Abstract: A method and apparatus to automate the process of updating and maintaining a dynamically changing database by assigning status states to each entry within the database and operating on those entries in accordance with the status states. More specifically, when a new entry for the database is received (13) it is classified as a short-term entry (11). If the new entry is accessed (14) prior to the expiration of the short-term status (15), then the classification of the entry is changed to long-term (12). Otherwise, if the short-term status expires (15), the entry is functionally removed from the database (10). Long term entries (12) are maintained within the database for an assigned period of time which attempts to emulate the useful life of the entry. Upon expiration of a long-term status (16), the entry is functionally removed from the database (10).

Abstract: A method and system for editing actual work records with a start date, an end date and a work value. A period actual is entered, including a period actual start date, period actual end date, and a period actual work value. Before the period actual is stored as an actual work record, it is determined whether there is any overlap between the actual work records and the period actual. If so, any overlap between the actual work records and period actual is eliminated. Any overlapping actual work records that are completely within the period actual, i.e., with a start date and end date between the period actual start date and period actual end date, are deleted. For an overlapping actual work record that surrounds the period actual, i.e., the period actual start date and period actual end date are between the start date and end date, the end date and work value of the overlapping actual work record are modified and a new actual work record is created.

Abstract: Systems and methods for exchanging information, and particularly debit information, between a visited and a home wireless network with respect to a wireless unit operating in the visited network. A translator is provided which includes a receiver for receiving data relating to the unit from the visited network, a translator application for translating and/or formatting the data into a standard inter-network communications message, and a transmitter for transmitting the standard message to the home network. The translator may receive data from a debit platform of the visited network. The translator may format the data into the standard message, preferably an IS-41 message. This standard message may be received by a translator at the home network. The home translator may extract the data from the standard message, translate the data and provide the data to the debit platform of the home network.

Abstract: Automatically detecting a misspelled word and replacing the misspelled word with a correctly spelled word. Words are automatically spell checked as delimited. If a word is detected as a misspelled word then a correctly spelled alternate word is generated. The misspelled word and the correctly spelled alternate word are compared according to a set of difference criteria. The difference criteria correspond to common types of misspellings. If the misspelled word and the correctly spelled alternate word differ according to a difference criterion then the correctly spelled alternate word is identified as a replacement candidate word. The results of the difference criteria comparisons are reviewed using a set of selection criteria. If the results of the difference criteria comparisons satisfy the selection criteria then one of the replacement candidate words is correctly spelled as a replacement word and the misspelled word is replaced by the replacement word.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for executing, in a multitasking operating system, an application program that accesses a protected resource directly without mediation by the operating system. For example, the application can be a backup application and the resource can be a floppy disk drive, QIC tape drive, or other storage device. The method of the invention can be executed in a computer system having a processor, a storage device, and a device control mechanism for controlling operations of the storage device responsively to commands issued by the processor. The device control mechanism can be, for example, a floppy disk controller chip if the storage device is, for example, a floppy disk drive. According to the invention, the processor executes the application program as a task of the operating system. The operating system includes a software component, such as a device driver, for issuing commands to the device control mechanism.

Abstract: The invention concerns a tool for sheathing a bundle (1) of wires (2) by enveloping this bundle in a flexible adhesive ribbon (3) which is transversely wound about itself around the bundle (1) and whose longitudinal edges (5) are joined by gluing. It comprises a frame (60) equipped with an enveloping head (65) comprising a shaping device (68) for the ribbon (3) which is mounted in a fixed manner on the frame (60) and which possess a return edge (70) in the shape of a V arranged so as to start a longitudinal folding of the ribbon (3), and at least one first pair of clamping jaws (72) mounted on the frame (60) which are movable between an open position and a closed position in which they are applied against each other by means of return means to ensure the gluing of the longitudinal edges (5) of the ribbon (3) against each other and they define between themselves a passage orifice (79) for the sheathed bundle (1).

Abstract: A repositionable downspout extension that is attached to a downspout to direct rainwater away from a building. The extension is a generally tubular body with first and second ends. The extension comprises a pair of selectively removable adapter portions at each end that allow the extension to be connected to a downspout. An interlockable collar portion is at each end of the extension and interior to the adapter portions. The interlockable collar portions allow a number of the extensions to be connected together to form a downspout extension assembly after the adapter portions are removed. The extension further comprises an adjustable portion between the two collar portions. The adjustable portion comprises collapsible corrugations so that the extension can be bent into a number of positions and hold its position.

Abstract: A water soluble polymer binder for binding a fibrous substrate comprises from about 25 weight percent to about 85 weight percent of an unsaturated carboxylic acid/unsaturated carboxylic acid ester terpolymer; from about 5 weight percent to about 35 weight percent of a divalent ion inhibitor; and from about 10 weight percent to about 60 weight percent of a hydrophilic cross-linkable polymer. In a preferred mode of the invention the hydrophilic cross-linkable polymer functions substantially as a divalent ion inhibitor and promotes hydrophilicity of the treated fabric eliminating the requirement of a separate divalent ion inhibitor. The binder composition is soluble in an aqueous environment having a divalent ion concentration less than about 50 ppm and a monovalent ion concentration of less than about 0.4 weight percent. Also disclosed is a water dispersible fibrous fabric having an effective amount of the binder distributed on the fibrous substrate and a method of making a water dispersible fibrous fabric.

Abstract: A endoscopic device provides improvements in the endoscopic working space by the use of a semi-tubular hood with an arched top wall and self-supporting walls that allow simultaneous manipulations of dissection, cutting, ligation, and retraction, and the like, without requiring constant application of external force; while enhancing visualization and reducing the need for cleaning the endoscopic lens.

