Abstract: An electronic absolute coordinate encoder for positional control devices which includes an encoding section, a detector section, a counter section and a backup power source. The encoder can detect the current position of the positioning system continuously even in case of power interruption and thus the positioning system may not be returned to the original position for the purpose of performing the position control, when the power interruption ends.

Abstract: A nucleic acid capture reagent which comprises one or more molecules that are capable of intercalation into nucleic acids and are attached to a solid support via a molecular linker. This capture reagent is useful for the separation and isolation of nucleic acids from complex unpurified biological solutions such as serum, sputum, blood, and urine. The resulting capture reagent-nucleic acid complexes are easily isolated from the sample solution by mechanical or magnetic means and the bound nucleic acids are released by simple chemical treatment.

Abstract: A method for stabilization of extra-chromosomal elements in bacteria during cultivation which comprises transformation of a host bacterium having a defect in a chromosomal gene needed for the synthesis or maintenance of the cell envelope with an extra-chromosomal element capable of complementing the chromosomal gene defect of the host bacterium, the extra-chromosomal element also including an expressible DNA-sequence coding for a desired product.

Abstract: Recombinant DNA plasmids capable of functioning as shuttle vectors in Rhodococcus equi, Corynebacterium, E. coli, B. subtilis, or S. aureus are disclosed. The recombinant plasmid contains an origin of replication which is functional in Rhodococcus and at least one of E. coli, Corynebacterium, S. aureus, and B. subtilis. Additionally, the plasmid contains a heritable, selectable marker.

Abstract: The subject-matter of the invention are organomineral foamed materials and a process for their preparation by reacting polyisocyanate and water-glass without the use of a foaming agent. In the process according to the invention the foaming of the reaction mixture is achieved in controlled manner by means of the CO.sub.2 released in the reaction of isocyanate groups with water by the addition of a polysiloxane and polyether block copolymer.

Abstract: A method for producing an ossein hydroxyapatite compound from bones or fetal and young animals is described. The compound so produced stimulates chondrocytes and osteoblasts and is useful in the treatment of osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, bone and cartilage defects, and in the healing of bone fractures.

Abstract: An expert system for process control, which permits the inference rules to be revised at any time without requiring the specialized skills of a "knowledge engineer". The inference rules are intitially defined by a domain expert who fills in blank fields in a set of highly constrained substantially natural-language templates. The rule set thus specified is automatically translated to define an operational expert system. Updating can be performed by a domain expert at any time: the set of templates with the data fields as originally entered is redisplayed, so that the domain expert can edit the accessible fields and then command the modified rule set to be automatically translated, to define a modified operational expert system.

Abstract: The present invention provides a medical support pillow for automatically aligning the oropharyngeal, laryngeal and tracheal axes of the human head for airway management. The support pillow includes a head support and a neck support which are dimensioned to automatically align the airway axes when the head and neck are positioned thereupon.

Abstract: This invention relates to new hybrid interferons consisting of part of an .alpha.-interferon and part of an omega interferon, the N-terminal Met or N-formyl-Met derivatives thereof and, if the peptide sequence of the hybrid interferon contains a glycosylation site, the N-glycosylated derivatives thereof, their use as pharmaceutical compositions and as intermediate products for immunizing experimental animals and processes for producing them,new monoclonal antibodies and their use in purifying .alpha. and omega-interferons, the hybrid cell lines which secrete them and processes for preparing them,a new process for purifying .alpha. and omega-interferons by means of a new antibody affinity column containing the above-mentioned new monoclonal antibodies, and processes for the preparation thereof,new hybrid plasmids for improving the expression of omega-interferons and new intermediate plasmids for preparing the new plasmids and processes for the preparation thereof.

Abstract: This invention comprises a wax candle consisting of a wax insert containing a wick and a surrounding wax jacket. The combustible insert consists of a wax with a melting point between 52.degree. C. and 56.degree. C. and the jacket consists of a wax material with a melting point between 74.degree. C. and 78.degree. C.

Abstract: A modular plug terminates a multi-conductor cable therein. The modular plug includes a locking bar hingedly attached to the housing and movable from a position outside the cable-receiving opening to a position inside the opening for compressibly holding the cable therein. A plurality of spaced surfaces are formed on the locking bar to define a plurality of different positions of the locking bar in the opening, whereby the cable may be selectively and controllaby deformed according to the position of the locking bar.

Abstract: An axle driving apparatus, in which a transmission casing thereof is vertically divided into an upper half casing and a lower half casing, the butt joint surfaces therebetween are used as bearing surfaces for axles, a motor shaft and a counter shaft, a center section is disposed in the transmission casing, a hydraulic pump is attached to the center section vertically thereof, a hydraulic motor is attached to the same horizontally thereof, and an HST system transmission, first and second deceleration units and differential gears, are tight enclosed in the transmission casing.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of screening for fibrin clot-specific monoclonal antibodies and to the monoclonal antibodies screened by this method. The invention also relates to immundiagnostic and immunotherapeutic applications of the screened fibrin clot-specific monoclonal antibodies.

Abstract: An integrated system for process control in which a process supervisor procedure (which is preferably the top-level procedure) is configured as a modular software structure, with modules which can be revised by a user at any time without significantly interrupting the operation of the process supervisor. A user can define or redefine modules by editing highly constrained templates, which preferably include module timing and sequencing options including: block becomes active if another specified block has become active; block becomes active if a new value has been entered for a specified data source; block becomes active if a specified time of inactivity has elapsed; and combinations of these.

Abstract: An electro-optic system which is advantageous for low altitude, high speed aerial reconnaissance. A linear imager is movably positioned in the focal plane of a fixedly mounted wide-angle lens system. The fore-aft motion capability of the imager can be used to select an optimal viewing angle for recognition, for image motion compensation (to reduce smear), or for other functions.

Abstract: A fixing device of a heating member in a combined microwave and convection cooking apparatus includes inner and outer case members having flanges respectively, an upper plate of a heating cavity provided with first and second holders, and a heating member assembly including fixing and supporting members for firmly fixing and supporting the heater in the inner case member. When the device is assembled and fixed, the flanges of the inner and outer case members are inserted within the first and second holders respectively for preventing the leakage of the air heated by the heater.