Abstract: Gain for single and multi-stage optical amplifiers is controlled to determine gain profile and adjust for input signal transients by varying the gain linearly in relation to balanced variable gain settings in input signal and output signal feedback circuits. ASE correction may be dynamically applied in relation to temperature, input signal level, and gain setting. Feed-forward transient control may also be applied.

Abstract: A bag comprising first and second walls which are connected together along their sides and bottom and a flap portion which is connected to a top of one of the walls. The flap portion and this one wall together form a transversely extending Z-fold. An adhesive strip is provided for closing an open mouth of the bag and this strip extends in a transverse direction across an inner surface of said one wall. A protective band extends in a transverse direction across an inner section of the flap portion so as to cover and contact the adhesive strip. The flap portion also has a projecting outer section which can be pulled outwardly away from the interior of the bag to expose the adhesive strip. A method of making modified plastic sheeting suitable for making these sealable bags is also disclosed. Using one method, an aqueous coating of release material is applied as a band to a strip of plastic sheeting by means of a printing press. This band is then dried using a hot air dryer.

Abstract: A system for actuating a spray pump assembly comprises a reference platform, a motor, a drive transmission, a spray pump holder, a force coupler, a force transducer, and a system controller. The motor receives a power and control input, and produces a rotary drive output. The drive transmission receives the rotary drive output and produces a linear drive output. The spray pump holder secures the spray pump assembly. The force coupler couples the linear drive output to the spray pump, and applies a force to the spray pump. The force transducer produces a force signal proportional to the force applied to the spray pump. The system controller receives a set of test inputs and provides the control input to the motor as a function of the set of test inputs. The system actuates the spray pump mechanism according to an actuation profile defined by the set of test inputs.

Abstract: The present invention is an improvement upon the known method of anionically polymerizing monomers by contacting the monomers with an anionic polymerization initiator which is an organo-substituted alkali metal compound. The improvement comprises decreasing the viscosity of the polymer cement by adding at least 0.01 equivalent of a metal alkyl compound per equivalent of alkali metal initiator if the metal alkyl is added before or at the beginning of polymerization. If the metal alkyl is added during the polymerization or after but before the living polymer is terminated, then at least 0.01 equivalent of the metal alkyl compound per equivalent of living polymer chain ends is should be used. The alkyl groups of the metal alkyl are chosen such that they do not exchange with the organo substituents of the alkali metal, which can be the living polymer chain ends or the organo substituents of the initiator.

Abstract: The present invention is an improvement upon the known method of anionically polymerizing monomers by contacting the monomers with an anionic polymerization initiator which is an organo-substituted alkali metal compound. The improvement comprises decreasing the viscosity of the polymer cement by adding at least 0.01 equivalent of a metal alkyl compound per equivalent of alkali metal initiator if the metal alkyl is added before or at the beginning of polymerization. If the metal alkyl is added during the polymerization or after but before the living polymer is terminated, then at least 0.01 equivalent of the metal alkyl compound per equivalent of living polymer chain ends is should be used. The alkyl groups of the metal alkyl are chosen such that they do not exchange with the organo substituents of the alkali metal, which can be the living polymer chain ends or the organo substituents of the initiator.

Abstract: The present invention is an improvement upon the known method of anionically polymerizing monomers by contacting the monomers with an anionic polymerization initiator which is an organo-substituted alkali metal compound. The improvement comprises decreasing the viscosity of the polymer cement by adding at least 0.01 equivalent of a metal alkyl compound per equivalent of alkali metal initiator if the metal alkyl is added before or at the beginning of polymerization. If the metal alkyl is added during the polymerization or after but before the living polymer is terminated, then at least 0.01 equivalent of the metal alkyl compound per equivalent of living polymer chain ends is should be used. The alkyl groups of the metal alkyl are chosen such that they do not exchange with the organo substituents of the alkali metal, which can be the living polymer chain ends or the organo substituents of the initiator.

