Abstract: A method for manufacturing composite structures comprising elongated flexible elements arranged in sinuous configurations involves providing an elastically-extendable substrate layer. The method comprises stretching the elastically-extendible layer and attaching the elongated flexible elements to the layer at spaced-apart locations. When the layer is allowed to relax, the elongated elements assume sinuous configurations. The method may be used to make pressure sensors or other devices.

Abstract: A patient support having real time pressure control. The patient support includes a plurality of sensors located beneath a bladder including a plurality of upright cylindrical elements. The pressure within the bladder is controlled based on the pressure or force sensed by the plurality of sensors.

Abstract: A flowmeter includes a vibratable flowtube that has internal damping characteristics that substantially result in a desired dynamic response of the vibratable tube to a change in a flow of fluid through the vibratable flowtube. The dynamic response may be to a change in a property of the flow of fluid, a step change in the flow, and/or a change in the mass flow rate. The vibratable flowtube may have frequency-dependent internal damping characteristics such that damping of a driven mode of vibration is not substantially increased and damping at one or more modes other than the driven mode are substantially increased.

Abstract: The invention is concerned with .DELTA..sup.3 -4-carboxy cephalosporin antibiotics possessing a 3-vinyl or substituted 3-vinyl groups as well as with phosphorous intermediates useful in the preparation thereof.

Abstract: A process for the production of an ester of one enantiomer of an .alpha.-amino acid in the form of a salt with an optically active acid, which comprises reacting an ester of the opposite enantiomer of said .alpha.-amino acid (which may be in admixture with an ester of the desired enantiomer) with said optically active acid and an aldehyde or ketone, whereby an ester of the desired enantiomer separates out in the form of the said salt. The free .alpha.-amino acid and/or its salts may be obtained by hydrolysis of the ester thus formed.Optically active .alpha.-amino acids and their esters are of use in the synthesis of physiologically active compounds e.g. antibiotics of the penicillin and cephalosporin types. The present invention provides a relatively cheap, high yield process for the production of esters of optically active .alpha.-amino acids and for the production of optically active .alpha.-amino acids thereform. Certain novel compounds are disclosed.