Abstract: A golf club formed with a central open cavity behind the striking face and a linear ledge overlying the cavity. Two pair of vertically spaced sighting indicia extend in transversely intersecting planar registration for providing parallax - free alignment sighting relative to the sweet spot of a ball surface to be struck. A lower indicia of one pair extends generally longitudinally co-directional with the striking face and is comprised of three parallel laterally spaced apart indicia for sighting selectively recognized forward pressing of the golfer's hands on the club shaft.

Abstract: A roller skate wheel is constructed for rolling in both the forward and lateral directions of the skate. A plurality of rollers are mounted on the wheel hub, each roller rotatable about an axis tangential to a circle on the wheel axis. The rollers conform to a second circle on the wheel axis for contact with a skating surface. Application of friction to the rollers controls the resistance to lateral rolling, thus providing a braking action to the skater.

Abstract: The invention is concerned with novel ingestible cross-linked homopolymers having functional groups consisting of linear or branched amines, of the formula: ##STR1## and their pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the formulae: ##STR2## wherein P represents a hydrophilic, cross-linked and non-digestible homopolymer backbone; R is a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl radical; X.sup.- is a pharmaceutically acceptable anion; m is an integer varying from 1 to 10 inclusive; and n, o and p are, independently, integers varying from 2 to 12 inclusive. The amine functionalized and cross-linked homopolymers of the invention are highly efficient adsorbents for bile acids and salts and can thus be used for reducing hypercholesterolemia in affected humans.

Abstract: Shear-type cutters for hard and/or large thickness workpieces having a pair of shearing-action cutting jaws, laterally abutting each of which jaws is a hold-down clamp member having a hold-down surface positioned opposite the other of said jaws. Each hold-down surface is moveable with respect to its associated jaw away from the jaw it opposed through a wide range of distances, normally is in alignment with the cutting surface of the jaw to which it as affixed, and is resiliently biased against being so moved. Thereby, when the jaws close on a workpiece of any of a wide range of thicknesses, the hold-down surfaces of the clamps come into contact with and yieldingly remain pressed against the outer surfaces of the work piece to hold it in place as the cutting jaws impinge upon and cut through it.

Abstract: Concentrations of one or more carbohydrates phosphorylated at a secondary hydroxyl, including fructose-3-phosphate and sorbitol-3-phosphate, in biological tissue or cells of diabetic patients are determined by .sup.31 P NMR Spectroscopy, High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) or other appropriate analytical techniques. Elevated levels of such phosphorylated carbohydrates, relative to a prescribed standard or threshold level, are associated with an increased risk for developing the degenerative complications of diabetes. A method is provided for determining the relative concentrations of such phosphorylated carbohydrates, whereby the relative risk of a patient for the development of diabetic complications and the efficacy of therapeutic intervention in prevention of such complications may be assessed.

Abstract: An improved score or perforator bar device is adapted for use with certain printing presses having a blanket cylinder revolving upon an axle shaft and with an elongate slot for attachment of the blanket. The adapter device includes a bar of a length substantially the same as the cylinder with a working side having a longitudinal slot for mounting a knife blade. The knife blade has either a scoring edge or a perforation edge, depending upon the desired effect. The bar has an attachment side for connection to the blanket cylinder and has legs extending generally perpendicularly. The legs have recessed ends for bearing against the cylinder shaft so that the force of the blade is transferred to the axle shaft and not to the cylinder shell. Hooks selectively extend about the cylinder shaft. A screw arrangement retains the bar in a cylinder slot. A numbering device in lieu of the knife blade can be retained within the longitudinal slot.

Abstract: A high pressure synthetic gas stream is produced by gasifying coal. Hydrogen sulfide is removed by contacting the high pressure gas stream with a physical solvent, such as an alcohol, in an absorber column. A low temperature is maintained in the absorber column, typically by chilling both the solvent and the incoming high pressure synthetic gas stream, where a portion of the cooling requirement is supplied by adiabatically expanding the cleaned high pressure gas stream exiting the absorber. Typically, the cleaned high pressure gas stream will be expanded in a turbine expander to provide mechanical energy in addition to cooling capacity. The cleaned synthetic gas is useful as a fuel or chemical feedstock.

