Abstract: Undesired signals are eliminated using a shaped RF pulse comprising a region of random frequency components and a region of zero components to effectively eliminate signals from areas volumes or frequency bands which are not required.

Abstract: In analysis, particularly for medical diagnostics, material can be selectively bound to the surface of a piezoelectric crystal by a reagent. The amount of material so bound affects the speed of propagation of an acoustic wave launched and received on the crystal surface by respective electrode pairs. Previously the crystal was used as a resonant element in an oscillator controlling the frequency of oscillation and so indicating the amount of bound material. However, the oscillator was either unstable or the range of bound masses too small to be of practical use. In the present invention delay between launch and reception of the acoustic wave provides a control signal for a voltage controlled oscillator. A much more stable system can therefore be constructed with a wide working range and high stability since the crystal is no longer the resonant element. Much greater sensitivity is also possible since the oscillator frequency may be greatly increased.

Abstract: The invention relates to germinated seeds of a plant species other than one characterised by a seminal root system, for example seeds of small seeded vegetables, the seeds having emerged radicles and a moisture content at which radicle development is suspended without loss of seed viability. Seeds may be subjected to a treatment which includes imbibing the seeds to a stage where radicles have emerged in a substantial proportion thereof and drying in a two stage process the first stage comprising drying to a moisture content at which individual seeds are separable and free flowing and the second stage comprising drying in an atmosphere of fairly high relative humidity such as 70% to 90% at a temperature in the range 20.degree. to 30.degree. C.Seeds treated according to the invention have advantageous properties in terms of storage and subsequent development on exposure to a suitable environment.

Abstract: A carbon block acts as a cell electrode. Channels are formed in its face which is to face the cell diaphragm. The channels provide an interconnected network including retention pools arranged to hold, release, break up and mix a liquid stream passing through them.

Abstract: In speech recognition it is advantageous to take account of noise levels both in recognition and training. In both processes signals reaching a microphone are digitized and passed through a filter bank to be separated into frequency channels. In training, a noise estimator and a masker are used with a recognizer to prepare and store probability density functions (p.d.f.s) for each channel partially defining Markov models of words to be recognized. The p.d.f.s are derived only from input signals above noise levels but derivation is such that the whole of each p.d.f. is represented. In recognition, "distance" measurements on which recognition is based are derived for each channel. If the signal in a channel is above noise then the distance is determined, by the recognizer, from the negative logarithm of the p.d.f. but if a channel signal is below noise then the distance is determined from the negative logarithm of the cumulative distance of the p.d.f. to the noise level.

Abstract: A superconducting circuit comprises a quantum flux parametron. In the superconducting circuit, at least one of two Josephson devices is a voltage controlled superconducting device, the critical current of which can be controlled by applying a voltage. By adjusting the applied voltage, the critical currents of the two Josephson devices can be equalized. If an input signal is used as the applied voltage, the input signal can be isolated from an output signal. And further, if both critical currents of the two Josephson devices are increased after an input signal is supplied, the input signal can be stably amplified.

Abstract: Compounds having thromboxane antagonist activity are of use in the treatment of hormone-dependent neoplasias for example oestrogen-dependent neoplasias. Thromboxane antagonists of particular value are compounds of formula (I) ##STR1## wherein ##STR2## represents one of the divalent cyclic groups ##STR3## the letters a and b indicating in each case the points of attachment of the substituents R.sup.1 and CV(R.sup.2)--NV'R, respectively; R.sup.

Abstract: This invention provides compositions comprising a physiologically-active agent and a compound represented by the general formula ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are independently selected from the group consisting of alkyl radicals and cycloalkyl radicals comprising from 1 to 10 carbon atoms and R is selected from the group consisting of alkyl radicals and cycloalkyl radicals comprising from 1 to 30 carbon atoms; provided, however, that the total number of carbon atoms in said compound is 15 or more and the total number of carbon atoms in R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 is 5 or more.

Abstract: A variable transmission window comprises outer panes of glass 17 and 19 and a multi layer electrochromic device allowing variation in the optical transmission properties of the window. The device comprises a transparent electrically conductive layer 12 such as indium tin oxide, an electrochromic material 13 such as a transition metal oxide bronze, a solid electrolyte 14 which is a fast ion conductor of ions of the metal which dissolves in the electrochromic material, a second electrochromic material 15, and a second transparent electrically conductive layer 16. The electrochromic material may be MoO.sub.3 or WO.sub.3. The solid electrolyte 14 may be a Bordeaux glass of LiCl, Li.sub.2 O, B.sub.2 O.sub.3. A quantity of metal colouration atoms, for example lithium, may be transferred reversibly between the electrochromic layers 13 and 15 by applying potentials to contacts 21 and 22.

Abstract: Compounds of the formula (II) ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are each separately selected from hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl and alkynyl groups having up to a maximum of four carbon atoms and being unsubstituted, and alkyl, alkenyl and alkynyl groups having up to a maximum of three carbon atoms and being substituted by one, or in the case of fluoro by one or more, substitutents but with the proviso that when R.sub.1 is hydrogen then R.sub.2 is hydrogen or methyl, or R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 together constitute an ethylene bridging group, and R.sub.3 is a group which under physiological conditions undergoes elimination with the formation of a 3,5-dioxopiperazinyl ring, with the further proviso that the compound is in the meso or erythro configuration when each of R.sub.1 and R.sub.

