Abstract: This invention relates to temperature compensated FFPs with improved means for alignment of optical fibers. The invention provides ferrule holders with shaped ferrule passageways, as components of FFP alignment fixtures, in which optical fiber ends can be readily aligned using the ferrule rotary alignment method. The ferrule holders have a composite structure facilitating temperature compensation required for applications to PZT-tuned FFPs. The ferrule holder has a core and peripheral region made of materials having different thermal expansion coefficients. The holder core in contact with the ferrule is made of a material having a thermal expansion coefficient substantially matched to that of the ferrule material. In addition, ferrule holders are provided with a means for changing the points of contact between a secured ferrule and its holder which allows wavelength drift as a function of temperature in FFPs to be adjusted.

Abstract: This invention provides an equal path length lateral shearing interferometer and its implementation in focus detection devices, particularly for optical data storage devices. The interferometer comprises a beamsplitter and two abutting roof prisms. Shifting the placement of a roof prism along an axis orthogonal to the direction of light propagation and to the peak of the roof creates a lateral shear between the two output beams. Rotation a roof prism about this axis produces a tilt between the two output beams. This creates an interference pattern with a rotational orientation which is a function of the focus of the beam impinging on the optical storage medium. A pattern sensor is provided to adjust the focus of the beam in an accurate and dynamic manner.

Abstract: Compact, fixed-wavelength and tunable fiber optic lasers combine a sub-millimeter length of high-gain rare-earth-doped, sensitized glass fiber within a fiber Fabry-Perot (FFP) cavity. Tunable, single-frequency fiber lasers at 1535 nm employing high-gain erbium:ytterbium phosphate glass fiber are specifically provided. Single-frequency and/or single-polarization mode erbium:ytterbium glass fiber lasers, having cavity lengths less than about 200 .mu.m with continuous wavelength tuning range over several nanometers are provided. Amplified single-frequency lasers incorporating fiber rare-earth ion optical amplifiers are also provided. Single-frequency lasing employing sub-millimeter lengths of rare-earth doped sensitized fiber in a 3 mirror laser design is also demonstrated.

Abstract: Improved ferrule alignment fixtures for use in fiber Fabry-Perot (FFP) filters are provided. The inventive alignment fixtures have ferrule holders with shaped passageways for holding fiber-containing ferrules in three-point contact which allow fiber alignment using a rotary alignment technique.The FFPs have a fiber ferrule assembly which when aligned in the inventive ferrule holder forms an optical cavity between mirrors transverse to the fiber in the ferrule assembly. Wavelength tunable FFPs have a piezoelectric transducer interposed between the ferrule holders which can be used to change the length of the optical cavity and tune the filter.

Abstract: The present invention provides a photoionization mass spectroscopy flux monitor for gaseous species above a sample surface. It provides an in situ, real time, species specific, nonintrusive probe with a geometry compatible with conventional MBE growth chambers. Gaseous species are photoionized above a sample surface and the ionized gaseous species are extracted parallel to the sample surface and coupled into a mass spectrometer inlet adjacent to the sample surface. The geometry of the flux monitor allows for simultaneous coupling of a charged particle beam with the sample surface, for example for monitoring film growth with RHEED.

Abstract: The present invention provides a culture medium designated COF 1769 useful for establishing, growing and maintaining mammalian cells in culture, in particular for the establishment and culture of human normal and malignant cells. Also provided by the invention is an improved method for obtaining growth of mammalian cells.

Abstract: An improved basal nutrient medium MCDB 120 for the clonal growth of human muscle satellite cells (HMSC) is described. In addition, serum-free supplements for the clonal growth of HMSC containing serum albumin, dexamethasone, fetuin fraction mitogen, epidermal growth factor and insulin are described. Combination of MCDB 120 and the serum-free supplement results in a serum-free medium for growth of HMSC, which can be transplanted to muscles of patients afflicted with muscle degenerative diseases such as muscular dystrophy. The serum-free supplement can also be used with other basal nutrient media such as MCDB 131M for growth of HMSC. Addition of 5% dialyzed fetal bovine serum to the serum-free media described results in semi-defined media which allows significantly improved growth of HMSC.

Abstract: A composition of matter comprising at least 2% by weight of a fibrous material and at least 30% by weight of a binding material such that the composition can be melt-molded into articles which have mechanical strength sufficient for their intended uses and which are biodegradable. The binding material is formed of natural substance and may also include up to 30% by weight synthetic, water-soluble polymer. The fibrous material may be cellulose and/or mineral fibers which provide the attributes of reinforcement and degradability. The composition may further include up to 20% by weight liquid or solid plasticizer which serves to lower melt viscosity and add toughness to the composite material.

Abstract: A method for the selective killing of HIV-infected cells, via HIV-regulated expression of a toxin gene, is provided in the present invention. Specifically, the expression of the diphtheria toxin fragment A gene is subject to tight control by cis-acting HIV regulatory sequences and trans-acting regulatory factors. Also provided is a method of protecting a host from HIV infection by the stable transformation of target cells, those cells which can be infected with HIV, with an HIV-regulated toxin gene. When such a stably transformed cell becomes infected with HIV, induction of the toxin gene prevents the replication and spread of the virus.

Abstract: A method for the culturing of gum-secreting plant cells, recovery of the gum from the medium and use of the plant gum in food products is described. In particular, the plant gum product of cultured Pyrus, Prunus avium and Rosa cells can be used in food products as comprising complex carbohydrates and glycoproteins, for example, an emulsifying agent, an emulsion stabilizer, a thickening agent or a texture modifier.

