Abstract: Transition metal complexes of Gable porphyrins having two porphyrin rings connected through a linking group, and having on the porphyrin rings electron-withdrawing groups, such as halogen, nitro or cyano. These complexes are useful as catalysts for the oxidation of organic compounds, e.g. alkanes.

Abstract: A trading card capable of generating sounds comprises a thin housing having front and back surfaces, flexible sheets affixed to the front surface and to the back surface of the housing, a voice chip located in the housing for generating patterns of sounds, a battery located in the housing for supplying electrical power to the voice chip, and a switch located in the housing for activating the voice chip. The subject trading card may be activated by squeezing the flexible sheets between the thumb and forefinger at a selected switch location.

Abstract: An assembly of reinforced hollow beams comprises a connection member and an assembly element (8) adapted to be inserted coaxially and then fixed within a stiffening core (2) of a first hollow beam (1) by a suitable immobilization member (10). A positioning member (5) is introduced through one of the surfaces of a second hollow beam (1) so as to open within the interior of the stiffening core (2) of the second hollow beam and to be immobilized within this core (2) by a suitable second immobilization member (6). The positioning member (5) is fixed to the assembly member (8) by a cross member (7) secured on the positioning member (5). The assembly is useful in providing supporting or self-supporting frameworks for added or integrated constructions.

Abstract: The wire end or forming section of a paper making machine is a twin wire section defined by two endless loop wire belts or wires between which fibrous suspension moves through the wire end. A supporting element, either in the form of a rotating cylinder or in the form of a support belt, has the wires passing over it in the twin wire zone. Pressure elements, in the form of strips, rods or even a shoe, are supported to apply pressure on the wire belts and directed toward the moving supporting surface. The pressure elements are placed along the twin wire path so that pressure free regions remain between neighboring pressure elements. The pressure elements are distributed over the entire width of the wire belts.

Abstract: A charge pump circuit includes a pair of series switching devices coupled between an output node of the circuit and an input node. A power stage drives a charge transfer capacitor which is coupled to an intermediate node between the series switching devices. The power stage has an input coupled to the input node of the circuit, The power stage further includes a bootstrap capacitor for maintaining a conductive state during an entire half of a cycle of a period of oscillation of a local oscillator. The series switching devices may be driven in phase opposition by either a CMOS invertor or a pair of comparators.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of asymmetrically substituted ureas, carbamates, thiocarbamates or substituted isocyanates by reaction of an adduct of isocyanic acid and a tertiary amine with a primary and secondary amine, an alcohol, a thiol or a compound having one or two non-cumulated olefinic double bonds, and a process for the preparation of N-mono- or N,N-disubstituted ureas by reaction of ammonium isocyanates with a primary or secondary amine in a diluent.

Abstract: A seat cushion comprises a supporting body of an open-celled, resilient foamed plastic material, an outer flame-resistant covering material encasing at least portions of the seat cushion, and a flame-resistant protective layer encasing the supporting body and connected thereto, the protective layer underlying the covering material and consisting of machine-knitted, multi-layered material. This protective layer material comprises warp threads arranged in two superposed planes and spaced apart a predetermined distance, the warp threads in an upper one of the planes being staggered in a woof direction by half the predetermined distance from the warp threads in a lower one of the planes, and the warp threads extending in a longitudinal direction, and a group of eight weft threads adjacent each other in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A mobile track tamping and ballasting machine movable along a railroad track in a first operating direction and a reverse direction, which comprises a first machine frame, a second machine frame, an articulated coupling connecting the machine frames, undercarriages supporting the machine frame on the railroad track for movement therealong, the first machine frame supporting a vertically adjustable ballast tamping unit and a track lifting and lining unit preceding the ballast tamping unit in the first operating direction, and the second machine frame supporting a plow for ballasting the track and a ballast broom preceding the ballasting plow in the first operating direction.

Abstract: A double sided barrette having a pair of support members, a clasp, a hair gripping mechanism and a pair of decorative members is provided. The pair of support members are coupled to one another by a hinge such that the support members can pivot between open and closed positions. When in a closed position, the clasp operably engages these support members and maintains them in a releasably fixed relationship with respect to one another. The hair gripping mechanism is disposed between the support members such that strands of hair engaged by the gripping mechanism are spaced from the support members. The decorative members are individually attached to the support members in order to conceal the support members and provide an ornamental appearance to both sides of the barrette.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting a fouled fluid filter are disclosed in which the fluid pressure at the outlet of the fluid filter is corrected by a correction pressure to determine a corrected pressure drop. Such a corrected pressure drop has a mathematical function which passes through a maximum magnitude before the fluid flowing through the fluid filter reaches a maximum value. The corrected pressure drop is monitored during the operation of the fluid filter and when the corrected pressure drop reaches a predetermined threshold value, before the engine with which the fluid filter is associated reaches its maximum power, an alarm will be actuated.

Abstract: A DC arc furnace according to the invention has a bottom electrode, which comprises a plurality of contact pins each having an end to be brought into contact with an object and to supply arc-forming current thereto, a current base electrically connected to the other end of each of the contact pins for distributing current from a power supply to the contact pins, and a cooling device for cooling the current base with the use of cooling water.

