Abstract: A process for producing salt free titanium powder by reacting zinc and a titanium halide in the presence of a reducing agent to form a solid zinc titanium product. Titanium halide vapor is introduced into a liquid alloy of zinc and the reducing agent at a temperature between 650.degree.-907.degree. C. The titanium halide is introduced beyond the titanium solubility limit in zinc to precipitate a zinc titanium intermetallic compound and also produce a liquid halide salt. The intermetallic compound forms and accumulates at an interface between the salt and liquid alloy. The compound is periodically removed from the interface, crushed into a powder, and the zinc is evaporatively separated from the titanium to produce pure titanium powder. The process preferably occurs above the peritectic decomposition temperature of Zn.sub.3 Ti, and most preferably above the peritectic decomposition temperature of Zn.sub.2 Ti, to maximize the titanium content of the resulting product.

Abstract: A Reed-Solomon Galois Field Euclid algorithm error correction decoder solves Euclid's algorithm with a Euclid stack which can be configured to function as a Euclid divide or a Euclid multiply module. The decorder is able to resolve twice the erasure errors by selecting .GAMMA.(x) and T(x) as the initial conditions for .LAMBDA..sup.(0) (x) and .OMEGA..sup.(0) (x), respectively.

Abstract: A CMOS storage cell includes an n-channel storage circuit which has cross coupled n-channel storage transistors and a p-channel storage circuit including cross coupled p-channel storage transistors. Each of the n-channel storage transistors has an n-channel load transistor and each of the p-channel storage transistors has a p-channel load transistor. The n-channel load transistors are coupled to be controlled by the p-channel storage circuit and the p-channel load transistors are coupled to be controlled by the n-channel storage circuit. The n-channel load transistors are designed to carry less current than the p-channel storage transistors and the p-channel load transistors are designed to carry less current than the n-channel storage transistors. The storage cell can be used for a Static RAM or for a flip flop.

Abstract: A Reed-Solomon Galois Field Euclid algorithm decoder determines whether an error is uncorrectable by checking for:I. deg [.LAMBDA.(x))].ltoreq.tII. deg [.OMEGA.(x)]<deg[.LAMBDA.(x)]III. All roots of .LAMBDA.(x) are in GF(q.sup.m)IV. Roots of .LAMBDA.(x) are distinctV. .LAMBDA.(x) has no roots at 0VI. S(x).LAMBDA.(x)=.ident..OMEGA.(x) mod x.sup.2tAn error in a received Reed Solomon message may be uncorrectable. An error is correctable only when each of the six conditions are met. Any error which fails to meet these six criteria cannot be corrected It is important to users of such encoded data that they are aware that an error is contained therein which is uncorrectable. Because it has only recently been proven that failure to meet these criteria in fact is the result of an uncorrectable error. No prior art Reed Solomon decoder checks to determine whether these criteria are in fact met. Many of these criteria are checked by implication as the normal result of calculating through Euclid's algorithm.

Abstract: A wafer etching system for forming a fine line pattern on a wafer of a semiconductive material having an etchable film layer with an outer surface being divided by masking into exposed regions and masked regions includes an etchant vapor supply system for producing an etchant vapor of an etchant reactable with the etchable film layer. The system also includes an aerosol centrifuge etching device, including an expansion nozzle for adibatically expanding the etchant vapor received from the supply system to form therefrom etchant aerosols. The aerosol centrifuge etching device also includes a centrifuge which receives and uniformly accelerates the received etchant aerosols with a centrifugal force toward the wafer to be etched. The aerosol centrifuge etching device further includes mounting means for mounting the wafer within the centrifuge so the etchant aerosols may impinge upon the outer surface of the wafer and etch away the exposed regions of the etchable film layer.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention, a method of treating mine water to remove ferric hydroxide comprises:combining acidic mine water with a predetermined amount of a fatty oil to produce a mixture;agitating the mixture for a first predetermined period of time to agglomerate solid ferric hydroxide and oil;allowing the agitated mixture to settle within a vessel for a second predetermined period of time to cause agglomerated ferric hydroxide and oil to rise to an upper level of the agitated mixture to provide a settled mixture of agglomerated hydroxide and oil floating atop remaining liquid therebelow; andseparating the agglomerated ferric hydroxide and oil at the upper level of the settled mixture from the remaining liquid.The process can also be conducted under such conditions that most all of the zinc follows the ferric hydroxide into the agglomerate phase.

Abstract: A method of killing insect larvae in larvae-infected fruit is disclosed, which comprises shrinkwrapping individual fruit from a geographical area infested with an insect known to infect the fruit for a time sufficient to kill larvae of the insect, wherein no treatment of the fruit to kill the insect or the insect larvae occurs between picking and shrinkwrapping the fruit. Shrinkwrapped fruit prepared by the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for the production of substantially pure fructose from sucrose-containing substrates. The process comprises converting the sucrose to levan and glucose, purifying the levan by membrane technology, hydrolyzing the levan to form fructose monomers, and recovering the fructose.

