Abstract: The attenuation of electromagnetic waves by a transmission medium is detected or measured by directing a continuous periodic electromagnetic wave toward a reflector. The reflector is modulated to modulate the electromagnetic wave as it is reflected. The reflected wave is received and an output signal related monotonically to the power of the modulated reflected wave is detected. The output signal is then compared to the output signal which is or would be obtained under various other transmission conditions.

Abstract: The invention is directed to the isolation and identification of a mothbean (Vigna aconitifolia) cDNA clone encoding a bifunctional enzyme, delta.sup.1 -pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthetase, hereinafter P5CS, with both gamma-glutamyl kinase and glutamic-gamma-semialdehyde dehydrogenase activities that catalyzes the first two steps in plant proline production, also called biosynthesis.

Abstract: A method of measuring the distance at closest approach between the piston of a free piston compressor and the cylinder head. The method derives measurements of both the alternating and average components of piston position from direct measurements of the voltage and current applied to the linear permanent magnet motor that drives the piston, and thus eliminates any requirement for an additional position sensor located within the compressor.

Abstract: A bidirectional, transconductance, DC amplifier exhibiting a compliance voltage exceeding either of the DC power supply voltages nearly double the compliance voltage of conventional circuits. The circuit uses a differential input operational amplifier. A voltage divider has its first resistor connected between the amplifier input and the noninverting input of the operational amplifier. The second resistor of the voltage divider is connected between the noninverting input and a common ground. A third resistor is connected between the amplifier input and the inverting input of the operational amplifier. A feedback circuit branch is connected between the inverting input and the output of the operational amplifier and includes a pair of output terminals for connecting the load in series in the feedback circuit branch.

Abstract: An attachable accessory for a hand-held, stringed musical instrument, such as a guitar, the invention comprises a hammer arm with a hammer head at one end which pivots at the opposite end. Actuating rods, which are struck by the fingers, press the hammer arm downward causing the hammer head to strike the strings of the instrument. The apparatus is clamped to the bridge pins of the guitar or are otherwise removably attachable to the instrument. The instrument is playable in the conventional manner with the apparatus attached. A bias means returns the hammer arm to its initial position after displacement by the actuating rod.

Abstract: A display placard and method of installation of the same display placard within a conventional newspaper rack with three clear viewing sides. The placard has three panels, two outer, equally sized panels and a central, slightly wider panel. The two outer panels are hingedly connected to the central panel and can hinge about the central panel by approximately 360.degree.. The placard is either folded along its hinged connections, or rolled into a tube and then bent and inserted into the newspaper rack. The placard is flexible enough to be rolled into a tube, and is resilient enough to regain its generally flat, sheet-like shape after being rolled into a tube and bent into the newspaper rack.The insertion of the placard into the newspaper rack includes overlapping the panels of the placard, inserting the placard into the rear of the newspaper rack and opening the overlapped panels. The panels of the placard are then aligned parallel to a corresponding side wall of the newspaper rack.

Abstract: A method is provided for absorbing electromagnetic radiation using a polyaniline composition, wherein the radiation is infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, radar, or microwave radiation. Also provided is a method for reducing the detectability by radar of an object by increasing the absorption of radar waves and thereby decrease the reflection of the radar waves by applying to the object a polyaniline composition or a partially protonated salt thereof.

Abstract: A method for generating an image of a parametric surface, such as the aspect of terrain which maximizes color contrast to permit easy discrimination of the magnitude, ranges, intervals or classes of a surface parameter while making it easy for the user to visualize the form of the surface, such as a landscape. The four pole colors of the opponent process color theory are utilized to represent intervals or classes at 90 degree angles. The color perceived as having maximum measured luminance is selected to portray the color having an azimuth of an assumed light source and the color showing minimum measured luminance portrays the diametrically opposite azimuth. The 90 degree intermediate azimuths are portrayed by unique colors of intermediate measured luminance, such as red and green.

Abstract: An outboard motor replacement skeg which is thin and flat and has a cavity formed in one of its edges is disclosed. The replacement skeg is slid over the stub which remains after the original skeg is broken off, and is fastened to the skeg stub with silicone sealant and rivets. As an alternative, the replacement skeg may be part of an original design to replace a specific breakaway skeg having a particular mounting structure.

Abstract: A heat curable organic sand binder based upon epoxide or epoxide novolac resin and a latent dicyandiamide or imidazole curing agent, with or without an imidazole accelerator, which may be used as a direct replacement for other "Hot Box" and "Warm Box" foundry resin binders and as a direct replacement for other "Shell Sand" foundry resin binders.

