Abstract: A portable electronic scoreboard for use with a game of darts is designed to be used with a real dart board without the need of connecting electronics. The scoreboard is totally self contained and provides the appeal of a high tech electronic scoreboard without the accompanying expense and complexity. The scoreboard can also be utilized to play the game of cricket.

Abstract: A method and device for treating a mammalian organism to obtain a desired local or systemic physiological or pharmacological effect is provided. The method includes administering a sustained release drug delivery system to a mammalian organism in need of such treatment at an area wherein release of an effective agent is desired and allowing the effective agent to pass through the device in a controlled manner. The device includes an inner core or reservoir comprising the effective agent; a first coating layer, which is essentially impermeable to the passage of the effective agent; and a second coating layer, which is permeable to the passage of the effective agent. The first coating layer covers at least a portion of the inner core; however, at least a small portion of the inner core is not coated with the first coating layer. The second coating layer essentially completely covers the first coating layer and the uncoated portion of the inner core.

Abstract: Amplitude information is derived from a periodic waveform by digitally sampling the periodic waveform, filtering a digital harmonic signal out of the digital sample sequence of the periodic waveform, and computing the root mean square of the digital Mth harmonic signal over a predetermined number of successive samplings of the periodic waveform. The digital sampling is done at a rate such that there will be an integer number of samples "L" over the period of the first harmonic component of the digital sample sequence of the waveform signal. The root mean square value computation is simplified by selecting the sampling window width N and the harmonic M so that there is a predetermined relationship to a critical sampling number L given by the expression, L=(4MN)/(2j+1) where j=0, 1, 2, . . . . As long as this relationship is satisfied, the RMS value can be computed by summing the absolute value of selected digital amplitude values of the selected harmonic component of the digitized signal.

Abstract: Game playing apparatus includes a set of cards each bearing a descriptive synopsis of a potentially ambiguous or embarrassing situational dilemma involving sexual etiquette. Also provided are a set of role play cards each instructing the players to assume the sexual role indicated symbolically on the card and answer the current question accordingly. Players are dealt four or five dilemma cards each and the role play cars are placed accessibly between the players. Each player in turn reads aloud the situation described on a card and shares his or her opinion on how the dilemma should best be resolved. If the other players are in general agreement with the resolution, the round is over and the next player reads and responds to one of his or her situation cards. If one or more players differ with the resolution posed, the dealer calls for and moderates an open discussion on the merits of alternative solutions.

Abstract: A method for the production of isomerized hop preparation in which a hop extract is mixed with a solubilized alkaline and an alkaline earth metal salt, and the resulting mixture is subjected to a temperature of at least 70.degree. C. and a pH under 10 for a time sufficient to effect conversion of the alpha-acid in said hop extract into the iso-alpha acid.

Abstract: A network interface module for providing connection between a customer's equipment and the telephone company owned portion of the customer loop is provided with a miniaturized easily removable module which includes the overvoltage protection device and the circuitry necessary to provide a prescribed line test termination impedance having a particular characteristic signature to the telephone central office when a continuity test is made on a subscriber line.

Abstract: Apparatus and method of even harmonic distortion compensation are provided for digital data detection in a disk file. The disk file includes a magneto-resistive (MR) head or other magnetic transducer head and an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) for providing a sampled readback signal. An even harmonic filter is coupled to the ADC for providing a filtered readback signal having only even harmonic components. An adder subtracts the filtered readback signal from the sampled readback signal for providing a compensated output signal. The compensated output signal is applied to a digital channel of the disk file.

Abstract: An improved register allocator is provided to the code generator of a compiler. The improved register allocator allocates registers using an improved register candidate usage matrix. The improved register candidate usage matrix comprises row entries, one for each register candidate. Each row entry comprises usage bits indicating at least whether its register candidate is live at the entries, in the bodies, and at the exits of the various basic blocks. The improved register allocator allocates registers by block, deriving interference information from the improved usage matrix. It then merges the register allocation introducing spill code at points where register candidates are split. As a result, a register can be allocated to two register candidates that are live in the same basic block as long as they are not both live at some point in the basic block, and at the same time, a register candidate can be spilled in one basic block and allocated a register in another basic block.

Abstract: An improved register allocator, an improved instruction scheduler, an instruction combiner, and an improved loop unroller is provided to the code generator of a compiler of a computer system. Both the improved instruction scheduler and the improved loop unroller support a "preliminary" and a "final" mode of operation. Upon invocation, the improved register allocator determines and prioritizes regions of the program being compiled. Next, the improved register allocator, in cooperation with the improved instruction scheduler, the instruction combiner, and the improved loop unroller, determines the optimal partitioning for global and local registers for each region. Then, the improved register allocator allocates registers to each region based on the determined number of global registers for the region. After allocating registers for each region, the improved register allocator merges the regions together.

