Abstract: A pin portion includes a head and an elongated pin extending outwardly from the head. The pin includes at least one barb extending outwardly therefrom. A receiving portion includes an elongated, substantially tubular receiving socket having an open end opposite a distal end. The receiving portion further includes a flange connected to the receiving socket and extending substantially radially therefrom. The interior surface of the receiving socket includes an un-notched portion beginning proximate the open end and terminating between the flange and the distal end. The interior surface further includes at least one notch therein, the notch positioned between the un-notched portion and the distal end, and configured to receive the barb therein. A strap connects the pin portion to the receiving portion. A scored cut line is disposed on the exterior surface of the receiving socket proximate the flange.

Abstract: A reinforcing assembly for use in structural concrete members, such as slabs, footings, raft foundations, beams, walls and columns, has at least one reinforcing stud having an elongate stem and an anchor head at least at one end of the stem for anchoring the stud adjacent a face of the concrete member, and an elongate support element for mechanically retaining therein the anchor head of the stud. The support element is in the form of a U-shaped trough having a base and sidewalls which hold the stud and confine the concrete about the retained anchor head. The trough decreases the size of anchor head necessary to avoid concrete crushing behind the anchor head and distributes some anchorage forces away from the anchor head. The trough also spaces and positions a plurality of studs in the concrete member.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sugar derivative of a biologically active peptide, which derivative has a prolonged duration of action when compared to the non-sugar modified peptide, and contains at least on one of the amino acid units a sugar residue which is attached to an amino group thereof by a coupling other than a direct N-glycosidic bond, and additionally, when it is a condensation product of a carboxyl group containing sugar and a peptide with less than 8 amino acid units, by a coupling other than a direct amide bond.

Abstract: Method for load handling in a multiprocessor system, particularly a multiprocessor system of a communication system, whereby arising jobs can be processed by a plurality of processors under real-time conditions. When individual processors proceed into overload due to locally heavy load situations, then a discharge of the local overload is achieved in that further requests arriving at the processor in this load situation are forwarded insofar as possible or necessary to other processors that are not overloaded.

Abstract: An electrophotographic imaging member is prepared by applying a charge generating layer to an underlying layer and drying the charge generating layer at ambient temperature.

Abstract: An optical coupling device and method for manufacturing the same is disclosed wherein a light-emitting semiconductor transmitter chip is secured to a light-detecting semiconductor receiver chip via a transparent insulating layer, a structured spacer layer and a transparent connecting layer. The resultant optocoupler has a high coupling factor and may be reliably manufactured into SMT compatible packages.

Abstract: The invention joins the intake module or intake tube to the engine with the aid of a displaceable retaining element. The retaining element, which in the mounted state is under initial tension, is braced against an engine retention face associated with the engine and against at least one counterpart intake module retention face joined to the intake module or intake tube. Because of the displaceability of the retaining element, the expense and effort of mounting and dismantling the intake module or intake tube to the engine by screws are substantially reduced. The engine is intended in particular for motor vehicles.

Abstract: A non-photoformable composition for use as the first unpatterned layer in a diffusion patterning process consisting essentially of:A. a film-forming solid organic polymer having no free acid groups containing a plurality of acid liable groups which are acid reactive;B. a plasticizer in which the solid organic polymer is incompletely soluble;C. volatile organic solvent, the ratio of polymer to plasticizer being such that when the volatile organic solvent is removed from the organic medium, the resulting solvent-free polymer/plasticizer dispersion is specularly nonreflective; andD. finely divided particles of dielectric solids.

Abstract: A method is provided for parallel and cooperative processing of data in a system wherein a coordinator process cooperates with one or more agent processes to which portions of the data processing function is off loaded. The agent processes read and process the data and accumulate a partial result. Each agent process, responsive to statistics collected on the content of the data processed, returns a partial result of the processing to the coordinator process. These steps are repeated iteratively until the processing has been completed. In a specific application, the performance of data processing systems is improved by speeding up database group-by queries. The group-by operation processing is distributed between the host central processing unit (CPU) and the input/output (I/O) processors (IOPs). Essentially, the IOPs are sent group-by requests to be performed on a set of disk blocks (extents), along with a predicate for tuples to be selected for query.

Abstract: The invention refers to a wiper arm with a fixing part made from asheet metal, comprising a bore for the non-rotatable fixation on a wiper shaft and which is provided at least around the bore with an upper sheet metal section and a bottom sheet metal section being integrally connected and lying approximately in parallel to said upper sheet metal section. In order to provide the fixing part in the area of the bore with a high stability of form, a sheet metal section is supported against the flat side of the other sheet metal section around the bore at a distance from the outline of the fixing part which can be noticed when looked at in direction of the axis of the bore.

Abstract: 5-Hydroxy-4-methyl-2(5H)-furanone is prepared by cyclization of alkyl .beta.-formylcrotonates by heating with dilute aqueous hydrochloric acid or, advantageously, in the presence of dilute aqueous hydrochloric acid and catalytic amounts of methanol as solubilizer, subsequent workup of the reaction mixture by distillation and, where appropriate, isomerization of the 5-methoxy- or 5-ethoxy-4-methyl-2(5H)-furanone, which is formed as byproduct, by heating with dilute hydrochloric acid.