Abstract: In a two-wire cylinder dryer, the wire guide rolls are so arranged that the web and wire proceed jointly from the first cylinder to the wire guide roll. An air carrier box is arranged in the shaft contained between two cylinders. The air carrier box has an air channel connecting the area of the leaving point A with an opposite pressure zone. Hot air flows into the air channel through a driver nozzle, so that in the area of the leaving point there is a vacuum zone created which is outwardly bounded by a sealing strip. The pressure zone is bounded by further sealing strips.

Abstract: Thermo-weldable coupling for connecting in particular at least two members made from an identical or compatible plastics material, comprising a body (1) which is of the type constituted at least partly by a thermo-fusible material compatible with the plastics material of these members and which comprises an inner wall (2) or connection surface, directly opposite the outer wall of the members, provided with an electrically conducting element (3). This electrically conducting element (3) is resilient and of non-rectilinear shape. Application to the connections of fluid-carrying pipes made from plastics material.

Abstract: A data carrier for a non-contact data communication with a control station controlling a passage to an area or space comprises a carrier base structure, a data sending-receiving unit, a non-volatile, electrically erasable and programmable memory, a liquid crystal display for displaying data, and a solar cell unit for providing power. When the data carrier is approached to the control station, data are received from and transmitted to the control station which checks and/or changes the data content of the memory. A means for making visible the stored data on the liquid crystal display, e.g. a microprocessor, and the liquid crystal display are powered by the solar cell unit. The data carrier can be designed as a disk and handled like a coin. A housing of the data carrier can be provided with a cord wound on a spring acted spool.

Abstract: A handpiece for use in small-scale surgery and microsurgery, for example, oral surgery or surgery in the ear, nose and throat area includes a handpiece sleeve and a collet chuck which is rotatable about an axis and is arranged in the handpiece sleeve. The collet chuck is spring-biased and can be released by an actuating member. The collet chuck serves to hold a tool and is composed of two tubular members which are movable relative to each other along the axis of rotation of the collet chuck. A chucking lever for releasing the collet chuck is pivotable about a lever axis which is directed essentially in normal direction relative to the collet chuck axis. The actuating member includes a drive member which is movable in axial direction together with the two tubular members of the collet chuck, but does not rotate together with the tubular members. The drive member projects with a portion thereof in direction of the collet chuck axis into an undercut portion of the chucking lever.

Abstract: The present invention is a fully connected feed forward network that includes at least one hidden layer 16. The hidden layer 16 includes nodes 20 in which the output of the node is fed back to that node as an input with a unit delay produced by a delay device 24 occurring in the feedback path 22 (local feedback). Each node within each layer also receives a delayed output (crosstalk) produced by a delay unit 36 from all the other nodes within the same layer 16. The node performs a transfer function operation based on the inputs from the previous layer and the delayed outputs. The network can be implemented as analog or digital or within a general purpose processor. Two teaching methods can be used: (1) back propagation of weight calculation that includes the local feedback and the crosstalk or (2) more preferably a feed forward gradient decent which immediately follows the output computations and which also includes the local feedback and the crosstalk.

Abstract: Novel compounds are provided that are effective to inhibit the activity of DHUDase or UrdPase. Such compounds have the general formula ##STR1## where X is S or Se; Y is I, F, Cl, Br, methoxy, benzyl, selenenylphenyl, or thiophenyl, and R.sub.1 is an acyclo tail having the general formula ##STR2## where R.sub.2 is H, CH.sub.2 OH or CH.sub.2 NH.sub.2 ; R.sub.3 is OH, NH.sub.2, or OCOCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 CO.sub.2 H; and R.sub.4 is O, S, or CH.sub.2.The compounds can be used in pharmaceutical compositions, along with various chemotherapeutic agents to increase the efficacy of the treatment. These compounds can also be used in methods of treating patients by coadministering or sequentially administering the enzyme inhibiting compounds with a chemotherapeutic agent effective to treat cancers, or viral, fungal, bacterial, or parasitic infections. The compounds have further utility in enhancing imaging.

Abstract: A dental handpiece includes an end grip member gripped by an operator during use. The end grip member has a first end to be connected to an air supply and a second end on which is selectively detachably mounted a tool holder supporting a tool that is driven either by a mechanical structure or by an air turbine, depending upon the particular tool holder mounted on the end grip member. Within the end grip member is an air motor, and a first air line extends from the first end to the air grip motor. When the tool holder includes the mechanical structure, then the first air line supplies air to the air motor, thereby to transmit power to the mechanical structure. A second air line extends through the end grip member between the first and second ends thereof. When the particular tool holder mounted on the end grip member includes an air turbine, the second air line supplies air thereto.

Abstract: A compression device for external correction of insufficient valves in venous junctions is adapted for placement around the junction. The compression device has a band encompassing at least two veins of the junction. The band has a different rigidity and compression force in a direction extending from its proximal end to its distal end. The band is formed with a main compressing portion disposed on a vein surface of the junction around an insufficient valve. Intermediate and fastening portions of the band are also disposed on the vein surfaces adjacent the main compression compressing portion. The band is preferably shaped as a Mobius band. A method for external correction of insufficient valves in venous junctions is also disclosed.