Abstract: The present invention is an improvement upon the known method of anionically polymerizing monomers by contacting the monomers with an anionic polymerization initiator which is an organo-substituted alkali metal compound. The improvement comprises decreasing the viscosity of the polymer cement by adding at least 0.01 equivalent of a metal alkyl compound per equivalent of alkali metal initiator if the metal alkyl is added before or at the beginning of polymerization. If the metal alkyl is added during the polymerization or after but before the living polymer is terminated, then at least 0.01 equivalent of the metal alkyl compound per equivalent of living polymer chain ends is should be used. The alkyl groups of the metal alkyl are chosen such that they do not exchange with the organo substituents of the alkali metal, which can be the living polymer chain ends or the organo substituents of the initiator.

Abstract: The present invention is an improvement upon the known method of anionically polymerizing monomers by contacting the monomers with an anionic polymerization initiator which is an organo-substituted alkali metal compound. The improvement comprises decreasing the viscosity of the polymer cement by adding at least 0.01 equivalent of a metal alkyl compound per equivalent of alkali metal initiator if the metal alkyl is added before or at the beginning of polymerization. If the metal alkyl is added during the polymerization or after but before the living polymer is terminated, then at least 0.01 equivalent of the metal alkyl compound per equivalent of living polymer chain ends is should be used. The alkyl groups of the metal alkyl are chosen such that they do not exchange with the organo substituents of the alkali metal, which can be the living polymer chain ends or the organo substituents of the initiator.

Abstract: A cylinder (2) for a printing machine, particularly a developing cylinder in an electrographic printing machine, having a rigid, elongated shaft body (10) and a rigid hollow body (11) whose exterior forms the covering and the top and bottom surfaces of the cylinder. In order that, during operation under constant conditions, the cylinder can roll properly against another rigid cylinder of the printing machine, flat sides (12,13) of the hollow body (11) which form the top and bottom surfaces of the cylinder, have centrical bore holes that are larger than the diameter of the shaft body (10) in the area of the flat sides. Located in the space between the shaft body and the flat sides of the hollow body is an elastic material (14,15) which joins the flat sides of the hollow body to the shaft body.

Abstract: The present invention is a thermally self-regulating nozzle for a snowmaking machine. The invention also relates to a system including the nozzle and method of snowmaking using the nozzle. The nozzle includes an outer housing made of a first material and a thermally separated inner housing, and a nozzle assembly attached to the outer housing by a member made of a second material having a thermal coefficient of expansion lower than the first material. The size of the nozzle outlet being dependent upon the expansion/contraction of the outer housing to accommodate more efficient snowmaking over a range of temperatures.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for removing rare earth elements (RE) from spent nuclear fuel. The spent nuclear fuel is subjected to an oxidation step at a temperature of between about 200.degree. to about 800.degree. C. and a heating step at a temperature of between about 1000.degree. C. to about 1600.degree. C. The process results in the segregation of the spent fuel into a rare earth-rich fluorite-type phase and a rare earth-poor U.sub.3 O.sub.8 phase. The RE-rich fluorite type phase is separated from the RE-poor U.sub.3 O.sub.8 phase by conventional separation techniques such as sieving, air classification, sedimentation and the like.

Abstract: A power cam drive assembly for generating and delivering two different degrees of force serially to a body, the second force being greater than the first force. A main drive gear is coupled to a driven cam gear which is coupled to an outer cam shell. A cam core is nested within the cam shell for rotation along an eccentric path therewithin. The cam core has an axial extension also coupled to the driven cam gear. A windable clock spring located between the cam core and cam shell has one end secured to the cam core and the other end locked to the cam shell. A cam roller is disposed within the cam core. The clock spring has a greater rotational torque than required to rotate the cam core.

Abstract: A microfilm camera/processor including an electrophotographic medium mounted for successive translation step by step over plural functional stations for performing functional operations successively on portions thereof, the stations being an electrostatic spin charging station, an exposure station including a shutter mechanism forming an latent charge image, a toning station including a planar development electrode, a liquid toner depositing feed and a mechanism for bringing the electrode surface into and out from close proximity to the latent charge image, a cleaning and drying station forming a dried toner image and a dry transfer station to force the dry toner image below the surface of a softened coating carried by a strip film receptor and a preprogrammed control .

