Abstract: A method of determining the progress of a superplastic formation process that uses controlled gas-mass flow rate of inert gas to form a part from generally one or more sheets of superplastically formable material, a process that may include selective diffusion bonding of the sheets together. The method includes using the expected initial conditions of the process to calculate a family of constant volume curves plotted on a graph of pressure versus cumulative gas-mass and then comparing the actual pressure and cumulative gas-mass that occurs during the process to determine the health of the process and to determine when the process has successfully completed. The comparison may be performed manually or automatically with a computer which has been programmed to characteristic and non-characteristic progress curve portions.

Abstract: This invention effectively utilizes a solid type honeycomb-shaped NO.sub.x removal catalyst which has been used in a catalytic ammonia reduction process and hence reduced in NO.sub.x removal power, and thereby provides an inexpensive catalyst having NO.sub.x removal power equal to that of a fresh catalyst. The nitrogen oxide removal catalyst of this invention, which is useful in a process wherein ammonia is added to exhaust gas and nitrogen oxides present in the exhaust gas are catalytically reduced, has a two-layer structure composed of a lower layer comprising a spent solid type nitrogen oxide removal catalyst and an upper layer comprising a fresh TiO.sub.2 -WO.sub.3 -V.sub.2 O.sub.5 ternary or TiO.sub.2 -WO.sub.3 binary catalyst powder which has been applied to the lower layer so as to give a coating thickness of 100 to 250 .mu.m. Moreover, the catalyst power constituting the upper layer is a catalyst powder obtained by pulverizing a spent solid type nitrogen oxide removal catalyst.

Abstract: The invention provides an aqueous formulation comprising a pharmaceutically active agent present within vesicles suspended in an aqueous carrier. The invention resides in the finding that improved therapeutic efficacy can be achieved by providing the active agent both in the vesicles themselves and in the aqueous carrier vehicle. The invention provides a formulation which comprises: an aqueous vehicle; vesicles suspended in the aqueous vehicle; and a pharmaceutically active agent comprised within both the vesicles and the aqueous vehicle.

Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer (10) comprises a flexible transmitter (18), a flexible receiver array (22), and flexible electrodes (14), (16), (20), for the transmitter and receiver. The elements of the transducer are arranged such that the transducer may be flexed for conformity with surfaces of test specimens of a variety of non-planar configurations.

Abstract: An emergency extrication collar comprising a flexible band for encircling the wearer's neck, a chin support member which may be readily adjusted in elevation with respect to the band so as to permit adjustment to fit patients having varying neck sizes. The chin support member is connected to the band by a post which is slidably connected to a vertical strap on the band, and such that the elevation of the chin support member above the post, and thus the neck size of the collar, may be adjusted by simply sliding the post and chin support upwardly to any selected size between the size extremes. A pawl and ratchet interconnection between the post and strap precludes movement in the opposite direction. The collar is secured in its adjusted size by a locking arm which is pivotally mounted on the post, and movement of the locking arm to its release position also releases the pawl and ratchet interconnection.

Abstract: Method for the production of vanillic acid and vanillin by bioconversion from ferulic acid in a medium containing phospholipids cultured with at least one microorganism from the classes Ascomycetes, Basidiomycetes or Actinomycetes. Vanillin is also produced by bioconversion of vanillic acid by at least one microorganism of the class Basidiomycetes in a medium containing cellobiose.

Abstract: When drying a paper web (4) in a dryer section (1) of a paper machine provided with drying cylinders (2, 3) and drying wires (5, 6), shrinkage of the paper web in cross direction is counteracted by applying forces at its edge portions (11). According to the invention partial vacuum is maintained along the edge portions of the web within substantially the entire free draw (10) and is applied from the side of the drying wire (5, 6) facing away from the web (4) so that the web is sucked firmly against the drying wire by forces greater than the contracting forces acting in cross direction, thereby counteracting shrinking, said partial vacuum being set within the interval 0.1-0.8 bar, preferably 0.2-0.5 bar.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for growing large diameter silicon crystals using the Czochralski (Cz) method, wherein the neck section of the crystal is significantly strengthened to eliminate the risk of breakage in the neck section, by providing a heat shield assembly which is located adjacent to the neck section and ascends in conjunction therewith to force the cooling gas directly onto the neck section of the silicon ingot.

