Abstract: A system and method for percutaneous myocardial revascularization uses laser energy emitted from the distal end of a catheter. A technique for controlling beam direction allows the creation of channels in a patient's heart tissue with the channels having different orientations relative to the distal end. An arrangement provides for the creation of a plurality of channels at one time by simultaneous application of a plurality of beams of laser energy. A navigation arrangement uses two non-coplanar magnetic sensing coils in the distal end of the catheter cooperating with three sets of three magnetic field generating external coils (i.e., external to the patient). Each of the three sets is sequentially energized and the sensing coils in the distal end sense the magnetic fields established. A computer compares the sensed fields with the known sequence of energizing the external coils and thereby determines the position of the distal end.

Abstract: A process for producing a liquefied natural product such as LNG is described where a single phase nitrogen refrigerant is used in such a way that the refrigerant stream (10) is divided into at least two separate portions (12, 14) which are passed through separate turbo-expanders (106, 108) before being admitted to separate heat exchangers (103, 104) so that the warming curve of the refrigerant more closely matches the cooling curve of the product being liquefied so as to minimize thermodynamic inefficiencies and hence power requirements involved in operation of the method.

Abstract: A method for filtering a time signal (e(t)) sampled in blocks of N samples (e(n),e(k)) uses a transfer function defined in the frequency domain by LN samples (H(K)). The transfer function is filtered by a time window (g1) of width N, and a frequency subsampling of ratio N is performed to give a partial transfer function defined over N samples (H1(k)). The method enables the complexity of circuits operating in real time to be optimized. The technique is particularly suitable for correcting long echoes in television picture receivers.

Abstract: Signalling device visible throughout 360.degree. comprising a secondary power circuit having, for each diode, a connection area (9), wherein the diodes are located at right angles to said areas. The device is characterized in that the areas (9) for connecting each group of diodes connected electrically in series are, firstly, offset from one another by a reference distance (D), and, secondly, aligned along an axis, known as a series supply line. The device is also characterized in that within a series of series supply lines, the areas (9) for connecting a line are, in relation to the immediately adjacent lines of the same series, offset by a value substantially equal to the ratio of the reference distance divided by the number of lines in the series.

Abstract: A communication system for communicating with a network which includes a computer associated by means of a bus with a communication processor which is itself linked to a specific link of the network, the computer including a first operating system, and the processor including a second operating system, which handles the transmission of data from the bus to the network and vice versa. The communication system includes a telecommunication server associated with the first operating system, and a communication code which belongs to at least one open systems interconnection model associated with the second operating system, wherein the server provides the first operating system with access means to the various layers of the code, this code implementing the specific protocols of each layer, in order to enable transmission to the host or to the network.

Abstract: A sorbent litter composition comprising a dry mix of a particulate earth substrate, polysaccharide in an amount sufficient to improve the inherent clumping ability of the particulate earth substrate upon contact with liquid, and at least one boron-based cross-linking agent in an amount substantially less than the polysaccharide. The invention further comprises a method for preparation of a sorbent litter composition.

Abstract: An apparatus for mixing a substance, the apparatus including a container, a tubular conduit axially disposed in a cavity of the container defining an inner tubular channel and an outer annular channel within the container, a conduit for admitting a substance into the cavity, a rotary device for circulating the substance in the cavity, an extraction conduit, a carrier shaft of the rotary device being guided in rotation by a bearing or other rotary guiding device proximate an end of the container at which the substance to be mixed is passed from the tubular channels into the annular channel.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for automatic generation of spreadsheets from a model of the entity-relationship type which serves as a support for a relational data base. This data base module of the entity-relationship type is shown on a screen of an information system in the form of a graph composed of a plurality of entities and relationships which is physically embodied in memory by a set of relational tables. According to the invention, a spreadsheet is automatically defined by the selection from this graph of the elements intended to compose its abscissa and ordinate data and the contents of the cells thus formed.

Abstract: In a multiprocessor system, events capable of modifying the dispatching of processes to the processors (CPU, CPUi) start the execution of dispatching software charged with defining the new dispatching as a function of events and various data. When the number of processors (CPU, CPUi) is large, the microsoftware must be optimized. To that end, the microsoftware is subdivided into a plurality of specialized microprogram modules for determining the dispatching in response to respective categories of particular events. A central microprogram module takes into account the events other than those processed by the specialized modules.

Abstract: Interframe compression of moving image data is achieved by a combination of vector coding and scalar coding of transform coefficient differences formed by the subtraction of previous image transform coefficients from corresponding present image transform coefficients along a Zig-Zag path in the arrays of coefficients. More efficient scalar codes are used instead of vector codes for transmission of coefficient data where the previous image coefficients are non-zero along the path. Vector codes are used where a non-zero value in the previous image transform array has not been established but a non-zero value coefficient occurs in the present image transform array. Vector coding efficiency is improved by modified run length coding.

Abstract: A method of synthesizing rhizoferrin and analogues thereof comprising acylating a protected polyamine with a citric acid diester; hydrolyzing the resulting amide to produce an N-protected rhizoferrin or analog thereof; and de-protecting the intermediate to produce rhizoferrin or the analog thereof.