Abstract: A computer system with an internal operating system located in ROM is initialized in that operating system but can also automatically be directly initialized in an operating system of choice such as one located on an external memory, that is, a diskette or fixed disk. The computer system may also automatically be directly initialized in an application running under the internal operating system and, if desired, initialization may automatically directly include a customized version of the internal operating system. These customizing features are obtained through a customization word located in permanent read/write memory.

Abstract: A method for extending soluble CD4 serum half-life in mammals is described. The method comprises modifying soluble CD4 glycosylation so as to inhibit clearance from serum. In a preferred embodiment, clearance by hepatocyte galactose receptors is inhibited by removal of soluble CD4 terminal sialic residues followed by oxidation of exposed galactose residues. The modified soluble CD4 molecules are demonstrated to possess extended serum half-life.

Abstract: A single wafered optical fiber ferrule assembly useful in fixed and tunable fiber Fabry-Perot (FFP) filters is described. The ferrule assembly contains a wafered ferrule with embedded mirror and a mirrored-end ferrule which are aligned with respect to each other along a longitudinal axis in an alignment fixture. The ferrules are aligned and spaced with respect to each other to maximize transmission of light of a selected wavelength through the filter. The wafered ferrule is composed of a fiber ferrule and a wafer greater than or equal to about 5 .mu.m in thickness which are bonded together with a mirror embedded between the wafer and the ferrule. The ferrule assembly forms a FP optical resonance cavity between the two mirrors. The single wafered ferrule design produces more easily manufactured and more stable FFP than prior art designs.

Abstract: A fiber optic Fabry-Perot etalon filter constructed with a resonance cavity which is variable in length to enable variations in temperature to tune the filter to a desired frequency while maintaining accurate alignment of the fiber across the filter. Each fiber end is encased in a ferrule with the two ends placed in a facing relationship. The fibers are aligned and held by an appropriate fixture designed to allow a portion of the ferrule assembly containing the resonance cavity to expand or contract with temperature variation. The two mirrors defining the nominal size of the resonance cavity may be deposited on the facing end of each of the two ferrules, on an end of a separate waveguide located between the ends of the ferrules, or on any combination of these elements. Ferrules may be wafered, that is, a wafer of material may be bonded to the mirrored end of one or both ferrules.

Abstract: Pointer control logic for error correcting codes includes a set of registers the contents of which are rotated whenever data from a track with a pointer are processed. In that manner, a given one register always contains pointer data for the track under consideration (if that track has a pointer). The pointer control logic includes programmable initializing values to stress write operations as desired. Further, the logic contains multiple and programmable pointer dropping thresholds so that pointer registers can be candidates for dropping dependent on the type of error encountered. Provision is made for extending pointer life when errors are encountered, registers are full, and no register has dropped below the pointer dropping threshold.

Abstract: A recording/playback apparatus in which movable datum pins are held in a base casting. Upon insertion of a cartridge into a holding tray, within the apparatus, the pins are released to move into datum holes in the cartridge when the holes are positioned directly above the pins. The cartridge is then lowered onto the drive spindle and positioned on surfaces of the base casting. During the load cycle, the cartridge is allowed to move relative to the holding tray while continuing to be held in place relative to the base casting by the datum pins.

Abstract: The subject application discloses chiral nonracemic compositions of the general formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is an achiral tail of two to sixteen carbons; Ar is an achiral FLC core of at least two rings; * denotes a chiral or potentially chiral carbon; Q is H or a methyl group; X and Z are halides and Y is H or a halide; and R.sub.2 is one to ten carbon atoms. The --O--C*HQ--C*HX--C*HY-- segment comprises the chiral proximal segment of the chiral tail. Z can be an ortho halide alone, or ortho and meta halides on adjacent carbons on the aromatic ring of the core adjacent to the proximal segment. R.sub.2 is the distal segment of the chiral tail.

Abstract: The present invention provides liquid crystals that are 3,3'-dihalogenated diphenyldiacetylenes of the general formula: ##STR1## where X and Y are, independently of one another, a halogen atom and T.sub.1 and T.sub.2, independently of one another are alkyl or alkenyl or alkoxy tail groups, R.sub.1, R.sub.2, or OR.sub.3, respectively, wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.3, independently of one another, are straight-chain or branched alkyl groups having three to twenty carbon atoms and R.sub.2 is a mono or diene which may be branched or straight-chain having three to twenty carbon atoms. R.sub.1, R.sub.2, or R.sub.3 may be substituted with one or more halogens, particularly fluorines, except that the C-1 carbon of an OR.sub.3 tail may not be halogenated. One or two non-neighboring CH.sub.2 groups of R.sub.1 or R.sub.3 may be substituted with an O atom, except that the C-1 CH.sub.2 group of an OR.sub.3 tail may not be substituted with an O atom. Liquid crystals in which X=Y=fluorine and T.sub.1 =T.sub.

Abstract: Chiral, nonracemic compounds of the general formula: ##STR1## in which the chiral tail group containing three asymmetric carbons (as indicated by *) is incorporated into a suitable FLC core moiety R--Ar.sub.2 are provided. The Ar.sub.2 core can include phenylbenzoate, biphenyl, phenylpyridine or phenylpyrimidine. R is an alkyl or alkoxy group having three to fifteen carbon atoms and R' is an alkyl group having from three to twelve carbon atoms. The compounds are useful as ferroelectric liquid crystal components having high polarization density. Compounds in which the chiral epoxide tail is the 1R-methyl-2S,3S-epoxy or 1S-methyl-2R,3R-epoxy enantiomer having higher polarization density.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for predicting the approach of semiconductor laser diode end-of-life from the power vs. current characteristic curve of the diode thereby obviating the need for nonvolatile memory. Current measurements are taken for three power levels and the linear slope of the characteristic curve at the high power level is compared to the linear slope at low power levels. When the comparison exceeds predetermined criteria, a flag is raised.