Abstract: A method for improving ventilation during sleep and treating sleep-related ventilation abnormalities in an infant. To this end, the present invention provides a method of using branched-chain amino acids as an effective therapy for apnea of prematurity. The branched-chain amino acid composition can be administered either parenterally or enterally, and can be administered alone or in combination with other nutrients.

Abstract: A master-slave type flip-flop circuit with first and second transmission gates receives an input pulse signal and an inverted input pulse signal at a data input terminal and an inverted data input terminal, respectively, and receives a clock signal at a common clock input terminal. A first data holding section includes first and second inverters and first and second resistors cross-connected between input and output terminals of the first and second inverters for receiving outputs of the first and second transmission gates at the input terminals of the first and second inverters. Third and fourth transmission gates receive outputs of the first and second inverters, respectively, of the data holding section and further receive an inverted clock signal at a common inverted clock input terminal.

Abstract: A circuit arrangement for call-associated identification of transmitted message signals in an ATM switching system wherein each of the incoming trunks has a plurality of counters which correspond in number to the plurality of virtual connections. When a message appears, the message cells drive the counters for a call-associated acquisition of the message cells based on the description of the cell header contained therein that identified the particular virtual connection.

Abstract: A method for producing a solar cell having a semiconductor layer of copper gallium diselenide covered with a window layer of copper aluminum diselenide by first producing a semiconductor material of one type of conductivity by forming either a copper gallium diselenide or a copper aluminum diselenide and then exchanging metal ions in the upper portion of the layer to provide an opposite type of conductivity by exchanging metal ions of the layer for another type. The exchange can include exchanging both the copper and gallium ions with the zinc ion to form a zinc diselenide window or replacing the gallium ions with aluminum ions to form a copper aluminum diselenide window or, if a copper aluminum diselenide layer had been provided, forming an absorbing layer by replacing the aluminum ions with the gallium ions to form the absorbing layer.

Abstract: A reliable connection of a semiconductor component to a metal carrier is provided which avoids damage during bonding. A buffer material is applied between the semiconductor component and the metal carrier. Means are provided for fixing the buffer material during the bonding, such as a roughening of one or both surfaces in contact with the buffer material. Also, the metal carrier has a stiffening structure. Also, a weakening of the metal carrier can serve to increase the flexibility of the metal carrier and prevent damage thereto during bonding.

Abstract: A port/spike assembly including an enteral spike having a diameter substantially less than the diameter of a standard parenteral spike. The assembly also includes a port having a tube with an outer wall which defines a generally cylindrical elongated bore. A frangible membrane is disposed inside the elongated bore, and divides the bore into upper and lower bore sections. A selector ring is provided in the upper bore section for permitting insertion of the reduced diameter enteral spike and for preventing the insertion of a standard parenteral spike through the membrane. The assembly prevents inadvertent insertion of a parenteral spike into an enteral feeding system.

Abstract: A television receiver for receiving a first audio signal which is FM modulated and which has a carrier with a first predetermined frequency difference from a carrier of a video signal. A second audio signal is PCM modulated. The carrier has a second predetermined frequency difference from the carrier of the video signal. A tuner is provided for receiving an RF signal and for generating an IF signal. A video detecting means detects a video IF signal. An FM audio detecting means detects the first audio signal. A PCM audio detecting means detects the second audio signal. An audio IF detecting means is connected between the tuner and the FM audio detecting means or PCM audio detecting means.

Abstract: A receiving circuit for evaluating check words received after traversing a test loop for coincidence with the check word transmitted is utilized in time-division multiplex operation for the sequencing of test implemented in parallel and is reached via a multiplex line on which a defined time slot is allocated to each of the tests.

Abstract: An x-ray diagnostics apparatus for obtaining an x-ray exposure of a bedridden patient permits the exposure to be obtained without moving the patient from the bed. The patient bed has two patient bearing surfaces. The patient lies on the upper surface, and a lower surface is vertically adjustable beneath the upper surface. When the lower surface is lowered to permit the introduction of an x-ray cassette between the upper and lower surfaces, the upper surface is supported, such as by a fabric tentered to the bed frame. An optical system is provided for accurately positioning the x-ray film cassette, and a wireless transmission path for an automatic exposure unit may also be provided.

Abstract: A predistortion linearizer for microwave power amplifiers wherein a single transistor, e.g. of the GaAsFET type, is subpolarized near the pinch-off condition, and carries out the functions both of a gain expander amplifier for recovery of amplitude distortion of the power amplifier and as a command signal generator for a dephaser element for recovery of the phase distortion of the power amplifier.

Abstract: A protective sheath for an optical transmission element is constructed of an inside layer of polycarbonate and an outside layer of a material which has a high degree of crystallization with the crystallization temperature of the outside layer preferably being below the softening temperature of the polycarbonate used for the inside layer so that the heat of crystallization release during crystallization will retard the cooling of the inside layer to produce solidification of the inside layer from the inside of the element toward the outside.

