Abstract: A transgenic animal model for arthritis is disclosed. The arthritic condition results from genetic (or immunologic) manipulations that result in the T cell receptor (TCR) repertoire of the animal being substantially limited relative to the TCR repertoire of a wildtype control animal. The TCR repertoire of the arthritic animal, albeit limited, is functionally viable. In a preferred embodiment, the invention relates to transgenic arthritic mice wherein arthritis results from (1) a transgenic allele which encodes and expresses TCR .alpha. and .beta. subunits that combine in T lymphocytes of the transgenic animal to form a TCR that recognizes an antigen comprising one or more epitopes of an oligopeptide derived from amino acids 41-61 of bovine pancreatic ribonuclease and/or (2) polypeptide arthritogenic self antigens derived from endogenous proteins.

Abstract: A system for assessing a student's knowledge of a subject is disclosed wh includes an assessment sheet or booklet which has a story portion setting forth a plurality of related facts or observations therein and an activity portion setting forth a plurality of questions and directions therein to the student requiring a written response by the student, an answer area for the student to place written responses therein and a machine readable teacher scoring area on the sheet. The scoring area has machine readable spaces therein for recording numbers or marks characteristic of predetermined categories of the teacher's evaluation of the student's responses to the questions and directions in accordance with a predetermined set of assessment criteria. In other embodiments, the answer sheet may be separable from a reusable assessment booklet.

Abstract: A surgical cutting instrument for removing objects, such as a pacemaker lead or catheter, embedded in biological tissue. The cutting instrument includes a rigid proximal end and a flexible distal end, the flexible distal end having circular opening and a cutting blade disposed longitudinally therein. A control handle connected to the rigid proximal end and extending radially therefrom provides a force applied to an inner member which extends the cutting blade beyond the circular opening and simultaneously rotates the cutting blade to cut tissue exposed to the blade.

Abstract: Device to feed yarn to machines making use thereof, particularly the weft yarn (T) to gripper or projectile looms, of the type in which the yarn to be feed is unwound from a reserve (R) wound on a drum onto the outlet end of which, where a first yarn deviation takes place, there acts a brake device (FR) which is centered on the drum axis and adjustable along the same, upstream of an outlet yarn guide where a second yarn deviation takes place. The brake device (FR) comprises a frustoconical braking element with continuous surface and differentiated elasticity, carried by a stiff ring support to which it is fixed close to its major circumference, and the stiff ring support is mounted so as to oscillate about two axes (S1, S2) which are perpendicular one in respect of the other and both in respect of the axis of the drum.

Abstract: A fish hook remover, designed to minimize damage to an artificial fly and to minimize human contact with a fish during fish hook removal, comprises an elongated body having a removal tip integral to a first end of the elongated body, and a handle attached to a second end of the elongated body. The removal tip comprises a guide region and a tubular head. The tubular head defines a slot on its surface and a chamber on its interior, and is positioned relative to the elongated body such that an axis defined by the chamber of the tubular head is offset by more than zero degrees but less than ninety degrees from an axis defined by the elongated body. The removal tip is designed to allow a user to easily slide a fishing line, which is tensioned by the weight of a caught fish, into the tubular head chamber via the slot.

Abstract: A head-mounted display system for the viewing of video or other sources of imagery which comprises a mechanism allowing for a wide range of adjustments for presenting the display to the wearer. The head mounted display device is supported by a headband or other support structure with three independent adjustments giving the wearer a wide range of adjustment capability. One pivot adjustment is in a location in proximity with the ear, the other pivot adjustment is located in close proximity with the pupil of the eye, and a third adjustment allows for the display unit to be adjusted in or out from the wearers head so as to permit convenient use with glasses. The mechanism allows the display to be located within or outside the wearer's primary field of view by utilizing these multiple adjustment locations for the system. The display unit consists of viewing optics, fold mirrors, liquid crystal display devices, and a backlight unit.

