Abstract: In order to determine the acoustic impedance of a human ear at various static pressures, a probe tightly fitted to the pinna of the ear transmits a short acoustic pulse with a wide frequency spectrum (such as white noise) from an electroacoustic transducer to the ear canal and receives back an acoustic response signal which a microphone converts into an electrical wave. The latter is digitized and transformed into terms of a Fourier series fed to a processor which, on the basis of similar terms stored in a memory and previously obtained with the same probe fitted to two different cylindrical calibrating cavities, derives therefrom the acoustic ear impedance at a particular air pressure. The processor also triggers an electric pulse generator, working into the electroacoustic transducer, and may progressively adjust a generator of static air pressure connected to the probe.

Abstract: In the lamination of thermoplastic polymer layers to substrates a thin surface layer of the substrate can be heated to improve adhesion without substantially heating the mass of the substrate by advancing the exposed surface of the thin layer in surface-conforming contact with a heated surface for 0.1 to one second at an interface pressure of 0.1 to 5 kilograms per centimeter of substrate width, the heated surface having an initial temperature of 35.degree.-350.degree. C.

Abstract: Apparatus for laying conduit, cable and the like, most advantageously in a trench, features a hopper embodied in a frame adapted to be placed within a trench and loaded with gravel or other embedment material. The construction and placement of the hopper provides for discharge therefrom of the embedment material as the frame is moved the length of the trench, the discharge being to the bottom and at one end of the frame and to a level metered by a readily adjustable control blade. A feed tube extended through the frame and the hopper, to position within the body of the embedment material introduced therein, is provided with a mount enabling its substantially universal adjustment. This feed tube serves to guide and discharge the conduit, cable or the like to be laid simultaneously with the discharge of the embedment material and within and at a predetermined level with respect thereto.

Abstract: A method for the determination of one or more components of an immunological conjugate, e.g., antigens, of a fluid sample in a competitive or sandwich technique in which the conjugate is labelled and separated from its reactive mixture by reversible attachment to a solid surface. In a preferred embodiment, the solid surface comprises insolubilized sugar which reversibly bonds to a lectin covalently bonded to one member of the conjugate. After separation of such solid surface from the remainder of the reaction mixture, the insolubilized sugar-lectin bond is broken by contact with a sugar solution which displaces the labelled lectin compound. The immunological components including label and lectin may be preincubated in a homogeneous solution prior to reversible attachment to the sugar solid surface. For a competitive system, a sample containing antigen is incubated with a known quantity of labelled antigen and lectin-bound antibody.

Abstract: A bipolar drive circuit for driving a load, such as a printer, is compatible with complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) circuitry and may be driven by a non-inverting hex buffer. Connected to the input of the drive circuit is a clamp circuit for providing a shunt path to ground for leakage currents during floating or open circuit conditions at the input. The output of the drive circuit includes a plurality of transistors connected in a complementary Darlington configuration to provide the necessary current gain to drive a conventional output, medium power, transistor. A diode is connected between the input of the drive circuit and ground for protection.

Abstract: A dry-developing dry film resist is provided comprising a photopolymerizable layer preferably sandwiched between a support sheet and a cover sheet, the layer comprising polymerizable monomer in excess of the absorptive capacity of the layer, photopolymerization initiator, and binder component of a plurality of polymers, at least one of these polymers being incompatible so as to be present as a dispersion in the layer to reduce the cohesive strength of the layer. The layer is developed by peeling away the support sheet, the unexposed area of the layer adhering to the support sheet and the exposed area adhering to the substrate to which it was laminated to form a resist image against such treatments as etching, plating and soldering, especially to make a printed circuit.

Abstract: The quality of a resin-bonded twisted string comprised of three flattened monofilaments in a side-by-side relationship is improved when the monofilaments are precoated with resin prior to twisting and then twisted in a zone wherein the excess lengths of the two outer monofilaments in the twisted configuration is compensated for during twisting by forwarding the two outer monofilaments at a positively controlled speed and allowing the speed of the middle monofilament to be controlled by being drawn into the twisting zone through a roller slot guide at a speed freely determined relative to the speed of the two other monofilaments entering the twisting zone.

