Abstract: A fiber drawing process and apparatus in which the fibers are drawn in small increments by passing the fibers in multiple wraps over on rotatably mounted spaced apart spindles having discrete circumferential microterraced surfaces which support the fiber. The terraced surfaces are parallel to the axis of rotation of the spindles and each microterraced surface having a continually increasing radius. The number of microterraces is equal to or less than the number of wraps of the fiber about the spindle. Cylindrical rolls in tandem with the microterraced spindles permit fine adjustments of the draw ratios.

Abstract: The present invention provides a control system for and method of controlling an apparatus of the type for exposing photographic film with image data which control system and method are adapted to compensate for variations in the exposure intensity, while also adjusting for different formats of image data. In one form, control system of the present invention determines the format of the image data, determines an exposure format in response to the format of the image data for producing an image on the film having a predetermined size, and calibrates an intensity for the exposure in response to the determined exposure format.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for producing steam for humidification of residential and commercial buildings by electrical induction heating of water are disclosed. The apparatus comprises a readily-removable non-magnetic water tank containing a magnetic target in contact with the water and an electrically powered induction coil located outside the water tank but in close proximity to the magnetic target.

Abstract: A two-compartment, automated apparatus and a semi-batch process for achieving rapid and complete thawing of a frozen food product, such as french fry potatoes, prior to cooking are disclosed. This invention results in a rapid, economical thawing of frozen food that is especially compatible with automated, commercial-scale deep frying operations.

Abstract: A current regulating, transconductance amplifier is connected to the load capacitor of a backplane system. The load capacitor is connected close to the load inside the feedback loop of the regulating amplifier. The frequency response shaping networks of the amplifier are designed to include the pole and zero, contributed by this capacitor, to meet the criteria for fast settling of a current step at the load.

Abstract: An automatic organization of images in computer memory is provided as a doubly-linked (or multiply-linked) list data structure which reflects in its interconnections to relationships between various stages in complex image processing tasks. Data structures, implemented in an appropriate high-level computer language such as C, contain pertinent information about the image as well as pointers (memory addresses) to other data structures and their associated images. These pointers allow the construction and maintenance of the linked list relationships between images. Since the relationships between images in the linked lists are equivalent to the relationships between stages of image processing tasks, the complex tasks of image processing are automatically documented in the linked list data structure without the necessity of maintaining an auxiliary written record.

Abstract: A low molecular weight, flexible, biaxially oriented, dilatation catheter balloon comprising oriented polyethylene terephthalate, and having a calculated radial tensile strength of greater than about 25,000 psi.

Abstract: Derivatives having the formula: ##STR1## in which R.sub.1 =C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl and Ar is an aryl or heteroaryl group chosen from among the following:(i) ##STR2## where R.sub.2 represents a hydrogen atom one or two halogen atoms, a CN, NO.sub.2 or CF.sub.3 group, one, two or three C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl or C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkoxy groups or an amino group substituted by two C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl groups, in which case the --W--V-- chain represent ##STR3## and n=2-6; (ii) pyridyl, in which case the --W--V-- chain represents --N.dbd.N--and n=1-6, and acid addition salts of those derivatives (I) which are salt-forming.These derivatives are of use in therapy as agents for inhibiting type B monoamine oxydase.

Abstract: A photochromic material adapted for coating light transmissive materials. The photochromic material contains photosensitive silver halide crystals having dimensions in the range of approximately 50 Angstroms to 800 Angstroms. The silver halide crystals are surface doped with copper ions and another sensitizer selected from mild reducing agents, thioethers, or sulfur-bearing ions and are treated with an agent to accelerate the forward reaction and control the reverse reaction. The accelerants are ions selected from the group consisting of cobalt, chromium, manganese, magnesium, and rare earth metals such as cerium, samarium and europium. The agent for controlling the reverse reaction is one that confers electrical conductivity on the material and while to this end glycerol containing a high concentration of metal ions, methane sulfonic acid and benzyltrimethyl ammonium chloride are useful, the preferred agent is phosphoric acid.