Abstract: A stacked sanding wheel for wooden panels with radical profiles. The sanding wheel has two sanding members stacked atop one another and mounted to a drive means for rotation about an axis. Each sanding member has a relatively rigid backing portion with an outer surface corresponding in profile to one of the surfaces on each side of the profile edge. The flexible sanding strips assume the shape of the outer surface of each backing portion which, in turn, corresponds to one of the surfaces of the profile to be sanded. The separate sanding members are secured to the drive means in a stacked relationship with their separate sanding strips abutting one another to form a sharp edge corresponding to the sharp edge of the wooden panel's profile.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of 7-(.alpha.-hydroxyacylamino)-3-(1-sulphoalkyl-tetrazol-5-yl-thiomethyl)-3- cephem-4-carboxylic acids and relevant salts, via acylation of a 7-amino-3-(1-sulphoalkyl-tetrazol-5-yl-thiomethyl)-3-cephem-4-carboxylic acid with the corresponding chloride of .alpha.-formyl oxycarboxylic acid in a diluent, at pH 6.5-7.0; deformylation by treatment with an acid at pH between 0.5 and 1.5; extraction/s with an organic solvent of the acid aqueous phase from deformylation, followed by salting out and extraction with a solvent selected among tetrahydrofuran, methylethylketone, and acetonitrile; solvent evaporation and salification in a non-aqueous medium.

Abstract: A device for detecting one or several wheels of a vehicle or of a wheeled engine and a process using this device. The device is constituted by at least one electromagnetic loop and by an evaluation unit. The electromagnetic loop or loops have a small dimension in the direction of the displacement of the vehicle or of the axis of the roadway, which is less than the diameter of the wheels of the vehicles to be identified, and a rectangular shape and/or a rectilinear arrangement disposed perpendicularly to the axis of the roadway, the loop or loops being sensitive in a distinct and opposed manner to the electromagnetic influences of the metallic masses moving in translation and in rotation, at the wheels of the vehicle.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for automatic credit evaluation and loan processing is disclosed. The apparatus includes a central processing unit which has capabilities for communicating with off-site remote access terminals. The central processing unit also includes facsimile transmission capabilities as well as capabilities for communicating with credit bureau computers. Mass storage capabilities are included for storing program modules executable on the central processing unit and for maintaining databases. Program modules are provided for remote access security, credit bureau information processing, credit scoring, message display, and facsimile generation. In operation, the central processing unit is accessed from a remote terminal, loan application information is entered into the remote terminal, credit bureau information is accessed by the apparatus, credit scoring is performed, and a loan application is approved or declined.

Abstract: A process for producing bodies of polymeric material having an outer shell and a core of foamed material is disclosed. The process includes the steps of: providing a mold having a pair of separable half-molds arranged facing each other; extruding a tubular thermoplastic parison between the half-molds; closing the half-molds around the parison, thereby defining a hollow space between the parison and walls of the mold; injecting into the inside of the parison a thermoplastic polymeric material admixed with a physical blowing agent, the parison expanding into contact with the walls of the mold, and conforming to the shape of the mold; and removing the article form the mold.

Abstract: 4-methyloxybenzyloxycarbonyl (Moz) is used to protect the alpha amino groups of the amino acids used in solid-phase synthesis of thymosin .alpha..sub.1. It was found that the Moz group can be removed rapidly and completely with 5-10% trifluoroacetic acid in CH.sub.2 Cl.sub.2. Some advantages of utilizing Moz-amino acids over Boc-amino acids in solid-phase peptide synthesis are higher yields and purities with reduced consumption of trifluoroacetic acid during the acidolytic cleavage of the N.sup..alpha. -Moz groups. Further improvements with respect to the recovery and recycling of the used solvent are obtained by using tributylamine in place of triethylamine as the neutralization agent making it possible to distill methylene chloride from the liquid waste without contamination by the lower boiling triethylamine. Methylbenzhydrylamine resin is the preferred resin support. Cleavage from the resin support and deprotection of the protected side groups of the protected thymosin .alpha..sub.

