Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of low-dust granules, which comprises applying an aqueous solution or suspension of a hydrate-forming compound to a particulate starting material, the particulate starting material being at a temperature below the transition temperature of the hydrate-forming compound during the application of the aqueous solution or suspension and the aqueous solution being at a temperature above the transition temperature, effecting granulation subsequently or simultaneously and, if desired, drying the granules obtained.

Abstract: A set of wrappings for eyeglass ear and nose pieces to be applied by the eyeglass wearer. The wrappings are precut from a thin elastic material having a textured latex coating and shaped to be wrapped in an overlapping manner along the ear pieces of eyeglasses. A pair of nose pad covers is also provided, precut in a manner which allows the material to be stretched and folded around an eyeglass nose piece. The material providing non-slip resistance, moisture absorbency and dissipation and padding for extra sensitive skin.

Abstract: A vehicle part suitable to form a part of a rigid vehicle assembly, such as a vehicle frame assembly or the like. The vehicle part is formed from a cylindrical blank having a predetermined wall thickness and a predetermined peripheral dimension. The cylindrical blank is bent and hydroformed to provide a tubular wall having a central bend therein of at least approximately 30.degree. and opposite angularly related end portions. The central bend has a peripheral dimension in excess of approximately 10% of the predetermined peripheral dimension of the cylindrical blank. The central bend includes a concave portion free of wrinkles and a convex portion having a wall thickness within plus or minus 10% of the predetermined wall thickness of the cylindrical blank.

Abstract: A processor operable for processing an instruction through a plurality of internal stages will produce a result of the processing of the process at each stage or a reason code why the stage was unable to process the instruction. The result or the reason code will then be passed to a subsequent stage, which will attempt to process the instruction. The second stage will forward the reason code when it cannot produce its own result and it is idle. The second stage will create its own reason code when it is not idle but cannot produce a result, and will forward this reason code.

Abstract: Transgenes for producing recombinant polypeptides transgenic bovine species are described. A transgene for producing recombinant polypeptides in the milk of transgenic bovine species comprises at least one expression regulation sequence, a secretory DNA sequence encoding a secretory signal sequence which is functional in mammary secretory cells of the bovine species and a recombinant DNA sequence encoding the recombinant polypeptide. Also included are methods for producing transgenic bovine species. The method includes introducing the above transgene into an embryonal target cell of a bovine species, transplanting the transgenic embryonic target cell formed thereby into a recipient bovine parent and identifying at least one female offspring which is capable of producing the recombinant polypeptide in its milk.

Abstract: Antisense compounds, compositions and methods are provided for modulating the expression of Beta catenin. The compositions comprise antisense compounds, particularly antisense oligonucleotides, targeted to nucleic acids encoding Beta catenin. Methods of using these compounds for modulation of Beta catenin expression and for treatment of diseases associated with expression of Beta catenin are provided.

Abstract: A color cosmetic composition comprising an oil component and a particulate matter component, the improvement wherein the composition additionally contains an uncrosslinked synthetic polymer having a glass transition temperature of -10 to 75.degree. C., comprising at least one methacrylate ester monomer repeat unit which, if polymerized, would yield a polymer having a glass transition temperature of -10 to 75.degree. C.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of five-membered or six-membered ring lactams from aliphatic .alpha.,.omega.-dinitriles has been developed. In the process an aliphatic .alpha.,.omega.-dinitrile is first converted to an ammonium salt of an .omega.-nitrilecarboxylic acid in aqueous solution using a catalyst having an aliphatic nitrilase (EC 3.5.5.7) activity, or a combination of nitrile hydratase (EC 4.2.1.84) and amidase (EC 3.5.1.4) activities. The ammonium salt of the .omega.-nitrilecarboxylic acid is then converted directly to the corresponding lactam by hydrogenation in aqueous solution, without isolation of the intermediate .omega.-nitrilecarboxylic acid or .omega.-aminocarboxylic acid. When the aliphatic .alpha.,.omega.-dinitrile is also unsymmetrically substituted at the .alpha.-carbon atom, the nitrilase produces the .omega.-nitrilecarboxylic acid ammonium salt resulting from hydrolysis of the .omega.

Abstract: A method is disclosed of processing an exposed black-and-white light-sensitive silver halide photographic material having silver halide, coated in an amount, expressed as an equivalent amount of silver nitrate of less than 6 g/m.sup.2 comprising the steps of developing, fixing, rinsing and drying, making use in the developing step of an ascorbic acid type developer and of an equivalent developer replenisher providing a regeneration amount of less than 150 ml/m.sup.2, characterized in that the said material has a buffering capacity of less than 6 mmole/m.sup.2, wherein said buffering capacity is defined as the amount of alkali, expressed in mmole/square meter, required to bridge across pH differences between the material and the developer.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel modified oligonucleotides which contain at least one 8-azapurine base and form more stable hybridization complexes with nucleic acids; To a process for their preparation, and to their use as inhibitors of gene expression, as probes for detecting nucleic acids, as aids in molecular biology, and as a pharmaceutical or diagnostic agent.

