Abstract: A ceramic pressure measurement cell for use in a sensor for static and/or dynamic monitoring of the pressure of a liquid or flowable medium which includes a base body and a membrane connected to the base body such that one side of the membrane is in contact with the medium to be monitored. The pressure measurement cell has high chemical resistance and high temperature resistance for a plurality of chemicals which is achieved by applying at least one plastic film on the side of the membrane in contact with the medium.

Abstract: DNA molecules and methods for producing proteins, or fragments thereof, having binding activity for the fast form of .alpha..sub.2 -macroglobulins as exemplified for the streptococcal surface proteins MIG, MAG and ZAG.

Abstract: An electronic calendar system is disclosed wherein the calendar system can interact with a user entirely auditorially, e.g. via speech based interactions, entirely visually, or a combination of both. Moreover, the present invention utilizes context information regarding the state or configuration of the calendar system so that substantially at any time a user may query the calendar system for informing the user of the current state of the calendar system. Accordingly, the present invention is particularly useful for users who communicate with the calendar system substantially or entirely auditorially. The user may contact a processing module in the calendar system through a telecommunications network such as a telephone network, a cable network or through the worldwide web. The system includes an apparatus for converting speech to text streams and vice versa.

Abstract: Line bundles (LB1 . . . 4) containing combined narrowband connections to be switched between time division multiplex communication systems (KS) are converted into a cell-oriented information stream (IS). A predetermined number of the line bundles (LB1, LB2) is switched via permanent virtual connections (PVC1, PVC2) of an ATM communication network (KN). Switched permanent virtual connections (SPVC1, SPVC2) are set up in the ATM communication network (KN) for the switching of additional line bundles (LB3, LB4). The switched permanent virtual connections (SPVC1, SPVC2) are respectively set up and dismantled in dependence on the traffic volume (VB) between the communication systems (KS). The switching-oriented resources of the ATM communication network (KN) are used more efficiently, and the ATM network switching costs are reduced.

Abstract: A method and system for segmenting and acting upon segments of, for example, a previously generated voice message by inserting audible interrupts into the voice message for partitioning the voice message into segments. Upon initiating or encountering such an interrupt in a voice message, a subscriber may act upon a segment adjacent to the interrupt. Actions on the adjacent segment include replaying the segment, forwarding the segment to an addressee with comments, deleting the segment, or no action although retaining the option of future action on the adjacent segment. Furthermore, the inserted interrupts may be inserted by the originating party of the voice message for action by the originating party, or by the originating party for future action by another receiving party.

Abstract: A method for providing a user with the facility to linguistically direct a computer system to present desired audio/video programming is provided. The method is intended to be used in conjunction with a computer system having an input device, an audio interface, a controller, and a monitor. The method begins with the step of presenting to a user a menu of options at the monitor. The method continues with the step of identifying a set of key phonemes including phonemes associated with the menu of options. The method next includes the step of receiving at the audio interface a command signal representing a linguistic audio command. The command signal is then converted into a command phoneme which is matched with a phoneme of the set of key phonemes. Finally, the controller performs a task associated with the matched phoneme.

Abstract: In a method and an apparatus for echo compensator connection for telephone connections in a telecommunication network that has a plurality of network groups (10), each network group has at least one remote node and a plurality of subscriber stations (14) that are connected to the remote node (12) via network group lines (18). The size of the network groups is selected such that echo compensation is not required given the maximum signal running times occurring within a respective network group (10). The remote nodes (12) of various network groups (10) are connected to one another by long-distance trunks (20). An echo compensator (22) is looped into the connection in the respective remote node (12) of the originating network group and of the destination network group given setup of a telephone connection between two network groups.

Abstract: An automated method and system for voice processing is used with a plurality of voice mail boxes each of which is assigned to a corresponding one of a plurality of subscribers and is operative to receive and store a plurality of voice messages. After playback of the stored message has begun, playback may be suspended and a response may be generated by a subscriber (the called party) to the previous message segment. The response is directed to a selected destination and may include attachment of the message segment. Playback may thereafter be resumed and suspended in the same manner so as to form multiple responses to the stored message. Multiple responses to the same destination are concatenated so as to form a single concatenated response.

Abstract: Octyl ethers and octadienyl ethers of glucose, sucrose, are disclosed. Compositions comprised of a mixture of octyl ethers of glucose and sucrose and those containing octadienyl ethers of sugar acids are also disclosed.

Abstract: Octyl ethers and octadienyl ethers of glucose, sucrose, bisphenol A, 4-substituted-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidines are disclosed. Compositions comprised of a mixture of octyl ethers of glucose and sucrose and those containing octadienyl ethers of sugar acids and ring-opened epoxidized octadienyl ethers are also disclosed as are telomerization processes.