Abstract: A rotor assembly for use in a poultry harvester, comprising first and second rotors arranged side by side about a center line of the assembly for rotation about vertical or predominantly vertical axes, a third rotor equispaced from the first and second rotors in a direction along the center line of the assembly, and drive means for rotating the third rotor in a clockwise or anticlockwise sense, as desired, during operation of the assembly, the drives for the first and second rotors being derived from the motion of the third rotor and being operative to counter-rotate the first and second rotors in rotational senses which remain unaltered irrespective of the direction of rotation of the third rotor at any given moment, each rotor providing a continuous array of radially-extending guide elements closely adjacent and/or abutting and/or intermeshing with the guide elements of the other rotors.

Abstract: New C-substituted crown ethers such as ##STR1## are made by reacting a 1,2-diol (chain length m+4) with ClCH.sub.2 --(CH.sub.2 --O--CH.sub.2 --).sub.n+1 CH.sub.2 Cl.These compounds have a stronger affinity for secondary amines than for tertiary amines and therefore may be used to separate mixtures, especially when attached to polysiloxane backbones or substrates via their unsaturated bond.

Abstract: The specification discloses a polycrystalline boron nitride of high purity and high density consisting essentially of rhombohedral crystals in which the three-fold rotation axes, parallel to the c-axis in the notation of hexagonal crystal system, of the crystals have a preferred orientation. The polycrystalline rhombohedral boron nitride can be obtained as bulk or thin film articles with desired shapes by chemical vapor deposition including the steps of introducing a source gas of boron and a source gas into a reactor containing a heated substrate and depositing boron nitride onto the heated substrate, wherein a diffusion layer of the source gas of nitrogen and/or the carrier gas is formed around the substrate. The polycrystalline rhombohedral boron nitride such obtained is very useful in applications such as crucibles for melting semiconductors, various jigs for high temperature services, high-frequency insulator, microwave transmission window and source material of boron for semiconductor.

Abstract: An incontinence device which includes a garment having a sewn-in absorbent pad. A sheet of liquid impervious material is interposed between the garment and the surface of the absorbent pad remote from the wearer. The absorbent pad is coupled to the sheet of liquid-impervious material by stitching then the sheet is coupled to the garment by portions of the sheet turned back from the stitching of the pad to the sheet and stitched to the garment. In a further embodiment, a layer of permeable hydrophobic material is provided intermediate the pad and the wearer.

Abstract: A method for treating vascular disorders or pulmonary disorders associated with smoking in an animal which comprises: administering to the animal milk collected from a bovid being maintained in a hyperimmune state, in an amount and for a time sufficient to produce anti arteriosclerotic or antiaging vascular effects or sparing effects on lung tissue.

Abstract: A hydraulic-mechanical transmission for a heavy vehicle as shown in FIG. 5 includes a hydraulic variable-displacement pump (I) supplying fluid under pressure to two hydraulic, variable-displacement motors (II, III), controlled by valves (64, 65). It further includes a planetary gear (IV) enclosed in a casing (1) which can be driven by one of the motors (II) through a pinion (51) and an external ring gear (10). The second motor (III) can drive the casing (1) which latter is mounted direct on the motor shaft (40). A planet carrier (2) can be coupled to the casing (1) by a clutch (33) or is freely movable in the casing. A sun gear (31) is mounted on an output shaft (3), while the planet gears (20) engage with an internal gear (11) of the casing. Three speeds and torques are available by respectively driving the planetary gear by either motor or by both motors together and by alternately coupling the planet carrier to the casing or having it freely rotating by operation of the clutch.

Abstract: A laser delivery system comprises a light weight hollow boom having a bearing intermediate its ends which permits the distal end of the boom to move longitudinally and rotationally relative to the proximal end of the boom. The bearing supports the distal end without supporting physical contact, e.g. by a layer of fluid. The proximal end of the boom is carried by a boom support for movement about two axes, and includes a fork journalled in a base. In one embodiment, the shaft has a portion offset from the axis thereof, and a beam direction changer, such as a prism, is located along the shaft axis between spaced bearings journalling the shaft and carried by the base. In a second embodiment, a light conducting passage extends completely through the shaft. A handpiece is connected to the distal end of the boom for rotation about the boom axis.

Abstract: A magnetic coil comprising a plurality of conductors is designed by calculation of the continuous current density required on the surface on which the conductors are positioned to generate a specific magnetic field on a further target surface or at specified points.

Abstract: A controlled release composition comprising an active substance other than a prostaglandin and a polymeric carrier therefor comprising residues having a ratio of number average molecular weight to functionality greater than 1000 which comprises polyethylene oxide and are cross-linked through urethane groups.

Abstract: An apparatus for effecting a fine movement of an object for making use of impact produced by a piezoelectric/electrostrictive element having a moving member, a piezoelectric/electrostrictive element attached to said moving member, means for driving the piezoelectric/electrostrictive element, and an inertia member operative in response to the driving of the piezoelectric/electrostrictive element so as to impart an impact to the moving member. As an electric field is applied to the piezoelectric/electrostrictive element, a strain is caused by a stress which acts to expand or contract the piezoelectric/electrostrictive element to a length determined by the level of the electric field. By making use of this phenomenon, impact is produced by the inertia member which operates in response to the stress, thereby effecting a step-like fine movement of the moving member.