Abstract: In a power steering system for a marine vehicle having a propulsion unit and an operator actuatable steering helm, a power steering assist apparatus including a hydraulic fluid cylinder-piston assembly and actuated in response to steering actuation at the steering helm, and controls for maintaining anti-feed back upon a failure in the fluid source including a valve to establish fluid communication between a fluid source for the cylinder-piston assembly and the chamber in the assembly to either side of the piston thereby maintaining the chamber substantially full of hydraulic fluid during steering to effect movement of the piston upon steering actuation.

Abstract: A power steering assist system, especially adaptable for a marine vehicle having a propulsion unit pivotal about a steering axis and including a steering member to effect steering movement thereof about the steering axis and an operator actuable steering helm, comprising a hydraulic cylinder, a rotary valve body disposed adjacent the hydraulic cylinder and having a valve control adapted to establish fluid communication between the hydraulic cylinder and a fluid source for supplying hydraulic fluid to the cylinder. A ball screw, operably connected with the valve body, and a ball nut, having a recirculating ball connection with the ball screw, is operably connected to the piston so as to move axially on reciprocal movement of the piston. Pressurized hydraulic fluid is supplied to the cylinder and to either side of the piston to effect reciprocal movement of the piston, whereby axial movement of the ball nut is translated into rotary movement of the ball screw so as to rotate the valve body.

Abstract: A process for forming low threshold voltage P-channel MOS transistors in semiconductor integrated circuits for analog applications, said circuits including high resistivity resistors formed in a layer of polycrystalline silicon and N-channel MOS transistors having active areas which have been obtained by implantation in a P-type well, comprises the steps of,providing a first mask over both said resistors and the semiconductor regions where the low threshold voltage P-channel transistors are to be formed,doping the polycrystalline layer uncovered by said first mask,providing a second mask for protecting the resistors and the semiconductor regions where said low threshold voltage P-channel transistors are to be formed, andN+ implanting the active areas of the N-channel transistors.

Abstract: A system and articles of manufacture for resurfacing a roof having a roof surface with a cantilever portion that extends outward from a roof base. The system comprises an edge strip that covers the cantilever portion and a water impervious sheet that covers the noncantilever portion of the roof. The edge strip and sheet are selected from materials that are heat-weldable to one another, preferably both are made of, or clad with, polyvinyl chloride. The edge strip also has a drip edge that prevents water that runs off the resurfaced roof from running down a wall that supports the roof.

Abstract: A weight-lifting glove having a support strap which is attachable to the bar of a weight to be lifted. The glove includes a glove member and the strap. The glove member has a palm side, a back side, a wrist end, a glove opening at the wrist end, four finger stalls and a thumb stall. Further, a sleeve is provided on the palm side of the glove member. The strap has a free end, an attached end and a running portion. With the hand inserted into the glove member, the running portion of the strap is brought from the wrist through the sleeve to angularly cross the palm side of the glove member. Then the strap is wrapped around the weight-lifting bar or other object to be gripped. Fastener strips are provided on the strap for releasably and adjustably securing the strap around the object to be gripped.

Abstract: A connector unit of the multiple-connection, rapid-engagement type includes a first connector part and a second connector part which can be coupled face to face as a result of a relative movement along a general axis of the first connector part. The second connector part is carried by a movable body adapted to stop close to the first connector part so that these face each other. The connector parts include mutual centring means. One of these two connector parts is movable transverse the direction of coupling to compensate for any transverse misalignment relative to this direction. The movable connector part is carried by an auxiliary support structure with the interposition of resiliently yielding members so as to be swingable relative to the support structure. These resilient members are preloaded so as, in their undeformed condition, to define a rest position corresponding to the aligned condition of the two connector parts.

Abstract: A bowling ball having an elongated weight member integrally incorporated therein for enhancing the ball's inherent, angular momentum as it travels down a lane. The weight member has a longitudinal axis with a maximum cross-section at an intermediate axial position, and an inward, uniform taper extending from this intermediate axial position towards opposite, terminal ends. When the ball is released with the axis of the weight member in a predetermined orientation with respect to the bowler's track, as determined by the position of the grip hole(s) relative to the weight block, pin action is enhanced thereby producing consistently higher scores.