Abstract: Improved apparatus for cleaning vehicles includes three water lines each having a pump and a pressure regulator therein. A liquid container is connected to each line upstream of the pump, for adding liquid to the line, by a dosage metering device and a shut-off valve. Two containers are for liquid cleaners, acid and alkaline, respectively, while the third container is for water-repellant rinsing liquid. The two cleaner lines are alternatively connectable downstream of the pumps therein to a compressed air spray nozzle, while the rinsing liquid line is connectable to a separate rinsing nozzle that is also usable for drying by connection to the compressed air source.

Abstract: A foot pump comprises a base member and an operating member pivotally connected to the base member. A piston-and-cylinder assembly is connected between the members. In use the user depresses the operating member with his or her foot, thereby causing air to be compressed in and expelled from said assembly. A return spring returns the operating member to its raised position. The base and operating members have complementary pivot pin and hook means which are hooked together to form the pivotal connection between the members. The members are preferably made as unitary plastics mouldings, the pivot pin and hook means being resiliently clipped together.

Abstract: A breakerless magneto ignition system having a stator assembly including an ignition coil and core. A solid state gate turn-off switch (GTO) is connected by its anode-cathode electrodes in circuit with the primary winding of the ignition coil for conducting primary current. A solid state switching component is connected in circuit with the control electrode or gate of the GTO and with a capacitor which is charged by current generated in the primary winding in one direction as a result of magneto rotation. The stator assembly includes a trigger coil circumferentially spaced from a leg of the core of the ignition coil a distance approximately equal to the edge distance of the magneto to provide a trigger pulse.

Abstract: Pharmaceutical compositions containing 1-aryl-5-(2-propenylamino)-1-penten-3-ones and salts thereof having the structure ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is hydrogen, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, halogen, hydroxy, lower alkanoyloxy, nitro, cyano, amino, carboxy or lower alkoxycarbonyl, and R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 are the same or different and are hydrogen or lower alkyl. These compositions are useful in treating inflammatory conditions.

Abstract: For the splicing of trunks of optical fibers, confronting trunk ends are closely juxtaposed in a surrounding enclosure which is subjected to vibrations transverse to its axis to generate an oscillating air column setting the trunk ends in vibration, the fiber trunks being clamped at points spaced from these ends by a distance sufficient to give rise to several standing-wave nodes at the applied frequency on the free fiber extremities. With these extremities vibrating in unison but at limited amplitudes compatible with the maximum permissible offset of the trunk axes, the confronting trunk ends are joined by the hardening of a blob of cement matching their refractive index, by electric fusion, or with the aid of a laser beam.

Abstract: A method of recovering metallic tellurium from a residue dust containing a major amount of lead oxide, a minor amount of tellurium oxide, and a minor amount of iron oxide which comprises the steps of introducing the residue into a leach tank containing water, sulphuric acid and ferric sulphate, the sulphuric acid being present in the leach tank in an amount equal to about 5% to 10% by weight in excess of that stoichiometrically required to react with the lead and tellurium, the ferric sulphate being added as an oxidizing agent, reacting the residue with the sulphuric acid and ferric sulphate to produce lead sulphate and a tellurium solution, removing the lead sulphate and tellurium solution from the leach tank and separating the lead sulphate from the tellurium solution, adding the separated tellurium solution to a tumbler containing particles of metallic iron, agitating the tumbler so that the tellurium solution reacts with the iron to produce ferrous sulphate and metallic tellurium, withdrawing the mixture

Abstract: Compounds having the formula ##STR1## wherein: R.sub.1 is hydrogen, alkyl, aryl or arylalkyl;R.sub.2 is hydrogen and R.sub.3 is hydrogen, hydroxy, alkoxy or halogen, or together R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 can be .dbd.O or --X--(CH.sub.2).sub.t --X-- wherein X is oxygen or sulfur and t is 2 or 3;R.sub.4 is hydrogen or alkyl;R.sub.5 is hydrogen, alkyl or trifluoromethyl;R.sub.6 is alkyl of 1 to 20 carbon atoms, aryl, arylalkyl or a 5- or 6-membered heterocyclic group having 1 or 2 nitrogen, sulfur or oxygen atoms in the ring;R.sub.7 is aryl;m is 0, 1 or 2; andn is 1 or 2have useful hypotensive activity.

