Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing screening of obscured or partially obscured cells to enumerate one or more cell population subsets. For example, a whole blood sample or portion thereof is screened to provide the desired analysis of one or more white blood cell population subsets in the sample. A white blood cell population including the obscured subset of interest is first counted, along with a standard population. The standard population can be one of the total number of white blood cell populations, a second white blood cell population which does not obscure the shifted or non-shifted sensed characteristic of the subset of interest, an artificial population formed by microspheres which also do not obscure the shifted or non-shifted sensed characteristic of the subset of interest or a white blood cell population into which the sensed characteristic of the subset will be wholly or partially shifted.

Abstract: An improved conductivity based servo-proportioning system for hemodialysis machines. The servo-proportioning system calculates the actual conductivity contributions of the individual chemical components of the concentrate being utilized, to determine the conductivity set points. If an Acidified and Bicarb operation is being performed, then the servo-proportioning system calculates a conductivity set point at both an intermediate and final stage of the servo-proportioning system. If only acetate is being performed, then only the acetate individual chemical components are calculated. If the Na and/or Bicarb concentrations are to be varied, then the conductivity is calculated for the changed Na and/or Bicarb concentrations.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method and apparatus for automatically conducting peritoneal equilibration testing. The method involves removing a sample of overnight dwell fluid from a patient in an amount sufficient to determine the concentration of a metabolite in the drain fluid. The concentration of the metabolite in the sample is then detected and the overnight dwell fluid is drained and weighed. A known weight of dialysate fluid is instilled into a patient and thereafter there are periodically withdrawn samples of the dialysate fluid and the concentration of metabolite in each sample is determined. The ratio of metabolite concentration of each of the periodically drawn samples to metabolite concentration for the overnight dwell fluid is determined. The patient is then drained after a predetermined dwell time and the volume of drained dialysate is determined. The mass transfer area coefficient of the patient's peritoneal membrane is then obtained as a function of the measured variables.

Abstract: An improved on-line real time hemodialysis monitoring system for hemodialysis treatment. The hemodialysis monitoring system quantitates the rate and amount of a constituent, such as urea, removed during the hemodialysis treatment by measuring the constituent concentrations as a function of time in the spent dialysate effluent from a hemodialysis machine. A quantity of the spent dialysate effluent is removed from the dialysate effluent waste line periodically for testing. A urea concentration time profile can be analyzed to determined the urea removal, KT/V, URR, SRI and normalized protein catabolic rate (nPCR) indices. The hemodialysis monitoring system preferably can obtain a dialysate sample equilibrated with the blood prior to the start of a hemodialysis treatment. The hemodialysis monitoring system includes a two pool analysis for taking into account the constituent concentration differences in the extracellular and intracellular spaces in the hemodialysis patient during the hemodialysis treatment.

Abstract: A method and apparatus provide a system for measuring a measurable component in a sample. A sample is introduced into a chamber. A permeable membrane to the measurable component allows the component to pass into a second chamber. In the second chamber the component is measured directly or reacted in the presence of an enzyme to generate a detectable product detected by a detector therein. The second chamber is then flushed. The second chamber is only of a size sufficient to contain enough liquid to wet the detector therein.

Abstract: An improved on-line real time hemodialysis monitoring system for hemodialysis treatment. The hemodialysis monitoring system quantitates the rate and amount of a constituent, such as urea, removed during the hemodialysis treatment by measuring the constituent concentrations as a function of time in the spent dialysate effluent from a hemodialysis machine. A quantity of the spent dialysate effluent is removed from the dialysate effluent waste line periodically for testing. A urea concentration time profile can be analyzed to determined the urea removal, KT/V, URR, SRI and normalized protein catabolic rate (nPCR) indices. The hemodialysis monitoring system preferably can obtain a dialysate sample equilibrated with the blood prior to the start of a hemodialysis treatment. The hemodialysis monitoring system includes a two pool analysis for taking into account the constituent concentration differences in the extracellular and intracellular spaces in the hemodialysis patient during the hemodialysis treatment.

Abstract: A fluid sampling module is provided for utilization in on-line real time fluid monitoring systems. The fluid sampling module can be utilized as a urea input module in a hemodialysis treatment. The hemodialysis monitoring system quantitates the rate and amount of urea removed during the hemodialysis treatment by measuring the urea concentrations as a function of time in the spent dialysate effluent from a hemodialysis machine. The urea input module interfaces with the dialysate effluent waste line from the hemodialysis machine and periodically removes a quantity of the spent dialysate effluent for measurement. The urea input module detects low flow rates and eliminates low flow rate flutter. The urea input module includes a resealable make before break docking interface with the dialysate effluent line and preferably includes a filter between the urea input module and the urea sensor.

Abstract: In a user interactive multitasking data processing system, a comprehensive managing subsystem is constructed for managing queued processing of tasks of a particular type that ordinarily are not handled on a queued basis by the associated operating system. The subsystem is constructed around a task control utility which lacks capability for controlling required display presentation and queue managing functions for the respective task type. The utility is adapted to interface with operating system elements that ordinarily perform display and queue management functions relative to tasks other than the tasks handled by the utility. In the embodiment specifically disclosed, a utility for managing queued processing of page image data (e.g. data produced by document scanners or other image capture devices) interfaces with Presentation Manager and Print Spooler elements of the OS/2.TM. Operating System.

Abstract: A data processing system is operable in a multitasking mode to include at least one process having a plurality of threads. Exception management is done on a per thread basis, as opposed to a per process basis. Further, when a process termination exception occurs, each thread is accessed to execute any process termination exception handler associated with the thread.

