Abstract: A composite reinforcement for use in pultrusion and other thermosetting manufacturing processes to produce products with smooth surfaces free of wrinkles and laps, methods of producing such a composite reinforcement and thermosetting polymer system products reinforced with the composite. Two or more layers of reinforcement material are bonded with powdered polyethylene or another appropriate polyolefin or polyethylene copolymer adhesive utilizing heat to produce a multi-ply composite reinforcement. This composite reinforcement can then be appropriately sheared, die cut or otherwise processed, if desirable, and thereafter used in pultrusion, cylinder winding, compression molding, open mold processing and other thermosetting manufacturing techniques with thermosetting resins in the final production process.

Abstract: A body-acoustic device is provided which comprises a housing (1), a diaphragm (4) dividing an inner space of the housing into a first chamber (5) and a second chamber (6), and a loudspeaker (7) mounted to an opening provided in the diaphragm, wherein the diaphragm is made of a transversely vibratory member and/or has a perimetric edge supported by an inner surface of the housing via an elastic member (10), and wherein the diaphragm (4) is further provided with a port (9) for air movement between the first and second chambers (5), (6). When the loudspeaker (7) is operated, the diaphragm vibrates with a cone paper (8) to generate sufficient heavy bass sound with high sound clarity as if the diameter of the loudspeaker had increased. The port provided in the vibrating diaphragm facilitates the vibration of the diaphragm, further increasesing the sound pressure created by the diaphragm vibration due a sound throttling effect caused by the port.

Abstract: Processes and devices for improving data management and reallocation in intelligent networks. Such processes and devices provide intuitive representation of models of data stored in network elements so that system users may more efficiently and reliably reallocate applications and data resources among the network elements. Users see and allocate data using high level depictions of groups of network element data structures based on data structure models. These groups may be hierarchical, and they may correspond to groups within the telecommunications network such as digits in a telephone number and local calling areas. Applications and data resources may accordingly be reallocated among network elements in a more organized fashion using the groups. These organized groups also allow engineering operations personnel more easily to coordinate with translation personnel to make proper changes to translation tables in order to accommodate the data reallocation.

Abstract: A solid electrolytic capacitor is provided which comprises a capacitor element and a safety fuse. The anode of the capacitor element is electrically connected to an anode lead, whereas the cathode of the capacitor element is electrically connected to a cathode lead through the safety fuse. A resin package encloses the capacitor element, the fuse, a part of the anode lead, and a part of the cathode lead. The resin package has a recess which is formed with a port extending toward the fuse. An elastic closure member is fitted in the recess of the resin package to close the port.

Abstract: A chair is provided which comprises a support, a seat arranged above the support, and a seat back tiltably connected to the support behind the seat. The seat back has an upper back supporting portion and a lower waist supporting portion. The chair further comprises a mechanism for deforming the waist supporting portion forward until the seat back tilts rearward to a predetermined intermediate tilt angle but for retarding or stopping such forward deformation when the seat back tilts rearward beyond this intermediate tilt angle. The seat may be made to move rearward as the seat back tilts rearward.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for characterizing biological tissues and other turbid media with normalization that serves to compensate for the effects of scattering, reflectance, and absorption are disclosed.

Abstract: A method is provided for the synthesis of synthesis of acyclic purine nucleosides, particularly 9-(2-hydroxyethoxymethyl)-guanine (acyclovir) and 9-[(1,3-dihydroxy-2-propoxy)methyl]guanine ("DHPG") where the N.sup.2,N.sup.9 -diprotected guanine is reacted with CH.sub.3 C(O)OCH.sub.2 O(CH.sub.2).sub.2)OC(O)CH.sub.3 or diacetoxypropane, respectively, in the presence of a mixture of an acid and acetic anhydride, or in the presence of an acid, where the acid can be phosphoric acid or polyphosphoric acid.

Abstract: A self-sintered silicon carbide/carbon-graphite composite material having interconnected pores which may be impregnated, and a raw batch and process for producing the composite material, is provided. The composite material comprises a densified, self-sintered matrix of silicon carbide, carbon-graphite inclusions and small amounts of any residual sintering aids, such as boron and free carbon, and has interconnected pores which may be impregnated with resin, carbon, TEFLON, metal or other compounds or materials selected for their particular properties to achieve desired tribological characteristics for a specific application. The composite material is produced from a raw batch which includes silicon carbide, sintering aids, a temporary filler and coated graphite particles. The raw batch is then molded/shaped into a green body and heated to carbonize any carbonizable materials and to decompose and volatilize the organic filler to form a matrix of interconnected pores.

Abstract: A soil-holding device for holding soil dressing on a slope utilizes a water-permeable net paved on the slope. Also provided are a plurality of rows of ground-standing piles fixed on the slope for fastening the water-permeable net and a plurality of rows of soil-holding nets provided on the water-permeable net and correspondingly supported by the ground-standing piles.

