Abstract: Optical fiber devices include optical fibers having grating portions with in-fiber gratings having optical characteristics which are changed by the use of strain inducing members. The strain inducing members are connected to optical fibers in such a way that the strain applied to an in-fiber grating in an optical fiber is greater than the strain in the strain inducing members. Basically, a given percentage change in a dimension of one of the strain inducing members causes a greater percentage change in a dimension of the grating portion. The strain inducing members may apply lengthwise or radial strain to the grating portion. Arrangements with mechanical coupling of two fibers using one or more strain inducing members are useful for producing equal strain in grating portions of two fibers for interferometer configurations or other applications.

Abstract: A method of controlling the growth of mosquitos comprising administering to the mosquitos a mosquito insecticidal effective amount of a compound having one of the formulae: ##STR1##R.sub.1 --N.sup.1 H--(CH.sub.2).sub.3 --N.sup.2 H--(CH.sub.2).sub.3 --N.sup.3 H--(CH.sub.2).sub.4 --N.sup.4 H--(CH.sub.2).sub.3 --N.sup.5 H--(CH.sub.2).sub.3 --N.sup.6 H--R.sub.6 (II);or ##STR2## wherein: R.sub.1 and R.sub.6 may be the same or different and are alkyl having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms or hydrocarbyl aralkyl having up to 12 carbon atoms;R.sub.2 -R.sub.5 may be the same or different and are H, R.sub.1 or R.sub.6 ;R.sub.7 is H, alkyl having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, hydrocarbyl aryl or hydrocarbyl aralkyl, each having up to 12 carbon atoms;m is an integer from 3 to 6, inclusive;n is an integer from 3 to 6, inclusive; or (IV) a salt thereof with an acid and a carrier therefor.

Abstract: Disclosed is a gamma camera having a base movable on a frame and at least one arm that is movable with respect to said frame and is provided, at one free end, with a plane detector. This camera further comprises two approach planes that are substantially parallel to the plane of said detector so as to servo-control the position of one edge of the patient between these two planes. The invention can be applied especially to gamma cameras that comprise two detectors and are capable of carrying out tomography and full-body examinations.

Abstract: Anti-diarrheal, anti-secretory, nitric oxide agonist, nitric oxide synthase activating or gastrointestinal anti-spasmodic compounds of the formula: ##STR1## wherein: R.sub.1 and R.sub.6 may be the same or different and are H, alkyl or aralkyl having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms;R.sub.2 -R.sub.5 may be the same or different and are H, R.sub.1 or R.sub.6 ;R.sub.7 is H, alkyl, aryl or aralkyl having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms;m is an integer from 3 to 6, inclusive; andn is an integer from 3 to 6, inclusive; or(IV) a salt thereof with a pharmaceutically acceptable acid; and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier therefor. Methods of treatment utilizing the composition are also disclosed.

Abstract: Polyamines having the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are alkyl, aralkyl or aryl having up to 10 carbon atoms; anda and b may be the same or different and are integers from 1 to 8; or a salt thereof with a pharmaceutically acceptable acid. Anti-neoplastic, anti-diarrheal, anti-peristaltic, gastrointestinal anti-spasmodic, anti-viral, anti-retroviral, anti-psoriasis and insecticidal compositions comprising biologically effective amounts of the above-described amines and biologically acceptable carriers therefor are also disclosed, as well as methods of treatment, administration or application of biologically effective amounts of the polyamines of the invention. Also disclosed are methods for preparing the polyamines of the invention.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for preparing a layered structure made up of a plurality of thin films composed of different compositions, in which the method involves using a reactive co-evaporation technique to deposit a first thin film on a substrate using a first set of evaporation sources, and then depositing another thin film of a different composition on the first thin film, using a second set of evaporation sources that has no evaporation sources common with the first set of evaporation sources. In the method, the first thin film is deposited in a first deposition sub-chamber and the second thin film is deposited in a second deposition subchamber, both of which are part of a single vacuum chamber.

Abstract: The present invention relates, in general to protein that is a seed storage protein having high nutritional value. In particular, the invention relates to the protein AmA1 and to a DNA sequence encoding same. The invention further relates to a recombinant molecule comprising the AmA1 encoding sequence and to a host cell transformed therewith. In addition, the invention relates to a method for producing transgenic plants with high nutritionally rich amino acids.

Abstract: A device to clean inner surfaces of gun barrels includes a movable member. The member has an elongate body with two ends. The body has an essentially uniform cross section such that the body can be loosely fitted within a barrel of a given inside diameter. The body has a folded cord in it. The cord extends out of the body to a closed loop at one end and a handle at another end.

Abstract: A vehicle mounted backing distance gauge is provided, in which a plunger, normally biased to an extended position, extends approximately ten inches behind the vehicle, and as the vehicle is backed toward an object such as a loading dock, the plunger comes into contact with the object and retracts into a casing mounted to the driver's side of the vehicle. The plunger has an internal beam that moves in concert with the plunger, and through the use of a bevel gear pair and a follower arm controllably moved by the forward end of the internal beam, an indicator sign is rotated or pivoted by a shaft coupled to one of the bevel gears from a first position parallel to the side of the vehicle and extending toward the rear of the vehicle, to a diametrically opposed position parallel to the vehicle, but extending toward the front of the vehicle.

