Abstract: A composite reverse osmosis membrane is described, which includes a polyamide skin layer on a porous support, with a contact angle between the polyamide skin layer surface and water of 45° or less. The composite reverse osmosis membrane has a high salt rejection and also a high water permeability. This composite reverse osmosis membrane is produced by forming a polyamide skin layer on a porous support having the steps of: forming a layer on the porous support by coating a solution A including one or more compounds having at least two reactive amino groups; contacting the layer with a solution B comprising one or more polyfunctional acid halide compounds; and subsequently, contacting the layer with a solution C comprising the polyfunctional acid halide compound of a higher concentration than the solution C. The concentration of the polyfunctional acid halide compound in the solution C is preferably at least 1.2 times of the solution B.

Abstract: A memory control unit has been developed. The control unit includes a command “spin wheel” which schedules the order of read and write commands to the memory. It also includes a read “spin wheel” which ensures proper timing of the read commands and a write “spin wheel” which ensures proper timing of the write commands.

Abstract: A method of optimizing speculative address load processing by a microprocessor includes identifying a speculative load, marking the speculative load, determining whether a miss occurs for the speculative load, and preventing use of the marked speculative load by the microprocessor if a miss occurs. A method of optimizing speculative address load processing by a microprocessor includes identifying a speculative load, marking the speculative load, inserting the marked speculative load into a load miss queue, determining whether a miss occurs for the speculative load, and preventing the load miss queue from committing the marked speculative load to cache if a miss occurs.

Abstract: A dual edge-triggered flip-flop that may be programmably reset independent of a clock signal is provided. Using an externally generated reset value, the dual edge-triggered flip-flop may be asynchronously programmed to reset to either a logical high or a logical low. Further, a dual edge-triggered flip-flop that may be set to multiple triggering modes is provided. Using an externally generated enable signal, the dual edge-triggered flip-flop may be set to function as a single edge-triggered or a dual edge-triggered device. Thus, the dual edge-triggered flip-flop may be used multiple types of computing environments.

Abstract: A method for preferentially shielding a signal to increase implicit decoupling capacitance is provided. The signal is preferentially shielded by using a probability of the signal being at a specific value to assign a shield potential. Further, an integrated circuit that preferentially shields a signal to increase decoupling capacitance by using a probability of the signal being at a specific value to assign a shield potential is provided. Further, a computer system for preferentially shielding a signal to increase decoupling capacitance by using a probability of the signal being at a specific value to assign a shield potential is provided. Further, a computer readable medium having executable instructions for preferentially shielding a signal to increase implicit decoupling capacitance by using a probability of the signal being at a specific value to assign a shield potential is provided. Further, a method to increase system performance by increasing implicit decoupling capacitance is provided.

Abstract: A composition includes a substituted dihydro- or tetrahydro-&bgr;-carboline of formula (II) or (III), wherein the aromatic ring of the carboline may include one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of hydroxy, C1-6 alkoxy, benzyloxy, C1-6 acyloxy, amino, C1-6 alkyl, C1-6 dialkylamino, halogen, and carboxy, and the C-1 position of the carboline may include a substitutent selected from the group consisting of a carbocyclic group and a heterocyclic group. The composition may include a salt or a prodrug of the substituted dihydro- or tetrahydro-&bgr;-carboline. The composition may further includes a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, diluent, or excipient.

Abstract: A roller cone drill bit is disclosed which includes a bit body adapted to be coupled to a drill string, a bearing journal depending from the bit body and a single roller cone rotatably attached to the journal. The roller cone has a plurality of inserts disposed thereon. In one aspect, the inserts have an extension length of at least 0.6 inches. A roller cone drill bit is disclosed, including a bit body, a bearing journal depending from the bit body, and a single roller cone rotatably attached to the journal. The roller cone has a plurality of inserts disposed thereon. In another aspect, the inserts are arranged such that at most about 20 percent of the inserts are crossed substantially at centerlines thereof by any single plane which contains the axis of the cone axis 10 and which crosses at least two of the inserts.

Abstract: An improved DC-DC converter with reduced input current ripples. The converter includes a transformer, a switch, and a capacitor. The switch turns on and off alternately to store the energy in the transformer. The capacitor is connected in series with a rectifier and a secondary winding of the transformer across an input DC voltage so as to be charged by the energy released from the secondary winding through the DC power source. Accordingly, the circuit sees an input current which continues flowing through the DC power source even the switching element is turned off.

Abstract: A mass spectrometer is described in which the ions are submitted to the action of a uniform adjustable electrical field {right arrow over (E)}1, within a set of plane parallel electrodes a1, . . . , ai, . . . an fitted with properly located slits for the ions transmission, and to the action of a uniform magnetic induction {right arrow over (B)}1. A reference system x,y is considered in a plane perpendicular to {right arrow over (B)}1, the axis x and y being respectively perpendicular and parallel to {right arrow over (E)}1, and the origin of the reference system being fixed at an average starting point of the ions. The crossed fields {right arrow over (E)}1,{right arrow over (B)}1, act together in an area where y<d and the magnetic induction {right arrow over (B)}1 acts alone in a further area where y>d, d being a distance separating the average starting point of the ions from the electrode &agr;n.

Abstract: The invention relates to a portable reader (1). The reader is characterized in that it comprises a part (2) for electric connection to the port of a computer, whereby said part (2) exhibits four conduction lines (8, 9, 10, 11) in addition to a part (4) for the insertion of a module (5) which is removable and which can store confidential information, comprising the body (27) of a plastic module which is substantially parallelepipedal and rectangular whereby the dimensions thereof are 25 mm long, 15 mm wide and 0.76 mm thick, further comprising an integrated circuit chip provided with contact pads which are electrically connected to contact pads (28) which are flush with one of the surfaces of said module, whereby the insertion part comprises a connector which has pins which are electrically connected to the electric connection lines of the reader and, when the module (5) is inserted into said reader (1), to the contact pads (28) of said module (5).