Abstract: A computer system includes a keyboard which includes cooperatively operating therewith a keyboard device driver to enable the keyboard to interface with an operating system and applications program running within the computer system. Further types of input devices, such as handprint terminals, light pens, etc., can be employed in place of a keyboard to interact with the operating system and application programs running within the computer system. A keyboard device driver emulator is provided which transforms input data from the alternate input device so as to have said data appear to be keyboard generated data which is then transmitted to the operating system and applications running within the computer system. The invention also relates to a method of operating a computer system with an input device which is not a keyboard, but operating the system as if the input device were a keyboard by transforming the data from the input device to make it appear to be keyboard generated data.

Abstract: A data processing system has a microprocessor, a memory system and a plurality of system devices the operation of which is controlled by BIOS routines. The BIOS routines are accessed through protected entry points. When an application program attempts to access one of the routines by using a hard coded instruction for jumping to such entry point, a BIOS signaling routine is executed which provides a signal to an operating system allowing the operating system to control the access without being bypassed.

Abstract: There is disclosed an electromagnetic compatibility grounding connector having a contact portion deflectable between a first and a second position. In the first position only a line contact is established in contact with a complementary connector. In a second position a surface contact is established of greater surface contact area than the line contact. Electrical resistance is thus reduced and conductivity increased. Also disclosed is a support for an electronic device having such a connector and a personal computer housing having such supports and interconnecting with such connectors.

Abstract: A data processing system has files stored on disks in a tree structure of directories and files. The system is operated to rapidly open files which have been recently opened or for which partial path information is available, by accessing a drive cache in main memory. The cache has entries chained in a tree structure which is then searched to provide the same information during the opening process as that information which would otherwise have to be gotten from a disk. When the cache is full, a new entry replaces the least recently used entry.

Abstract: In a DASD caching system, in which pages of sectors of data are stored by reading in a desired sector and prefetching a plurality of adjacent sectors for later access, errors in disk storage media cause error signals to be generated. Such errors are handled by storing indications of which sectors have errors and which do not, and accessing such indications in response to later requests for such sectors. Such indications are stored in each page in the cache. Further, a history is maintained of which pages and sectors therein, were placed in the cache in the past.

Abstract: A computer system in which peripherals greater in number than the number of DMA channels provided in the system can all have DMA access. Some of the DMA channels are dedicated to certain ones of the peripherals, while others, termed "programmable" DMA channels, are shared by remaining ones of the peripherals. Each peripheral having DMA access has a channel priority value. When a peripheral wants DMA access, it transmits its channel priority value onto an arbitration bus. The winning channel priority value is then compared with prestored DMA channel assignment values. If the comparison is successful, the corresponding peripheral is given a DMA channel corresponding to the DMA Channel assignment value with which the comparison was successful.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved method of depositing cobalt silicide films on a substrate by chemical vapor deposition at a temperature range of about 100.degree.-400.degree. C. By employing two separate precursors of, preferably, for cobalt, comprised of cobalt carbonyls having a vapor pressure sufficiently high to provide a cobalt stream to support chemical vapor deposition, and for silicon, comprised of silanes or halogenated silanes having a vapor pressure sufficient to support chemical vapor deposition, a cobalt silicide film is grown. The ratio of silicon to cobalt is controlled precisely by varying the substrate temperature while the process is being conducted. In a more specific aspect, the films are grown on substrates of either gallium arsenide or silicon. In the case of silicon, epitaxial growth of the cobalt silicide film is achieved by specific control of process parameters.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sensor system for in-situ monitoring of lubricant oil quality. The sensor system consists of a sensing element located in-situ in contact with lubricant oil. The sensor is corrodable and upon deterioration of the oil the sensor corrodes and eventually the circuit will break. Current flow through the circuit is monitored by conventional power supply and measuring devices and upon breaking of the sensor, an indication is provided to the driver of a motor vehicle indicating that oil is to be changed.

Abstract: A medical laser provides to a biological target both a laser wavelength in the deep red-near infrared region of the spectrum and a wavelength in the blue-near ultraviolet region. The short wavelength blue light cuts the target tissue, while the longer-wavelength red light cauterizes. The long-wavelength radiation may be provided by an alexandrite laser, with a harmonic generator providing half the fundamental wavelength. Alternatively, the short-wavelength radiation may be provided by an alexandrite laser, with a harmonic generator providing half the fundamental wavelength. Alternatively, the short-wavelength radiation may be provided by a xenon fluoride laser, with a Raman cell shifting the radiation from the ultraviolet into the visible. Generally, at least one of the wavelengths is visible on the target and both wavelengths may readily be transmitted by conventional optical fibers.

Abstract: The invention relates to an improved sensor for use in-situ in an electrical circuit which sensor corrodes as a result of deterioration of the oil and provides a changing electrical current due to increased resistance resulting from said corrosion. The sensor preferably is a ceramic tube havign a first layer of electrolessly deposited nickel thereon with a second layer of electrolitically plated lead. Leads are attached to the ends of the tube and the sensor can then be employed in-situ in oil to, as a result of its corroding and change in resistivity, measure deteriorating oil quality.

Abstract: A magneto-optical element comprises a magnetic garnet layer on a crystalline substrate. The garnet layer has a faceted structure, which provides high Faraday rotation and controlled coercivity. The faceted structure is preferably formed by depositing the layer onto a substrate whose lattice constant is sufficiently smaller than that of the layer. The resulting elements find application in light modulators, such as switches and displays, where they permit high resolution without having to be cut into an array of small cells.