Abstract: A composite nuclear fuel container for service in water cooled nuclear fission reactor plants having improved resistance to corrosion, and a method of producing same. The invention comprises each component of the fuel container being of specific compositions which have been heat treated to transform their microcrystalline structure in such a manner to optimize the corrosion resistance of each component of the fuel container.

Abstract: A shoe is efficiently ventilated by forcing a low volume of primary air through a plurality of throttle orifices at high velocity downstream of a passage formed in a sole. A low pressure area is created within the passage. A high volume of stale secondary air from the shoe interior is accelerated into the low pressure area. The secondary air is entrained by the primary air and together form a combined jet-like air stream that is forcefully ejected from the shoe.

Abstract: An artificial flower is made from a stack of juxtaposed, soft, flexible petal members having radially-extending petals, each having an enlarged head portion and a reduced neck portion. Each neck portion is twisted and maintained in a twisted state without the aid of stiffeners due to frictional engagement between adjacent head portions.

Abstract: Novel 6-pyridyl substituted pyrimidine derivatives are disclosed for use as antiviral agents, particularly for the treatment of retroviral infections such as HIV infections and related disorders, as well as for use in anti-cancer therapies to improve the efficacy of anti-cancer therapeutics. These compounds and their pharmacologically acceptable salts operate to disrupt viral replication an exhibit lower cell toxicity, thereby providing more efficient agents for use alone or in conjunction with other chemical or biological agents to provide prolonged antiviral therapy. In addition, the compounds can be used to increase the efficacy of anti-cancer therapeutics including 5-fluropyrimidines such as 5-fluorouracil, thereby reducing the dosage requirement of the therapeutic in anti-cancer therapies so as to decrease toxic effects to the host.

Abstract: A paper decoration is made by immersing a perforated mold having a predetermined shape into a liquid pool containing paper-making ingredients. A layer of the ingredients deposited on the mold is then dried in situ, after which, the dried paper layer is detached and formed into the paper decoration.

Abstract: A three-dimensional, heart-shaped, decorative bow has an elevated circular loop positioned above interconnected ends of a ribbon. The loop is formed by curling the ribbon in opposite directions, and is maintained in shape and in position by mutually interlocking slits formed in the ribbon.

Abstract: A wrinkled paper decoration is made by jointly coiling an elongated paper strip to which a bendable wire is attached in a continuous spiral. The coiled wire is bent, and the paper strip is simultaneously wrinkled. The bent wire retains the paper strip in a wrinkled configuration.

Abstract: A pill container has a lower part with eight compartments, and an upper part that rotates on the lower part. The compartments are side-by-side in a circular arrangement, and each normally contains a daily allotment of pills. The upper part carries a door, and a detent mechanism ensures that the door locates successively over each compartments. A button can be depressed to release a locking mechanism normally securing the door. A mechanical linkage simultaneously transforms axial displacement of the button into an indexing of a numbered plate relative to an indicator, effectively counting the number of times the door has been opened to remove pills. This provides an indication of the number of pills consumed. Manual rotation of the upper part to locate over a new compartment automatically resets the count. Alternatively, an electronic counter and display with appropriate switches may be used.

Abstract: A database index file is maintained by a computer system having primary random access memory and secondary memory. A record for each item added to the database is stored in a sequential file in secondary memory (disk storage) and an indexed pointer to the new record is stored in a small B-tree stored in primary random access memory. The full index file for the database is a second, large B-tree stored in secondary memory. Leaf-nodes of the full index file are stored in indexed order. Periodically, a portion of the memory resident small B-tree is merged with a corresponding portion of the large B-tree by selecting a range of index values and retrieving from secondary memory all indexed pointers in the selected range of index values. The indexed pointers in the first B-tree in the selected range of index values are merged into the retrieved records, the resulting merged set of indexed pointers are stored in secondary memory in indexed order in a contiguous area of secondary memory.

Abstract: A supply of dental floss is wound on a supply reel turnably mounted in one housing, while another housing mounts a take-up reel for receiving spent floss. The housings are held in opposite hands of a user with the floss extending therebetween. During flossing, a dispensed length of floss is held taut by fixedly anchoring the dispensed floss within the housings. After flossing, the dispensed floss is wound on the take-up reel for easy disposal.

Abstract: Applicants have discovered that certain previously known lactamimide derivatives possess, as a class, valuable calcium channel blocking activity. By virtue of this calcium antagonism activity the compounds are antihypertensives and will have other activities associated with calcium antagonists.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for transferring data from an imaging device. An image array is used to capture an image arranged in columns and rows of charges held in pixels in the image array. These charges are then transferred through a group of vertical registers to a storage register. Once in the storage register rows which have not been selected for transfer are dumped to a dump drain. Rows that have been selected for transfer continue through the vertical registers until they reach a pair of transfer registers from which the rows are output.

Abstract: A corrosion resistant zirconium alloy is comprised of, in weight percent, about 0.1 to less than 0.5 percent bismuth, about 0.1 to less than 0.5 percent niobium, and the balance substantially zirconium. Preferably, niobium is about 0.1 to 3 weight percent. The alloys have improved corrosion resistance as compared to the moderate-purity sponge zirconium while maintaining a ductility comparable to sponge zirconium.

Abstract: A longer effective automatic umbrella comprising mainly a tubular shank provided with an upper pulley therein; a cylinder at top end of the shank for receiving an umbrella opening spring; a handle at lower end of the shank, having upper and lower clamps and a middle pulley; an actuating mechanism comprising a pair of springs co-extending through the lower and upper clamps and at most up to the upper pulley to accumulate the energy; and an actuator to actuate and release the upper and lower clamps, respectively, for controlling the operation of opening and closing the umbrella.