Abstract: An adjustable-height extension stem and valve box assembly is provided for use with buried valves that is lightweight, readily adjustable to a large range of heights, and is capable of absorbing loads and impacts such that the loads and impacts are substantially not transmitted to the buried valve or surrounding pipeline. The valve box is made up of a valve box base, a valve box lower section, a valve box upper section that telescopes within the lower section, and a valve box top. An upper section of the extension stem extends from the interior of the valve box top through a bottom opening, and an extension stem lower section extends downwardly from the upper section, with the two sections being made from square hollow metal tubing such that the upper section telescopes within the lower section. A grit washer having grooves cut in a bearing surface is attached to the extension stem upper section and supports the upper section in place within the valve box top.

Abstract: A tool assembly is provided, which includes a primary body and a secondary body having a primary post and a secondary post respectively which are pivotally engaged with each other. An L-shaped primary flange is formed on an inner wall of the primary body and is located adjacent to the primary post, and a primary groove is defined in the primary post and is partially defined in the primary flange. An L-shaped secondary flange is formed on an inner wall of the secondary body and is located adjacent to the secondary post, and a secondary groove is defined in the secondary post and is partially defined in the secondary flange. A pair of pliers include two plier bodies pivotally engaged with each other and each having a shank received in each of the primary and secondary grooves and stopped by associated primary and secondary flanges.

Abstract: A precision drill sharpener and grinding wheel assembly is provided, as is a corresponding drill chuck for use with the drill sharpener, in which the drill sharpener includes a lever and spring clip alignment subassembly for properly positioning a drill in the drill chuck, and sharpening ports for sharpening the drill and splitting the drill tip, the sharpening ports being positioned such that a single grinding wheel assembly is used to both sharpen the drill and split the tip. The drill sharpener uses a small diameter grinding wheel operated at high speed to provide cutting rates comparable to large industrial sharpeners. The drill chuck is of short length, relative to most of the drills to be sharpened, and is open at a back end, enabling the manipulation of the drill by its shank relative to the drill chuck when disposed in the alignment subassembly.

Abstract: A crystal water ball device comprising a combination of a globe and a housing supported, via a securely mounted support plate, over a base frame. A lower cup is rotatably supported on the base frame in a frictional manner and is prevented from an upward movement relative to the base frame. A transmission mechanism is provided for driving the lower cup to rotate.

Abstract: A method for quantitatively evaluating the quality of radiographic films is disclosed. The method provides for digitizing a radiographic image to form a digital image made up of a plurality of pixels. The individual pixels of the digitized image are assigned grey level values. These grey level values are summed to form a global histogram representing all of the pixels of the digital image. The histogram is subsequently binned and subdivided to form first and second binned histograms. A series of rules is applied to these histograms to evaluate whether the radiographic film is clinically acceptable for use in making a diagnosis.

Abstract: A tool for verifying a process for producing a physical system by automatically deducing the functional description of the system produced. From the concrete description GND which contains the elements of a physical system and the connections between these elements, the tool automatically deduces the functional description VHD of this system with the aid of an inference engine MOTINF and a filter FILTER. The inference engine selects rules from a library GRL and programmed functions for loading into the filter. Once loaded, the filter regroups the elements of the description GND, thus producing a structural abstraction of the description GND, and simultaneously produces a functional description of each regrouping in formal language. The accumulation of the functional descriptions thus obtained provides the functional description VHD of the system.

Abstract: Method of programming an information processing system having a plurality of data processing devices connected with a network and having access to data stored in complex structures, such as sets or trees, including providing a programming language on said information processing system in which data types of variables used therein are defined by the content of the variables, allowing program variables used with said programming language to be defined without assigning a predetermined data type thereto, developing application programs of the network management type using said programming language, manipulating said complex data structures using said application programs by requesting and receiving data from said complex data structures without designating particular data types of the data to be received, and providing a language interpreter for said programming language on each of said plurality of data processing devices.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the speed of an induction motor includes a first winding and a second winding. The first winding and second winding are adapted to be coupled to an AC source for supplying an AC input signal. A first switching device is coupled to the first winding and a second switching device is coupled to the second winding. Each of the switching devices is operative in a low impedance state enabling current to flow through the associated winding of each switching device and a high impedance state preventing significant current flow through the associated winding of each switching device. A controller switches each of the switching devices from the high impedance state to the low impedance state in a sequence for controlling the current in the windings, which induces a phase shift between the AC voltages across the windings.

Abstract: An add-on device (DHD) for disk drives (D) for a multidisk system containing a plurality of drawers (T) includes a metal base support (S) for a disk drive (D), an opening (O) into which an external connector (CN) of the device is inserted, a mechanism for inserting, extracting and locking (PO, R, R1-R2) the device in a selected slot of the drawer, air passages for ventilating the disk drive, a first printed circuit board (CCE) for interconnecting the disk drive with its external environment, and a second board (CCT) connected to the first printed circuit board for supporting DC voltage conversion functions.