Abstract: An apparatus for holding an insertion tube of a borescope centered within a passage along which the borescope travels, that includes a pair of opposed collar assemblies slidably mounted upon the insertion tube of the borescope, with each collar assembly including a cylindrical body section and an annular retaining ring, being removably mounted in face-to-face contact with one end face of the body section, and each retaining ring having a rear end face in contact with one body section and a front end face facing that of the retaining ring on the opposing collar assembly, and each retaining ring further including a series of circumferentially spaced rotor seats each having a longitudinally disposed slot passing through the outer wall of the ring, and a plurality of elongated wire spring members with each end fitting in a rotor seat, thus joining the opposing collar assemblies, where one of the collar assemblies is held in a stationary position adjacent to the distal viewing end of the borescope while the other

Abstract: Positive photoresist compositions and methods using the photoresist compositions for making submicron patterns in the production of semiconductor devices are disclosed. The photoresists contain sensitizers that are mixed naphthoquinonediazide 4- and 5- sulfonic acid esters of bis and tris(mono, di and trihydroxyphenyl) alkanes.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming a curved, flat sided surgical needle, which comprises a frame member including an anvil member having an arcuate surface profile; a movable first die member for simultaneously imparting an arcuate profile and at least a pair of first opposing flat surfaces to a body portion of a needle blank and adapted to receive a needle blank, the first die member having an arcuate needle forming surface which is substantially parallel to the arcuate surface of the anvil member; a first side tool for curving a tapered end portion of the needle blank about the anvil; a transfer tool adapted to slide the needle blank along the anvil a side press adapted to import second flat surfaces to a second pair of opposing sides of the body portion of the needle blank; a second side tool member for curving a drill end portion of the needle blank about the anvil; and an ejection tool for moving the needle blank away from the anvil.

Abstract: A public key cryptographic system uses Lucas functions as the basis for encoding and decoding messages. An encoding device and a decoding device are linked by a communication channel. The first device is able to be actuated by some message to be transmitted, M, as well as an encryption key, E, so as to form a cryptogram, C, so that C can be sent over the communication channel to a decoding device. The encryption key, E, is a pair of positive whole numbers, e and N, which match the decryption key, D, of the second decoding device. The message M must usually be broken down into blocks, M.sub.i, such that each is greater than or equal to zero and less than or equal to N-1. N is a composite number--i.e. it is made up of at least two prime numbers, p and q, such that N=p.multidot.q. The cryptographic transformation done by the encoding device can be described using the notation of Lucas functions. It is, for each ith block of message M which produces a matching ith block of the cryptogram C:C.sub.i =V.sub.e (M.

Abstract: A method of synthesis of taxanes from pseudocallus of Taxus species, particularly T. baccata , and methods for pseudocallus production are described. Pseudocallus of the invention can be distinguished from callus tissue and cell suspensions by (1) its unique morphology which is characterized by an amorphous aggregation of cells lacking both differentiated tissues and clearly defined meristematic zones; by (2) very poor intercellular adhesion resulting in marked tissue friability; and by (3) relatively high initial rate of mass doubling. Production of taxanes is achieved by culturing the pseudocallus on support culture medium.

Abstract: A compact self-contained bedwetting alarm uses intermittent vibration to awaken the user. Sensors on the surface of the alarm enclosure sense the presence of urine and activate a low frequency vibration. The vibration is turned on and off by a timer so that the user is not lulled to sleep by the vibration. The alarm may be worn in close proximity to the source of urine. There are no external wires to entangle, and the position of the alarm close to the source of urine reminds the user to control the emission of urine when the alarm is on.

Abstract: A method of controlling hydrocarbon contamination at a zone of contaminant concentration that includes determining the locus of contamination; and dispersing into the locus a substance that reacts with the hydrocarbon to produce CO.sub.2 and water to thereby decontaminate the locus; the dispersing including concentrating the substance in a porous zone, and forcing fluid under pressure into and through that zone to entrain and carry the substance to the contamination locus.

Abstract: High-purity nitrogen gas is generated by reducing at least the residual oxygen content of at least the cathode exhaust gas stream of a fuel cell device. The oxygen reduction is achieved either by controlling the passage of an oxidant gas through the cathode side of the fuel cell device in such a manner as to increase the oxygen utilization at the cathode side of the fuel cell device relative to the optimum electric power generation operating conditions of the fuel cell device, or by removing most of the residual oxygen from the cathode exhaust gas stream exhausted from the cathode side of the fuel cell device, while maintaining both oxygen and nitrogen contained in the cathode exhaust gas in their gaseous states throughout, or both. Moreover, anode exhaust gas can be reacted in a reformer burner with a reduced amount of excess oxygen and/or the reformer burner exhaust gas can be purified to remove combustion products and/or oxygen therefrom.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for minimizing the effects of non-stationary high-energy noise sources in magnetic data storage channel through the use of an oversampling and post-sampling filtering anti-aliasing procedure. The initial analog data is sampled at a rate sufficiently above the Nyquist rate to avoid aliasing. The high-frequency sampling stream is then digitally filtered to produce a lower-rate digital data stream having a reduced Nyquist rate introduced by the post-sampling digital filter. Because the anti-aliasing post-sampling filter is digital, no phase distortion is introduced in the readback data signal. Because the post-sampling digital filter lowers the Nyquist rate, late digital processing and decoding is accomplished without aliasing at a data rate below the initial Nyquist rate. High-energy noise pulses are preserved without smearing and can be simply removed by the usual error-correction method.

Abstract: An apparatus for presenting a curved workpiece to a workstation, includes a frame member and a guide channel associated with the frame member for receiving a curved workpiece in a generally upright position. A first pusher mechanism is reciprocally movable in a transverse direction relative to the guide channel for engaging and positioning the workpiece against a bearing surface of the guide channel. A second pusher mechanism is advanceable within the guide channel to engage the workpiece and to advance the workpiece to the workstation. The apparatus has particular application in the manufacture of curved surgical needles.