Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing access to a banked peripheral memory via a contiguous linear address space. The present invention provides a linear address space having a present region that is mapped to a host memory region of a computer system. The present invention further provides a relocatable selector that provides access to a portion of the linear address space. Accessing programs exchange data with the banked peripheral memory via the relocatable linear address space. When an accessing program references an address of the relocatable address base that is not mapped to the present region, the relocatable linear address space is positioned so that the referenced address maps to the present region. Additionally, a bank of the peripheral memory that corresponds to the referenced address is also mapped into the host memory region so as to enable the accessing program to exchange data with the banked peripheral memory via the relocatable linear address space.

Abstract: A method and system for rapidly transmitting multicolor or gray scale display data having multiple bits per pixel to a display device is provided. In a preferred embodiment, the method and system constitutes a software facility. The facility first encodes the image into multiple bit per pixel raster data. The multiple bit per pixel raster data has a number of pixels. Each pixel stores a color value corresponding to the color of a particular region within the image. The facility then associates one or more single bit per pixel raster planes with the multiple bit per pixel raster data. Each single bit per pixel raster plane corresponds to a color value that appears in the multiple bit per pixel raster data. Each pixel of each single bit per pixel raster plane corresponds to a pixel of the multiple bit per pixel raster data, and indicates whether the corresponding pixel in the multiple bit per pixel raster data contains the color value of the single bit per pixel raster plane.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved process for preparing fatty acids from alkyl, preferably methyl esters via acid hydrolysis by using ratios of water/ester/acid catalyst to form single phase reaction mixtures wherein the initial stoichiometric ratio of water to ester is at least about 1:1. These ratios are represented by the ternary phase diagram of FIG. 1 for a preferred C.sub.6 -C.sub.14 alkylbenzene sulfonic acid catalyst having mid-point attachment of the alkyl chain to the benzene ring.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved process for preparing fatty acids from alkyl, preferably methyl esters comprising mixing the fatty acid ester with water, acid catalyst, and DMSO in order to form a single phase reaction mixture. The single phase reaction mixture is then heated to a temperature of from about 70.degree. C. to about 130.degree. C. to hydrolyze the fatty acid ester into the corresponding acid and volatile alcohol and removing the volatile alcohol. The acid catalyst is heat and water stable and the reaction mixture is essentially free of C.sub.2 -C.sub.5 carboxylic acids. The initial stoichiometric ratio of the water to the ester is at least about 1:1.

Abstract: A laryngoscope blade having a self contained base housing integral with a bottom surface of a laryngoscope spatula. The blade is easily attachable and detachable from a standard laryngoscope handle containing a battery pack and axial pin for engagement with the blade's latch. The bulb is easily threaded into the base housing through a central channel and is removable for replacement by turning the bulb's ribbed base protruding from below the base housing. A bundle of light conducting fibers enclosed within a metal sheath transmit light from the housing to a position near the end of the laryngoscope spatual.

Abstract: Polyol polyesters having reduced color content are prepared by base-catalyzed transesterification of pretreated lower (i.e., C.sub.1 -C.sub.3) alkyl fatty esters with polyols. The pretreatment comprises the steps of contacting the alkyl fatty esters (in a liquid state) with an alkoxide base, separating undissolved solids from the esters, and then distilling the esters.

Abstract: Polyol polyesters having reduced color content are prepared by base-catalyzed transesterification of lower (i.e., C.sub.1 -C.sub.3) alkyl fatty esters having a carbonyl content of less than about 200 ppm with polyols. The esters can be prepared by a pretreatment comprising distilling the said alkyl fatty esters (in a liquid state), preferably with a base, and discarding both the top cut in an amount that is about 5% or less and at least about 2% of the still bottoms.