Abstract: According to the invention, there is provided a raw meat massaging apparatus including a container adapted to be charged with raw meat having a pickle solution injected thereinto, the container having the shape of rotary body. A frame extends longitudinally of the container, the container being supported by the frame for rotation about the longitudinal axis of the container. The frame includes container drive means for rotating the container about the longitudinal axis thereof for massaging, mixing and salting the raw meat. The frame is the type of a seesaw supported on a support means for rockingly movement thereabout, the support means extending substantially horizontally and widthwise of the frame and the container.

Abstract: A filler automatically expands a soft bag from a collapsed to an expanded condition. An elastic band urges a pair of panels apart. The band is mounted on a flap which is integrally hinged, and initially co-planar with, one of the panels.

Abstract: A method of assessing radar pulses in a passive, i.e. receive-only, radar system to distinguish pulses due to a particular target from pulses due to other targets from noise, interference, etc. Received pulses are assessed, without reference to pulse transmission information, in respect of a number of characteristics by comparing each characteristic of a pulse with the mean value of the respective characteristic for pulses previously received. Using a probability process, confidence values for the pulse can be calculated. By combining the confidence values for each characteristic, an overall confidence value is obtained for the pulse so that it can be determined whether it arises from the particular target.

Abstract: An optical fiber arrangement providing uniform illumination of a region in a plane beyond the end of an optical fiber and normal to the fiber axis. An array (12) of four prisms (A,B,C,D) is disposed adjacent to, but spaced from, an end (11) of an optical fiber (5). By appropriate choice of the prism angle (.theta.) and its spacing (d) from the fiber (5), the prism array (12) modifies the angular distribution of light from the fiber (5) in two ways. The shape of the illuminated region is changed from circular to square and the illumination becomes substantially constant over the square region. In an assembly of fibers, each modified in this way, the amount of overlap needed between the outputs of neighbouring fibers can thus be reduced and a more uniform light output can be achieved. Other non-circular regions of illumination, for example of pentagonal and hexagonal shape, can be produced using different optical components and the same benefits obtained.

Abstract: Compositions, with controlled and programmed hardening, to record mucodynamic dental impressions, characterized in that they comprise:______________________________________ Polyvinyl acetate (PVAc) 50-85% by weight C.sub.3 to C.sub.6 aliphatic ketones 2-25% by weight C.sub.3 to C.sub.8 aliphatic esters 1-25% by weight C.sub.2 to C.sub.10 aliphatic alcohols 1-25% by weight and/or aliphatic ethers Non-toxic, non-aromatic 0.5-10% by weight plasticizing oils selected from the group consisting of dioctyl adipate, glycerol triacetate and polyglycols Non-toxic and non-extractable 0-2% by weight black, yellow, red or white organic pigments or a combination thereof ______________________________________and is free of any gel-forming components, peroxide-based catalysts, aromatic compounds and incompatible plasticizers.

Abstract: A superconducting ceramic composition which is free of thallium, the composition having a unit cell containing two perovskite structure copper-oxygen planes and a rocksalt structure layer having a single plane containing cadmium.

Abstract: The material similarity of all-silica waveguides or other devices and optical fibers is utilized to establish an epoxy-free fusion interfacing between optical fibers and integrated-optic devices by using laser welding techniques. This is uniquely applicable to all-silica integrated devices since they have virtually identical material properties to those of optical fibers. The method comprises the steps of machining a locating groove in a silica block, fixing a prepared length of the optical fiber in the locating groove, bringing the block and the device into juxtaposition and aligning the block and the device to provide maximum transmission of a signal from the fiber to the device and laser welding the block and the device together.

Abstract: The therapeutic use of new salts of physostigmine in the treatment of syndromes related to changes in cerebral metabolism in the elderly is described. The new salts of physostigmine, which are based on phosphatidic acid, are highly lipophilic and exhibit excellent bioavailability when administered orally, transcutaneously or transepidermally.

Abstract: A novel method of treating fibrotic disorders in humans comprises the administration of a sufficient quantity of a composition containing a human alpha- or beta-interferon to raise the total concentration of such interferon in the affected tissue area to about 10 to about 4.times.10.sup.7 IU per cubic centimeter. The interferons used can be naturally derived or recombinant DNA-derived. The interferon composition can be administered by any indicated conventional method and can include any pharmaceutically acceptable, interferon-compatible vehicle.

Abstract: A process is provided for the purification of L-asparaginase by contacting a crude extract of L-asparaginase with a solid medium having cation exchange groups so as to adsorb L-asparaginase on the support and eluting adsorbed L-asparaginase from the support. The cation exchange groups comprise sulphonate groups and the elution step is carried out at a pH which is higher than the pH used in the contacting step.

Abstract: An optical device comprising a length of optical waveguide (1) having incorporated therein an extended sequence of coupled single resonator structures (9) so as to form an optical slow wave structure. The sequence of resonator structures is suitably formed by a Bragg diffraction grating pattern (7) extending along the waveguide.

Abstract: According to the invention, there is provided a machine for treating raw meat, which comprises an injecting apparatus and a plurality of massaging apparatuses. The injecting apparatus includes injecting needle means adapted to be thrust into raw meat for injecting a pickle solution, and an outlet end from which the raw meat is discharged after injecting the pickle solution thereinto. The massaging apparatuses each includes a container adapted to be charged with the raw meat having the pickle solution injected thereinto for massaging, mixing and salting the same, and an inlet end adapted to receive the raw meat and direct the same into the container. The massaging apparatuses extend longitudinally of the injecting apparatus at a position downstream of the injecting apparatus, the massaging apparatuses being arranged side by side widthwise thereof.

Abstract: A ball valve has two mutually orthogonal diametrical internal passages in one of which is mounted a pressure relief valve assembly for resisting sudden pressure flucutations in fluid flow during movement of the ball valve from an open to a closed position. The assembly has an adjustable biasing force to calibrate the valve.

Abstract: A mixer system for a direct conversion receiver, the receiver including an RF input path which is divided into I and Q paths for demodulating from the RF signals I and Q signals in phase quadrature with one another, the mixer system including first and second serially coupled mixer means in the I path, third and fourth serially coupled mixer means in the Q path, and a local oscillator providing a plurality of local oscillator signals in phase quadrature with one another to the mixer means, such that the first mixer means receives a local oscillator signal in phase quadrature to the local oscillator signal applied to the second mixer means, and the third mixer means receives a local oscillator in phase quadrature to that applied to the fourth mixer means.

Abstract: The invention concerns an Asynchronous Transfer Mode Switch having a plurality of input stages (IS1 . . . 1SN) each for receiving a digital data transmission stream (DS1 . . . 256) consisting of a series of cells and wherein each input stage of the switch includes a circuit (52) for determining the destination of the cells of that data stream, and a circuit (63) for disassembling each cell into cell elements and for allocating to each cell element routing data to enable it to be routed across the central stages.