Abstract: Reaction of a large excess of 1,4-butanediol with methylenebis (4-phenyl isocyanate) gives a mixture of urethanediols which is a suitable curing agent for isocyanate-terminated polyurethane prepolymers, especially prepolymers made from methylenebis (4-phenyl isocyanate) and polyols. It is desirable to have a urethanediol mixture in which at least about 88 weight percent consists of the reaction product of 2 moles of 1,4-butanediol with 1 mole of the diisocyanate, about 10 weight percent of the reaction product of 3 moles of 1,4-butanediol with 2 moles of the diisocyanate, and no more than about 2 weight percent of 1,4-butanediol. The novel cured polyurethanes have higher hardness and better overall physical properties than methylenebis-(4-phenyl isocyanate)-based polyurethanes cured with conventional commercial diols providing "hard" cured products.

Abstract: Fluorinated phenolic polymer, process for its preparation, and use thereof, particularly in the form of a film as a membrane in an electrolytic cell, said polymer consisting essentially of recurring units of(1) --CF.sub.2 CFX-- wherein X in each of the recurring units is independently selected from F, Cl, R and OR wherein R is perfluoroalkyl of 1 to 4 carbon atoms and ##STR1## wherein Y is Cl, R or OR wherein R is perfluoroalkyl of 1 to 4 carbon atoms; M is H, alkali metal or NR.sub.4 ' wherein R' in each of the recurring units is independently selected from H and alkyl of 1 to 6 carbon atoms; x is an average value within the range about 0.2 to about 1.0; n is 1, 2 or 3; and p is 0 or 1,said polymer having 0 to about 21 units of (1) per unit of (2).

Abstract: A moisture sensor including a probe formed with a first ring of spines extending in parallel outward from a base and a second ring of spines extending in parallel outward from the base separated and insulated from the first ring, the spines forming an effective coaxial capacitor and being insertable into material to be sensed and an RC bridge circuit, preferably a Wien bridge connected to the rings to measure the impedance of the material.

Abstract: Tetrahydrofuran is prepared by reacting propylene and aqueous formaldehyde stabilized with alcohol in the presence of silica sand to form 3-buten-1-ol and chlorinating the 3-buten-1-ol in the presence of Group IA or IIA chloride to form 3,4-dichlorobutan-1-ol which is then treated with a Group IA or IIA base to form 3-chlorotetrahydrofuran which is then hydrogenated to form tetrahydrofuran.

Abstract: Propenimidates are provided having the formula: ##STR1## wherein X and Y are independently O or S; andR.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are independently C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, (CH.sub.2).sub.n OR.sup.3 where R.sup.3 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl and n is 1 or 2, CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 Cl, or CH.sub.2 CF.sub.3, provided that when R or R.sup.2 is CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 Cl or CH.sub.2 CF.sub.3, then the respective X or Y is O.Preferred propenimidates have X and Y as O and R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 as methyl or ethyl.The propenimidates are made by preparing a monohydrohalide salt from a dihydrohalide salt of the formula: ##STR2## and then contacting the monohydrohalide salt with cyanamide. The propenimidates upon heating ring close to pyrimidines which are useful in preparing herbicidal compounds.

Abstract: A water reducible coating composition that by the addition of a solution of water and an amine or ammonia forms a sprayable nonair polluting coating composition that can be dried at ambient temperatures and is useful for coating metal or plastic substrates and in particular for finishing or repairing automobiles and trucks; the coating composition contains a water soluble organic solvent, a binder and pigments.The binder is of(1) an alkyd resin that is preferably the esterification product of soya oil fatty acids, trimellitic anhydride isophthalic acid and trimethylol propane;(2) an alkylated melamine formaldehyde resin,(3) an acrylic dispersing resin and(4) an organo metallic drier.