Abstract: There is disclosed a cold storage stabilized organophosphorus insecticide formulation. The formulation comprises a solid carrier and between approximately 2% and 40% by weight of the ultimate formulation of a nominally solid organophosphorus insecticide and between approximately 0.5% and 10% by weight of the ultimate formulation of a stabilizer compound selected from cyclohexanone and N-methylpyrrolidone. A method of making the cold storage stabilized organophosphorus insecticide formulation is also disclosed.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for simultaneously applying braking forces to two spaced apart rotating in-line roller skate wheel assemblies.

Abstract: An adjustable pier assembly for use with a railroad control house includes a frame member, a movable sleeve having a pair of flanges rigidly attached to an extending sidewardly therefrom, and a pair of fine adjustment threaded members having associated hardware. By adjusting an initial adjustment bolt, an initial "rough" height adjustment is provided between the pier and the sleeve. A final fine adjustment is then provided between the sleeve and the frame of the apparatus by adjusting the location of the fine adjustment nuts which combine to capture the flanges along the lengths of their respective fine adjustment bolts. When four adjustment pier assemblies are used on four corresponding corners of a railway control equipment house, quick initial setup followed by fine leveling adjustment in two axes is readily provided.

Abstract: Certain physical properties, chemical composition and a content of volatile carbonaceous materials define the limits of the use of coke by-products of crude oil refining as green cokes for use in the manufacture of calcined cokes suitable in the production of anodes for the reduction processes in the aluminum industry. These limits render large quantities of green coke unusable for the purpose set forth above. The invention shows a way to overcome these limits by rendering up to now unusable cokes usable as green cokes for the manufacture of calcined cokes for the production of anodes.

Abstract: A method and composition for the remediation of environmental contaminants in soil, sediment, aquifer material, water, or containers in which contaminants were contained, wherein contaminants are reacted with a remediating composition comprising a metal and a sulfur-containing compound to produce environmentally-acceptable, chemically reduced products. The method is useful for treating contaminants such as halogenated hydrocarbons, pesticides, chemical warfare agents and dyes. The remediating composition preferably contains comminuted, commercial grade iron and iron sulfide. The addition of an alcohol to the reactants enhances the rate of the remediation reaction, particularly for contaminants of soils and sediments.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an amorphous alloy catalyst containing boron, which is composed of a porous carrier, a Q-B amorphous alloy, and a metal additive (M), the content of Q-B amorphous alloy together with metal additive is from 0.1 to 60 wt %, based on the total weight of the catalyst, in which the atomic ratio (Q+M)/B is 0.5-10, and the Q/M atomic ratio is 0.1-1000; wherein Q represents an metal selected from group VIII and B represents boron; and said metal additive (M) refers to those one or more metal elements which can be reduced to its/their elemental states from the corresponding salts by a solution containing BH.sub.4.sup.- with the exception that M is not the one which is used as Q. Said catalyst exhibits high catalytic hydrogenation activity.

Abstract: A desktop publishing software program configured to propagate object content-defining and format-defining object properties so that user-defined object properties automatically propagate to other objects in the document. Object property propagation allows the author of the document to edit a number of linked objects by editing just one of the objects. To enable object property propagation, the desktop publishing software program includes a propagation table for each predefined layout. Each document is constructed from a number of components, and multiple instances of the same component may occur in a document. Each object has a name including an identifier and an instance code.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for providing an improved cementitious product which includes improved surface characteristics such as skid resistance, as well as improved structural characteristics such as flexural toughness. The product is provided by the inclusion of skid-resistant particles within an uncured cement product, such that the product eventually cures with the skid-resistant particles fixed at and adjacent to the surface, providing improved skid resistance to the cement product its supporting surface, which could be a pedestrian sidewalk, steps, a vehicle roadway, handicapped ramps, or other surfaces where skid resistance is required. The product is desirably softer in structure than traditional concrete structures to allow for desirable wearing by traffic thereon to continuously expose new rubber particles, while still having integral properties which discourage pullout of the particles.

Abstract: Injection medium in the form of a dry mixture for preparing an injection suspension for sealing and/or reducing the penetrability of soils (loose rocks) and/or stone and/or structures against penetration by fluids, especially by water and gases, containing at least one mineral binder, especially a superfine binder, at least one stabilizer, at least one solvent and optionally other customary additives, such as at least one setting accelerator, an injection adjuvant and a water-retention agent, while the stabilizer is at least one organic thickener and the mixture additionally includes at least one essentially inert, superfine filler.

Abstract: Critiques are applied to phrase units included in morpho-syntactical information derived from the Japanese text. The critiques include a "trigger" and an "action," and are written in a special-purpose syntax that allows for easy specification of the error class and the rewrite generation. If a critique's trigger condition is satisfied, the associated action is carried out in order to generate a replacement text string. The process of generating replacement text strings employs a morphological graph that reflects possible word formations. In a first pass through the graph, a breadth first search is used to identify intermediate nodes along a path whose morpheme transitions satisfy at least part of the attributes of the text. In a second pass, a depth first search is used to select only those morpheme transitions that completely satisfy the rewrite criteria specified in the critique, while traversing the nodes identified in the breadth first search.

Abstract: A light-stable colored composition which includes a colorant and a radiation transorber. The colorant, in the presence of the radiation transorber, is adapted, upon exposure of the transorber to specific, narrow bandwidth radiation, to be mutable. The radiation transorber also imparts light-stability to the colorant so that the colorant does not fade when exposed to sunlight or artificial light.