Abstract: A variable delay circuit of this invention includes delay paths, connection paths, and a NAND circuit 146 which takes output of the delay paths and performs logical NAND operation. The delay paths are connected in parallel to an input terminal. The connection path connects electrically an output of a delay element in the first delay path, and an input of a delay element in the second delay path. The connection path connects electrically an output of the delay element, and an input of the delay element. An additional element is positioned at an input of a predetermined delay element so that input loads of delay elements are equalized. From these configurations, there is provided the variable delay circuit which stabilizes a supply current, and generates an accurate delay in a small-sized circuit.

Abstract: A method for load balancing including creating a network, having a plurality of servers, to service a single multicast address using a source specific join, where the source specific join allows each of the plurality of servers to specify a source internet protocol address range that each of the plurality of servers services. Further, method includes reallocating the source internet protocol address range specified for at least one of the plurality of servers using a load balancing policy and a control multicast channel while at least one of the plurality of servers is handling communications.

Abstract: A cassette table which is moved in a cassette traveling path has a support plate which is configured by a metal plate having elasticity, side walls, and cassette pressers. A magnetic tape device has swing levers which press down projections disposed on the side walls to lower the cassette table, and seats on which the tape cassette placed on the support plate is to sit. Swinging operation of the swing levers in a stage after the tape cassette sits on the seats is allowed by flexural deformation of the support plate.

Abstract: A shield plate mounting apparatus is disclosed which mounts a shield plate 4 on a casing 3 of a recording/reproducing apparatus 2 formed to be integral with a television receiver. In this shield plate mounting apparatus, a plurality of projection portions 7a to 7c are provided on the casing 3 at predetermined angular intervals to project therefrom. A slip-off preventing piece 8 is formed to be integral with each of the projection portions 7a and 7b and as to bend from the top end of each of the portions 7a and 7b in a direction nearly perpendicular thereto. A plurality of kinds of mounting angles &agr; of the shield plate 4 are set, and a plurality of through holes 9a to 9c respectively facing the projection portions 7a to 7c are pierced through the shield plate 4 correspondingly to each of the kinds of the mounting angles &agr;.

Abstract: A method for comparing two delimited strings, each of which has a plurality of substrings, includes pairing each substring in one of the delimited string with a corresponding substring in the other one of the delimited strings. The method further includes computing a proximity value for each pair of substrings, and computing a set of decaying weights corresponding to the pairs of substrings, multiplying the proximity value for each pair of substrings by the corresponding weight, and summing the weighted proximity values to obtain a strength of match between the delimited strings.

Abstract: A system for transmitting and recording digital data is included. Further, a system for transmitting transmit scrambled audio data that is to be recorded on a mini disc reader is included. A system for transmission and recording of digital data includes transmission means adapted to prepare and transmit scrambled digital data together with at least one encrypted control word and a digital recording device adapted to receive and record the scrambled digital data and encrypted control word on a digital support. The digital recording device further includes an access control means adapted to decrypt the control word and thereafter descramble the digital data during playback.

Abstract: A dual mode memory interface includes a bus switch and a register/buffer operatively coupled to the bus switch. The dual mode memory interface may include, operatively coupled to the bus switch and the register/buffer, enable/disable pins configured so that only one of the bus switch and the register/buffer is active at a time. The bus switch may be a transistor configured as a pass gate. The dual mode memory interface may be implemented in a single integrated circuit package. The dual mode memory interface may further include a system controller for detecting a type of memory module connected to the dual mode memory interface and enabling one of the bus switch and register/buffer based on the type of memory module detected.

Abstract: The module-type connector according to the present invention defines the connectable connectors with a rigid supporting plate which extends along the connecting direction in order to make it easy to properly fit a male connector to a female connector. In the module-type connector, the contacting portions of the contacts that are shifted in the separation direction of the corresponding terminal with which the contacting portions contact are almost uniformly distributed. Further, the male connector that receives a preliminary load from different levels in the direction so that opposing elastic contacting portions are widened by engaging between the first end portion of each contact within a housing and the different levels of the housing, has at least a protruding portion that protrudes from the contacting surface of the plurality of contacts toward the contacting surface thereof and that is provided between contacts.

Abstract: A polyamide skin layer is formed on a porous support by reacting an aromatic compound having at least two reactive amino groups with a polyfunctional acid halide compound having at least two reactive acid halide groups. Then, the polyamide skin layer is treated with a free chlorine aqueous solution containing bromine compound. The resultant composite reverse osmosis membrane has a high rejection for substances that are not ionized at the pH range where the membrane is normally used.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a spectacle lens family and methods of manufacturing the same, which in one embodiment has a multifocal property such that along a line between a far-vision reference point and a near-vision reference point spaced apart therefrom a mean spherical power changes continuously from a first value at the far-vision reference point to a second value at the near-vision reference point, wherein the spectacle lenses of the spectacle lens family each exhibit the same difference between the first value and the second value and nominal dioptric powers which are different from one another, wherein the shape of a first lens surface of the spectacle lenses is formed of a sphere and/or a torus to obtain the respective nominal dioptric power, wherein the spectacle lenses of the spectacle lens family have a basic shape of a second lens surface of the spectacle lens in common which provides the multifocal property, and wherein the shape of the second lens surface of each spectacle lens of the spectacle