Abstract: A method of preparing a coated optical fiber for coupling to a face of an optical device includes placing the coated fiber so that it extends through a stripping station, a cleaning station and a cleaving station. A stripper at the stripping station is brought into engagement with the fiber and relative motion between the fiber and the stripping station, the cleaning station and the cleaving station is effected lengthwise of the fiber, whereby the coating is stripped from a medial length segment of the fiber as the cleaning device at the cleaning station is activated for cleaning fragments of coating material from the medial length segment of the fiber as the medial length segment passes through the cleaning station and the cleaning device is deactivated and stripping is discontinued.

Abstract: A data processing system includes a bus network interconnecting a data processor and one or more adapter cards, and providing for the data processor to bypass initialization of the adapter cards in response to a user indication entered prior to the initialization. This allows the system to be booted even in the event of an adapter card failure which causes the system to hang during initialization. The data processing system also enters a setup routine allowing the user to disable one or more of the adapter cards. The user indication may be entered at a remote computer where the data processing system is connected as a client computer to a server computer system by a network.

Abstract: This gasket comprises two superimposed similar metal plates, each of which comprises a central main part and a peripheral part which are separated from one another by a slot intended to house a bead of sealing elastomer, the two parts of each plate being locally connected by bridges, the coincident slots of the two superimposed metal plates being lined with one and the same bead of sealing elastomer protruding from both sides of the gasket, and means for laterally immobilizing the two metal plates.

Abstract: A compound of the formula: is disclosed. This compound is useful in methods of protecting a subject of of protecting biological materials from radiation damage.

Abstract: A system and method provides remote diagnostics testing of a data processing system. Diagnostics testing code is stored in a non-volatile memory in the system. A diagnostic test indicator (e.g., in the form of flag in a CMOS RAM) is settable by a signal from a controlling computer system remote from the data processing system. The signal requests that diagnostics testing is to be performed on the data processing system. When the data processing system is rebooted, the CMOS flag is checked and if found to be set, the diagnostics code is invoked and diagnostic testing is performed. When the diagnostics testing is complete and results have been logged in the non-volatile storage, the code causes the flag to be reset and the data processing system to be rebooted. The results are transferred, on request, to the remote controlling computer system for analysis.

Abstract: When a laser beam interacts with a workpiece to be welded by the beam, a plume of optical radiation is generated. An apparatus and method is disclosed in which radiation from the plume is received back through a beam delivery path comprising optical elements (L1,L2) having chromatic aberration. This alters the focus of different spectral bands of the plume radiation and a discriminating aperture is formed by a face of an optical fibre (3). After passing through the fibre, the plume radiation is separated from any laser radiation and the respective powers of the different spectral bands are measured (5). By subtraction, an error signal is obtained which is used to control the focus of the laser beam.

Abstract: The pharmaceutical use of nitroglycerin, which is also designated as glycerol trinitrate or, chemically, as 1,2,3-propanetriol trinitrate, in a transdermal application form prevents undesired labour in pregnant mammals. The pharmaceutical use prevents premature labour.

Abstract: A process for fractionation of dairy whey is described which enables various whey constituents, in particular, alpha-lactalbumin and beta-lactoglobulin, to be recovered in substantially pure form. Lactose may also be recovered. The mineral content of raw whey is reduced so that the calcium content is less than 120 parts per million. Thereafter, the whey is treated to allow the lactose to crystallize out for removal and selectively to flocculate the alpha-lactalbumin, leaving a liquor containing substantially pure beta-lactoglobulin.

Abstract: A radiosensitizer for use in radiotherapy comprises a halogenated DNA ligand. The susceptibility of DNA to radiation damage is enhanced by causing or allowing the halogenated DNA ligand to bind to the DNA before subjecting the DNA or the locus thereof to ionizing or ultraviolet radiation. Radiation damage in DNA is also induced by causing or allowing a halogenated DNA ligand to bind to DNA and irradiating the DNA and said bound ligand or the locus thereof with ionizing or ultraviolet radiation.

Abstract: Coaxial bidirectional spool valves are provided for use in fluid systems such as hydrostat systems where flow can proceed in opposite directions, and which direct flow through a unidirectional or multidirectional function such as a filter assembly in the normal direction regardless of the direction of flow in the system. The valve includes a spool valve reciprocably movable between two limiting positions according to fluid pressure differential across the valve and engaging one of a pair of bungee followers in each position, thereby intercepting and controlling flow through a box junction of the fluid line with the lines leading to and from the filter assembly in a manner such that, regardless of the direction of flow in the fluid line, flow proceeds in the same direction in the connecting fluid lines to and from the function.

Abstract: Submarine pipe trenching apparatus for digging a trench below submarine pipelines, wherein jet supports having nozzles for digging into the ground are supported for oscillatory movement on a frame, and wherein a crawler assembly is mounted on the pipe for moving the jets supports along and below the pipe when the liquid is propelled through the nozzles for digging out the soil below the pipe. The nozzles may include orifice plate means defining their outlets and inclined so that liquid emanating therefrom strikes the earth formation at a small acute angle.

Abstract: In a blood filter of the type having a blood inlet spike which is to be inserted in a blood bag the improvement comprising the outer surface of the blood inlet spike having a roughness of from about 50 to 200 microinches.

Abstract: A blood filtration unit for filtering multiple units of blood comprising means for attaching the unit to a blood reservoir, a drip chamber and a segmental filtration compartment for filtering blood.

Abstract: An extracorporeal filter having improved characteristics for the positive elimination of gas bubbles from blood streams. The top of the filter housing is sloped to a high point where there is positioned an air vent. The inlet for the blood is positioned substantially in the center of the top portion and extends past the plane of the top portion into the filter housing.