Abstract: A non-slip sleeve fits over a shaft for a float level sensor so a float moves up and down on the sleeve surface. This non-slip surface prevents deposits forming thereon when used in tanks with sludge or other solids suspended in liquids. The thin walled sleeve is formed of a polytetrafluoroethylene polymer (PTFE) thus avoiding having to deposit or coat a shaft with PTFE which is expensive and time consuming.

Abstract: A system for delivering radiofrequency energy to ablate cardiac tissue comprises a radiofrequency generator and an intravascular catheter. The catheter includes both a radiofrequency ablation electrode and a temperature sensor within its distal end. Delivery of power to the ablation electrode may then be controlled based on electrode temperature using a cascade control system wherein analog temperature controller adjusts the set point to a secondary power controller. Alternatively, power delivered to the patient can be controlled directly based on a power set point. Reuse of the catheter is prevented by a fuse within the catheter which is sensed prier to power delivery and broken prior to disconnection of the catheter.

Abstract: A pipelined analog to digital converter in which data samples ripple down through the pipeline of comparator stages. Each stage of the pipeline includes switch capacitor amplifiers for comparing an analog signal to a first reference voltage, to a second reference voltage, and to an average of the first and second reference voltages. Fan out of circuit components can be eliminated in succeeding stages, and error correction is provided by including overlapping of ranges passed by an earlier stage to a subsequent stage.

Abstract: The disclosure describes a method of direct steel making wherein liquid iron is produced in a melter gasifier system using a solid fuel reductant, preferably petroleum coke, and low silica containing iron ore, preferably less than 2.0% by weight, and the liquid iron is transferred directly to an oxygen blown steel making reactor for steel production and refining.

Abstract: According to the present invention, apparatus are provided for applying surgical clips to body tissue with a safety stop for preventing tissue damage resulting from closure of the clip closing mechanism when a clip is not present therein. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a shaft having a distal end and a proximal end; means for closing clips having a pair of forming surfaces, and means for limiting closure of the closing means when a clip is absent therefrom such that a gap separates the forming surfaces in the closed position.

Abstract: A method for assembling microstructures onto a substrate through fluid transport. The microstructures being shaped blocks self-align into recessed regions located on a substrate such that the microstructure becomes integral with the substrate 20, 70, 90, 120, 200. The improved method includes a step of transferring the shaped blocks into a fluid to create a slurry. Such slurry is then poured evenly over the top surface of a substrate having recessed regions thereon. The microstructure via the shape and fluid tumbles onto the surface of the substrate, self-aligns, and engages into a recessed region.

Abstract: The present invention relates to DNA segments encoding the Duffy receptor of a Plasmodium parasite, the recombinant DNA and to recombinantly produced Duffy receptor. The Duffy receptor can be utilized as a vaccine for humans against malaria.

Abstract: A compact pulse oximetry system which separates the combined signal into its respective AC and DC components. By separating the signal into AC and DC components, a smaller order bit A/D converter may be used while still maintaining signal accuracy. Instead of using the combined signal to calculate the oxygen saturation content, the system microprocessor computes the Ratio of Ratios using the derivative of the separated AC component of the diffused signal to calculate the oxygen saturation of the measured fluid. To calculate the Ratio of Ratios, a ratio of the derivative value of the separated AC component is used. Instead of taking a single sample between the peak and valley of the signal, the oximeter system samples each value. To decrease the effect of system noise, a linear regression is performed over each sample.

Abstract: A rabbit model for testing anti-AIDS therapeutic agents, vaccines, and HIV-1 infection is described.

Abstract: A method for real-time three-dimensional control of position and attitude of an end effector of a manipulator relative to a moving workpiece. Angles of revolute joints of the manipulator are controlled by harmonizing a first control methodology, wherein the z-axis coordinate of the end effector and the attitude of the end effector are controlled based on input target values for the position and attitude of the end effector, with a second control methodology, wherein the x-axis and y-axis coordinates of the end effector are controlled responsive to image data captured by a camera mounted to the manipulator.

