Abstract: An anti-lock braking system for a vehicle having a plurality of wheels, and a braking system that includes a brake for braking at least one of the plurality of wheels and a brake valve for controlling a braking pressure in the brake in response to a brake valve signal, includes a plurality of wheel speed sensors for generating a plurality of input signals. A polynomial processor, in communication with the plurality of wheel speed sensors, generates a control signal based on a nonlinear polynomial function of the input signal. A post-processor generates the Brake valve signal based on the control signal so as to provide cyclic control of the braking pressure in the brake.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for the treatment of fungal diseases in nails, which comprises the topical administration to the nail and, if desired, also to the surrounding skin, of (1) a sulfhydryl containing amino acid or a derivative thereof, the pharmaceutically acceptable salts or esters thereof, or stereoisomers thereof, (2) urea, (1) and (2) being administered in an amount sufficient to enhance the permeation of antifungal drugs through nail tissue, either prior to or, preferably, concurrently with the topical administration to the nail of (3) an effective amount of an antifungal drug.

Abstract: A distributed data processing system includes plural, processor-containing nodes that are interconnected in a network. Each node has plural neighbor nodes, with neighbor nodes being connected via a direct link. One node includes a copy of functional microcode in addition to base microcode. Each node further includes memory for storing base microcode which enables, on power-up, for a processor in the node to manifest partial operational capability, including program load functions and a communications capability with neighbor nodes. The node's processor, in combination with the base microcode, determines if the node's memory stores a copy of functional microcode and if yes, causes the functional microcode to be loaded. If it is determined that functional microcode is not present in the nodes memory, the node issues a request to neighbor nodes to download functional code, irrespective of whether the neighbor node's are known to include the functional microcode or not.

Abstract: Skin care compositions comprising a water-in-oil emulsion base containing retinoids and possessing good physical and chemical stability.

Abstract: Updating of control code is accomplished in multiple nodes of a computing system while the computing system remains in operation. Each node includes a processor, memory, a first version of a control code unit and an engineering change level indication for the control code unit. The method comprises the steps of: installing a revised version of the control code unit with converter code modules in a first node, the converter code modules enabling and performing first and second interface functions during communications between the first node and other nodes in the system. The first node is then operated to perform a function which requires communication with other nodes, the converter code module in the first node initially determining an engineering change level value stored in another node and, if the engineering change level values in the nodes match, communicating with the other node through the first interface function.

Abstract: In an auto-tuning controller the initial values of control coefficients are found by fitting a control polynomial to control transfer characteristic data. The values are then tuned using a descent-based optimization method.

Abstract: This invention relates to skin care compositions containing retinoids which are generally applied topically to improve the quality of the skin. More particularly, this invention relates to skin care compositions comprising retinol (Vitamin A alcohol) and further comprising irritation ameliorating quantities of glycolic acid.

Abstract: An accumulator is provided which includes a plurality of summing circuits, a plurality of switches, and a control unit for controlling the transmission of data generated by the summing circuits. Each summing circuit generates intermediate sums and includes a port for transmitting the intermediate sums. The switches are connected between the ports of the summing circuits. The control unit is programmable to operate the switches and enable the ports at various times, thus allowing the accumulator to be configured to perform any of a variety of summing operations.

Abstract: In a speech-recognition system having a plurality of classifiers, a voting window includes a sequence of outputs from each of the classifiers. For each classifier, a voting sum is generated corresponding to the voting window. A spoken sound is identified by determining which classifier corresponds to the greatest voting sum.

Abstract: An auto-scaling controller and a method for use therefor is provided. The control inputs and the control coefficients are multiplied by scaling values. The scaling values are then tuned using a descent-based optimization method in order to optimize system performance.

Abstract: A digital log converter is provided which includes a comparator (10) and a log signal generator (20). Upon receiving a digital input signal (12), the comparator (10) determines whether an upper bit-slice of the input signal (12) equals zero. If the upper bit-slice is zero, the log signal generator (20) subtracts an offset from at least one parameter to generate a log signal (16); otherwise, the log signal generator (20) interpolates the at least one parameter and a lower bit-slice of the input signal (12) to generate the log signal (16).

