Abstract: Superconducting oxide material containing compound represented by the formula:(Tl.sub.(l-p-q) Bi.sub.p Pb.sub.q).sub.y .gamma..sub.z (.alpha..sub.(l-r) .beta..sub.r).sub.s Cu.sub.v O.sub.win which each of ".alpha." and ".gamma." is an element selected in IIa group of the periodic table, ".beta." is an element selected from a group comprising Na, K, Rb and Cs, "y", "z", "v", "w", "p", "q", "r" and "s" are numbers each satisfying respective range of 0.5.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.3.0, 0.5.ltoreq.z.ltoreq.6.0, 1.0.ltoreq.v, 5.0.ltoreq.w, 0.ltoreq.p.ltoreq.1.0, 0.ltoreq.q.ltoreq.1.0, 0.ltoreq.r.ltoreq.1.0 and 0.5.ltoreq.s.ltoreq.3.0.

Abstract: In a method and system for control of a shop floor of a factory, an individual work station (13) or a work station of an outfit (14a-14d) is associated with the work station of a corresponding local interface unit (18a-18e), comprising standard widespread hardware and software and connected to a local area network (11) in order to be connected with the shop floor control center (12) of the factory (10). The work stations of the local interface units are incorporated into a configuration in accordance with a standardized model making it possible to perform specific tasks within this model. Advantageously, the OSI model of the ISO standard is used to perform the specific tasks in the application layer of the OSI model. The work station of a local unit can advantageously substitute for the work station of the associated outfit.

Abstract: To simplify the printing of medical forms, provision is made for a reader of chip cards and a set of chip cards comprising doctor chip cards and patient chip cards. According to the principle of the system, it is provided that the doctor's card will be inserted into the reader as soon as the working day begins, and that this card will set the reader. Subsequently, by introducing patient cards, it is possible to prompt the printing of forms having, at the appropriate places, indications pertaining to the doctor who has issued the prescription and the patient who has received it.

Abstract: A guidance system and method for positively guiding a tank sludge-removal unit or the like around the inside of a tank, including a plurality of winch assemblies mounted at radially spaced locations on the top perimeter of the tank each having a control line which extends into the tank for connecting either directly to the unit or indirectly to a lifting line via a pulley device used for raising and lowering the unit within the tank, thereby enabling the position and/or the direction of movement of the unit to be positively controlled by selective operation of the winch assemblies and/or lifting line. A line-forwarding device is also provided for use in forwarding control lines of the winch assemblies to an access opening in the tank.

Abstract: The conductor 15 to be connected to the doped region 12 of the substrate 11 has an edge 15a at which the laser beam 20 is aimed, regulated such as to definitively create a zone of low electrical resistance 19 in the dielectric layer 13 that separates the conductor from the doped region. The invention is particularly applicable to programming by laser of read only memories and defective integrated circuits with a view to correcting them.

Abstract: A method of and rounding devices for inserting an out-of-round pipe spigot into a pipe bell by installing the rounding devices on the open end of the pipe bell. The rounding devices have cam surfaces for engaging the end of the out-of-round spigot and have sufficient strength and stiffness to deform the out-of-round into a substantially circular cross sectional configuration upon application of insertion force between the bell and spigot. The rounding devices may be removed and reused after the bell and spigot joint is assembled.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for multi-range delay control is disclosed. A method furnishes an output signal (S.sub.K) with a delay that is variable with respect to an input signal (e.sub.0). To enable precise adjustment as a function of a set-point delay (CN) over a plurality of scales, a succession of signals (e.sub.1, e.sub.2, . . . , e.sub.n) delayed with respect to the input signal (e.sub.0) are produced, the delay between a delayed signal (e.sub.2) and the preceding signal (e.sub.1) having a predetermined value. One of the delayed signals (e.sub.2) and a preceding signal (e.sub.1) as selected and a superposition is performed with weighting and an integral effect of the selected signals (e.sub.1, e.sub.2), the selection and weighting being determined as a function of the set-point delay (CN).

Abstract: A method for treating a human or non-human animal afflicted with malignant cells sensitive to parabactin or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or complex thereof comprising administering to the animal an amount of parabactin effective to inhibit the proliferation of the malignant cells.

Abstract: A retractable holographic combiner, of the type comprising a movable holographic mirror placed before the pilot's eyes and designed for the presenting of light images collimated at infinity, superimposed on the external scene, and coming from a projector positioned upline with respect to the combiner, the holographic mirror being connected to a fixed part of the aircraft by a hinged support that provides for holding it and positioning it, wherein the support of the holographic mirror is constituted by a single lateral connecting arm comprising a first upper hinge connecting said arm by one of its ends to the fixed part of the aircraft and a second lower hinge connecting said arm by its other end to a side of the holographic mirror so as to obtain a complete retraction of the assembly.

Abstract: Superconducting oxide material containing compound represented by the formula:(Tl.sub.(1-p-q) Bi.sub.p Pb.sub.q).sub.y .gamma..sub.z (.alpha..sub.(1-r) .beta..sub.r).sub.s Cu.sub.v O.sub.win which each of ".alpha." and ".gamma." is an element selected in IIa group of the periodic table, ".beta." is an element selected from a group comprising Na, K, Rb and Cs, "y", "z", "v", "w", "p", "q", "r" and "s" are numbers each satisfying respective range of 0.5.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.3.0, 0.5.ltoreq.z.ltoreq.6.0, 1.0.ltoreq.v, 5.0.ltoreq.w, 0.ltoreq.p.ltoreq.1.0, 0.ltoreq.q.ltoreq.1.0, 0.ltoreq.r.ltoreq.1.0 and 0.5.ltoreq.s.ltoreq.3.0.

