Abstract: Device for supporting and connecting concrete reinforcing elements which has a base adapted to rest on a supporting surface, an upright post extending from the base, and a clip mounted on the post having a pair of orthogonal sockets engagable with two horizontally extending reinforcing elements for connecting the elements together at right angles to each other and holding the elements a predetermined distance above the supporting surface.

Abstract: The present invention provides for the selective covalent modification of nucleic acids with redox active moieties such as transition metal complexes. Electron donor and electron acceptor moieties are covalently bound to the ribose-phosphate backbone of a nucleic acid at predetermined positions. The resulting complexes represent a series of new derivatives that are bimolecular templates capable of transferring electrons over very large distances at extremely fast rates. These complexes possess unique structural features which enable the use of an entirely new class of bioconductors and photoactive probes.

Abstract: An injection device and method of forming an injection device. The injection device includes a unitary molded body including a cylindrical wall partially defining a syringe chamber a nose offset from the cylindrical wall to define the forward end of a needle housing positioned on one side of the cylindrical wall. The adjoining portions of the nose and the cylindrical wall having a passage formed therethrough for the flow of fluid from the chamber to the nose. The passage is concealed behind the skirt of the nose. A plunger is slidably disposed in the chamber. A sheath is spaced from the nose and cylindrical wall to define a needle housing. A needle carriage is slidably disposed in the needle housing, and is movable to a forward position with the needle extending through the aperture in the front end of the nose.

Abstract: In the combination of a beverage container and a closure therefor which can serve as a drinking vessel and a coaster. The beverage container comprises a bowl having a generally hemispherical base and an axis and an upstanding wall circular in cross-section adjoining the generally hemispherical base and being inclined upwardly and inwardly to define a circular lip lying in a plane which is perpendicular to the axis of the hemispherical base and providing an opening providing access to a space within the bowl. The closure comprises a circular rim lying in a plane and having a wall circular in cross-section adjoining the rim and extending downwardly and outwardly and being sized to cover the opening of the container. A cooperative seal is carried by the closure and the container for forming an air-tight seal between the rim of the closure and the lip of the bowl. A band secures the closure to the container to maintain a sealing engagement between the o-ring and the closure and the o-ring and the bowl.

Abstract: Data stored in multi-level memory cells is rapidly read out with high resolution by generating and coupling a predetermined and preferably low number of large magnitude jump-like voltage changes to the control gates of the memory cells. The magnitude of the jumps can be a substantial fraction of the power supply level and will be many times the &Dgr;Vt levels associated with the memory cells, e.g., the control gate voltage changes in jump-steps from say 4 V to 6 V to 8 V. Use of a low number of jump-steps (e.g., two or three) reduces read out time by permitting read out of a plurality of Vt levels during a given control voltage magnitude. Further, use of large but different magnitude control gate voltages provides good read out resolution over the range of Vt values. Reference cells are provided to improve tracking, and DRAM-type sense amplifiers are provided to maintain high noise immunity.

Abstract: Disclosed is a hook-on type baby seat which primarily comprises a main body portion and a seat portion. The main body portion comprises a U-shaped arm assembly for supporting the baby seat on an upper surface of a gripped object, a pair of longitudinal arm members soldered to the U-shaped arm assembly, a pair of gripping arm members for gripping or releasing the gripped object, and a pair of elevation controlling and adjusting members for allowing the pair of gripping arm members to be upwardly and downwardly movable in the elevation direction of the longitudinal arm member. The seat portion comprises a seat cushion and a back portion hanged on the U-shaped arm member by sewing.

Abstract: Maximized multi-stage compaction and more tolerance in memory state behavior is achieved through a flexible, self-consistent and self-adapting mode of detection, covering a wide dynamic range. For high density multi-state encoding, this approach borders on full analog treatment, dictating analog techniques including A to D type conversion to reconstruct and process the data. In accordance with the teachings of this invention, the memory array is read with high fidelity, not to provide actual final digital data, but rather to provide raw data accurately reflecting the analog storage state, which information is sent to a memory controller for analysis and detection of the actual final digital data.

Abstract: A high performance rare earth-transition metal magnetostrictive material with increased impurities having the formula (Rx1Rx2 . . . Rx11)1(My1My2 . . . My6)z is provided. Each R is selected from the group of elements consisting of lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, samarium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium and yttrium, where 0≦x1≦1, 0≦x2≦1 . . . 0≦x11≦1 and where x1+x2+ . . . +x11=1. Each M is selected from the group of elements consisting of iron, manganese, cobalt, nickel, aluminum and silicon, where 0≦y1≦1, 0≦y2≦1 . . . 0≦y6≦1, where y1+y2+ . . . +y6=1 and where 1.8≦z≦2.1. The material has oxygen impurities, nitrogen impurities and carbon impurities. The oxygen impurities having an atomic percent ranging from 6,011 to 34,000 parts per million. The nitrogen impurities having an atomic percent ranging from 575 to 4,400 parts per million.

