Abstract: An intraocular lens has an optic body with at least a posterior surface defining a roughness portion disposed close to the periphery of the optic body wherein the roughness portion further defines an attachment configuration specified by parameters falling within certain specific ranges determined statistically using a profilometer. The parameters measure on the order of micrometers. The attachment configuration holds the lens in place without the use of spiral shaped fibrous arms.

Abstract: The invention is a continuous, substrate-free fiber comprising amorphous boron having a tensile strength ranging from about 750 kpsi to over 1000 kpsi, and a diameter which may be varied with the number or diffraction limited laser focal spot size to provide fiber diameter as small as 0.01 micron.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for automated inverting and pressing of apparel components. A turning apparatus is provided for inverting run-stitched shirt collars or other apparel components and an automated pressing apparatus is provided for aligning a two-dimensional component so that a crease pressed therein will be located in the proper position.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for speech recognition control of apparel manufacture equipment, such as a sewing machine, is provided. This invention allows an operator to control specific operational modes of the apparel manufacture equipment through verbal commands recognized by the equipment as distinct from other sounds in the environment of the equipment. The invention includes a device for recognizing and translating an operator's verbal command into an electronic control signal; a communication device such as a microphone for inputting the operator's verbal command into the recognizing and translating device; and interfacing means for presenting the electronic control signal to the apparel manufacture equipment in a form recognized and accepted by the equipment.

Abstract: A novel method for using domperidone, a dopamine receptor antagonist, for treating fescue toxicosis in animals is provided. Fescue toxicosis is caused by animals grazing on endophyte-infected fescue grass. Treatment of the animal with various dosages of domperidone results in effective management of the toxin. The domperidone treatments do not cause any substantial adverse behavioral or neurological side effects in the animal. Domperidone is a more effective treatment for fescue toxicosis than previously-known agents such a metoclopramide and sulpiride.

Abstract: Isoelastic implants are provided with a surface roughness for anchorage in and load transmission to the surrounding tissue. The surface roughness is formed of one or more of the structures including undulations, or grooves, or pores, or lacunae, or gaps and protrusions. The roughness is located at two separate and confined regions along the surfaces of the implant which are intended for transmitting loads from the surrounding tissue into the implant or vice versa. The regions for containing the roughness are confined to two small areas at the opposite ends of the implant's surface. The ends are defined in relation to the direction of the load to be transmitted through the surfaces.

Abstract: Improved agricultural apparatus including a three-point hitch frame for attaching to a vehicle and to a tool bar assembly. Three-point hitch frame includes L-shaped retaining members for engaging the tool bar assembly and may be substantially U-shaped. The invention is also embodied in an agricultural apparatus with a hitch frame for attaching to a vehicle and to a tool bar assembly and including a metering hopper system attached to the upper side of the hitch frame. The invention is also embodied in an improved ground contact metering wheel assembly for maintaining contact with the ground even on uneven terrain. The present invention has particular applicability as an interseeding apparatus.

Abstract: A method of making pure fibers from a parent material utilizing laser energy. A short wavelength laser is used to achieve a diffraction limited focal spot diameter that is smaller than the diameter of the growing fiber. Focused laser beam convergence is used to obtain a fiber growth rate that depends on the fiber tip portion such that the fiber growth rate achieves a value equal to the controlled fiber pulling rate. The present invention achieves vapor-liquid-solid growth of single crystal silicon fibers and whiskers from silane gas and permits the use of other materials in the production of fibers by the vapor-liquid-solid process. The method provides an increase in the allowable ambient pressure and growth temperature and a large and more energy efficient growth velocity as compared to carbon dioxide based laser beam technology.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for coating carbon fibers with a pitch material. The process employs a pressurized air-comb for spreading a carbon fiber tow into individual carbon fiber filaments and providing the carbon fiber filaments in a spreaded tow to a powder deposition chamber. A pitch material is dried and finely ground and is then fed into the coating chamber at a point above the traveling spreaded carbon fiber tow. The pitch powder initially falls onto the fiber tow and begins forming a uniform coating around the individual carbon fibers. After falling past the point of the traveling carbon tow, the pitch powder is then recirculated back to the upper portion of the coating chamber and is entrained within a pitch powder cloud through which the threaded fiber tow travels. Fibers that are coated by such a method may be used to form carbon/carbon composites that exhibit high strength and excellent mechanical properties.