Abstract: The anatomical distribution, nucleic acid sequence, pharmacological properties, and inferred structural features of a cDNA encoding a high affinity, Na.sup.+ -dependent rat brain L-proline transporter is described. The expression of this carrier in subpopulations of putative glutamatergic pathways supports a specific role for L-proline in excitatory amino acid neurotransmission. The cloned transporter cDNA predicts a 637 amino acid protein with 12 putative transmembrane domains and exhibits 44%-45% amino acid sequence identity with other neurotransmitter transporters. These findings support a synaptic role for L-proline in specific excitatory pathways in the CNS. The sequence can be used for expression of the transporter molecule, to make probes for the same protein from other species and related proteins, in diagnostic assays, and to design functional and structural analogs for use in research and possible clinical treatments.

Abstract: A bicycle speed change operation assembly wherein a speed change operation can be performed during a braking operation, and the speed change can be made in an optimum way in response to various running situations.

Abstract: Flexible metal tapes and adhesives are disclosed. The tapes comprise one or more alloy powders, PTFE powder, and a water-based casting vehicle, while the adhesives include inorganic substances such as sodium silicate, boric acid, sodium tetraborate, sodium fluoride, or sodium aluminum fluoride as well as pastes having compositions similar to the flexible metal tapes. The tapes and adhesives shrink minimally linearly when brazed to metal substrates, avoiding surface cracks that often result from shrinkage. The adhesive additionally retains the tape in place on the substrate, regardless of orientation, both before and during brazing.

Abstract: The invention relates to a high-speed steel which is manufactured powder-metallurgically and has the following chemical composition: 2.2-2.7 C, from traces to max 1.0 Si, from traces to max 1.0 Mn, 3.5-4.5 Cr, 2.5-4.5 Mo, 2.5-4.5 W, 7.5-9.5 V, with the balance being substantially iron and incidental impurities and accessory elements. The steel is suitable particularly for tools having a high wear resistance.

Abstract: Processes and devices for enhancing communication management and control in an intelligent network. A Service Management System Information Model serves as the basis for generation of Network Element Images which facilitate data communication between the Service Management System and the various Network elements. The Service Management System Information Model also allows a more intuitive and efficient provisioning interface for the Service Management System user. Network Element Interfaces according to the present invention contain embedded Service Management System/Network Element Interface Protocol functionality and may be employed to interpret the Network Element Images and communicate them over the network to the Network Elements. A Network Element Interface Server allows requests from client programs in the service management system to be queued and prioritized as desired for further efficiency, flexibility and reliability.

Abstract: Data concurrence processes and systems for maintaining concurrence of parallel sets of data stored in telecommunication Network Elements. According to a preferred embodiment of such processes, an originating entity such as a Service Node sends a Request Message to a Network Element such as a Source Service Control Point in order to update data on that Source. The Source then sends a Request Message to the other Network Element, such as a Target Service Control Point, in order to update the parallel data contained in that Service Control Point. The Network Elements whose data are updated may send appropriate Result Messages in order to verify integrity of the data. Synchronization according to the preferred embodiment is preferably implemented by time stamping particular data in Request Messages at the first level, such as in the Service Node; the Request Messages and the updated data, together with Result Messages, then contain that time stamp which greatly simplifies reconciliation and verification efforts.

Abstract: For accurate position calculation of scintillation events in a gamma camera, photodetector signals are processed based on small groups of photodetectors surrounding the scintillations. Relative position correction and energy correction is carried out based on rough position values relative to the group of photodetectors, taking into consideration the number of the center photodetector and the sum of all photodetector signals in the group.

Abstract: A surge absorbing structure capable of effectively utilizing the gaseous discharge is intended without a complicated structural configuration such as using the conventional discharge tube. To implement this, a porous layer 1 is formed by a non-conductive material to provide many holes, and sandwiched between a pair of electrodes 2a and 2b to allow the electrodes to be conducted by the gaseous discharge generated through the holes 3 in this porous layer to execute surge absorption.

Abstract: A method for suppressing an immune response in a mammal by treating the mammal with an effective amount of spiperone derivative that is without significant neuroleptic effect due to decreased binding to serotonin and/or dopamine receptors as compared with unmodified or uncomplexed spiperone, or due to topical application which maximizes local immunosuppression while limiting systemic absorption and neuroleptic effects. The spiperone derivatives are capable of inhibiting classic contact hypersensitivity reactions.

Abstract: .alpha.-Alumina fibers are produced by a sol-gel process using aluminum nitrate as a starting material. A reaction mixture including aluminum nitrate, water and aluminum particles is refluxed until the aluminum particles are completely dissolved to obtain an aluminum hydroxide sol. The aluminum hydroxide sol is then aged to increase the viscosity thereof, spun, dried and sintered to obtain .alpha.-alumina crystalline fibers.

Abstract: A flow control weir valve and method of operating the valve is disclosed. The valve has an inlet, an outlet, a bypass inlet, a pivoting cover and a mechanism for controlling the cover in order to provide a relief flow through the valve. The cover is continuously forced to a first, closed position by one or more resilient springs or other flexible force producing mechanisms. When fluid flows within the valve, the closing force generated by the springs may be overcome by the low pressure generated within the valve, which thus allows the ambient environment to force the cover at least partially open once the fluid flow rate passes a threshold value. A step in the body of the valve can be used to interrupt the fluid flow and create a Venturi effect for further assisting the cover to open. The cover is sufficiently responsive to allow a relief flow through the bypass inlet that satisfies rapid and wide-ranging pressure variations created within a cleaning system to which the valve may be attached.