Abstract: A method is provided for preparing intermediates for use in prostacyclin syntheses which method includes the steps of aceylating ketopinic acid or its acid halide to form the corresponding ketopinoyl diene ester intermediate, subjecting the diene ester to a Diels-Alder reaction by reacting same with cyclopentendione, subjecting the resulting chiral ester intermediate to a fluorination and reduction to form the corresponding chiral ester diol intermediate, subjecting the diol to solvolysis to form the chiral triol intermediate, hydroxylating the chiral triol to form a pentol intermediate, subjecting the pentol to a ring cleavage to form the difluoro dihydroxy prostacyclin intermediate: ##STR1## and subjecting same to a Wittig reaction to form the difluoro dihydroxy prostacyclin intermediate: ##STR2## All of the above-mentioned intermediates are novel compounds and thus are also provided.

Abstract: A circuit arrangement for emitting ringing signals to a subscriber station in response to a call signal electronically generated at a telephone exchange comprises a control unit which, in the presence of such call signal, intermittently reverses a switching relay normally connecting the talking conductors of the subscriber line to monitoring equipment of the exchange whereby these conductors periodically receive a high-voltage ringing current, e.g. of 25 Hz, from a local oscillator in series with a d-c supply. The direct current is blocked by a line-terminating capacitor until the called subscriber lifts the receiver off the hook to close the line loop. If this occurs while the line is connected to the oscillator, a sensor in the control unit detects a significant disparity between the durations of the positive and negative voltage swings in an oscillator cycle and causes the release of the switching relay when that disparity exceeds a dynamic threshold determined by the actual cycle length.

Abstract: Culturing aerobically Serratia sp. SC 11,482 A.T.C.C. No. 39006 in a culture medium containing assimilable carbon and nitrogen sources yields 1-carba-2-penem-3-carboxylic acid.

Abstract: Apparatus for dispensing X-ray film sheets includes a backing device disposed in a housing for urging a stack of film sheets into engagement with a roller so that film sheets pass one at a time from the housing. The backing device includes a low friction block at the bottom thereof which has fingers extending through slots in a support plate. A forward portion of the low friction block which moves close to the roller to press a last film of the stack against the roller.

Abstract: A thermoplastic copolyester elastomer composition comprising (A) a copolyester consisting essentially of a multiplicity of long-chain ester units and short-chain ester units joined through ester linkages, said long-chain ester units being represented by the formula ##STR1## and said short-chain ester units being represented by the formula ##STR2## where G is a divalent radical remaining after the removal of hydroxyl groups from at least one long-chain glycol having a melting point of less than about 55.degree. C.

Abstract: Resistor composition comprising an admixture of finely divided particles of (a) ruthenium-based conductive material, (b) inorganic binder and (c) a manganese vanadate compound.

Abstract: A register circuit for processing information in accordance with a given instruction set or set of transformation comprises N registers each having an input and an output and provided in a sequence R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, . . . R.sub.N, each register having n digits where N and n are integers. The output of the first register R.sub.1 is connected to a first bus while its input is connected to a second bus. All of the other registers R.sub.2, R.sub.3, . . . R.sub.N have their inputs connected to the first bus and their outputs to the second bus by respective strobe circuits. The strobe circuits of each of the buses R.sub.3 . . . R.sub.N are connected to respective control inputs a.sub.3 . . . a.sub.N. Additional control inputs a.sub.1 and a.sub.2 are connected to an OR-gate whose output is applied to the input strobe circuit of register R.sub.2 while the input a.sub.2 is also applied directly to the output strobe circuit of register R.sub. 2.

Abstract: Strong dimensionally stable high-melting nonwoven fibrous sheets comprised of filaments from an optically anisotropic melt-forming polymer and self-bonded at a plurality of filament cross-over points, and a process for making such sheets.

Abstract: The application of certain sulfonylurea compounds to sugarcane and sorghum increases their sugar content. These compounds have the formula: ##STR1## wherein R is C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.4 alkenyl, CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 OCH.sub.3 or CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 Cl;R.sub.1 is H or CH.sub.3 ;X is CH.sub.3, OCH.sub.3, OC.sub.2 H.sub.5 or CH.sub.2 OCH.sub.3 ;Y is CH.sub.3 or OCH.sub.3 ; andZ is CH or N; oran agriculturally acceptable salt thereof.

