Abstract: The invention contemplates controlled ablation of the cornea, using ultraviolet laser radiation, wherein irradiated flux density and exposure time are so controlled as to achieve desired depth of the ablation. Sculpturing action results from precharacterized distribution of flux density across the cross-section of laser-beam projection, in the context of beam size, at cornea incidence, to match the area to be ablated, and the duration of exposure determines the extent of curvature change. Illustrative techniques and situations are disclosed, for myopia correction, for hyperopia correction, and for astigmatism correction.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for indirect cooling of air from its ambient temperature to substantially its dew point. Ambient air is redirected through spaced openings formed along the heat exchanger plates to form a secondary air stream.

Abstract: The invention contemplates an improved body-applicator unit forming a component of an ultrasonic bone-therapy system exemplified by the disclosure of copending patent application Ser. No. 247,105, filed Sep. 14, 1988 now. U.S. Pat. No. 5,003,965. The improvement features transducer suspension from the rest of the applicator unit via a molded sylphon-bellows element of softly compliant elastomeric material, wherein the transducer is a flat disc, retained as the outer closure wall of the elastomeric bellows, in such manner as to be surrounded by a flexible gel-retaining circumferential lip formation of the bellows.

Abstract: An integrated software piracy prevention system incorporates several characteristic identification codes identifying installation and software components. A separate security device is attached to and in communication with the protected computer system. It is interactively queried regarding proper authorization of the current user. This approach is unusually flexible and provides economical tracking of licensees and their use of sophisticated programs.

Abstract: A noise-absorbing medium is provided as an insert within the inner volume of the outlet chamber of a displacement-type pump. In an axial-flow displacement pump, this is the chamber into which pumped hydraulic fluid is discharged, for side-ported delivery to piping which serves the end-use actuator or other use component of the involved hydraulic system. The noise-absorbing medium is a preformed body (or bodies) of foamed elastomeric material having a sealed external skin and containing tiny closed cells of entrapped gas at low pressure; the encapsulated gas within the body bears a predetermined fractional volumetric proportion to the overall volume of the body, and the overall volume of the body also bears a predetermined relation to the overall volume of the outlet chamber.

Abstract: Lithium metatungstate as a new composition of matter and the production thereof are disclosed. A solution of lithium monotungstate is treated with an extractant to remove sufficient lithium ions to produce a dilute solution of lithium metatungstate and the dilute solution is then concentrated. Lithium metatungstate solutions are more dense than other alkali metal metatungstates and have lower viscosities which properties make the solutions highly useful for heavy media separations.

Abstract: A hydrometallurgical method is provided for recovering copper from particulate copper sulfide flotation concentrate containing at least about 20% copper by weight as cuprous and cupric sulfide, a significant portion of the copper in the copper sulfide concentrate being in the cuprous state. The flotation concentrate in the finely divided state is subjected to leaching with an alkaline solution of ammonia plus ammonium sulfate at a temperature ranging from about 10.degree. C. to 95.degree. C., preferably about 20.degree. C. to 40.degree. C. the amount of concentrate being proportioned at least stoichiometrically to the ammonia concentration of the leaching solution.

Abstract: An inflatable liner for protective headgear comprising, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a reinforced hollow strip for the reception and storage of fluid, the strip having a selected size so as to line the protective headgear and partially encircle a user's head, a reinforced hollow flap extension connected to the midsection of the strip so as to allow the fluid to flow freely therebetween, a valve for controlling the passage of fluid to and from the inflatable liner, and pockets for maintaining uniform inflation of the strip and flap extension.