Abstract: A digital resampling system is provided for converting a first digital signal to a second digital signal, where both signals represent the same analog signal but sampled at two different clock rates which are not phase-locked together. A filter is clocked by the first clock and outputs filtered samples at the first clock rate, optionally omitting samples which will not be used. A phase indicator determines the relative phase position of the first and second clocks and indicates an integer phase value and a fractional phase value which together indicate where a tick of the second clock falls among the ticks of the first clock. The integer phase value identifies a clock cycle of the first clock in which a tick of the second clock occurs, and the fractional phase value represents a fraction identifying a position of the tick of the second clock within the clock cycle of the first clock. A sample selector selects M filtered samples from those provided by the non-decimating filter based on the integer phase value.

Abstract: A cloned cDNA encoding debrisoquine 4-hydroxylase gene and a probe for identifying humans having a genetic defect in the metabolism of a certain class of drugs of which debrisoquine is a model, have been prepared. Testing of new drugs and of humans by a simple assay has also been described.

Abstract: A method for testing liquid crystal display substrates with use of a testing apparatus which includes an electro-optical element. The test protocol includes applying a voltage between the circuitry on the liquid crystal display and the electro-optical element, irradiating the electro-optical element, evaluating performance under a variety of voltage conditions, and evaluating the corresponding response characteristics of the electro-optical element. The response characteristics are recorded by a plurality of CCD devices, each recording a different section of the panel. The changes in the magnitude of impressed voltage and polarity are synchronized with the recording timing. The recorded data is stored as frame memory which is subjected to frame by frame analysis to obtain quantitative information regarding the status of defective pixels.

Abstract: A carry-look-ahead adder for adding an addend and an augend and generating a final sum. The addend, augend, and final sum are binary numbers, each having a plurality of bits. Bits of the same order in the addend and the augend are organized into columns. The adder has at least one data reduction stage, each data reduction stage having at least one multi-column full adder. The data reduction stages use the columns of addend and augend bits to generate a reduced addend and a reduced augend, with the reduced augend having fewer bits than the augend. A generate/propagate calculation stage then uses the reduced addend and the reduced augend for calculating generate and propagate data, the generate/propagate calculation stage having been modified to account for the reduction of the addend and augend. A carry-generate stage then uses the generate and propagate data to generate at least one final carry.

Abstract: Monoclonal antibodies are provided which bind to an antigen associated with prostate cells, including prostate cancers. The monoclonal antibodies and recombinant forms thereof are used individually or conjugated radioisotopes to target the compounds to cancerous prostate cells, and thus are useful in a variety of diagnostic procedures.

Abstract: An automatic line officiating system including a video camera and associated optics and electronics disposed adjacent to a line to be officiated and arranged with the longitudinal axis of its field of view concentric with the line and adapted to provide image data representing the vicinity of the line and a central processing system coupled to the video camera and arranged to receive the image data from the camera, to process the data to determine the path of the ball before, during and after a bounce, and to provide an indication whether the ball has bounced on or within the line, or outside the line.

Abstract: A video interface unit for transferring image data between video memory and video processing components interfaces with a video bus. The video interface unit has a partionable data buffer. The partionable buffer enables data to be accessed without redundant fetches of image data and for associated processing of data to be interleaved.

Abstract: An associative memory comprises a CAM array which is divided into a plurality of blocks, block select means, decoder means, and output means. The associative memory receives an externally supplied input address having first, second, and third parts. Which entry row in the CAM should be compared with the first part (TAG address) of the input address is determined by the second and third parts of the input address. The block select means responsive to the second part of the input address selects a block in the CAM. The decoder means responsive to the third part of the input address selects one out of a plurality of entry rows in the selected block. A comparison operation is carried out in each of the entry rows in the selected block. Since not all the entry rows are selected for comparison operations, power consumption can be reduced.

Abstract: To provide a digital integrating circuit which can increase speed by preventing the influence of a delay in carry propagation and can obtain an accumulated value for each section at a higher sampling frequency, the carry holding type adder 4 and the carry propagation type adder 7 are combined and a plurality of holding registers 51 to 53 and a plurality of result storage registers 81 to 83 are provided to store the results of additions. A single holding register is effective for each section and these holding registers 51 to 53 are structured as shift registers after completion of accumulation for all the sections so that accumulated data stored in the holding registers are sequentially input into the carry propagation type adder to output final accumulated data for each section.

Abstract: A water-based drilling mud additive comprising a preblended combination of about 2 parts of high softening point uintaite, about 1 part of a lower softening point uintaite, about 1 part of causticized lignite, and a strongly lipophilic, non-ionic surfactant is disclosed. This composition decreases shale sloughing and bore-hole instability during drilling of wells.