Abstract: A process for making shaped articles from nylon polymer by melting the polymer and forming the molten polymer into articles is improved by adding to the polymer at least about 5 ppm of an additive compound selected from the group consisting of magnesium, calcium and zinc salts of aliphatic dicarboxylic acids having 2 to 14 carbon atoms.

Abstract: A manufacturing machine designed to use reels of web material, in particular a packaging machine for packaging cigarettes, or the like, in which the processing units are located at least in part on one side of the machine, termed the front side. On the opposite side from the front side, i.e. from that provided at least in part with the processing units which use the web material, is a device for supplying new web reels to and removing the empty cores of the reels from a device for transferring the reels and cores. The transfer means are supported in such a way that they can be moved automatically from the rear side to the front side and vice versa, through at least one corresponding passage approximately perpendicular to the sides of the manufacturing machine.

Abstract: An implant and coverings for an implant for use in the human body are disclosed. Coverings for implants are constructed to present a biocompatible surface to the body and to provide a textured surface which serves to disorganize scar tissue which forms around the implant. Filaments of expanded PTFEe are attached to a stretch fabric backing in a loose weave configuration. Silicone molded in geometric patterns may be employed to present a textured surface. Compressive structures may be beneficially used on the surface of the implant or in the interior of the implant. Foam is one such compressive structure. Hexagonally shaped compressive cells containing fluid, gas, gel or foam are adapted to receive an insert which contains an outer biocompatible coating. A valve or port is provided to communicate between the cell and the body. Expansion means may be provided to expand the implant in a desired direction.

Abstract: .delta.-Amino-.gamma.-hydroxy-.omega.-aryl-alkanoic acid amides of formula I ##STR1## and the salts thereof, have renin-inhibiting properties and can be used as antihypertensive medicinal active ingredients.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for forming circumferentially extending necked and flanged parts at an end of a bilaterally open hollow cylindrical body. First and second axially aligned shafts carry axially displaceable first and second inner tools, respectively. Each inner tool has a circumferential body-shaping and a circumferential body-supporting surface. In a first axial position of the two inner tools the shaping surfaces together define a circumferential shaping groove situated inside the hollow body, and the body-supporting surfaces support the hollow body. In a second axial position the two inner tools are at a greater axial distance from one another than in the first position to allow introduction of a hollow body therebetween. A third shaft, carrying an outer tool having a circumferential shaping surface, extends parallel to the first and second shafts.

Abstract: A supporting device for the ostomy pouch having a waist belt with a length adjuster, an attaching means for connecting ends, an attaching means for attaching the belt to the sling. The sling can have attaching means compatible to that on the belt. An attaching means to close the sling and a C-shaped cut to allow better coverage of the pouch over the stoma area. The invention is designed to hold and support the ostomy pouch in a horizontal fashion across the abdomen.

Abstract: A terminal block assembly with lateral distribution of electrical power includes a plurality of terminal blocks each containing a plurality of interconnected distributor bars. At least one of the distributor bars of a first conductor is directly connected with a main internal bus bar conductor, and one or more of the remaining distributor bars are connected to the main conductor via a bridge member. Each distributor bar includes a terminal having a contact portion and a bus bar laterally spaced from the contact portion, thereby to define a plug-receiving slot therebetween which opens downwardly and receives either the main conductor or a plug-in link portion of the bridge. The contact portion of the terminal bus bars extends laterally in the direction of adjacent terminal blocks for connection with distributor bars contained within the adjacent terminal blocks, thereby providing lateral distribution of the electrical supply.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of stabilizing unstable shock waves on the surface of a body induce shock waves to form prematurely at a particular location on a surface of the body and fix that location such that shock waves will form consistently and persistently at that location on the surface of the body. Boundary layer flow separates from the surface of the body at that location and can be prevented from reattaching to the surface. Shock wave oscillations due to interactions with the separated boundary layer flow are prevented, thereby minimizing vibrations induced in the body. The apparatus has a flow accelerating surface and a discontinuity in the accelerating surface. The accelerating surface causes local fluid flow over the surface of the body to accelerate and prematurely and consistently form a shock wave at the point where the discontinuity is located.

Abstract: It is an object of this invention to provide a human Tumor Necrosis Factor mutein or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof characterized in that the TNF sequence is changed by a deletion, insertion, substitution or combinations thereof, of one or more amino acids so that the mutein shows a significant difference between its binding affinity to the human p75-Tumor-Necrosis-Factor-Receptor and to the human p55-Tumor-Necrosis-Factor-Receptor. The invention also includes DNA sequences coding for such muteins, vectors comprising such DNA sequences, host cells transformed with such vectors and a process for the production of such muteins employing such transformed host cells and pharmaceutical compositions containing such muteins and their use for the treatment of illnesses, for example cancer.