Abstract: Compounds of the general formula A.sub.2 MeSbO.sub.6 wherein A is either barium (Ba) or strontium (Sr) and Me is a non-magnetic ion selected from the group consisting of scandium (Sc), indium (In) and gallium (Ga) have been prepared and included in high critical temperature thin film superconductor structures.

Abstract: A cable adjuster for individually adjusting the cable ends of a split cable on a compound archery bow has a body with a medial slot located in it which fits over the end of the pin which journal the bow cams. The slot is configured so that the body can rotate on the pin and be slid toward and away from the center of the bow. A retainer secures the body rotatably on the pin. A button attached to the body releasably engages a loop located at the cable ends. A notch is located between the body and the button to seat the cable loop on the device. The button and notch are angled with respect to the body such that when a force which is applied to the cable, the elongate axis of the body remains normal to the axis of the pin so that the body can rotate on the pin without binding. A set screw extends through the top end of the body into the slot where it contacts the top of the pin when force is applied to the cable.

Abstract: A process for the production of saturated oligomers by the oligomerization of light olefins to heavier olefins and the saturation of the heavy olefins is improved by the recycle of the heavy paraffins to the oligomerization zone. The recycle of the heavy paraffins improves the selectivity of the oligomerization for C.sub.8 paraffin products and reduces catalyst fouling. The reduced catalyst fouling can be used to operate the oligomerization zone at lower pressure and facilitate its integration with a dehydrogenation zone for the production of the light olefin stream.

Abstract: A network controller card having a processor, memory and program logic. The program logic can be used as communications circuits and as testing circuits. A reconfigure signal from a workstation remotely located from the network controller card initiates the processor to change the program logic from communications circuits to testing circuits and vice versa.

Abstract: A sensor dispensing instrument is adapted to receive a generally circular sensor pack containing a plurality of blood glucose sensors. Each of the sensors are disposed in sensor cavities, each of which is in fluid communication with a corresponding desiccant cavity and has a support wall that assists in directing the sensor as its being ejected from the cavity. The sensor pack is loaded on an indexing disk in the instrument such that when a slide actuator on the instrument is moved toward a testing position, a feed mechanism engaged by the slide actuator moves a knife blade thereon toward one of the sensor cavities. The knife blade pierces a portion of a foil covering the sensor cavity and engages the sensor disposed in the cavity to thereby eject the sensor from the sensor cavity.

Abstract: A novel homogeneous human cytokine, Natural Killer Stimulatory Factor, having the ability to induce the production of gamma interferon in vitro in human peripheral blood lymphocytes, and a pharmaceutical preparation containing it.

Abstract: Apparatus for reading data from an optical medium having improved settling time characteristics and reduced bandwidth requirements is disclosed. The apparatus includes a front facet detector for producing a front facet monitor signal from a laser light beam; first and second detectors for producing first and second data signals, respectively; and a first gain control circuit responsive to the front facet monitor signal to produce a gain adjusted front facet monitor signal.

Abstract: A plastic paint roller frame includes a cross member having legs depending from opposite ends of the cross member, and pins on the legs in coaxial alignment with each other for rotatably mounting opposite ends of a roller cover between the legs. The legs have a pair of flexible ears on the inner ends thereof which are movable toward each other to permit the legs to be slid in and out of transverse openings in opposite ends of the cross member for ease of assembly and removal of the roller cover from the frame. External shoulders on the ears resist removal of the legs from the transverse openings when the legs are pushed into the transverse openings a sufficient distance such that the external shoulders clear the openings and the ears move the external shoulders radially outwardly into overlying relation with the upper ends of the transverse openings.

Abstract: A method for reading data from an optical medium having improved settling time characteristics and reduced bandwidth requirements, including producing a gain adjusted front facet monitor signal from a laser light beam, producing first and second data signals from data read from the medium, and producing first and second gain adjusted data signals in response to the gain adjusted front facet monitor signal and first and second data signals, respectively.

Abstract: An integrator in a ring laser gyro that produces an output for changing the path length is reset synchronously with a gyro dither signal to reduce gyro errors from the dithering operation during the reset.

Abstract: A method of compensating for load/environment temperature differential-induced measured load weight error comprises the steps of: providing a load having a load temperature T.sub.L ; providing an environment having an environment temperature T.sub.E, different from the load temperature; subjecting the load to the environment at time t.sub.0 ; measuring the weight w.sub.0 of the load at time t.sub.0 ; measuring the weight w.sub.1 of the load at time t.sub.1 ; and calculating the change in weight .DELTA.w.sub.td of the load, between the time t.sub.0 at which the load is subjected to the environment and the time t.sub.2 at which the load and environment temperatures reach equilibrium, induced by the temperature differential between the load and the environment, from the measured load weights w.sub.0 and w.sub.1. The method further comprises the steps of: measuring the weight w.sub.n of the load at time t.sub.n .gtoreq.t.sub.2 ; and subtracting the temperature differential-induced load weight change .DELTA.w.sub.

