Abstract: An apparatus for sterilizing water by anodic oxidation. A reactor contains a plurality of anodes (3) and cathodes (4) arranged as parallel plates within the reactor. The anodes and cathodes are arranged in series within four modules (2). Each module includes two draw bolts (34, 44) extending through bores in the anodes and cathodes and threadably engaged to contact bolts (7) on either side of the module. The contact bolts provide high surface pressure to the anodes and cathodes so that high electrical currents can be conducted through the reactor. The anodes each consist of materials that provide a greater overvoltage with respect to oxygen generation than with respect to chlorine generation. Thus, the reactor can produce a sufficient quantity of oxidants to sterilize the water without adding chlorine compounds to the water.

Abstract: A data processor having multistage store buffer and constructed such that, when an exception occurs at the time point where unprocessed data is present in the store buffer, the exception processing is performed by saving in a predetermined area of a memory an unprocessed data in the store buffer, an instruction address related thereto, an instruction address in the execution completion step in the execution stage, an storing destination address and information necessary for performing the storing processing, and returning to the instruction sequence starting the exception after writing the unprocessed data to the storing destination address according to these information or checking recursively whether the unprocessed data is saved.

Abstract: A device for the distribution of weft yarns into weft ducts of a rotor of a series shed loom has a first part (7) rotating with the rotor (2) with transfer ducts (11) for the weft yarns and a second part (8) which is nonrotatable in relation to the rotor (2) and has connecting ducts (10) for the weft yarns. Between the first and second parts (7, 8) are three support units (30) which form a three-point support and keep the first and second parts (7, 8) spaced apart to define a gap (9) between them. This reduces friction between the first and second parts (7, 8) and improves the transfer and distribution of the weft threads.

Abstract: A toothbrush is provided with a hollow interior cavity adapted to contain liquid dentifrice therein. The toothbrush includes a plurality of minute air apertures for equalizing the air pressure within the cavity and at least one dispensing hole in the bristle region of the toothbrush for dispensing the liquid dentifrice to the bristles. A threaded cap is provided at an open end of a handle of the toothbrush to prevent the dentifrice from escaping from the interior cavity. The cap can be removed to allow the refilling of the interior cavity with the liquid dentifrice.

Abstract: The invention provides a packaging technique implementing an electronic circuit, comprising several individually packaged sub-circuits, on a circuit board within the footprint of a single package. The embodiment of the present invention is particularly advantageous when implementing application specific integrated circuits (ASICs) or field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). Selected pins of an upper package are electrically coupled to corresponding pins of the next lower adjacent package such that the pins of the uppermost package can be coupled to the pins of the lowermost package and correspondingly to the signal leads and power bus conductors of the printed circuit board. Portions of selected pins may be removed from one or more packages prior to forming the stacked structure to electrically isolate corresponding pins of upper packages from the pins of lower packages. A template is provided that permits rapid identification of pins to be removed before the packages are configured in the stack.

Abstract: Peptides immunoreactive with antibodies to native proteins, and which have at least two cysteine residues that contribute to mimicking an epitope of the protein, are prepared with the cysteine thiol groups protected. When deprotected, the peptides have enhanced immunoreactivity. The peptides are particularly useful for detecting antibodies or antigens associated with retroviruses, including the clinically important lymphotropic retroviruses HIV-1, HIV-2, HTLV-I, and HTLV-II.

Abstract: A novel human hepatokine, referred to hereinafter as HPX, has been isolated and purified from human fetal hepatocytes. HPX has a molecular weight of approximately 15 kD, a pI of about 6, and has been found to promote hepatocyte growth activity in vitro and in vivo.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a method of forming an antifuse in an integrated circuit having a first insulating layer on a semiconductor substrate. The method comprises forming a first metal interconnection layer on the first insulating layer; forming a programming layer on the first metal interconnection line; forming a relatively thin, second insulating layer over the programming layer; forming a first aperture through the second insulating layer where the antifuse is to be located to expose a portion of the programming layer; forming a barrier metal layer on the second insulating layer and in said first aperture to contact the portion of said programming layer; forming a relatively thick, third insulating layer on the barrier metal layer; forming a second aperture to expose a portion of the barrier metal layer; and forming a second metal interconnection layer on the third insulating layer and in the second aperture to contact the portion of the second barrier metal layer.

Abstract: There is provided a microcomputer including therein a DRAM controller, the DRAM controller including a refresh controller for refreshing a DRAM and an access controller for controlling the access to the DRAM whereby the need of a DRAM controlling external circuit that suffers from severe timing adjustment is eliminated and hence the DRAM is made directly connectable to the microcomputer.

Abstract: An accurate and stable low voltage detect circuit that provides a low voltage detect signal with minimal variation over process and temperature without trimming requirements. The power supply voltage is divided by a resistor voltage divider and compared to the output voltage of a bandgap reference circuit at the inputs of a comparator. The output of the comparator indicates power-on when the voltage divided power supply raises above the bandgap reference voltage. The low voltage detect circuit of the present invention will generate a correct low voltage detect signal even at power supply voltages too low for much of the rest of the circuit to operate properly. At low enough Vcc voltages, a transistor switch disconnects the resistor voltage divider from Vcc, causing all voltages taps off of the resistor voltage divider to drop to ground. Additionally, especially designed bandgap reference and comparator circuits ensure proper operation of the low voltage detect circuit at low power supply voltages.

