Abstract: A computer, responsive to user input, controls the presentation of an audio-visual work to a user. Through the selection of several interactive learning options, support and reinforcement of the learning process is provided. In particular, the computer interacts with the user to challenge the user's understanding of the audio-visual work. In connection with the presentation of foreign language works, the user interacts with the computer in role playing, transcription, translation, fill-in-the-blanks and speech repetition activities designed to teach the user to speak the foreign language. Furthermore, as the audio-visual work is presented, a computer generated transcription or translation is displayed for user contemplation, and the user may interact with the computer by requesting the display of grammatical, cultural and geographic notes the further assist in the learning process.

Abstract: A composite friction or gasketting material is disclosed having a combination of thermoset or thermo-plastic matrix resin, fiber reinforcing material, and aramid particles. The composite material exhibits improved wear resistance when compared with materials having no aramid particles.

Abstract: The present invention provides a nitrile hydratase nucleic acid fragment isolated from Pseudomonas putida which encodes a nitrile hydratase activity capable of catalyzing the hydrolysis of certain racemic nitriles to the corresponding R- or S-amides. Also provided are transformed microorganisms capable of the active expression of said nitrile hydratase activity. Additionally, the invention provides a transformant harboring the nitrile hydratase gene in conjunction with an amidase gene, both of which may be co-expressed producing active nitrile hydratase and amidase enzymes respectively. Methods for the production of such enantiomeric materials are also provided.

Abstract: Holograms and diffraction gratings are described wherein the presence of a "key-colour" (Magenta) permits an observer to identify the position where all the other colours of the hologram in question can be univocally determined. Two set of spectra are provided such that at a predetermined angle a reference beam of incident white-light illuminating the hologram or diffraction grating composition will cause the observer to see the color "Magenta" which is to be used as a reference "key-colour".

Abstract: The optical add/drop multiplexer has a pair of nominally identical interference filters, one of which carries out the function of extracting a carrier from a wavelength division multiplexed stream and the other the insertion function. The filters are arranged in parallel planes and are secured to opposite faces of a transparent plate so that the stream exits the device after having undergone reflection by both filters. The plate is mounted on a support which can be rotated in either direction to vary the tuning wavelength of the filters.

Abstract: A light source system for fiberoptic networks is presented. The system has a laser light source, an optical circulator, an optical fiber section having at least one fiber Bragg grating, and an output port. The optical circulator receives light through its first port and passes the light to the circulator's second port and light received through the second port is passed to the circulator's third port. The first port is connected to the light source. The optical fiber section is connected to the second port and the fiber Bragg grating has a reflectivity centered about a predetermined wavelength. The third port, which is unconnected to the light source, is connected to the output port of the system. Light from the output port has the predetermined wavelength with significantly reduced ASE.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically announcing the arrival status of a vehicle to occupants of the vehicle. The apparatus stores route identification, trip identification, and destination identification for at least one predetermined route. The destination information includes, for each destination, at least a destination number, destination name, and a set of first and second latitude and first and second longitude coordinates defining a logical box associated with each destination. The apparatus also stores digital information corresponding to an announcement for each destination, inputs an intended route and trip identification at a starting point of the intended route and trip, and has a GPS receiver for determining the present position of the vehicle in latitude and longitude coordinates.

Abstract: An electrically driven metering pump removes used oil in precise increments at a controllable rate of repetition from a safe operating level in the sump or reservoir of an engine, compressor, transmission or other power equipment; preferably in combination with means provided by a circulating oil supply system, in which withdrawal of oil from the sump is at a controlled running level and oil for removal is taken from a withdrawal path in the supply system, using a separator to exclude air from the oil removed. Oil removed by the metering pump is filtered and delivered to an electrically driven blending pump, which draws in engine fuel for combination with this oil by turbulence, repetitive transfer, heating and forced dispersion to produce a primary blend at a composition determined by the relative volumes of delivery per operating pulse and the relative rates of pulse repetition of the metering and blending pumps.

