Abstract: This composite consists of an aluminum-alloy matrix containing by volume percent, 0.4 to 8.8 alumina, 1 to 4.4 carbon or graphite and 0.5 to 20 nickel-bearing aluminide. The alumina particles have an average size between 3 and 250 &mgr;m and the carbon and graphite particles have an average size between 10 and 250 &mgr;m. The composite is cast by stirring alumina and carbon or graphite contained in a molten aluminum or aluminum-base alloy to form a molten mixture. The molten mixture is cast directly from a temperature above the liquidus of the matrix alloy. While solidifying, carbon or graphite particles delay or hinder the settling of alumina to create a more uniform composite structure. The resulting composite structure contains an aluminum-base alloy, alumina, carbon or graphite and nickel-bearing aluminide dispersoids.

Abstract: A universal polymer support containing an organic aliphatic molecule of structure ##STR1## having at least a pair of cis-hydroxyl groups where one of the hydroxyl groups is attached to the polymer support through a covalent linkage and the other hydroxyl group is protected by an acid labile group.

Abstract: The data processing system of the present invention loads three input operands, including two input vectors and a control vector, into vector registers and performs a permutation of the two input vectors as specified by the control vector, and further stores the result of the operation as the output operand in an output register. The control vector consists of sixteen indices, each uniquely identifying a single byte of input data in either of the input registers, and can be specified in the operational code or be the result of a computation previously performed within the vector registers. The specification of the control vector allows a vector-matrix operation to be performed on the input vectors by rearranging or replicating the input operand bytes in the bytes of the output register as a function of the control vector.

Abstract: A process for preparing oligoribo- or oligodeoxyribonucleotides comprising treating an alkanediol or alkanetriol of formula I ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 =H--(CH.sub.2).sub.n --; andR.sup.2 =--CH.sub.2 OH or --(CH.sub.2).sub.n --Hn=1-4;with 4,4'-dimethoxytrityl chloride to generate a monosubstituted tritylated compound of formula II ##STR2## wherein R.sup.3 =H--(CH.sub.2).sub.p --; andR.sup.4 =-CH.sub.2 OH or --(CH.sub.2).sub.p --H;R.sup.5 is 4,4'-dimethoxytrityl and concommitantly R.sup.6 is hydrogen, orR.sup.5 is hydrogen and concommitantly R.sup.6 is 4,4'-dimethoxytrityl;p=1-4;and treating the compound of formula II with one equivalent of a homobifunctional alkanedioic acid halide, and contacting the resulting mixture with a polymer support bearing hydroxyl or aminoalkyl functionalities.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of organic compounds through C--C bond forming reaction which comprises reacting a diene with a dienophile in the presence of solid acid based on either yttrium, scandium or lanthanum supported on metal oxide supports such as oxides of zirconium or tin or titanium or iron oxide modified by sulphation as catalysts for a period ranging from 5 to 48 hours and recovering the reaction products from the reaction mixture by filtration and removal of the solvent by evaporation followed by column chromatography.

Abstract: A central processing unit (CPU) in a computer that permits speculative parallel execution of more than one instruction thread. The CPU uses Fork-Suspend instructions that are added to the instruction set of the CPU, and are inserted in a program prior to run-time to delineate potential future threads for parallel execution. The CPU has an instruction cache with one or more instruction cache ports, a bank of one or more program counters, a bank of one or more dispatchers, a thread management unit that handles inter-thread communications and discards future threads that violate dependencies, a set of architectural registers common to all threads, and a scheduler that schedules parallel execution of the instructions on one or more functional units in the CPU.

Abstract: The computer processing unit of the present invention includes a new prefetch instruction, referred to as an STOUCH instruction, which provides the capability to encode compile-time speculations associated with the conditional branches between the time the prefetch request is initiated and the time the prefetched data is actually needed. As a result of this explicit communication of compile-time speculations to the run-time hardware, prefetched lines based on invalid speculations can be discarded earlier, whereas, prefetched lines based on valid speculations can be retained longer in the cache, leading to better cache performance.

