Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for dynamically adapting the play-out delay for voice packets transmitted over a local area network using the Ethernet standard as an access mechanism. It has been observed that the distribution of voice packet delays in a LAN (shared by voice and data traffic) follows a log-normal distribution. An adaptive algorithm is disclosed to estimate the parameters of the log-normal distribution and to apply a dynamic play-out delay to improve the quality of packetized voice conversations, quantified by minimum delay and packet loss. For example, the size, B, of the play-out buffer can be established to ensure that the packet loss does not exceed one percent (1%). The distribution parameters are continuously updated and the size of the play-out buffer, B, is modified at the beginning of every calibration interval according to the illustrative 99% percentile of the delay distribution.

Abstract: Support apparatus for a rifle having a barrel, a bipod and a butt, the apparatus including a ground mat having first and second recesses wherein the first recess is adapted to secure the rifle bipod and the second recess containing a telescoping member is adapted to support the butt of the rifle.

Abstract: A method of directly separating into its individual diastereomers, diastereomeric mixtures containing optically active compounds of the formulae ##STR1## which comprises first crystallizing the said mixture from an aromatic hydrocarbon solvent to recover one diastereomer, and then recrystallizing the residue from a ketone to recover the remaining diastereomer.