Abstract: For concurrent access by a plurality of users to a data set in a memory, a computer system first searches for a write lock on a first portion of the data set which the user wishes to access. For no write lock detected, the request is granted by allowing write access to the first portion. A write lock is placed on the first portion of the data set to prevent other users from changing it, while allowing other users read access to the first portion. If a second user wants write access to a second not interesting portion of the data set, the process is similar. A search for a write lock on a second portion of the data set is conducted. If not found, the second user's request for write access to the second portion is granted. A write lock on the second portion is placed to prevent other users from changing the second portion while allowing read access.

Abstract: A method of analyzing data, particularly a speech signal, first pre-processes the signal by performing analog-to-digital conversion and cepstral analysis, producing a sequence of data frames. Then the sequence of data frames is partitioned into a plurality of data blocks. The data blocks may be subjected to further analysis, for example, by introducing them to a plurality of neural networks. The system may be implemented using either hardware or software or a combination thereof.

Abstract: A video signal is converted into compressed frame signals, each comprising a coefficient signal of block coefficient signals for each frame in a video image. Each of the block coefficient signals represents the pixels in a pixel map block (420) with the coefficients in a hybrid polynomial. The hybrid polynomial contains discrete cosine terms, a constant term separated from the discrete cosine terms, and polynomial terms extracted from the discrete cosine terms. Each block coefficient signal contains a background component representing a coefficient of the constant term, a linear component representing the coefficients of the polynomial terms, and a nonlinear component representing the coefficients of the discrete cosine terms.

Abstract: The invention is a process for producing N-substituted glucamines, a process for oxidizing an N-substituted glucamine with an oxidizing microbe or extract thereof, and a process for oxidizing an N-substituted glucamine with an oxidizing microbe or extract thereof and reducing the oxidized N-substituted glucamine to an N-substituted-1-deoxynojirimycin. In addition, a one pot process for producing N-substituted-1-deoxynojirimycin from D-glucose is disclosed.

Abstract: An interactive control system for controlling the automatic packaging of contact lenses in a contact lens fabrication facility, the interactive control system consisting of a first robot device for periodically transferring individual arrays of a first predetermined amount of discrete contact lens packages each containing a contact lens therein from a first station to an intermediate conveyor where the individual arrays are conveyed to a second station, and a controller for initiating a time stamp for each individual array transferred from the first station and determining elapsed time data for each individual array and for generating position status data indicating a good array or a bad array of defective lenses for each individual array as it is conveyed to the second station, the controller shifting the elapsed time data and position status data for each individual array as it is conveyed on the intermediate conveyor for transfer to the second station.

Abstract: The invention is a process for producing N-substituted glucamines, a process for oxidizing an N-substituted glucamine with an oxidizing microbe or extract thereof, and a process for oxidizing an N-substituted glucamine with an oxidizing microbe or extract thereof and reducing the oxidized N-substituted glucamine to an N-substituted-1-deoxynojirimycin. In addition, a one pot process for producing N-substituted-1-deoxynojirimycin from D-glucose is disclosed.

Abstract: In a speech-recognition system having a plurality of classifiers, a voting window includes a sequence of outputs from each of the classifiers. At each interval in the voting window, the outputs are compared to determine a winning output. A spoken sound is identified by determining which classifier generates the greatest number of winning outputs in the voting window.

Abstract: Boundaries of spoken sounds in continuous speech are identified by classifying delimitative sounds to provide improved performance in a speech-recognition system. Delimitative sounds, those portions of continuous speech that occur between two spoken sounds, are recognized by the same method used to recognize spoken sounds. Recognition of delimitative sounds is accomplished by training a learning machine to act as a classifier which implements a discriminant function based on a polynomial expansion.

Abstract: A box disposed in a car trunk includes a bottom, two opposite first walls and two opposite second walls, the bottom having at least one slit defined therein, each of two first walls having a protrusion extending from an inner peripheral surface thereof and the protrusion having a first hole defined in a distal end thereof for a first separate board pivotally engaged between the two protrusions wherein the first separate board is positioned by inserting an inserting plate extending from an lower edge of the first separate board into the slit, each of the first walls and the second walls having a flange extending transversely from an upper edge thereof and a first position hole defined in the second walls near the flange and a second position hole defined in the flange corresponding the first position hole, a sliding member disposed to each of two ends of the first separate board and engaged with the second position hole via the first position hole, at least one second separate board disposed between the second