Abstract: A pseudo-push-pull DC:DC converter topology replaces one primary switching transistor with a high speed passively switched diode coupled between one end of a transformer first primary winding and ground. A second primary winding is coupled to ground via a solid state switch that is driven with a control circuit that outputs a single drive signal of slightly less than 50% duty cycle. The other ends of the first and the second transformer primaries are coupleable to a source of Vin. The topology includes a gapped transformer whose transformer core stores sufficient electromagnetic energy when the solid state switch is turned-on by the control circuit to drive a load coupled to the transformer secondary when the solid state switch is turned-off. When the solid state switch is turned-off by the control circuit, the diode self-biases on, coupling the first transformer primary winding between Vin and ground, as though a perfectly driven solid state switch were turned-on.

Abstract: An improved modular masthead for use in cellular communications networks is described. The masthead unit includes a power amplifier, a duplexer and a local power supply that supplies the power amplifier. The power amplifier is arranged to amplify outgoing communication signals received from a base station. In a preferred embodiment, the masthead also includes a low noise amplifier for amplifying incoming communication signals and passing the amplified incoming communication signals to an associated base station. With this arrangement, the masthead forms a modular unit that is distinct from the base station such that the modular masthead may be replaced independently of the base station. With this arrangement the range of a cell within a cellular network may be changed by simply swapping an existing masthead unit with a second masthead unit having a different power supply thereon and making software changes in the system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to apparatus and methods for quantitative protein design and optimization.

Abstract: Conditioning oil for use on bowling lanes. The oil contains a mixture of mineral oil, a leveling agent, and an antistatic agent. The mineral oil is a combination of paraffin and petroleum based mineral oils and/or a polyalphaolefin synthetic oil, and in some embodiments, the mixture also includes a flow agent, a fluorescent whitening agent, a lubricity agent, and a surfactant.

Abstract: Three-dimensional computer graphics systems and methods and more particularly to structure and method for a three-dimensional graphics processor and having other enhanced graphics processing features. In one embodiment the graphics processor is a Deferred Shading Graphics Processor (DSGP) comprising an AGP interface, a command fetch & decode (2000), a geometry unit (3000), a mode extraction (4000) and polygon memory (5000), a sort unit (6000) and sort memory (7000), a setup unit (8000), a cull unit (9000), a mode injection (10000), a fragment unit (11000), a texture (12000) and texture memory (13000) a phong shading (14000), a pixel unit (15000), a backend unit (1600) coupled to a frame buffer (17000). Other embodiments need not include all of these functional units, and the structures and methods of these units are applicable to other computational processes and systems as well as deferred and non-deferred shading graphical processors.

Abstract: The present invention provides for the selective covalent modification of nucleic acids with redox active moieties such as transition metal complexes. Electron donor and electron acceptor moieties are covalently bound to the ribose-phosphate backbone of a nucleic acid at predetermined positions. The resulting complexes represent a series of new derivatives that are bimolecular templates capable of transferring electrons over very large distances at extremely fast rates. These complexes possess unique structural features which enable the use of an entirely new class of bioconductors and photoactive probes.

Abstract: A stress-free wafer comprising a substrate formed of a semiconductor material having front side and back side planar and parallel surfaces and having a thickness which can be as thin as 1 to 2 mils. The front side has electronic circuitry therein with exposed contact pads. The back side is ground and polished so that the wafer is substantially stress free and can withstand bending over a 2″ radius without breaking or damaging.

Abstract: The present invention provides for the selective covalent modification of nucleic acids with redox active moieties such as transition metal complexes. Electron donor and electron acceptor moieties are covalently bound to the ribose-phosphate backbone of a nucleic acid at predetermined positions. The resulting complexes represent a series of new derivatives that are bimolecular templates capable of transferring electrons over very large distances at extremely fast rates. These complexes possess unique structural features which enable the use of an entirely new class of bioconductors and photoactive probes.

Abstract: This invention concerns novel methods and compositions useful for directly and rapidly analyzing the biochemical components of microorganisms. The compositions and methods of the present invention obviate the need for extracting and purifying the biochemicals prior to analysis.

Abstract: The invention includes novel fusion nucleic acids encoding fusion polypeptides which when expressed in a filamentous fungus result in the expression of fusion polypeptides. The fusion nucleic acids comprise four nucleic acids which encode a fusion polypeptide comprising first, second, third and fourth amino acid sequences. The first nucleic acid encodes a signal polypeptide functional as a secretory sequence in a first filamentous fungus. The second nucleic acid encodes a secreted polypeptide or functional portion thereof which is normally secreted from the same filamentous fungus or a second filamentous fungus. The third nucleic acid encodes a cleavable linker while the fourth nucleic acid comprises at least two nucleic acids encoding desired polypeptides.

Abstract: A portable computer. The computer includes a base, a display member, and an arm assembly coupling the display member to the base. The arm assembly includes a pair of spaced arm portions and a rigid connecting portion extending between the arm portions. The arm portions each have a first end pivotally coupled to the base edge for movement of the arm assembly between a closed position with the arm portion substantially parallel to the base and an open position with the arm portion oriented at an angle relative to the base, and a second end pivotally coupled to the display edge for pivotal movement of the display member relative to the arm portion to move the display member between a plurality of positions relative to the arm member.

Abstract: A transdermal device is described suitable for delivery of a pharmaceutical to the systemic circulation through de-epithelialized skin. In its various embodiments the device includes means to prevent the attack of any protein or polypeptide active agent included therein by proteolytic enzymes which exude from the lesion, means to prevent the ingress of bacteria and other cellular debris from the lesion and means to ensure that substantially all said active agent is directed to the de-epithelialized lesion.