Abstract: A programmable data path device capable of operating as a general purpose hardware accelerator. The device includes a plurality of processing cells, memory such as RAM or EPROM for storing data path control words, and an address module for sequentially providing data path control words to the processing cells. Each cell includes an ALU, a multiplexer and a register. For each cell, in response to the data path control word, the multiplexer selectively couples the contents of one register to one of the ALU input ports, and the ALU performs a selected operation and places its output into the register of that cell. Thus, through the data path control words, a device can be configured to operate in a sequential, pipeline, or parallel mode, permitting a wide variety of digital signal processing functions to be performed with a single system.

Abstract: Early pregnancy can be determined by detection of a protein in milk, which protein is associated with the placental membrane. The protein is characterized by having an approximate molecular weight of 47,000 to 53,000 and an isoelectric point of from about 4.0-4.4.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for beneficiating chromite ore. The process can also be used to remove SO.sub.2 from SO.sub.2 -air mixtures which would ordinarily be vented. The chromite ore is pulverized and preferably mixed with sodium sulfate. Ammonium carbonate can also be added for subsequent vaporization to increase porosity. Sulphur oxide-oxygen roasting of the chromite ore is conducted at elevated temperatures in the approximate range between 300.degree. and 1,000.degree. C. or higher at approximately atmospheric pressures. After roasting, the ore is preferably leached using an aqueous ferric sulfate solution to remove soluble undesired constituents from the roasted chromite ore. The beneficiated chromite ore shows improved chromium concentrations and chromium to iron ratios when compared to the original ore.

Abstract: Early pregnancy can be determined by detection of a protein in serum, which protein is associated with the placental membrane. The protein is characterized by having an approximate molecular weight of 47,000 to 53,000 and an isoelectric point of from about 4.0-4.4.

Abstract: A low damage beet cleaner and elevator for a beet harvester is described. Beets are lifted elevationally between a lugged, endless elevator draper and an endless, upwardly inclined belt having flexible, finger-like projections. The draper and the belt are driven through their respective circuits with the belt being driven at a speed faster than that of the draper. The speed differential between the belt and the draper causes the finger-like projections to flexibly engage with the beets producing a brushing effect on the beets to clean them while they are being elevated for loading.

Abstract: A planter for seed crops, such as grains. A wheeled framework supports the apparatus for movement about a field. At the front of the framework is a row of transversely spaced chisels which produce tilled areas parallel to the path of movement of the framework and separated from one another by strips of untilled soil. Each chisel carries a roller that breaks up any resulting clods of soil. Liquid fertilizer is directed to the tilled areas by delivery conduits extending along the rear of each chisel to their respective lower ends. The rollers provide a cover of soil to the liquid fertilizer. A drill apparatus is mounted to the framework behind the chisels, with individual openers in longitudinal alignment with the respective chisels for planting seeds in the tilled soil at an elevation above the elevation at which fertilizer has been supplied and without the strips of untilled soil.

Abstract: Control of stickleback in streams and other locales is achieved by selective addition of chemicals that form free azide radicals in water, specifically sodium azide and potassium azide. Subsequent deactivation, when desired, is achieved by addition of calcium compounds. High selectively to stickleback can be achieved with minimal risk to desirable game fish in the salmon and trout groups.

Abstract: A solar heat collector built about a new collector matrix formed from flexible sheet material, such as metallic foil. The matrix presented by the foil is folded into an accordion shape to form a series of linear channels to trap solar energy. The absorbed energy is transferred to air flowing through the channels. Proper support for the expended collector matrix is provided by taut lines stretched across a supporting frame and engaged with the folded flexible sheet. Inner and outer circulation channels are provided to permit air circulation by natural heating currents. The folded sheet and lines are constructed in kit form for expansion and support at the location of use. Transverse spacers might be included between pleats.

Abstract: A deep tank reactor is utilized for fermentation of waste liquid or other liquid in a biological reaction resulting in a solid cellular material. The resulting solid material, which is in suspension, is initially separated from the bulk of the liquid by a gaseous flotation process, using the dissolved gas in the liquid as the source of gaseous bubbles for flotation purposes.

Abstract: The disclosed electrolytic field respirometer consists of a sample vessel in which oxygen is utilized by a biological sample. Oxygen is provided on demand from an electrolytic cell which is turned on when the electrolyte level in a contact tube rises because of decreased pressure in the sample vessel due to oxygen consumption. A compensating vessel is operatively connected to the electrolytic cell to balance pressure fluctuations due to changes in the environmental pressure or temperature to which the respirometer is subjected.

Abstract: An improved blade assembly for moving beneath the surface of the ground to engage and lift a subsurface root crop upwardly and rearwardly when moved along a forward path by a harvesting implement. The assembly includes an elongated blade that is held transverse to the forward direction of harvester travel. The blade is mounted to a framework for oscillational movement about a first horizontal axis and a second axis perpendicular to the horizontal axis. A power source operates the blade to oscillate about these axes in continuous cycles. Each cycle of blade movement includes a forward and downward stroke and an upward and rearward stroke. This movement occurs rearward of and below the horizontal pivot axis for the blade.

Abstract: A new and distinct variety of Sansevieria plant that is a new chimeral cultivar formed as an adventitious bud on a leaf cutting of Sansevieria trifasciata var. laurentii. It has young leaves with narrow green margins and two broad yellow longitudinal bands flanking a central dull green core. The yellow bands become green after several months.