Abstract: Light from a laser, converted into pulses by a chopper, is trained upon an end of an optical fiber--whose refractive-index profile is to be determined--through a first polarizer, a beam splitter, a focusing objective and a 90.degree. phase shifter, the space between the objective and the fiber end being occupied by a fluid whose refractive index is close to that of the fiber. Light reflected from the fiber end, having passed twice through the phase shifter, has a plane of polarization orthogonal to that of the incident light and is passed by a second polarizer, to which it is directed by the beam splitter, onto a photodiode feeding a calculator that also receives a reference signal from another photodiode to which part of the polarized laser pulses are directly reflected by the beam splitter. Spurious reflections from the objective surface, which do not pass through the phase shifter, retain the original polarization and are rejected by the second polarizer.

Abstract: 3-Ketoandrostenes having in the 17-position the substituents R.sub.1 --S-- and R.sub.2 --S-- wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are the same or different and each is alkyl, cycloalkyl or aryl, have antiinflammatory activity.

Abstract: Process for broadening the processing range of photohardenable negatively functioning reproduction materials wherein the unexposed areas are removed by liquid development and while still in contact with the developer the material is diffusely exposed to delayed actinic radiation, the delayed exposure amounting to at least 5% of the time necessary to clear the unexposed material.

Abstract: The n-type region of a silicon solar cell is metallized with a nickel-antimony alloy to provide an external contact.

Abstract: 65-99 percent by weight poly(tetrafluoroethylene) fibers and 1-35 percent by weight glass fibers are combined in an intimate blend suitable for the preparation of filter felts having reduced leakage while maintaining high permeability to gas flow.

Abstract: Compatible, aqueous developable photopolymerizable composition consisting essentially of (a) 22 to 32% by wt. of a monomeric compound having at least two terminal ethylenic groups, (b) 0.1 to 5.0% by wt of a photoinitiator or initiator system, (c) 40 to 80% by wt of a binder system which is the reaction product of (1) 65 to 87 parts by wt of a terpolymer of methylmethacrylate, butylmethacrylate and methacrylic acid as defined, (2) 5 to 20 parts by wt of a polyamide resin and (3) 5 to 20 parts by wt of a copolymer of vinyl pyrrolidone and vinyl acetate, (d) 0.03 to 0.10% by wt of a thermal polymerization inhibitor, and optionally up to 18% by wt of a plasticizer and up to 2.0% by wt of a tertiary amine capable of salt formation with a carboxylic acid. Aqueous developable photopolymerizable elements comprise a support bearing a layer of the composition. Relief printing plates can be prepared by imagewise exposing and developing the elements.

Abstract: A flame-retardant polyamide composition is described which has good arc tracking resistance. The composition is comprised of a polyamide, a selected organic flame-retardant, melamine or derivative, zinc borate or oxide and glass fiber.

Abstract: A process for extracting a fluorinated polymer which contains carboxylic ester functional groups with a liquid compound which is preferably a perchlorofluorocarbon having a boiling point in the range of 30.degree. to 125.degree. C. is described. Polymer so extracted can be fabricated into a membrane and hydrolyzed to ion exchange form to provide a membrane for electrolytic cells. When used as the membrane for a chloralkali cell, such membrane provides improved performance, e.g., a high level of current efficiency and low power consumption are maintained for an extended period of time when compared against a membrane of like construction fabricated from polymer which has not been so extracted.

Abstract: Perfluoroglycidyl ethers of the formula: ##STR1## are prepared by epoxidation of a perfluoroallyl ether of the formula:CF.sub.2 .dbd.CFCF.sub.2 OR.sub.F.The glycidyl ethers are useful as monomers for preparing polymers which are useful as stable oils and greases. Polymers containing functional moieties which provide crosslinking or cure sites are stable elastomeric materials useful as sealants, caulks, and fabricated objects.