Abstract: A method determines the signal usability of an adjacent channel in a multi-cell communication system without the aid of synchronization symbols. In general, a three step search is used to arrive at the adjacent channel signal quality. The first step is a coarse timing phase search. This is accomplished through a signal quality estimates (606). The second step arrives at the optimum time phase by first interpolating (608) the received signal around the time phase selected in the first step to generate additional samples. After the interpolation (608), signal quality estimates are calculated (610) for the time phases immediately surrounding the time phase found in the first step. The optimum time phase corresponds to the maximum of these quality estimates. Finally, in the third step, the signal quality estimate is calculated for the optimum time phase. This provides the adjacent channel signal quality estimate desired.

Abstract: A utility receptacle assembly for use in combination with a worksurface includes a base mountable to the worksurface and a utility receptacle pivotably and removably mounted to the base. The base includes a passage within which the utility receptacle member is received, and the base further includes at least one recess located adjacent the passage. A cover member is secured to the utility receptacle member, and functions to enclose the passage and the recess when the utility receptacle member is in a closed, inoperative position and to provide access to the recess when the utility receptacle member is moved to an open, operative position. The utility receptacle member and the base include releasable engagement structure for maintaining the utility receptacle member in its open, operative position. The releasable retainer structure is manually engageable by a user for returning the utility receptacle member to its closed, inoperative position.

Abstract: An apparatus for filtering contaminants from marking particles is provided. The apparatus includes a conduit and a mover for moving the marking particles within the conduit. The apparatus also includes a screen positioned adjacent the conduit so that substantially all the marking particles discharged from the conduit pass through the screen.

Abstract: Agents for enhancing the contrast in a diagnostic ultrasound procedure comprise colloidal dispersions of the liquid-in-liquid type, i.e., emulsions or microemulsions, in which the dispersed liquid phase is a high vapor pressure chemical which undergoes a phase change from a dispersed liquid to a highly echogenic dispersed gaseous foam or kugelschaum following administration to an organism. The liquid state of the dispersed phase allows one to manufacture extremely stable, pharmaceutically acceptable emulsions with particle sizes typically below 1000 nm. The gaseous state at body temperature yields highly echogenic microbubbles, typically below 10,000 nm in diameter, which are effective as ultrasound contrast agents. Intravenous, intraarterial, oral, intraperitoneal, and intrauterine dosage forms, methods of administration, and imaging techniques are described.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are agents for enhancing the contrast in a diagnostic ultrasound procedure. These agents comprise colloidal dispersions of the liquid-in-liquid type, i.e., emulsions or microemulsions, in which the dispersed liquid phase has a boiling point at or below the body temperature of the organism to be studied and thus undergoes a phase change from a dispersed liquid to a highly echogenic dispersed gaseous foam or kugelschaum following administration to an organism. The liquid state of the dispersed phase allows one to manufacture extremely stable, pharmaceutically acceptable emulsions with particle sizes typically below 1000 nm. The gaseous state at body temperature yields highly echogenic microbubbles, typically below 10,000 nm in diameter, which are effective as ultrasound contrast agents. Intravenous, intraarterial, oral, intraperitoneal, and intrauterine dosage forms, methods of administration, and imaging techniques are described.

Abstract: A tube holder secures to the rotating processing chamber of a centrifuge tubing that conveys fluid to or from the chamber. The tube holder is part of a carrier that is connected by a pin to a support on the processing chamber. The support has walls defining an enclosure. The carrier swings about the pin on the support between an opened position free of the enclosure and a closed position captured within the enclosure. In the opened position, the tube holder is exposed for receiving tubing. In the closed position, the tubing is retained within the enclosure in the tube holder. The tube holder allows straightforward attachment and removal of the tubing, always in a prescribed manner and with a single hand. The tube holder securely retains the tubing during use in a closed, protected environment, safeguarding it against inadvertent dislodgement, removal, or damage.

Abstract: Absorbable binary and tertiary blends of homopolymers and copolymers of poly(lactide), poly(glycolide), poly(.epsilon.-caprolactone), and poly(p-dioxanone) are described. The blends when used to manufacture medical devices exhibit shape retention, dimensional stability and palpability without loss of the strength, stiffness and BSR found for poly(lactide) homopolyers and/or poly(lactide-co-glycolide) copolymers.

Abstract: Air atomizing induction charging spray nozzles suited for use with conductive liquids, solutions, suspensions or emulsions. These systems feature a high level of the spray charging at low induction--electrode voltage and current. Primary benefits include consistent, reliable operation in harsh agricultural and industrial environments with a wide range of spray formulations, especially those having relatively high concentrations of abrasive and conductive materials. Internal and external surfaces are configured to minimize potential differences between electrode and ground. Such nozzles may employ external cavities, field concentrators, hoods and other structures and arrangements to affect aerodynamic flow of gases within the vicinity of the nozzles and electrostatic and electrodynamics effects such as those caused by electrical fields within the vicinity of the nozzles.