Abstract: A high voltage accelerating potential, which is supplied by a high voltage direct current power supply, is applied to the electrically conducting interior wall of an RF powered glow discharge cell. The RF power supply desirably is electrically grounded, and the conductor carrying the RF power to the sample held by the probe is desirably shielded completely excepting only the conductor's terminal point of contact with the sample. The high voltage DC accelerating potential is not supplied to the sample. A high voltage capacitance is electrically connected in series between the sample on the one hand and the RF power supply and an impedance matching network on the other hand. The high voltage capacitance isolates the high DC voltage from the RF electronics, while the RF potential is passed across the high voltage capacitance to the plasma. An inductor protects at least the RF power supply, and desirably the impedance matching network as well, from a short that might occur across the high voltage capacitance.

Abstract: A method is provided which includes infusing oxygen into pitch material without stabilizing the oxygen-infused pitch material. In addition, the invention includes further processing steps (including heat stabilization in either an inert atmosphere or an oxygen-containing atmosphere, deformation, pyrolysis, and/or composite formation) performed after or in conjunction with the oxygenation process. Moreover, the invention includes the composition of matter (in any of a number of different physical forms such as powder, fiber, shaped article, composites) resulting from the practice of this oxygenation process, either alone or in conjunction with the further processing steps. The composition has a homogeneous distribution of oxygen and can be heat stabilized in an inert atmosphere.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for moving yarn in a selected pattern to form a braided article. The apparatus includes a segmented grid of stationary support elements and a plurality of shuttles configured to carry yarn. The shuttles are supported for movement on the grid assembly and each shuttle includes a retractable plunger for engaging a reciprocating shuttle plate that moves below the grid assembly. Such engagement at selected times causes the shuttles to move about the grid assembly in a selected pattern to form a braided article of a particular geometry.

Abstract: A fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composition for producing composite structural members and a method for making same is provided. The composition is made by combining a thermoplastic resin with pre-treated high moisture cellulosic materials, such as discarded newspaper, having lignin contained therein. Moisture treatment of the cellulosic materials exhibit improvements over composites using dry cellulosic materials. The composite composition may then be extruded or compression molded into various articles of manufacture.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for qualitatively and quantitatively analyzing a complex radiation field are provided. A microdosimetry device is provided having an array of microstructure parallel p-n junctions. Each junction defines a predetermined sensitive volume within which a voltage pulse is produced responsive to incident radiation. Circuitry in communication with the detector array generates digital pulse signals representative of the voltage pulses induced within the sensitive volumes responsive to incident radiation, and further provides a summation of the digital pulses occurring at particular energies. The summations of digital pulses are compared to known energies generated by known ionizing particles in comparable sensitive volumes to generate an dose equivalent estimate. Apparatus and method for calculating the total dose from an incident radiation field may also be included.

Abstract: An actuating apparatus, which can be used to perform variable valve timing of the intake or exhaust valves of an internal combustion engine, includes a hollow shaft with at least one slot defined through a cylindrical wall. A movable cam member is disposed to project through the slot and is rotatable relative to the hollow shaft in a channel defined in the interior surface of the hollow shaft. A base circle band extends circumferentially around the outer surface of the hollow shaft between the endwalls of the slot. The exterior surface of the hollow shaft can define grooves which receive front or back ear members of the cam member. The exterior surface of the hollow shaft also can define recesses, which in some embodiments have bottom surfaces and in other embodiments have partial bottom surfaces or no bottom surface. The recesses can receive tongue members formed on the cam member. The cam member can be engaged by a cam follower that has a roller to engage the cam surface.