Abstract: The use of a surface coating composition comprising a surface coating concentrate and water is disclosed for the collection and suppression of dust particles. In particular, the surface coating composition is used to prepare substantially airborne-dust free rooms for the painting and finishing of products such as automobiles. The surface coating concentrate comprises a cationic surfactant, a glycol ether, a mineral oil, water, and optionally, glycerine, a tackiness agent, dyes, odorants, and the like.

Abstract: The invention provides a direction sensor and a method of calibrating a direction sensor having a relative heading sensor and an absolute heading sensor. The method allows calibration of both the relative heading sensor and the absolute heading sensor at the same time, by taking advantage of the known angular relationship between maxima and minima on the measurement curve of the absolute heading sensor. Such maxima and minima are found by rotating the sensors through an angle of at least 360.degree., reading the absolute and relative heading sensor outputs at numerous points and comparing each successive output. The relative heading sensor output at the minimum is subtracted from that at the maximum, and the difference divided by the known angle to arrive at a conversion constant for the relative heading sensor. The center and radii of the measurement curve of the absolute heading sensor may be found by determining the maxima and minima of the curve in two perpendicular directions.

Abstract: The present invention provides chimeric proteins containing extracellular and transmembrane domains of CD4 and protein tyrosine kinases of the src family. Also provided are DNA molecules encoding the proteins of the present invention and cells containing such DNA molecules. The proteins and cells of the present invention may be employed in methods for identifying drugs that block T cell activation and for identifying low level self-antigens.

Abstract: A teaching device for a sports implement (3,30,75,110) is disclosed including an electro-mechanical or electronic sensing device (1,35,84,116) incorporated in the sports implement (3,30,75,110) which interacts with the thing sported (5,36,90,119) to sense the configuration or proper or improper operation of the implement during actual play and by means of a signal or alarm (27,56,106,119) provide feedback of the configuration status to the sports participant.

Abstract: A look-up table circuit implemented with MOS transistors that uses combinational logic to generate signals that enable the transistors. A circuit using 16 inputs and 4 select lines is disclosed. Two of the select lines are used as inputs to combinational logic including four NOR gates to generate enable signals for transistors in a third stage of the circuit. This produces a reduction in the propagation delay of a signal from the input to the output of the look-up table circuit.

Abstract: A breathing regulator for use in underwater breathing comprising a diaphragm and poppet actuated upon user demand. The poppet including at least one baffle located intermediate its ends wherein when air is demanded by a user of the regulator air travels through the valve and continuously impinges upon the baffle and reduces the effort of the user required to operate the valve. The regulator further comprises a sleeve which is concentric about the air passage chamber which facilitates more efficient air delivery to the user. The sleeve is selectively controlled by the user either to enhance the venturi flow of air or to cancel the venturi effect, dependent upon the needs of the user.

Abstract: A charged first molecular species is separated from a second molecular species by selectively passing one of the species through a separation membrane under the influence of an electrical potential. The separated species is maintained within a dialysate stream by retention membrane (or an electrode surface) adjacent the separation membrane. In a first embodiment, the charged species migrates across the separation membrane under the influence of the electric field, while a neutral or oppositely-charged species is maintained within the aqueous media. In the second embodiment, the charged species is maintained with the load channel, while a neutral species is passed into the dialysate chamber under the influence of a differential pressure.

Abstract: A recumbent bilateral reciprocal isokinetic leg exerciser wherein first and second reciprocating members are slidingly coupled to a linear track so that they move with linear bilateral reciprocal motion. Both reciprocating members are coupled to associated hydraulic cylinders so that hydraulic fluid is drawn into or forced out of the hydraulic cylinders as the reciprocating members move along the track. A valve assembly is coupled to the hydraulic cylinders for controlling fluid flow into and out of the hydraulic cylinders so that the reciprocating members move isokinetically. The valve assembly may be set for simultaneous movement of the first and second reciprocating members or for movement of one reciprocating member by itself. To ensure accurate measurement of patient effort, a strain gauge assembly is disposed on each reciprocating member for detecting deformation of the reciprocating member along multiple axes.

Abstract: A computer system for production of ink separations from an object-based print pre-process apparatus using a page description language. The print pre-process system facilitates creation of object spreads for any combination or configuration of objects on the rendered page. For each object on a rendered page, the computer system 100 makes use of a spread table to determine spread incidences. For each spread incidence, the computer system generates set union, intersection, difference, and edge extraction for spreading, receiving, and obstructing objects to create a simplified graph of contour histories providing a visible portion of the spread object. The visible boundary between the visible spread object and the receiving object is then extracted. The visible boundary is strokeable within a clipped window set to the receiving object. The stroke color and width, set by the spread table, can be knockout print or overprint.

Abstract: Font-independent spotting of user-defined keywords in a scanned image. Word identification is based on features of the entire word without the need for segmentation or OCR, and without the need to recognize non-keywords. Font-independent character models are created using hidden Markov models (HMMs) and arbitrary keyword models are built from the character HMM components. Word or text line bounding boxes are extracted from the image, a set of features based on the word shape, (and preferably also the word internal structure) within each bounding box is extracted, this set of features is applied to a network that includes one or more keyword HMMs, and a determination is made. The identification of word bounding boxes for potential keywords includes the steps of reducing the image (say by 2.times.) and subjecting the reduced image to vertical and horizontal morphological closing operations.