Abstract: A method for fabricating a triphasic composite such as a WC/Co/diamond composite with a high volume fraction of diamond in a WC/Co matrix. The method involves sintering of a WC/Co powder compact to develop a porous preform, which displays some rigidity and strength, infiltrating the porous preform with a controlled distribution of carbon, and high pressure/high temperature treatment of the carbon-containing WC/Co preform to transform the carbon to diamond. The distribution of diamond in the composite can be functionally graded to provide a WC/Co core and a diamond-enriched surface, wherein all three phases form an interconnected structure in three dimensions. Such a tricontinuous structure combines high strength and toughness with superior wear resistance, making it attractive for applications in machine tools and drill bits.

Abstract: Phthalocyanine compounds are disclosed having a structure according to formula I as shown below: ##STR1##

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and system for mobile location estimation in which range measurements between the mobile station and a base station are discriminated as being either from a base station which is line of sight with the mobile station or a base station that is non-line of sight with the mobile station. Non-line of sight error present in range measurements from base stations that are non-line of sight with the mobile station is corrected. A reconstructed line of sight range measurement is established from the correction of the non-line of sight error. The reconstructed line of sight range measurement can be used with range measurements of base stations determined to be line of sight for accurately locating the mobile station.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to purifying starch granules from starch-bearing crops, preferably maize, which include treating starch granules with a thermally tolerant, broad pH range proteolytic enzyme that is specific for surface-associated proteins. Also disclosed are purified starch granules which are substantially free of surface-associated proteins. Uses of the isolated starch granules are disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for improved particulate mixing in which rotational motion of a mixing vessel is periodically disrupted by rocking motion. A vessel rotates around a central axis for producing the rotational motion. The vessel is rocked in a direction substantially perpendicular to the central axis for producing rocking motion. Mixing is enhanced when the rocking frequency is different than the rotational frequency.

Abstract: An improved method of establishing plantings in sod mats which are capable of being transported as a unit and reestablished without significantly disturbing the root system of the plants. The sod mats established from grass turf sod, by utilizing the matted, dead grass roots of turf sod as a biodegradable medium for anchoring the roots of the growing plants, the plant roots being intermeshed with the matted grass roots. The sod mat allows for the production of a diversity of sod mat products, including annual and perennial ornamental plants, herbs, and edible plants, among others. While the plants can be grown to various sizes depending on market desires and mature plant height, the sod mats are capable of rapidly establishing sufficient stability to withstand lifting and transportation, thus providing a significant improvement over sod-like mats of the prior art.

Abstract: A chimeric nucleic acid molecule encoding an NS1-Rev fusion protein having Rev function inhibitory activity.

Abstract: A low melting point alloy is used to sinter metal carbide particles. The alloy is a eutectic-like alloy formed from a binding metal such as iron, cobalt or nickel, in combination with vanadium and chromium. The alloy is preferably formed by forming two separate alloys and blending these together. The first alloy is formed by spray drying together a solution of a binding metal salt such as a cobalt salt with a solution of a chromium salt. The formed particles are then carburized to form a cobalt-chromium-carbon alloy. A separate vanadium alloy is formed in the same manner. The two are combined to establish the amount of chromium and vanadium desired, and this, in turn, is used to sinter metal carbide parts. This permits sintering of the metal carbide parts at temperatures less than 1250.degree. C. and in turn significantly inhibits grain grown without a significant decrease in toughness. It is particularly adapted to form carbide products wherein the carbide grain size is as low as 120 nanometers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for generating test patterns to test an analog or mixed signal circuit. A signal flow graph of the analog circuit is determined. The signal flow graph is inverted and reverse simulated with good and bad outputs to determine component tolerances of the circuit given circuit output tolerances. The inverted signal flow graph is backtraced from analog outputs to obtain analog input sinusoids which justify the analog outputs.

Abstract: Amorphous tungsten, cobalt, nickel, molybdenum, iron and alloys thereof can be formed by reducing metal-containing compositions to form the elemental metal wherein the particle size of the elemental metal is less than about 80 microns. This is oxidized in an oxygen-starved environment containing less than 3% oxygen and an inert gas to slowly oxidize the elemental metal. By oxidizing the metal under these conditions, the normal exotherm occurring during oxidation is avoided. The slow oxidation of the metal continues forming an amorphous metal oxide. The amorphous metal oxide can then be reacted in a reducing environment such as hydrogen to form the amorphous elemental metal. This amorphous elemental metal can then be reacted with a carburizing gas to form the carbide or ammonia gas to form the nitride or hexamethylsilane to form the silicide. This permits gas/solid reactions. The amorphous metal can also be used in a variety of different applications.