Abstract: A process for preparing pharmaceutically active compounds of formula (A): ##STR1## wherein X is hydrogen, hydroxy, chloro, C.sub.1-6 alkoxy or phenyl C.sub.1-6 alkoxy; and R.sub.a and R.sub.b are hydrogen, or acyl or phosphate derivatives thereof, which process comprises the preparation of an intermediate of formula (I): ##STR2## wherein R.sub.1 is C.sub.1-6 alkyl, or phenyl C.sub.1-6 alkyl in which the phenyl group is optionally substituted; R.sub.2 is hydrogen, hydroxy, chlorine, C.sub.1-6 alkoxy, phenyl C.sub.1-6 alkoxy or amino; and R.sub.3 is halogen, C.sub.1-6 alkylthio, C.sub.1-6 alkylsulphonyl, azido, an amino group or a protected amino group, via the reaction of a compound of formula (II): ##STR3## wherein R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are as defined for formula (I) with: (a) a compound of formula (III): ##STR4## wherein R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 are independently hydrogen, C.sub.1-6 alkyl, or phenyl, or R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 together are C.sub.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for data communication control within the communication controllers of stations within a local area network. In general, the method and apparatus involves maintaining within the command and status control interface unit of the communication controller, receive and transmit command queues as well as receive and transmit status queues. Pluralities of receive and transmit data packet storage locations are provided for storing data packets to be received as well as transmitted. Each receive command is uniquely associated with a data packet storage location. Receive and transmit commands are buffered in a pipeline manner in the receive and transmit command queues, respectively, whereas receive and transmit status bits are buffered in a pipeline manner in the receive and transmit status queues, respectively.

Abstract: An improved composition for use as a liquid vehicle in ink systems and for printing on diverse substrates. The functional constituents of the compostiion are unsaturated fatty acid esters, difunctional or multifunctional acrylate esters and optionally mixed esters of unsaturated fatty acid and difunctional or multifunctional acrylates and other alpha, beta unsaturated carboxylates. Lithographing ink vehicle formulations of these improved components exhibit exceptional performance. In application, the improved compositions permit a substantial reduction or elimination of solvents and certain drying agents that otherwise form toxic and environmentally sensitive byproducts.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for treating a sludge containing substantial amounts of chromium, aluminum, calcium, iron, and phosphorous. The method comprises forming a slurry of the sludge; reacting the slurry with an acid to dissolve substantially all the aluminum and chromium and provide a solids residue comprising mostly calcium sulfate; separating the chromium/aluminum-containing solution from the solids residue; raising the pH of the chromium/aluminum solution to precipitate chromium as chromium hydroxide; and separating the chromium hydroxide from the remaining aluminum-containing solution. The chromium hydroxide is then enriched with an alkali or earth alkali compound and calcined in an oxidizing atmosphere to convert the chromium to a chromate. The calcine is leached in an aqueous medium at a controlled pH to yield a high concentration, high purity chromate solution suitable for producing metallic chromium or a variety of chromium chemicals.

Abstract: A manually movable gun is mounted to a platform with a limited range of correctional computer-controlled updated reorientation in azimuth and in elevation with respect to the platform. The platform fixedly mounts a sighting-rangefinder system, so that correctional reorientation of the gun is a correctional reorientation with respect to the sighting axis of the sighting/rangefinder system. The platform is mounted for two-axis freedom to be moved in azimuth and in elevation. The gunner must so move the gun platform, and at the same time thereby so move his sight, that the sighting alignment is kept on the target. In the course of such movement to keep the sighting line on the target, sensors and detectors of target range and of the components of platform movement in its mount, as well as sensors of other ballistic parameters, feed their output to circuitry including a computer.

Abstract: A data separator for use in synchronizing data derived from a floppy disk or similar data source provides a variable net gain or loss of charge to vary the frequency of a voltage-controlled oscillator in accordance with the relative position of the data with respect to the clock until data centering or synchronization is achieved. The net charge is derived from a charge pump circuit that is controlled by a charge pump-up signal whose duration is proportional to the detected phase difference between the data and the clock, and a charge pump-down signal whose duration is one clock cycle. When the data pulse is centered within a clock cycle, the duration of a pump-up signal is one half that of a pump-down signal.

Abstract: There is disclosed a process for the production of molten steel or steel pre-products from scrap contaminated with combustible waste-like substances and heated and melted in a metallurgical meltdown vessel. In order to be able to dispose of the forming noxious substances at low costs and to keep the offgases free of impurities detrimental to the environment, the gas forming during charging of scrap into the metallurgical vessel and during heating and melting of the scrap, after conditioning to a temperature range of between 1000.degree. and 1500.degree. C., is used as a heating gas in a lime-burning process including a moving lime fixed-bed under release of its sensible heat. Sulfur- and chlorine-containing components of the heating gas are absorbed on the burnt lime and the dust contained in the heating gas is separated in the lime fixed-bed. The heating gas, which is purified and cooled at its passage through the lime fixed-bed, subsequently is finally purified in a filtering plant.