Abstract: A fiber optic interferometric sensor system utilizing a reference transducer and an optical source having a short coherence length in comparison to the optical transit time through the sensor. The optical source is used to interrogate a remotely located fiber optics sensor which has an optical path difference between two reflecting surfaces or between one reflecting surface and a beam transmitted through the sensor such that the optical beams are incoherent for the optical source used. The reflected and transmitted beams are then coupled to a reference transducer, located remotely from the sensor and preferably near the electronic processing circuitry. The reference transducer is designed with an optical path length difference to produce a coherent combination for the optical path length differences of both the sensor and the reference transducer thereby forming a highly sensitive interferometer.

Abstract: A method for treating a human or non-human animal afflicted with malignant cells sensitive to parabactin or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or complex thereof comprising administering to the animal an amount of parabactin effective to inhibit the proliferation of the malignant cells.

Abstract: A system of transactional processing between an information processing server and a plurality of workstations, constituted on the one hand by three files that reflect the states of progress of tasks assigned to the actor using this interface, that is, the "new" file (40), the "ongoing" file (50), and the "executed" file (60) that are stored in memory, the first containing the tasks newly assigned to the actor, the second containing the tasks accepted, that are in the course of being executed or have temporarily been suspended, and the third containing the tasks accomplished, sent to others or abandoned, and on the other hand, means with which the files can be opened, means for describing the files, and means for representing the notes received.

Abstract: A radial seal assembly for sealing a lubricant-containing bearing cavity in an anti-friction bearing includes a rigid annular ring mounted in a cylindrical bore of the outer bearing case and a resilient sealing body bonded onto the ring and engaging an outwardly directed cylindrical sealing surface supported for rotation relative to and coaxially with the cylindrical bore in the bearing case. The seal body includes an outer dust seal lip engaging the sealing surface and a primary lubricant seal lip forming a dynamic seal with the sealing surface. The primary seal lip has a generally conical surface on the side thereof directed toward the bearing cavity, and a plurality of oil deflectors are integrally formed on and project from the conical surface within the annular space between the conical surface and the sealing surface, with the respective oil deflectors having leading and trailing surfaces inclined with respect to the direction of relative rotation.

Abstract: Pharmaceutical compositions for the treatment of hypertension comprising an effective anti-hypertensive amount of at least one compound in association with a pharmaceutically acceptable, substantially non-toxic carrier or excipient, the compound having one of the formulae (I), or (II), and methods for the treatment of hypertension or effecting anti-hypertensive action which comprises administering to a patient requiring anti-hypertensive therapy or effect at least one of the above-described compounds.

Abstract: A vehicle and vehicle bumper provide protection against other vehicles underriding the vehicle. The bumper uses breakable links which break at a predetermined force. The bumper structure has a pivoting arrangement such that, upon breakage of the breakable links, the pivoting of the bumper tends to lift the rear of the vehicle which is being hit and tends to smash downward on the front end of the impinging vehicle, which might otherwise underride the vehicle having the present bumper. A method of using the bumper to prevent underride includes the smashing down and lifting up features.

Abstract: An apparatus (T) for housing a mass memory subsystem (SSM.sub.1 -SSM.sub.3) that is connected to at least one host system (H.sub.1, H.sub.2) is provided. The apparatus includes a plurality of compartments, each compartment receiving at least one of a plurality of groups of disk units (101-112, 201-212, . . . , 601-612); at least one electrical supply unit for supplying electrical power to the disk units; a plurality of plates (P1-P6) having a central portion about which the compartments are arranged. The compartments carry the disk units. The central portion includes an electronic card to which the disk units are connected. The electronic card provides real-time management of disk units and connection of the disk units to the host system. The apparatus has a front portion (PAV) adapted to house the plurality of plates that are slidably insertable into the front portion and are arranged parallel to each other.

Abstract: A process for preparing an oxide thin film which has a crystalline, clean and smooth surface on a substrate. The process is conducted by using an apparatus comprising a vacuum chamber in which an oxidizing gas of O.sub.2 including O.sub.3 can be supplied near the substrate so that pressure around the substrate can be increased while maintaining high vacuum near an evaporation source and Knudsen cell evaporation sources arranged in the vacuum chamber wherein the substrate is heated, molecular beam of constituent atoms of the oxide excluding oxygen are supplied from the K cell evaporation sources and an oxidizing gas is locally supplied to the vicinity of the substrate.

Abstract: An improved optical fiber modulator producing a focused acoustic wave propagating from an acoustic transducer surrounding an optical fiber having an in-fiber reflection grating changes the core refractive index in proportion to the induced strain at the core when the focused acoustic wave arrives at the optical fiber core, and focused acoustic waves can also modulate optical carrier phase in a length of optical fiber which may lie in an arm of an interferometer. In a preferred embodiment, the index change shifts the reflection spectrum of an in-fiber grating located in the portion of optical fiber core on which the focused acoustic wave is centered with the reflection spectrum shift producing a change in the grating reflectivity for a narrow bandwidth optical signal on a skirt of the grating spectrum.

Abstract: An optical modulator comprises a crystal (15) of material exhibiting the pyroelectric effect, and charge-dissipating means for dissipating any charge built up on the optical faces of the prism. The charge-dissipating means may comprise point electrodes (30) positioned adjacent to the optical faces (21) of the crystal and connected to an alternating-current high-voltage power supply (31). The electrodes produce charged ions which neutralize any charge on the optical faces of the crystal. The crystal may be used as the Q-switch in a laser.