Abstract: Various novel recombinant chimeric human rhinoviruses are disclosed, including viruses comprising human rhinovirus 14 into which chimeric regions derived from influenza HA, poliovirus and HIV-1 have been incorporated. Chimeric human rhinoviruses are particularly advantageous as they are only mildly pathogenic, have numerous potential serotypes and can elicit significant mucosal and serum immunological response. Design considerations, methods, and examples are described. The chimeric rhinoviruses can be used as vaccines and for a variety of other immunotechnological applications including passive immunization, immunodiagnostic testing and antigenicity and immunogenicity studies.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for improved mobile radio telecommunications employs the transmission of a pilot reference signal within the coherence band of the modulated carrier wave. The receiver in this system uses instantaneous phase estimation techniques of the pilot and carrier received waveforms to provide immunity from phase distortion introduced by the channel.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods for inhibition of the vasoactive and signal transduction agent nitric oxide (NO), and to therapeutic treatment of diseases or disorders that involve inappropriate or detrimental NO activity. The invention particularly relates to modulation of kidney function. In specific embodiments, osteopontin and a 20-amino acid fragment of osteopontin that contains an Arg-Gly-Asp sequence suppress expression of inducible NO synthase mRNA, and osteopontin suppresses the activity of constitutive NO synthase.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for treating fibrotic conditions by administration of an effective amount of an antifibrotic agent. The antifibrotic agent is preferably a proline analog, such as cis-4-hydroxy-L-proline (cHyp). The antifibrotic agent is operatively linked to a monomer or a polymer, with or without a linking compound, e.g., lysine. Intravenous administration is preferred. The present method facilitates the delivery and release of the antifibrotic agent to inhibit collagen accumulation and thereby to treat fibrosis where collegen metabolism is implicated. A reduced quantity of the antifibrotic agent and a corresponding reduction in the potential for toxicity resulting from prolonged administration thereof may be realized.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for noninvasively measuring cardiovascular system parameters. According to a first preferred embodiment, the apparatus generates a time varying electrical voltage waveform having voltages corresponding to systolic and diastolic arterial pressures of the subject, the parameters being modelled by a lumped element electric circuit model analogous to the living subject's cardiovascular system, said circuit model including a systolic capacitor analogous to arterial compliance during systole, said apparatus comprising means for computing the value of said systolic capacitor from a measurement of an elapsed time between two voltage levels within a portion of said voltage waveform corresponding to systole, according to a predetermined criteria; and means for computing at least one said cardiovascular system parameter from said capacitor value. According to a second embodiment, a time-varying systolic arterial compliance is measured by measuring an arterial pulse pressure waveform.

Abstract: A system and method for noninvasively detecting coronary artery disease. The system and method utilize a vasodilator drug to increase the signal-to-noise ratio of an acoustic signal that represents diastolic heart sounds of a patient. A wavelet transform is performed on the acoustic signal to provide parameters for a feature vector. Scaled clinical examination parameters such as a patient's sex, age, body weight, smoking condition, blood pressure, and family history are also included in the feature vector. The feature vector is used as an input pattern to neural networks. The output of the neural networks represent a diagnosis of coronary stenosis in a patient.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods characterized by an electric neural network including a node having multipliers respectively receiving signals representing feature vector elements and signals representing weight vector elements to produce product signals, a summer to add the product signals with a bias signal and output a sum signal to a hard limiter, the hard limiter for outputting a preliminary output signal of polarity. In response to the output signal of polarity, one of at least two logic branches is enabled. In response to such enabling, weight elements are assigned to a next weight vector to be used in subsequent processing by the one of the at least two logic branches until a label is to be produced.

Abstract: A disclosed process uses ceramic fiber fabrication technology and allows for novel composite designs, including composites with different polarizable material regions and composites with a gradient in volume fraction of polarizable material. Moreover, composites with fine-scale microstructures may be formed. The new forming method is an improvement to the traditional "dice and fill" technique currently being utilized to form piezoelectric composites.

Abstract: A new and distinct cultivar of strawberry plant (Fragaria.times.ananassa) named `NJ8826-11`, which is a short day cultivar similar to `Earliglow`, but which is exceptional for its combination of very early season harvest of attractive and extra large fruit, with high productivity, good plant vigor, and disease resistance. The plant is well adapted to matted-row, ribbon-row, and high density planting systems, and performs consistently in diverse environments. The fruit size is much larger than that of `Earliglow`, the major cultivar in its season, and the fruit flavor is good.

Abstract: A new and distinct cultivar of strawberry plant (Fragaria.times.ananassa) named `NJ8614-2`, which is a short day cultivar similar to `Earliglow`, but which is exceptional for its disease resistance and its combination of early season harvest of very attractive large fruit, with high productivity. The plant is well adapted to matted-row, ribbon-row, and high density planting systems, and performs consistently in diverse environments. The fruit size is larger than that of `Earliglow`, the major cultivar in its season, and the fruit flavor is good.