Abstract: A reversible manifold collar design for use in a vertical low pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD) furnace incorporates first and second notches in opposing ends thereof such that one of the notches aligns with an exhaust port in the deposition chamber of the furnace irrespective of the installed orientation of the collar. As such, blockage of the exhaust port, which might otherwise increase deposition rates and/or decrease film uniformity, may be avoided. Also, a method of retrofitting a LPCVD furnace includes removing an existing manifold collar and replacing it with a reversible manifold collar such that one of a pair of notches therein is adapted to align with an exhaust port irrespective of the orientation of the collar.

Abstract: Semiconductor processing tools in a semiconductor processing facility are coupled to communicate with a power management system. The power management system monitors the power consumption status of each of the semiconductor processing tools. Using the power consumption status of each of the semiconductor processing tools, the power management system stages the operation of the semiconductor processing tools so as to maintain the power consumption of the semiconductor processing facility below a predefined maximum power consumption. Limiting the power consumption to less than the predefined maximum power consumption reduces the per die processing costs without incurring the expense of building a new semiconductor processing facility or without modifying the semiconductor processing tools for larger batch sizes or for greater throughput.

Abstract: A furnace comprises an enclosure, a hearth plate within the enclosure for supporting combustible material, a first heater element adjacent the hearth plate for initial combustion of the combustible material, a filter disposed above the hearth plate for filtering uncombusted products of combustion of the combustible material, and a second heater element adjacent the filter for final combustion of the uncombusted products of combustion filtered by the filter. A controller controls the first and second heater elements independently.

Abstract: A phased array sector scanning ultrasonic system includes a separate beamformer channel for each respective element in an ultrasonic transducer array. Each beamformer channel has a three-stage complex FIR filter downstream of an analog-to-digital converter. Each filter circuit stage has a register pipeline, an in-phase FIR filter and a quadrature FIR filter. The first stage only has real samples, so there is a single pipeline. The other stages have complex inputs composed of in-phase (real) and quadrature (imaginary) samples, requiring a pipeline for each. Each register pipeline is made up of a multiplicity of registers connected in series. The number of registers in a given pipeline must equal the number of taps being used on the FIR filter immediately downstream of the register pipeline. The registers are clocked in synchronism and store successive echo data samples. Each register in the pipeline has an output connected to a respective tap of the corresponding FIR filter.

Abstract: A mechanical seal assembly for use in a coolant circulation system of a heavy diesel engine. The seal assembly includes relatively rotatable seal rings disposed in surrounding relationship to the pump drive shaft. One seal ring is non-rotatable with respect to the drive shaft and the other is non-rotatable with respect to the surrounding housing. These seal rings have opposed annular seal faces maintained in relatively rotatable contacting relationship due to the urging of a spring which acts against the non-rotating seal ring, the latter in turn being axially movably supported on a lightweight compact mounting member which stationarily seats within the stuffing box.

Abstract: The present invention concerns an electrochemical sensor made up of an insulating base having an electrode layer on its surface and a lid of deformable material which comprises a concave area in the central portion thereof, so that when it is mated with the base, the lid and base form a capillary space containing the electrode layer. When the electrode layer is in operative contact with a reaction layer comprising an enzyme which will cause the production of mobile electrons when contacted with a suitable analyte, the concentration of analyte, e.g. glucose in blood, can be measured by measuring the current created by the flow of mobile electrons when contacted with a suitable analyte, the concentration of analyte, e.g. glucose in blood, can be measured by measuring the current created by the flow of mobile electrons.

Abstract: Non-invasive methods and kits are provided for obtaining biological samples of mammary fluid or mammary fluid components by administering oxytocin or an oxytocin analogue to a mammalian patient to stimulate expression of mammary fluid. The oxytocin is preferably administered intranasally and causes myoepithelial contraction of target alveolar-ductal tissues of the breast. During or after mammary fluid expression, a biological sample is collected in the form of whole mammary fluid, whole cells or cellular components, other selected liquid or solid fractions of the mammary fluid, purified or bulk proteins, glycoproteins, peptides, nucleotides or other desired constituents of mammary fluid. Methods and kits are also provided for determining the presence or amount of a breast disease marker in biological samples of mammary fluid or mammary fluid components.