Abstract: A transmit/receive module including digitally controlled analog circuits is described. The digital circuits use a logic family adapted for use with analog monolithic integrated circuits. The disclosure also describes a preferred process to provide digital and analog microwave circuits on a common semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: A branch processing unit (BPU) is used, in an exemplary embodiment, in a superscalar, superpipelined microprocessor compatible with the x86 instruction set architecture. The BPU includes a return stack for call/returns, including return stack pointer repair in the case of the failure of a call/return to confirm (decode) or resolve. Return stack control logic maintains a return stack pointer, incrementing and decrementing the return stack pointer respectively for call/return pairs that hit in the target cache--in addition, the return stack control logic maintains two additional stack pointers used for repair: (a) a confirmation pointer that is incremented when a call is decoded and decremented when a return is decoded; and (b) a resolution pointer that is incremented when a call resolves, and decremented when a return resolves.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a rocket engine combustion chamber comprising assembling a liner having cooling channels, a plurality of throat support sections, and a structural jacket having inlet and outlet manifolds. Then heating the assembly in a pressurized furnace to bond the assembled parts to each other.

Abstract: This invention provides various copolymers comprising a first repeating unit of the chemical formula: ##STR1## in which R.sub.1 and/or R.sub.2 are alkyl groups and a second repeating units generally having the chemical formula: ##STR2## and combinations of two or more thereof wherein R is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group and the first repeating unit is less than 45 weight percent of the total weight of the copolymer. This invention also relates to use of these copolymers in the fabrication of absorbable surgical devices such as sutures and as coatings for medical devices. Additionally, described are blends and polyoxaesters containing the first repeating unit.

Abstract: A prosthetic device for the human hip having elongated fins or other like protrusions which are provided on the lower surface of a collar and which extend into previously formed slots or grooves in the bone. Either a plurality of fins, or a single fin having a non-rectilinear shape is provided. In one embodiment, previously formed fins are secured to a lower surface of the collar after formation of the collar. In this embodiment, pegs disposed on the fins preferably reside in correspondingly formed holes in the collar, or reside within slots extending inwardly from outer surfaces of the collar. Alternatively, the fins may be welded or otherwise bonded to the lower surface of the collar.

Abstract: A surface of a porous ceramic body is protected by binding ceramic particles entirely within the subsurface porosity of the body adjacent to the surface but not present as a separately identifiable surface layer. To produce such a protective layer, a slurry of a mixture of a ceramic powder and a silica-containing binding agent is first prepared. The slurry is impregnated into the surface of the body so that all of the slurry enters the porosity of the body and substantially none of the slurry resides on the surface. The slurry is dried in place, and the residual solids are fired to bind the ceramic powder to the interior walls of the porosity. Drying and firing can be accomplished at intermediate temperatures of about 700.degree.-1000.degree. F. using heat lamps, so that the surface protection can be accomplished without removing the ceramic body from a larger structure.

Abstract: A device for particle agglutination analysis and a method for its use. The device includes means forming a longitudinally extending channel, an opening communicating from the exterior of the device to a first end of the channel, a reservoir communicating with the second end of the channel, and a vent opening communicating from the reservoir to the exterior of the apparatus. The channel has a sufficiently large cross section and the vent is positioned such that, when the channel is in a vertical position, a given amount of fluid, introduced through the opening into the channel will flow by gravity through the channel and into the reservoir, filling the channel to a desired height and the reservoir to the same height without flowing through the vent, while air escapes through the vent. Gravity causes sufficient movement of the particles so that agglutination may occur.

Abstract: An efficient, light-weight airbag inflation filter includes a gas-permeable, substantially rigid support tube having a plurality of uniform perforations therethrough. A filtering element formed from a continuous inorganic ceramic yarn or roving is helically cross-wound around the support tube to form one or more layers covering the perforations of the support tube. A wire screen, having openings therethrough smaller than the perforations in the support tube, is disposed between the filtering element and the support tube to act as a gas diffusion layer for the gases passing through the inflation filter.

Abstract: A discharge lamp, such as a neon lamp or a subminiature fluorescent lamp, includes an elongated tubular lamp envelope containing a fill material for supporting a light-emitting discharge and electrodes mounted at opposite ends of the lamp envelope. A light-transmissive conductive coating on the lamp envelope substantially attenuates emission of RF energy. A conductor in electrical contact with the conductive coating couples the conductive coating to a reference potential, such as ground. The conductor may be a metal or conductive silicone strip in electrical contact with the conductive coating along the length of the lamp envelope. The discharge lamp may be connected to a ballast circuit by coaxial cables. The outer conductor of each coaxial cable is connected to the conductive coating to form a continuous RF shield. The conductive coating and/or the metal strip may be used for heating of the discharge lamp.

Abstract: An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) (100) has a housing (111) that supports the major electrical components of the UPS (100), i.e., a transformer circuit (207), a switching circuit (217), and a battery (209). Furthermore, a connector (107;115;117) affixed to the housing (111 ) is capable of removably affixing the UPS (100) to an alternating-current (AC) outlet (102).

Abstract: A safety chain storage pocket for use with a tow truck comprises a user access surface with a gull wing opening defining a chain access opening providing safety chain exit and storage from and to the pocket. A pair of slotted wings extend from the opening to provide a pair of chain locking positions. The opening has a lower surface providing free movement of the safety chain out of the pocket by allowing the weight of the chain to assist the user to pull the chain out of the pocket, and the chain access opening allows the user vertical access into the pocket to use the weight of the chain to store the chain in the pocket. The slotted wings extend proximate to the chain access opening to provide a locking position for said safety chain.