Abstract: A multiport source routing token ring bridge is provided which permits a single local area network bridge to interconnect to multiple remote bridges without limitations on the number of rings and bridges interspersed between a data packet's source and its intended destination. The bridge receives a packet and then scans the packet for ring-in information which matches the ring to which the bridge is attached. If this match is not successful, then the packet is not passed to the software and the address recognize and frame copy bits at the end of the packet are not set. If the match is successful, then the bridge number and next ring-in (or ring-out) segment information from the packet are used as addresses to a static RAM array. The array is preprogrammed with all valid bridge number and ring-out combinations which may be accessed by the multiport source routing bridge.

Abstract: An adjustable-length balloon dilatation catheter apparatus and a method for using the same are disclosed wherein an adjustable sheath is externally manipulated to partially surround and contain the dilatation balloon segment of the catheter while the catheter and balloon segment are in situ during a treatment procedure. By sliding the sheath forward or backward to expose a predetermined length of the balloon segment prior to inflating the balloon, the catheter apparatus of this invention is useful in medical procedures requiring balloons of varying lengths.

Abstract: Errors introduced into ac waveform measurements based on discrete amplitude samples because the waveform period is not an integral number of sampling intervals are substantially averaged out by computing the aggregate average of the set averages of sets of samples. Each set is taken over approximately an integral number of waveform cycles, and the set terminations are spread uniformly over approximately an integral number of cycles. Each set may overlap the previous set by all but one sample. As a short cut to the computation, each sample of the first set may be weighted with a weighting factor that is a respective member of an arithmetic series, starting at one and increasing in steps of one. Each remaining sample may be weighted by a factor that is a member of symmetrical series decreasing in steps of one and ending in one. The sum of all the weighted samples is accumulated and divided by the sum of all the weighting factors to produce the average of averages, or dc value of the waveform.

Abstract: As a step in finding the one most likely word sequence in a spoken language system, an N-best search is conducted to find the N most likely sentence hypotheses. During the search, word theories are distinguished based only on the one previous word. At each state within a word, the total probability is calculated for each of a few previous words. At the end of each word, the probability score is recorded for each previous word theory, together with the name of the previous word. At the end of the sentence, a recursive traceback is performed to derive the list of the N best sentences.

Abstract: A telecommunications system intermittently checks and, if necessary, adjusts the power level of the transmitted data as a function of the transmission characteristics of the transmission line so as to optimize transmission performance.

Abstract: A flexible, manipulatable, an reuseable probe apparatus is disclosed wherein a double sleeve probe housing comprises a relatively thin, slippery outer sleeve and a thicker, more resilient inner sleeve having a plurality of apertures in at least a portion of its side wall. By reducing the stress and strain on the wire control system used to manipulate the probe, the probe apparatus of this invention has a substantially extended useful life.

Abstract: A bioabsorbable synthetic polymer is exposed to a gas plasma in a chamber at a pressure substantially below atmospheric for a sufficient time to increase the hydrophobicity and/or cross-linking density of a surface layer thereof and thereby modify the rate at which the polymer will hydrolyze. An accordingly modified polymer is useful for surgical implants and wound closures.

Abstract: A system for and method of storing and automatically dispensing predetermined amounts of one or more food products from closed containers is described. The system preferably includes multi-compartment containers carried by a carrousel assembly and moved by a dispensing mechanism for automatically selecting the appropriate container and compartment for which food is dispensed. By using a control with memory for keeping inventory, the system can dispense any one of several food products on demand.

Abstract: Method of chromatographically separating a mixture by contacting said mixture under chromatographic separation conditions with a chromatographic separation stationary phase comprising a polymer formed by coating substantially all of the surfaces of a microporous, comminuted substrate material with a monomer that is subsequently polymerized in situ with a cold-gas plasma discharge.

Abstract: Accordingly, the present invention provides an x-ray tomography apparatus having a patient table, x-ray tomography components located around the patient table and in an imaginary plane which intersects the table, and structure for supporting the table and tomography components and including apparatus for moving the tomography components along at least a portion of the table. In an alternate embodiment, an x-ray tomography apparatus includes an annular x-ray tomography system for continuously rotating around a patient, which structure has an electrically powered x-ray source and battery power for supplying electrical power to the x-ray source.