Abstract: Metallurgical bonded thermally sprayed coatings of exceptional bond strength are provided by a metal surface, prior to thermal spray coating, being electrochemically cleaned, or more desirably being electrochemically cleaned and electrochemically metallized, prior to overlaying with a thermal spray deposited metal coating with after depositing the thermal spray coating proceeding with a post heat treatment.

Abstract: A turn signal reminder circuit for warning a vehicle driver that the vehicle turn signals may have been inadvertently left actuated. Turn signal flasher pulses are low pass filtered to provide a continuous enabling signal which initiates the operation of an astable, multivibrator timer circuit. The timer circuit switches asymmetrically between a first occurring longer-time, partial cycle and a shorter-timer, partial cycle. A sound alarm is enabled by the timer during each shorter-time, partial cycle. The alarm is actuated by flasher pulses when the alarm is enabled, but is disabled and the timer circuit is reset in response to operation of the vehicle brake. A pulse detecting circuit for using flasher pulses to turn on the timing circuit has no large capacitor and this permits miniaturization.

Abstract: Structural formations for mounting an electrical terminal block in an aperture of a panel. A groove is formed on a longitudinal side of a rectangular terminal block. A shoulder with a surface facing toward the panel is formed on the opposite longitudinal side of the terminal block. Coplanar shoulders facing the same direction as the longitudinal shoulder are formed on the ends of the terminal block. The groove has greater width than the thickness of the panel, allowing for the panel to be angled with respect to the groove during insertion. The panel has an aperture with edges that contact the terminal block at all three coplanar shoulders, and the fourth edge contacts the oppositely facing surface of the groove.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming round wire from non-round wire has: a heat extracting drum having a semi-circular channel formed in and entirely around its outer circumferential surface; a feed device for directing a precursor wire into the channel; and a heater for melting the precursor wire in the channel. The wire is typically flat and is stood up on edge, perpendicular to the surface of the drum, melted with the heater, solidified and removed. The surface tension and wetting characteristics of the liquid metal cause it to "bead up", forming a near round wire when solidified.

Abstract: A structure for a vertical unitized compartmentalized sorting/holding container compatible with plastic bags for use where sundry recyclable materials are generated and discarded. There is provided a retaining apparatus in which the action of discarding, at the same time, sorts and holds various materials for recycling purposes in several sloping rhomboid compartments, one over the other, providing fifty per cent greater holding volume than level rectangular compartments of the same floor space. Further, dull hooks advantageously located hold plastic bags open for filling from the front instead of the top. Pull-down doors, render easy loading, and serve to isolate odors and obscure trash from view. Flat newspaper storage is provided in the bottom. The construction of the container provides for free-standing use in interior or exterior environments and flush in-wall installation.

Abstract: Intermetallic compounds or alloys comprising niobium with and from 10 to 28 atomic percent titanium and from 14 to 17.5 atomic percent aluminum characterized by very high temperature melting points, high compressive strength at room temperature, higher room temperature compressive strength after annealing, machineable with conventional tooling, a B2 crystal structure in the as-cast condition, a two-phase microstructure in the annealed condition consisting of a B2 matrix and a second phase with the A15 crystal structure, an expected low value for coefficient of thermal expansion and susceptible to fabrication into single crystals.

Abstract: A melt overflow apparatus for controlling various elements in response to incremental changes in parameters which affect the linear density of a continuous metal fiber mat or metal strip being produced is described. The net width of fibers being cast against a rotating, cylindrical casting wheel is measured by an infrared detector. A similar infrared detector is used to measure the net width of a metal strip being formed against a casting wheel. The weight of a portion of the strip or fiber mat is also measured. The weight and net width values are relayed to a control system which then controls various elements used in producing the metal product. These devices include electric motors driving both the casting wheel and a conveyer means for transporting the fiber mat or strip. A ceramic plunging body driven into a pool of molten metal to overflow onto the casting wheel can also be controlled.

Abstract: A pair of thermistors are mounted in a tube which diverts a minor portion of the air flowing through a duct of an HVAC system. One thermistor is heated by a feedback control system to maintain a substantially constant temperature differential between the thermistors. A signal representing the flow velocity is detected by detecting the power which is applied to the heating body to maintain the constant differential. That power represents the thermo power being carried away from the heated body. The temperature of the unheated thermistor is also detected. The signals are converted to digital form and applied to a computer for computing the flow rate in the ducts.

Abstract: An improved acoustic guitar bridge having string intonation, height, and tilt adjustment and comprising an anchor joined to and protruding downwardly from a chassis housing a plurality of forwardly and rearwardly adjustable saddles. Stabilizer legs 20 for height adjustment and chassis 10 tilt control extend down from the chassis.

Abstract: This invention relates to the amelioration of cryptosporidiosis symptoms, such as diarrhea, caused by the parasite crypotosporidium in susceptible host animals using effective amounts of decoquinate.