Abstract: A method is proposed for examining a plurality of sites for a clinical trial. The method includes obtaining criteria for clinical trial and determining, using a computer device, how information regarding each of a plurality of clinical trial sites relates to the obtained criteria. Based upon the determinations, a plurality of the clinical trial sites are ranked. Thereafter, the ranked clinical trial sites may be reported to a sponsor of the clinical trial, and payment may be received.

Abstract: A method is proposed for monitoring participation of a patient in at least one clinical trial. The method includes collecting data regarding at least one clinical trial for the patient. Using a computer device, the collected data is then compared to at least one threshold. Finally, the patient is rewarded upon the collected data at least meeting at least one threshold.

Abstract: A method is proposed for improving a clinical study. The method includes obtaining criteria for the clinical study, and comparing clinical data to the obtained criteria using a computer device. Thereafter, using the computer device, performance measures are derived based upon the comparisons. These derived performance measures are then usable to improve the clinical study. For example, these performance measures may be used for ranking, and consequently improving, the clinical study.

Abstract: A method is for controlling an exchange in a data transmission system, in which information demand data from information demanders and information supply data representing information which can be supplied by various information suppliers are compared in order to ascertain corresponding information demand data and information supply data. After a successful preliminary comparison for particular minimum matches, the information demand data in question are first transmitted to a data comparison device associated with the information supplier in question for the purpose of a more detailed comparison with the information represented by the information supply data. Upon receipt of positive comparison result data from the data comparison device, indicating that the information which can be supplied matches the information demand data, the exchange then transmits corresponding search result data to a terminal belonging to the information demander.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for the repositioning of imaging, digital systems, particularly for medical applications, upon employment of a first image dataset as well as of a position acquisition system with position sensors, comprising an image reconstruction system (5) that uses a position viewing algorithm to calculate the anticipated view from the modified position data and displays it on a picture screen (6).

Abstract: In a method for determining row correction values for a digital image converter, with image points arranged in a matrix in rows and columns, in which a small part is protected against radiation by a covering, in order to form a dark reference zone, row correction values are formed by determining the differences of the image points in the dark reference zone in relation to their environment with defective pixels in the dark reference zone being determined and are suppressed in the determination of the row correction value.

Abstract: In a method for the operation of a digital imaging system of an X-ray diagnostic apparatus having an X-ray unit for the generation of X-ray images, an X-ray image converter-television chain for the acquisition of the X-ray images, the chain including a digital image converter having image points arranged in matrix form in rows and columns and a monitor for the reproduction of the X-ray images processed by the digital imaging system. Defective image points are recognized by converting at least one calibration image into a filter image by highpass filtering, e.g. a median filtering, and the filter image is subjected to defect determination, so that a defect image is obtained. The defect image is used for the correction of an original image.

Abstract: Electrical contact materials based on AgCdO with CdO as the main active component have proven to be particularly advantageous for low voltage switchgear in the power industry. However, when switching AgCdO contact materials, CdO, which is classified as toxic, can escape into the environment through burn-off. It is important, therefore, to keep the CdO content as low as possible in the contact material, or to exclude it completely. The contact material according to the invention is a sintered contact material consisting of AgSnO.sub.2 with at least two other metal oxide additives; namely, Bi.sub.2 O.sub.3, CuO and optionally CdO. Relative to SnO.sub.2, these additives Bi.sub.2 O.sub.3, CuO optionally CdO, amount quantitatively to a total maximum of 25 percent by volume of the total amount of oxide.

Abstract: The invention relates to molded getter bodies for use in encapsulated electrical components. The getter bodies are formable into compressed body shapes in a simplified manner from a mixture of (A) a getter material consisting of activated carbon, zeolite, zirconium and mixtures thereof, (B) polyamide, and (C) polyethylene wax. The molded getter bodies of the invention have improved accuracy as to size, increased getter capacity, and uniform getter activity relative to the prior art.

Abstract: The composite according to the invention is prepared by milling an atomized silver, two metal oxide alloy powder dry or wet in a mill in order to reduce its particle size and deform its particle shape. Subsequently an internal oxidation of the powder is carried out in two stages, at a first temperature range between 673.degree. K. and 773.degree. K. for two to six hours and in a second temperature range between 873.degree. K. and 1073.degree. K. for 0.5 to 2 hours. The internally oxidized powder is pressed into molded parts and these are densified by sintering in a temperature range between 973.degree. K. and 1173.degree. K. in air or a neutral atmosphere and by coining.