Abstract: This invention provides new refractory binder compositions comprising silica and titania which can be used to make ceramic bodies, particularly bricks. The refractory binder compositions comprise about 70 to about 92 wt. % silica (SiO.sub.2) and about 8 to about 30% titania (TiO.sub.2). The refractory binder compositions may further comprise alumina and a metal oxide selected from the group consisting of calcium oxide, strontium oxide, and sodium oxide, and mixtures thereof. The refractory ceramic bodies can be used in hot corrosive/erosive environments such as in fluid bed chlorinators in the manufacture of titanium dioxide.

Abstract: A method for selecting tie point locations within a series of overlapping images. Initially the series of images are ordered to maximize the potential for successful phase correlations between adjacent images. Adjacent pairs in the ordered images are then phase correlated to determine the translational offsets between adjacent pairs. The overlapping regions in adjacent pairs are assessed for normalized cross correlation and initial candidate tie points are selected within the regions at a reduced resolution. The initially selected tie points are then phase correlated at full resolution and any surviving candidate tie point locations are further refined to sub-pixel accuracy.

Abstract: A hydrometallurgical process for treating copper feed materials containing gold and/or silver by simultaneously leaching copper, gold and/or silver into an aqueous cyanide solution, extracting copper, gold and cyanide with anion exchange resin is provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides improvements in a device and in a process for reducing the amounts of carbon monoxide and any oxides of nitrogen in an airbag inflated by a pyrotechnic inflator by exposing the combustion gases released by the explosion of the inflator, wherein carbon monoxide has been to a large extent oxidized to carbon dioxide with a first oxidizing agent, to a catalytic activation system of a supported palladium(II) salt in contact with a thermally stable second oxidizing agent, preferably an organic heteropolyanion capable of donating oxygen. In the device, the oxidant and the catalyst are protected by a thin, impermeable sheet from contact with surrounding atmosphere to prevent progressive deactivation prior to use.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved process for the preparation of 1-alkyl-3-methylpiperidone-2 and 1-alkyl-5-methylpiperidone-2 from 2-methylglutaronitrile wherein the selectivity of the process to bis-1,5-(methylamido)-3-methylpentane is less than 8%.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making a carpet formed from a plurality of tuftstrings bonded to a backing. Methods and apparatii for accurately positioning the tuftstring and ultrasonically bonding multiple tuftstrings to the backing is disclosed.

Abstract: An improved transactional drawer and method for reciprocating the drawer relative to its housing and opening the customer door in a sequential multi-stage manner. The drawer assembly preferably comprises a housing, a drawer and a customer door, wherein the drawer is free to reciprocate relative to the housing by interaction of a rail and corresponding slot guide track arrangement. A low powered reversible power source selectively reciprocates the drawer relative to the housing, a cam actuator, and the interaction of a cam actuator and follower arrangement mechanically moves the customer door between pre-determined opened and closed positions in a sequential multi-stage manner in response to the reciprocation of the drawer.

Abstract: A composite yarn is for making braided packing for sealing pump or rotating valve shafts. The packing comprises an external layer and a core. Preferably, the external layer is made of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) impregnated with graphite, and the core is an aramide filament. The graphite impregnated, expanded PTFE gives the composite yarn good thermal conductivity, high capacity of friction reduction and good resistance to chemical attacks. The aramide filament has high mechanical strength. The composite yarn can be braided to form a packing where only the PTFE contacts the shaft, thus protecting it against uneven wear.

Abstract: A process for making a multilayer flexographic printing plate which involves reinforcing and laser engraving a multilayer flexographic printing element.

Abstract: The cavity has at least one waveguide segment with elliptical cross section whose axes are arranged at a given inclination angle (.alpha.) with respect to the polarization of the incident TE field. Thus a dual-mode cavity is realized, with the ability to let resonate two transverse fields (TE) with polarization planes orthogonal to each other. By adding a waveguide element able to introduce a non-axial discontinuity, a triple-mode cavity is obtained, allowing for an additional longitudinal mode to resonate as well.