Abstract: An improved shift input module may be moved to a stowed position where it is out of the way of a vehicle operator. This allows the operator to move easily about the cab of the vehicle. The module also carries the cruise control buttons, such that they are easily accessible.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing a plasma suitable for semiconductor processing at pressures in the low millitorr range. The apparatus includes a vacuum chamber with a dielectric window, a generally planar coil disposed adjacent the window outside the chamber and coupled to an appropriate power source, and a plasma initiator disposed within the chamber. Once the plasma is initiated, the planar coil sustains the plasma by inductive power coupling. In one embodiment the plasma initiator is a secondary electrode disposed within the chamber and coupled to a second RF power source. In an alternative embodiment both the secondary electrode and a target pedestal are coupled to the secondary RF power source through a power splitter. In an alternative embodiment, the plasma initiator is used to ionize a portion of the process gas and provide a plasma that may then inductively couple with the planar coil.

Abstract: An attachment device for a scaffolding system which includes vertical and horizontal tubes is comprised of a guard rail stud adapter and a first stud. The guard rail stud adapter includes a generally U-shaped member which has a base portion, a first arm connected to the base portion, and a second arm connected to the base portion. At least one of the arms may include an end which has an arcuate cut-out portion for receiving vertical tubes. A second stud is connected to the generally U-shaped member for retaining scaffolding members, such guard rails or other members. A generally l-shaped member connected to the U-shaped member has a first end connected to at least one arm and a hole for receiving the first stud of the scaffolding system. One embodiment is further comprised of a spacer having a counter-bore for receiving the second stud of the scaffolding. Tile spacer is connected between the second stud and the generally U-shaped member.

Abstract: A family of novel multi-layer discrete-time neural net controllers is presented for the control of an multi-input multi-output (MIMO) dynamical system. No learning phase is needed. The structure of the neural net (NN) controller is derived using a filtered error/passivity approach. For guaranteed stability, the upper bound on the constant learning rate parameter for the delta rule employed in standard back propagation is shown to decrease with the number of hidden-layer neurons so that learning must slow down. This major drawback is shown to be easily overcome by using a projection algorithm in each layer. The notion of persistency of excitation for multilayer NN is defined and explored. New on-line improved tuning algorithms for discrete-time systems are derived, which are similar to e-modification for the case of continuous-time systems, that include a modification to the learning rate parameter plus a correction term. These algorithms guarantee tracking as well as bounded NN weights.

Abstract: The arrangement with a pn-junction and the measure for reducing the risk of a breakdown of the junction is composed of a combination of a field plate (4) and a stop electrode respectively having a multi-step edge section (40 or, respectively, 50) with a JTE technique, as a result whereof blocking voltages clearly above 2500 Volts can be achieved given slight space requirement.

Abstract: A direct response mailing includes a response card and a set of stamps. The response card has a pressure sensitive adhesive patterned and applied to certain fields of the response card and has removable members placed on top of the pressure sensitive adhesive. The sheet of stamps is perforated into the individual stamps and are entirely unsupported with no adhesive applied to them. To formulate a response, a resident removes a desired set of stamps from the sheet and also detaches the removable members from the response card. The resident then places each stamp into a preferred one of the fields on the response card. Although the stamps have no adhesive, the pressure sensitive adhesive on the response card secures the stamps to the card. The direct response mailing does not have a remoistenable gummed sheet of stamps and thus benefits from not requiring the resident to lick the stamps and also has the benefit of being less prone to water damage during delivery in the mail.

Abstract: Backup peers in an asymmetrically organized computer network are organized into a "pool" of available devices that are activated as necessary. The network comprises a set of remote peers and a set of local peers directly associated with a central computational facility, the local peers facilitating connection between the remote peers and the central facility. During the capabilities exchange, the "primary" local peer to which the remote peer connects provides a list of backup peer devices to the remote peer. If the primary peer fails (or if the rate of message exchange falls below some predetermined threshold), the remote peer can use the backup information to access a backup peer from the pool. The invention allows each backup peer to be assigned to multiple remote peers, with the total number of backup peers determined by aggregate backup utilization (rather than simply assigning an individual backup peer to each primary peer regardless of whether such a high level of redundancy is justified).