Abstract: According to a method of cooling gases, in particular air which is drawn in through a compressor, in a compressed air arrangement the gas flows alternately through at least one of a plurality of refrigerating driers (5, 6) equipped with heat exchangers (15, 16). The gas drawn in is cooled by means of a heat exchanger (15, 16) to below 0.degree. C. over a cooling section. Whilst the gas is being cooled, the ice produced in the refrigerating drier (5, 6) is defrosted by at least one of the refrigerating driers (5, 6) or in the further refrigerating drier(s) (5, 6) by the supply of a hot refrigerant vapour. The liquid refrigerant flowing out of the refrigerating drier (5, 6) to be defrosted is introduced into a pressure and/or connection line (17, 18) of the refrigerant circuit between the inlet of the heat exchanger (15, 16) used for cooling the gas drawn in and the condenser (59), which is arranged upstream of this (these) heat exchangers, or the tank.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to prevent an engaging member such as a clip from coming out and to enhance the holding force of the engaging member.In the present invention, there is provided a bracket 4 fixed to a support plate portion 2a on a front fender 2 on the body side and a locking claw 6a formed on a front grille 6 at a position corresponding to the bracket 4. The bracket 4 is provided with a mounting hole 4b engaging with a clip 10 serving as an engaging member and an engaging flange 4a engaging with the locking claw 6a. The clip 10 is inserted in the mounting hole 4b and the locking claw 6a is locked by the engaging flange 4a to mount the front grille 6 to the body without looseness. The bracket 4 is fixed not only to the front fender 2 on the body side but also to a lamp support, which is not shown.

Abstract: This invention relates to a catalyst for removal of nitrogen oxides in an exhaust gas by adding ammonia to the exhaust gas and hydrogenating catalytically wherein said catalyst is in a two-layered structure comprising a lower layer which is a molded article consisting of components having denitration activity covered with an upper layer which has a abrasion resistance lower than that of the lower layer and which is a coating of particulate components having 2 peaks in its particle size distribution within the range from 0.1 to 50 .mu.m.

Abstract: A modified DNA sequence encoding full length cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator protein is provided to facilitate propagation and/or expression of the protein in living cells and in particular, bacterial cells. The modified DNA sequence comprises at least one of the 13 base pair repeat of exon 6b of the normal gene encoding the conductance regulator protein, as one or more normal nucleotides of the 13 base repeat substituted with an alternate nucleotide which, however, continues to code for the corresponding normal amino acid.

Abstract: Axial and rotational movement of the torque tube foot of an aircraft's disc brake assembly is restrained to substantially dampen or eliminate the short interval high frequency vibration previously experienced on brake application. Restraining means is employed to restrain the torque tube foot and includes an annular flange member mounted to the axle by an axle sleeve and positioned adjacent a first side of the torque tube foot to stop lateral movement of the torque tube foot in the direction of the first side. Wheel spacer means is also provided containing a cylindrical passage for mounting the wheel spacer means to the axle opposite the annular flange member and on the opposite side of the torque tube foot.

Abstract: Diarylethylene metallocene derivatives, processes for preparing the same and pharmaceutical compositions which contain the derivatives are disclosed. The compounds of the invention can exhibit anti-tumor activity, and can be particularly useful in the treatment of estrogen-dependent cancers.

Abstract: The present invention describes a multi-well bone cell culture device for use in the quantitative and/or qualitative assessment of bone cell activity, the device comprising a flat base having a sintered film of calcium phosphate entities on one side and an open-ended multi chamber unit positioned on top of the film which by a sealing means is sealed to the film coated base forming individual containment wells. The device is useful in the analysis of bone cell function, for the screening and determination of bone cell disease, and the development of drugs to alter bone cell activity.

Abstract: A mechanical procedure is performed using a sequence of instructions generated from a relational data base. The data base includes at least one unit operation file containing data associated with the performance of a single unit operation, indications of prior operations that must be performed, and any support files that are required by each unit operation file. There is a generic instruction file containing a plurality of generic instructions. A sequence of unit operations to perform the mechanical procedure is first defined, using the information in the unit operation files. After this arranging of the unit operations, a series of task-specific instructions is generated for each of the unit operations by selecting and completing a series of generic instructions using information in each pertinent unit operation file.

Abstract: A fastener and an associated fastening method are provided to securely join at least two structural elements to form a structural assembly. Although the fastener can join a variety of different types of structural elements, the fastener is particularly well adapted to join composite panels, superplastically-formed/diffusion-bonded panels, honeycomb panels and hollow core panels since the fastener can securely join these structural elements without crushing or otherwise damaging the structural assembly. The fastener can also be mounted in blind installations, while providing a relatively smooth head following installation. In addition, the fastener can securely join structural elements while tolerating variations in the thicknesses of the structural elements.

Abstract: A cutting board for cutting food products which is composed of a plurality of abrasive inserts arranged in parallel rows. In use, the knife blade is drawn along the channel formed between the adjacent rows, and the contact between the knife blade and the abrasive inserts acts to sharpen the knife blade on both of its sides.