Abstract: A dynamic data exchange (DDE) server which allows external programs to access power management data is presented. The DDE server provides a mnemonic cross reference between register items and standardized, alphanumeric parameter names. This mnemonic interface allows the user to retrieve data from a device without knowledge of the actual device register item number. Also, the DDE server automatically performs time synchronizing for all supported devices and provides a consistent waveform and event interface. The DDE server is optimized for either the Modbus RTU or Ethernet protocol. The DDE server includes toolkit functions which are used to maintain DDE communication and protocol timers and to maintain active topic and item lists. The DDE server acts as a link between a client requesting device data and a field device which can provide the data. The DDE server communicates to the field device through communication ports and to the client via DDE message link.

Abstract: In a computer system having a hierarchical memory, the problem of tolerating cache miss latency is solved by dynamically switching appropriately between two different code sequences, one optimized at compile-time, assuming a cache-hit, and the other optimized at compile-time, assuming a cache-miss.

Abstract: A production assembly tool for securing fasteners to a workpiece such as an automobile body. The production assembly tool of the present invention includes a housing which encases a motor, a transmission, a clutch mechanism and a control module. The control module controls the running and braking of the motor and prevents both over and under securing of a fastener caused by falsely detected tool clutch conditions. An improved clutch sensor switch is operatively associated with the control module for detecting clutch disengagement. The clutch mechanism is designed to drive the fastener until the clutch sensor switch detects clutch disengagement and signals the control circuit to stop drive and start braking. The production assembly tool further includes a system for ensuring accurate placement of the power tool motor in the power tool housing subsequent to motor servicing or repair.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for processing instruction threads. Execution is initiated by a processing system of a first set of instructions including a particular instruction. The particular instruction includes an indication of a second set of instructions. In response to execution of the particular instruction and to the processing system being of a first type, the processing system continues executing the first set while initiating execution of the second set. In response to execution of the particular instruction and to the processing system being of a second type, the processing system continues executing the first set without initiating execution of the second set.

Abstract: A scrap particle sorting system and attendant sorting process employs a conveyor for conveying the randomly shaped particles in a random orientation, a position sensor for determining the advancement of the scrap particles in the direction of conveyance by determining the position of the conveyor belt, an image detector for periodically recording the image of a predefined viewing area through which the scrap particles are conveyed, and an image processor for periodic acquisition and processing of the images. The image processor includes logic for defining each image of the viewing area into a matrix of cells, and for each acquired image, analyzing the digital data corresponding to the image to determine for each cell in the matrix whether the pixels in that cell satisfy a predetermined criteria, and establishing a discriminator signal for each cell in the matrix as a function of that analysis.

Abstract: A scrap particle sorting system and attendant sorting process employs a conveyor for conveying the randomly shaped particles in a random orientation, a position sensor for determining the advancement of the scrap particles in the direction of conveyance by determining the position of the conveyor belt, an image detector for periodically recording the image of a predefined viewing area through which the scrap particles are conveyed, and an image processor for periodic acquisition and processing of the images. The image processor includes logic for defining each image of the viewing area into a matrix of cells, and for each acquired image, analyzing the digital data corresponding to the image to determine for each cell in the matrix whether the pixels in that cell satisfy a predetermined criteria, and establishing a discriminator signal for each cell in the matrix as a function of that analysis.

Abstract: Kish graphite can be separated from fume in kish graphite-fume mixtures and can be recovered as a clean usable product by screening the kish graphite-fume mixtures to separate the mixtures into a screen overflow and screen underflow. The screen overflow is mixed with a solution of a washing agent and a surface active agent. The mixture is stirred to thoroughly "wet" the surfaces of the kish graphite. The mixture is filtered. The kish graphite is recovered as a filter cake. The effluent which consists of the washing agent, the surface active agent and fume, is passed to waste. The kish graphite retains its integrity through the separation, recovery, and cleaning steps.