlocked position. An interlock lug is attached to the valve operator assembly and prevents movement of the valve operator assembly when the lock member is in the locked position.

Abstract: A cassette adaptor is disclosed, in which a head cover for accommodating the magnetic head is elastically supported on the head spring in such a manner that the height of the recording head and the head gap on the signal transmission side can be automatically adjusted in accordance with the tape running position of the reproduction head of a cassette tape reproduction apparatus and in such a manner that the reels can be positively prevented from being driven under no load. The head cover includes a head guide in contact with a reproduction head and at least a dummy tape member in mesh with the tape guide of the cassette tape reproduction apparatus with the cassette adaptor mounted thereon. The head cover thus guides the magnetic head to a position opposed to the reproduction head.

Abstract: An optical tape drive that performs direct read after write (DRAW) operations with a plurality of optical heads, each capable of reading data from and writing data to an optical tape. The optical tape drive includes control apparatus that positions each of the optical heads at any position along the width of the optical tape, that controls each of the optical heads to either read or write data, and that receives and moves the optical tape in either one of two directions. The control apparatus performs bidirectional DRAW operations by reversing the direction of the tape and swapping the read/write functions of corresponding head units aligned with a same track. The optical tape drive may include as few as two optical heads, each operable independent of the other, so that the drive may read or write up to two tracks at a time. DRAW operations are performed on multiple tracks by increasing the number of optical head units.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a subsea borehole fluid pressure is proposed for use with a conductor casing positioned below the mudline and within a normal pore pressure environment. The apparatus includes a pump for moving a fluid through a tubular into a borehole. The fluid, before being pumped, exerts a pressure less than the pore pressure of an abnormal pore pressure environment. The fluid in the borehole is then pressurized by the pump to at least a borehole pressure equal to or greater than the pore pressure of an abnormal pore pressure environment. A pressure housing assembly allows for the drilling of a borehole below the conductor casing into an abnormal pore pressure environment while maintaining the pressurized fluid between a borehole pressure equal to or greater than the pore pressure of the abnormal pore pressure environment, and below the fracture pressure of the borehole in the abnormal pore pressure environment.

Abstract: Segmented pipe couplings are formed by two or more identical arcuate pipe coupling segments. Each end of each segment is matable to either end of each other segment. Each end has a tongue and a recess generally on opposite sides of a longitudinal central plane of the segment. The positioning of the tongue and recess is reversed with respect to the central plane at opposite ends of each segment. Each recess is slightly larger than the tongue to receive the tongue of an identical coupling. A double tongue-double recess interfit is formed when any coupling segment is coupled together with an identical coupling segment. Either end of any coupling segment can mate with either end of other coupling segment and form a proper connection between segments.

Abstract: A toy water gun for ejecting a liquid is provided. The toy gun includes a housing and a pressurizable storage tank which receives liquid and is connected to the housing. Also provided on the housing is a pump which is adapted to pressurize the liquid in the pressurizable storage tank. In addition, a release valve is located in the housing. The gun includes a path of fluid communication between the pressurizable storage tank, the pump and the release valve. The release valve is adapted to regulate a discharge of liquid from the pressurizable storage tank, and a trigger is attached to the release valve. Also connected to the release valve is a nozzle assembly adapted for insertion into a recharge adapter to force liquid through the nozzle assembly displacing the release valve in such a way that allows liquid to flow through a part of said path of fluid communication and into the pressurizable storage tank.

Abstract: A cassette adaptor is disclosed, in which a head holder unit comprises a head holder for holding a magnetic head and a dummy tape frame having dummy tape members, and pins of the dummy tape frame are inserted into holes of the head holder thereby to fasten each other. When a cassette holder is inserted into the cassette tape reproduction apparatus, a tape guide of the cassette tape reproduction apparatus and the dummy tape members engage with each other, and the magnetic head moves to a position in opposed relationship with the reproduction head of the cassette tape reproduction apparatus in response to this engagement.

Abstract: A counterbalance system for an upward-acting door includes spaced-apart wall brackets and cable drums supported on the brackets and connected to flexible cables which depend from the drums and connected to the lower side edges of an upward-acting sectional garage door. One or both of the cable drums may be connected to one end of a torsion coil spring and the opposite end of each spring is connected to a hub assembly. Elongated spring winding and protective cover tubes are sleeved over the springs and are connected to the brackets by worm-gear drive winding mechanisms, respectively, for rotating the tubes to effect winding of the torsion coil springs through the hub assemblies but preventing rotation of the tubes during normal operation of the counterbalance system. The cable drums and spring hub assemblies may be supported on an elongated synchronizing shaft or a torque transfer shaft extending between and supported on the wall brackets.

Abstract: A security device and methodology that prevents unauthorized access to general purpose I/O pins in a computer system. In a system according to the invention, secure general purpose I/O pins are utilized as enable signals for data transfer devices such as Universal Serial Port (USB) ports. In one embodiment of the invention, access to the secure general purpose I/O pins is governed by an administrator password that is protected by a memory slot in a security device. When an administrator (or other authorized user) desires access to the general purpose I/O register that controls the secure general purpose I/O pins, the administrator enters the administrator password. If the password is correct, the relevant slot of the security device is unlocked, thereby permitting completion of write cycles to the secure general purpose I/O register. If a write cycle to the secure general purpose I/O register is attempted while the relevant slot in the security device is locked, the write cycle is ignored.

Abstract: A combination of parallel processes is disclosed to provide optimal remediation operations for contaminated soil. Soils with high levels of heavy petroleum hydrocarbons are directed to a thermal process for destruction in a combustion process. Carbon dioxide generated and recovered in the thermal process is employed as a solvent in a solvent process to clean other soils of petroleum hydrocarbons and certain chlorinated hydrocarbon compounds. In the solvent process, contaminated soils are run through a closed soil separator where the soils are washed with carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide is then dried from the soil and the soil is sent for segregation. Soils with the lightest forms of hydrocarbon contamination (gasoline, etc.) are subjected to a vaporization process utilizing heat energy generated in the thermal process to heat the soil, under a partial vacuum, and the vapors generated are captured, condensed, and recovered as product.