Abstract: The enzyme D-2-hydroxy-4-methylpentanoic acid dehydrogenase has been prepared by culturing readily available Lactobacillus or Leuconostoc, microorganisms, such as Lactobacillus casei ssp. pseudoplantarum and Leuconostoc mesenteroides. The microbiologically produced enzyme has special characteristics and is capable of converting D-2-hydroxycarboxylic acids, such as D-2-hydroxy-4-methylpentanoic acid to the corresponding 2-ketocarboxylic acid and is capable of enzymatically converting 2-ketocarboxylic acids, such as 2-keto-4-methylpentanoic acid and 2-ketobutyric acid to the corresponding D-2-hydroxycarboxylic acid.

Abstract: An automatic transmission having: a torque converter; a first planetary gear set; a second planetary gear set, and friction elements operated by hydraulic servos.The first planetary gear set has a hydraulic servo drum D.sub.1 for a clutch C.sub.1 connected to an input shaft, a sun gear provided within drum D.sub.1 and connected to the input shaft by clutch C.sub.1, a carrier connected to an output shaft, a ring gear connected to the input shaft and an intermediate shaft, a clutch C.sub.2, provided in a hydraulic servo drum D.sub.2, pinions rotatably supported by the carrier, and the gear set is provided on the inner side of clutch C.sub.2.The second planetary gear set has a sun gear mounted on the intermediate shaft and connected to a common inner race of a one-way clutch F.sub.0, a one-way brake F.sub.1, a carrier connected to a ring gear, the ring gear is connected to the output shaft, the intermediate shaft and a brake B.sub.2, a one-way brake F.sub.2 in series with brake B.sub.

Abstract: The image composition system includes framestores 30, 31 for receiving information from first and second picture sources. A processor 33 provides the composed image by using information from these sources. The processor is controlled by picture shape information made available from a third framestore 32. This shape information may be provided by a camera 26 receiving an image of a silhouette for example or the shape can be manually generated via a touch tablet 38. The instantaneous value of the shape controls the blending of the pictures such that portions of the picture can be taken from a scene and inserted without noticeable degredation. Manipulation of the position, orientation or size of the inserted picture portion for example can also be effected.

Abstract: A ballast resistor device for use in a gas laser system for stabilizing the operation of the gas laser includes a housing, a ballast resistor element and a filler material filled in the space between the housing and the resistor element is provided. In the preferred embodiment, the filler material is substantially high in dielectric breakdown strength as well as in thermal conductivity, so that the ballast resistor device of the present invention has a rigid structure providing a strong mechanical and electrical durability, not to mention an excellent heat dissipating characteristic thereby allowing to prevent the resistor element from being overheated.

Abstract: Disclosed is automated setting of x-ray technic factors (e.g., KV, MA and exposure time) on the basis of (a) automated determination of the thickness of the body part to be imaged by a non-contact ranging system, (b) push button selection for the type of examination, and (c) push button selection for the type of body physique. The automatically determined technic factors and/or thickness are displayed to allow for manual override, and other failsafe features are provided as well. For better results, the ranging transducer is in the path of, and aligned with the axis of, the x-ray beam while producing ranging information, but is out of the x-ray beam path for the actual x-ray examination. An interlock is provided so that the x-ray beam is not on when the ranging transducer is in the beam path.