Abstract: AgCdO based contact elements are replaced in contactors and small circuit breakers with CdO-less type elements which exhibit little burn-off in the arc, a low welding force and minimal heating when carrying continuous current. However, known AgSnO.sub.2 contact materials do not have optimum values in all operationally important properties. In these contact materials a more firmly adhering oxide layer occurs as compared with AgCdO. The invention relates to a sintered compound material for electrical contacts, consisting of AgSnO.sub.2 Bi.sub.2 O.sub.3 CuO and containing at least one other metal oxide additive which sublimes below the melting temperature of silver. The SnO.sub.2, Bi.sub.2 O.sub.3 and CuO are globularly precipitated in silver material structure zones having a maximum diameter of 200 .mu.m, and the metal oxide additive is distributed on the surfaces of the boundary regions of these microscopic silver zones.

Abstract: In a method for molding formed parts in automatic multiposition presses, using powdered materials having a flowability characterized by a flow time exceeding 60 seconds per 100 g of powder flowing from a 60.degree. standard funnel with a nozzle aperture of 4 mm and a nozzle length of 4 mm, the powdered material having in the mold a filling height to diameter ratio larger than two, the powder is conveyed into the mold by means of filling devices located at a plurality of separate charging stations, pressed at a separate pressing station and ejected at yet another separate station. The filling heights in each mold is subdivided into at least two individual filling heights so that the filling of the mold to these individual filling heights can be carried out at different charging stations.

Abstract: In the manufacture of molded single layer bodies in an automatic press, the press output is substantially increased by providing, on a circular table, at least two work positions at a predetermined distance from each other. At each work position, a pressing process for pressing the powder and an ejecting process for ejecting the finished molded body take place. Filling devices are arranged between the work positions in such a manner that the filling vessel of each filling device covers a wide angular range of the circular table. Pressing and ejecting take place during standstill of the press table, and the filling of the die takes place during the transport of the press table from the one to the other work position.

Abstract: A relay contact made of nickel-cobalt sintered alloys with the composition 50 to 85% nickel and 50 to 15% cobalt is described.

Abstract: A sintered contact material of silver and at least two embedded metal oxides for use in electrical contacts in which the metal oxides are distributed alternatingly in the silver in different microscopic zones of the sintered contact material.

Abstract: In order to generate a graphite free, solderable surface on a contact piece for electric contacts, which consists of silver with graphite particles up to about 5% by weight finely and uniformly distributed therein, the contact piece is subjected to a wet scouring treatment, simultanouesly using scouring stones.

Abstract: An impregnated sintered material for making electrical contact members which have a low fusing force and little burning in which a powder mixture of W, Ag and/or Cu, a wetting promoting metal, and 2 to 5 percent by weight graphite is granulated thermically, and another 1 to 6 percent by weight graphite admixed to the granules, after which the mixture is compacted to form a skeleton and impregnated with Ag and/or Cu. The carbon contained in the finished material is partly in bound form as WC and partly free carbon in a 1:5 to 5:1 ratio.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing compacts having layers of different composition. More particularly, each metal powder layer is charged in a separate work station and each is pressed in a separate work station with an individual constant pressing pressure. This is achieved by moving a number of pressing tools corresponding to the number of work stations intermittently from station to station by cyclic interchange. After each movement, charging, pressing and ejecting occur simultaneously at the respective work stations.

Abstract: A contact material for vacuum switches comprising a composite inclusion metal of at least two metal components in which a first component has an electric conductivity of at least 10 m/ohm mm.sup.2, the share of this component being between 35 and 60% by volume. At least one component has a melting point of at least 1400.degree. C and at least one component is effective as a getter. These components are embedded in the first component, with only isolated bridges existing between the finely distributed inclusions. The porosity of the composite inclusion metal is less than 2% by volume.

Abstract: A new material for making the electrical contacts of high-power vacuum circuit breakers comprises an alloy having as a base metal, a metal such as copper, nickel, iron, cobalt or titanium, and as an alloying metal, a metal such as bismuth, tellurium or lead, this alloy also including an auxiliary metal which forms a eutectic with the base metal used. The alloy has a fine grain size while at the same time a low gas content.