Abstract: A method is provided which includes infusing oxygen into pitch material without stabilizing the oxygen-infused pitch material. In addition, the invention includes further processing steps (including heat stabilization in either an inert atmosphere or an oxygen-containing atmosphere, deformation, pyrolysis, and/or composite formation) performed after or in conjunction with the oxygenation process. Moreover, the invention includes the composition of matter (in any of a number of different physical forms such as powder, fiber, shaped article, composites) resulting from the practice of this oxygenation process, either alone or in conjunction with the further processing steps. The composition has a homogeneous distribution of oxygen and can be heat stabilized in an inert atmosphere.

Abstract: A soft tissue implant device such as a catheter, heart valve, or plastic or reconstructive surgical material, to be at least partially embedded in an implantation site in soft organic tissue of a living organism includes a body defining a surface layer extending over the portion of the body contacting the organic tissue. The surface layer defines a three-dimensional pattern with an exterior surface defining a plurality of spaces and a plurality of solid surface portions. The spaces have a mean bridging distance ranging from greater than 1.0 micron to less than 4.0 microns and the solid surface portions have mean breadths ranging from 0.10 micron to 2.0 microns. The mean bridging distance is preferably greater than 1.4 microns and less than 1.9 microns. The exterior surface is substantially free of indentations having a bridging distance measuring in a range from between 10.0 microns and 1,000 microns.

Abstract: A harvester adapted for harvesting low-lying fruit, such as typical with high-density, dwarf trees, includes an intra-loop conveyor for collecting detached fruit relatively close to the ground and elevating same with a single flighted belt. The harvester straddles a single row of the trees and detaches the fruit therefrom by repeatedly impacting the tree canopies are the harvester moves along the row. Spring-loaded deflection plates close around the tree trunks and deflect detached fruit outwardly to interior surfaces of a pair of single-loop conveyors. Baffles cooperating with the interior of each conveyor restrains fruit therein as the conveyor passes overhead to an inverted position. Fruit is discharged from the conveyor elevated segment onto an output conveyor passing beneath the discharge area. The output conveyor includes a multi-segment, foldable conveyor frame over which a single conveyor belt is entrained. The conveyor belt may be folded over the harvester during non-harvesting transport.

Abstract: An actuating apparatus, which can be used to perform variable valve timing of the intake or exhaust valves of an internal combustion engine, includes a hollow shaft with at least one slot defined through a cylindrical wall. A movable cam member is disposed to project through the slot and is rotatable relative to the hollow shaft in a channel defined in the interior surface of the hollow shaft. A base circle band extends circumferentially around the outer surface of the hollow shaft between the endwalls of the slot. The exterior surface of the hollow shaft can define grooves which receive front or back ear members of the cam member. The exterior surface of the hollow shaft also can define recesses, which in some embodiments have bottom surfaces and in other embodiments have partial bottom surfaces or no bottom surface. The recesses can receive tongue members formed on the cam member. The cam member can be engaged by a cam follower that has a roller to engage the cam surface.

Abstract: Hollow carbon fibers and carbon fibers having a generally C-shaped transverse cross-sectional area are produced by extruding a carbonaceous anisotropic liquid precursor through a spinneret having a capillary with a generally C-shaped cross-sectional area, into a fiber filament, controlling the viscosity of the molten precursor, the pressure of the molten precursor and the linear take-up speed of the filament to yield a fiber filament having a cross-sectional area shaped substantially like the shape of the cross-sectional area of the capillary and further having a line-origin microstructure, rendering the filament infusible, heating the filament in an inert pre-carbonizing environment at a temperature in the range of 600.degree. C. to 1000.degree. C. for 1 to 5 minutes, and heating the filament in an inert carbonizing environment at a temperature in the range of 1550.degree. C. to 1600.degree. C. for 5 to 10 minutes, to substantially increase the tensile strength of the filament.