Abstract: A method of binding aggregated immunoglobulin or immune complexes comprising contacting them with serum amyloid P component ("SAP"). The invention also comprises methods of using SAP to detect or quantitate immune complexes and to deplete fluids of aggregated immunoglobulin or immune complexes for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. Also provided is a test kit comprising SAP for detecting or quantitating immune complexes and a device for removing aggregated immunoglobulin or immune complexes from fluids.

Abstract: A honing tool characterized by an elongated rectangular cup element or holder having a bottom interior surface, a bundle of closely packed relatively short discrete generally parallel filaments secured in the holder, and a thin layer of instant adhesive securing substantially all of the filaments at one end face of the bundle to the bottom interior surface of the holder. To make such a honing tool, a measured bundle of uniformly closely packed nonwoven, generally parallel discrete filaments is formed. A holder is supported and a measured amount of liquid adhesive is placed in the bottom interior of the holder so that a thin layer of such adhesive completely covers the bottom of the interior of the holder. The bundle is then promptly driven into the holder so that all of the filaments at one end of the bundle are in contact with the adhesive prior to the curing of the adhesive. The adhesive is then cured whereby the one end face of the bundle is secured to the bottom interior of the holder.

Abstract: A stirrup attachment is fabricated for quick and easy positioning on a standard adult saddle so that the standard saddle may be safely used by youthful riders. The stirrup attachment includes a dome-shaped leather central section having an aperture therein through which the saddle horn of a standard saddle is received. The central section includes left and right strap extensions to which conventional adjustment sections and associated youth stirrups may be attached.

Abstract: A rotary valve with a latching/locking operating handle assembly includes a valve body carrying a rotary valve element having an outwardly extending valve stem. A main handle body is joined to the stem and provides guide grooves for cooperating first and second operating members connected by a cam assembly such that selective horizontal movement of the first operating member produces vertical movement of the second operating member. A latch pin carried by the second member is thereby caused to move between engaged and disengaged positions with the valve body.

Abstract: A system, including apparatus and method, for modifying an existing venetian blind so as to maintain a desired portion of the slats in an open or horizontal position, while simultaneously maintaining the remaining portion of slats in a closed or slanted position. The invention provides for a clip and a method of using the same, the clip being attached to one tilt string and the lift string of the blind to prevent movement of both relative to each other below the clip. The second tilt string of the blind is encompassed loosely by the clip, but remains free to move vertically up and down.

Abstract: A plastic strap or tape having granular abrasive embedded homogeneously throughout is cut, shaped and formed into a variety of abrasive finishing tools. The plastic working element is preferably rather stiff 6/12 nylon and contains about 30 to 45% by weight of abrasive material. The strap or tape is formed by extrusion of such non-elastomeric plastic through a ceramic die opening and as extruded has an indefinite length in the machine direction, a controlled uniform thickness, and a width which is approximately 5 to 50 times or more the thickness. A preferred width to thickness ratio is about 30:1, or about 1 mm to 3 cm. The strap or tape may be cut to the desired length and partially embossed, serrated or scored either lengthwise or transversely to provide fracture or flex lines. The spacing of the serrations or score lines controls the degree of flexibility or aggressiveness of the tool working face.

Abstract: A granular fabric softening composition, which can be added to water to form an aqueous concentrated emulsion, comprising nonionic fabric softener, preferably a fatty alkyl ester of a polyhydric alcohol, and a mono-long-chain alkyl cationic surfactant. In particular, the use of a sorbitan ester with a mono-long-chain alkyl cationic surfactant provides a granular softening agent which can be used to form a highly dispersed, concentrated, aqueous composition which, when added to, e.g., a rinse cycle of a typical washing process, effectively deposits onto fabric from the aqueous bath.

Abstract: A cattle gate has a base frame adapted to rest on a ground surface. Upright end frames are secured to the base frame at opposite ends and suspend a grid over the center of the base frame using a spring and chain suspension. The gate is a unitary structure that can be transported either using a truck or by attaching a pair of wheels and a hitch for towing purposes.