Abstract: A CRT-matrix type big screen display system having self-emitting type picture cells is provided with a deflection waveform as a sawtooth waveform and a deflection waveform in the other direction as a step deflection waveform crossing the picture cells. Inclination of the scanning line is eliminated so that fluctuations in display brightness thereto are avoided and a satisfactory picture display is achieved. Also in CRT-matrix type big-screen display systems, index elements or cells are provided between sets of primary color cells and in the scanning direction. At least at the start of the scanning operation, the index elements or cells are scanned and the positional information thereof is stored in a memory for use in processing a video signal to achieve a satisfactory picture display.

Abstract: A process consists of detecting a printed registration mark composed of recognition signals and of a color pilot mark, comparing the image of the signs of the printed registration mark to the signs of a virtual reference registration mark, then defining a basic area for each sign, calculating a geometric center of every basic area, detecting any color pilot mark in these basic areas, calculating and memorizing the geometric center for the detected pilot mark, measuring an offset position between the geometric center of the basic area and the geometric center of the detected color pilot mark and utiliziing the measured offset position for controlling a misregistration correction appliance of a printing press. The device for accomplishing the process includes an arrangement for performing each of the above-mentioned steps.

Abstract: A method for measuring the field pattern of electrical or magnetic fields using a sensor arrangement, for determining the spatial position of a biological power source is disclosed which compensates for background activity. The method includes the steps of measuring the background activity at a time before the biological power source is stimulated, and the resultant signal vector of the background activity is formed. This signal vector of the background activity is vectorially subtracted from each resultant vector of the subsequently obtained values from the biological power source, so that a signal vector is obtained which is essentially caused only by the current from the power source. A weighting factor, which varies the length of the vector of the background field, is iteratively calculated together with the source parameters for the biological power source by error minimization, so that the parameters of the power source can be optimally portrayed.

Abstract: A video telephone for transmitting video data of a still picture through an audio signal line includes an image pickup tube for picking up a picture of the still picture, an A/D (analog-to-digital) converter for converting the analog output picked up by the image pick-up tube to the form of a digital signal, a memory for storing the output of the A/D converter as video data, a modulating circuit for modulating the video data stored in the memory into a modulated signal of an occupied frequency band corresponding to a transmission band of the signal line, a circuit for transmitting the modulated output of the modulating circuit to the signal line, a circuit for generating a synchronizing pulse and a frequency-dividing circuit for frequency-dividing the color subcarrier signal to provide signals necessary for the A/D converter, the memory, and the modulating circuit, wherein the video data is a signal which results from thinning the picked-up output at a predetermined ratio.

Abstract: A coin validating apparatus having a coin carriage for moving the coin along at least one coin track. The coin carriage has at least an electrically conductive portion in contact with the coin. The coin track has at least one cam at a predetermined location, the cam having at least a substantially non-conductive base portion attached to the coin track and an electrically conductive top portion. A component for detecting current is connected in series with the top portion in a first terminal of a voltage souorce. A second terminal of the voltage source is connected to the electrically conductive portion of the coin carriage. The coin completes an electrical connection between the electrically conductive portion of the coin carriage and the top portion of the cam when the coin carriage has positioned the coin over the cam and when the coin is electrically conductive. When the coin comnpletes the electrical connection, the component for detecting provides a signal indicative thereof.

Abstract: An oscillating roller for offset printing machines has a central shaft fitted for appropriate rotation into a frame of the machine, and a concentric oscillating cylinder. A cotter fitted on the cylinder engages in a guiding groove of the shaft in order to ensure common rotation of the two components without preventing their respective axial shifts. Two chambers made up by the cylinder and the shaft can be alternatively subjected to hydraulic pressure in order to cause the cylinder to shift axially in the one or the other direction.

Abstract: The sputtering apparatus for the present invention is used for manufacturing optical discs. On loading and unloading of disc substrates to and from a vacuum chamber, a disc entrance and exit opening provided on the vacuum chamber is closed by a tray having an opening at the center thereof on which the disc substrate is placed and a push up rod having a closing side closing the opening of the tray on the lower side thereof. Sealing of the disc entrance and exit opening may be made positive and the vacuum chamber is uniformly evacuated so that an excellent sputtering can be performed.

Abstract: A method for stamping a monofilament between a pair of mating stamping rollers to form shaped portions for slide fastener coupling elements includes using an annular outer roller and a cylindrical inner roller with pressing projections on a mating stamping surface of at least one of the rollers. The rollers are positioned in such an arrangement that an outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical inner roller mates partially with an inner circumferential surface of the annular outer roller. The rollers are rotated in a common direction, and monofilament is supplied continuously to an area where an inner circumferential surface of the annular outer roller and an outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical inner roller mate. The monofilament is thereby pressed for a longer time in order to form accurately coupling head portions of slide fasteners.

Abstract: A heating coil assembly for use in an air blower device has an annular support element, a first end cap, a core having a heating coil spirally wound thereon, a sleeve surrounding the coil and core, and a second end cap. All components have a centrally disposed non-circular bore therein for receiving a heavy gauge non-circular wire retainer, swaged at one end, which extends through the entire assembly and is retained by a press washer at an opposite end. The interior of the sleeve is spaced from the coil forming an axial channel for air flow over the coil. Axial openings in the end caps form air inlets and outlets for the channel. The coil has several leads, at least one of which extends through an axial opening in one of the end caps. The heating coil assembly has a small number of components, which are easily assembled and simultaneously axially and radially positioned and retained relative to each other by the wire retainer.