Abstract: A position indicating and distance gauging device is provided for the purpose of preventing impact or collision of a vehicle or an object, such as a trash dumpster, carried by a vehicle with a wall or barrier, such as a dumpster enclosure. The device includes an indicator arm retained in a generally vertical orientation and biased away from the barrier or wall, and a bracket mounted to the wall or other structure at a height at which distance markings provided on an upper face of a flange portion of the device will be readily visible to a vehicle operator in a vehicle that is approaching the barrier.

Abstract: Polyamines having the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sub.2 are alkyl, aralkyl or aryl having up to 10 carbon atoms; anda and b may be the same or different and are integers from 1 to 8; ora salt thereof with a pharmaceutically acceptable acid. Anti-neoplastic, anti-diarrheal, anti-peristaltic, gastrointestinal anti-spasmodic, anti-viral, anti-retroviral, anti-psoriasis and insecticidal compositions comprising biologically effective amounts of the above-described amines and biologically acceptable carriers therefor are also disclosed, as well as methods of treatment, administration or application of biologically effective amounts of the polyamines of the invention. Also disclosed are methods for preparing the polyamines of the invention.

Abstract: A catheter uses a steerable outer catheter with an inner catheter rotatable and extendable with respect to the outer catheter. The outer catheter may be positioned within a patient's heart and a portion of the outer catheter may provide movement like that of a windshield wiper by manipulation of a spring. By combining the windshield wiper type movement with the extension and rotation of the inner catheter relative to the outer catheter, a large area within a patient's heart may be readily mapped for conduction tissue and be subjected to laser ablation if appropriate. Various configurations provide flexibility in relatively positioning of windows used to apply laser energy and ring electrodes used to sense conduction tissue. Some embodiments provide only mapping (no ablation) or with ablation by other then Various anchoring techniques are described.

Abstract: A catheter uses a steerable outer catheter with an inner catheter rotatable and extendable with respect to the outer catheter. The outer catheter may be positioned within a patient's heart and a portion of the outer catheter may provide movement like that of a windshield wiper by manipulation of a spring. By combining the windshield wiper type movement with the extension and rotation of the inner catheter relative to the outer catheter, a large area within a patient's heart may be readily mapped for conduction tissue and be subjected to laser ablation if appropriate. Various configurations provide flexibility in relatively positioning of windows used to apply laser energy and ring electrodes used to sense conduction tissue. Some embodiments provide only laser ablation (no mapping).

Abstract: The integrated circuit includes at least one conductance (6) which is adjustable by a digital control signal (17) which encodes steps in value for quantizing an exact value to within a fixed relative accuracy .DELTA.p. The conductance (6) includes elementary conductances which each define a step in value such that each elementary conductance is dimensioned so that a single level in value of the conductance (6) corresponds to two successive levels of the value of the digital control signal (17). If the result from the first of the two levels of value of the digital control signal (17) is a value which is lower, or respectively higher, than the exact value, the corresponding elementary conductance is enabled, or respectively disabled. Accordingly, the adjusted total value of the conductance (6) is equal to the exact value to within the same relative accuracy .DELTA.p, without oscillating between two values straddling this exact value.

Abstract: To acquire both a scatter image and an emission image in nuclear medicine, it is chosen to detect the emission image by validating the radioactive events that occur in the nominal range of the radioactive marker chosen. For the scatter image, lower energy ranges are chosen, these ranges corresponding to the production of at least secondary or tertiary Compton photons. It is shown that it is possible, in this way, to reconstruct an artifact-free transmission image. This scatter image is used to correct the initially acquired emission image. It is shown that it is possible to acquire both images at the same time.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for printing with a press at least one image by transfer of an electrostatic colorant vehicle between an intermediate transfer element and a printing carrier, including the steps of making the intermediate transfer element in the press by magnetically developing zones on a substrate, depositing a magnetic, insulating, and hardenable material on the substrate to constitute the zones, hardening the hardenable material, subjecting the hardenable material to an electrostatic charge in order to lend the zones an affinity for the colorant vehicle, and transferring the colorant vehicle to the printing carrier by directly contacting the intermediate transfer element to the printing carrier.

Abstract: A process for systems analysis of a database non-agreement system using a set of gauges. Measurement of the state of a system. A gauge function, a threshold value and a recommendation are associated with at least one part of the gauges. Each gauge function returns a value which characterizes the state of the system analyzed and a recommendation based on the logical relationship between the value returned and the threshold value is emitted for the user of the system. The gauges for the analysis of a system are grouped into investigations. The process can be adapted to the analysis of any system by editing an ASCII data file which contains the list of gauges, of the designations of the associated functions, and of the associated thresholds and the associated recommendations. A graphic interface makes it possible to select the investigations to be applied to the system.

Abstract: A pallet for transporting a load having a deck and two skids removably mounted under the deck for supporting the deck and screw jacks which make it possible to vary the height of the deck relative to the ground. The deck is capable of supporting the weight of the load when it is carried by the screw jacks. Right angle brackets fasten the load to the deck. Depalletization consists of removing the skids by raising the deck via the screw jacks, then lowering the deck and moving the load in horizontal translation. The invention applies most particularly to the transport of heavy, bulky or fragile objects such as cabinets of data processing machines.