Abstract: A latching assembly for hingeably connected face-to-face plate members includes an automatic latching assembly for automatically latching said members in a predetermined angular relation to each other when one of the plates is swung away from the other and for automatically releasing and rendering said latching assembly inoperative in response to further opening movement of the members, whereby the members may be returned to their original face-to-face position.

Abstract: A liquid fuel pump arrangement for delivering fuel to an engine comprises a liquid-ring pump including a motor driven bladed impeller rotor which is located eccentrically within a cylindrical bore of a chamber forming part of a hollow pump body structure. The hollow pump body structure also accommodates a motor-driven prime pump impeller which pumps fuel within the pump body structure to an aircraft or other engine. An inner end wall of the liquid ring pump provides the liquid ring with access to the liquid fuel within the pump body structure while an outer end wall of the liquid ring pump has an air/vapor inlet port through which the bladed impeller of the liquid ring pump during rotation thereof draws air/vapor and an air/vapor outlet port the flow of air/vapor expelled therefrom by compression of the air/vapor within the liquid ring in response to rotation of the bladed impeller being restricted by flow restriction means.

Abstract: A releasable coupling especially for quick inter-changeable tool mounting purposes comprises a socket member, e.g. for mounting in a machine tool drive spindle and a spigot shown of taper form and received by a corresponding socket in the socket member. The socket member has a driving engagement with the spigot and a shank of the latter may consist of or carry any one of a variety of tooling. A collar movable between locking and release positions about the socket member has internal cam formation acting on retaining elements such as balls in bores through the socket member which balls engage an annular groove about the spigot to retain it in the socket. Release movement of the collar enables the balls to radially retract for withdrawal of the spigot.

Abstract: Compounds of the formula ##STR1## in which R.sup.1 represents an optionally substituted, straight-chain or branched, saturated, monounsaturated or polyunsaturated alkyl radical, an optionally substituted, saturated or one- or polyunsaturated cycloalkyl radical or an optionally substituted aryl radical or aralkyl radical,X represents CH.sub.2, O, S, NH or N-alkyl with up to 20 C atoms,R.sup.2 has the meaning of R.sup.1, and can represent hydrogen if X denotes CH.sub.2, the radicals R.sup.3 independently of one another represent hydrogen, an acyl radical or alkyl radical with in each case up to 20 C atoms, a silyl radical and/or a phosphoric acid or phosphoric acid ester radical andR.sup.4 denotes hydrogen, methyl or --CH.sub.2 --OR.sup.3, with the proviso that one of the radicals R.sup.3 always represents a phosphoric acid or phosphoric acid ester radical, which stimulate a patient's immune system and are thereby effective in combating viral disease and bacterial infection.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical preparation for the topical treatment of acne is disclosed comprising a combination of Imazilil and Hexamidine as essential active substances. This combination shows antimicrobial activity higher than that of the individual substances.

Abstract: The feed of a sheet of biscuit dough via gauge rollers to cutting apparatus is automatically adjusted to compensate for variations in the thickness of the sheet emerging from the gauge rollers, by measuring the power consumed by or the torque applied to an electrical drive unit driving the gauge rollers, producing an electrical signal proportional to the measured power or torque, and utilizing the signal to adjust the feed of the sheet and correct over- or under-feed to the gauge rollers.

Abstract: Degradation-resistant polyolefin articles, such as fibers, films, sheets and the like, are prepared from polymeric compositions containing a stabilizing system comprising a hindered amine and a nickel phosphonate which have been overcoated with a finish comprising an ethoxylated lubricant and a phosphate ester. In a preferred embodiment, polypropylene textile materials having improved thermal stability are provided compositions containing a stabilizing system comprising a hindered amine and a nickel phosphonate which have been overcoated with a finish composition comprising an ethoxylated lubricant and a phosphate ester in an amount sufficient to impart antistatic properties to said composition and increase the thermal stability of said polypropylene textile materials.