Abstract: A new and distinct hybrid variety of Hibiscus moscheutos cultivar, particularly distinguished by having flowers of from seven to twelve inches in diameter that are deep red, closely matching Pantone 215u. The flowers have fully overlapping petals. Pedicels about 3" and are distinctive in having a reddish color (Pantone 208U) that is more pronounced on the upper side; the back side is greenish-yellow. Distinguishing characteristics are constant and stable in asexually reproduced plants.

Abstract: A new miniature rose plant which has abundant yellow flowers and attractive foliage. The variety successfully propagates from softwood cuttings and is suitable for year round production in commercial glasshouses. This new and distinct variety has shown to be uniform and stable in the resulting generations from asexual propagation.

Abstract: A chrysanthemum plant named Pink Refocus characterized by its small sized blooms with pink ray florets and green-yellow disc florets.

Abstract: A chrysanthemum plant named WHITE REFOCUS characterized by its small blooms with white ray florets and green-yellow disc florets.

Abstract: A new and distinct cultivar of Geranium plant named `Baldesvio`, characterized by its numerous semi-double reddish purple-colored flowers; upright growth habit; basal branching; good vigor; and medium green leaves with faint darker green zonation pattern.

Abstract: A new and distinct variety of Hesperozygis myrtoides.times.Hesperozygis dimidiata plant named `Sunminbu` is provided. The plant exhibits a conical growth habit with abundant branching. The attractive light purple blossoms possess a fragrance similar to mint and are verticillaster borne in the upper leaf axils commonly with three flowers per axil. The young stems are green and change to brown with maturity. The new variety propagates well by the use of cuttings and is particularly well suited for growing as an ornamental pot plant.

Abstract: A new and distinct cultivar of Geranium plant named `Balfanpish`, characterized by its numerous semi-double lavender colored flowers; upright growth habit; basal branching and vigorous; and dark green leaves with a faint zonation pattern.

Abstract: A new and distinct cultivar of Geranium plant named `Balsholila`, characterized by its numerous semi-double medium purplish pink-colored flowers with a white "eye"; upright growth habit; good basal branching; good vigor; and dark green leaves.

Abstract: A new and distinct zonal geranium plant with bright cherry pink flowers above medium green foliage. The new variety has a neat, small habit with cutting production, rooting speed and outdoor performance equal to or better than `Veronica`.

Abstract: `Jessica` is a new variety of Pelargonium.times.hortorum geranium plant which brings a new violet color to the floribunda geranium series. The plant habit, zoning and flowering traits are equal to or better than those already in the series. Cutting production and rooting time are similar to the current variety `Elizabeth`. Growth habit is a neat mound which can be used well in containers, ground plantings or in hanging baskets.

Abstract: A pink bromelaid hybrid has an almost rose-like appearance due to the closeness of the scape bracts, and consistent rose pink coloration from base to apex, surrounding the floral bracts which are translucent and colorless at the base and the apex, blending into a more intense pink color in the middle. The overlapping effect of the bracts is white.

Abstract: A new and distinct Alstroemeria plant variety producing flowers of good quality and attractive coloration.

Abstract: A distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named `Yolucy`, characterized by its uniformly mounded and relatively tall plant habit; relatively late flowering; decorative-type inflorescences that are about 4.3 cm in diameter; attractive lavender pink ray florets; numerous inflorescences per plant; and excellent garden performance.

Abstract: A new and distinct cultivar of Geranium plant named `Balcolav`, characterized by its numerous lavender-colored double flowers; upright and spreading growth habit; basal branching; vigor; and medium green leaves with dark maroon zonation pattern.

Abstract: A new and distinct variety of grapevine producing late ripening red seedless table quality grapes which have a high acidity, are short and elliptic in shape, and are large in size.

Abstract: A new and distinct cultivar of Geranium plant named `Balcolink`, characterized by its numerous pink-colored semi-double flowers; upright and trailing growth habit; basal branching; vigor; and medium green leaves with a dark maroon-colored zonation pattern.

Abstract: A new and distinct Alstroemeria plant variety producing flowers of good quality and attractive coloration.

Abstract: A hybrid tea rose plant variety producing pink lilac flowers of good form.

Abstract: A shrub rose plant having pointed ovoid buds; a unique, bicolor flower; a full, globular habit; dark green, glossy foliage; resistance to powdery mildew; and a light, sweet, spicy fragrance.

Abstract: A hybrid tea rose plant having vigorous, upright growth; large flowers produced one per stem; mildew and rust resistant foliage; a blend of colors in the flower; and stems long enough for cutting.

Abstract: A new and distinct Alstroemeria plant variety producing flowers of good quality and attractive coloration.

Abstract: A new and distinct cultivar of Azalea plant named `Christine Matton`, characterized by its vigorous and dense plants that are very freely branching; uniform, upright and outwardly spreading plant habit; very dark green shiny foliage; freely flowering, showy double salmon-pink flowers; and long flowering period.

Abstract: A new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea Impatiens plant named `Delhi`, characterized by its numerous large crimson red-colored flowers that are held above the foliage; uniform and rounded growth habit; medium plant height; very freely branching, dense and bushy plant habit; and dark green leaves.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a nectarine tree, Prunus persica, and more particularly to a new and distinct variety broadly characterized by a large size, vigorous, self-fertile, productive and regular bearing tree. The fruit matures under the ecological conditions described approximately the third week in August, with first picking on Aug. 16, 1998. The fruit is uniformly medium in size, subacidic and sweet in flavor, globose in shape, clingstone in type, very firm and crisp in texture, and mostly red in skin color. The variety was a first generation cross using `Red Glen` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,193) nectarine as the seed parent and an unnamed white flesh nectarine seedling as the selected pollen parent.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided to facilitate the transportation and combustion of highly viscous hydrocarbons by forming reduced viscosity hydrocarbon-in-water emulsions, and in particular, bioemulsifier-stabilized hydrocarbon-in-water emulsions.

Abstract: A fluid flow control device for use in a variable fluid restrictor control valve or severe service control valve. These valves employ a moveable plug and are used to control high pressure fluids e.g. superheated steam. The control device of the invention includes annular discs with fluid passageways through them. Pairs of discs together form a radial passageway for fluid between the interior of a stack of discs and its radially outer circumference. The passageways may have a smaller cross-section at a mid-region of the disc than at the radially inner or outer side of the disc.The questions raised in reexamination request No. 90/004,962 filed Sep. 29, 1998, have been considered and the results thereof are reflected in this reissue patent which constitutes the reexamination certificate required by 35 U.S.C. 307 as provided in 37 CFR 1.570(e).

Abstract: A particular anode comprising an electrochemically active material selected from the group .[.comprising.]. .Iadd.consisting of .Iaddend.the oxides of the elements tin, germanium and lead and mixtures comprising at least one of the respective oxides of such elements is useful in an electrochemical cell for the direct production of essentially dry halogen gas from essentially anhydrous halogen halide, or in a process for such production of essentially dry halogen gas. This cell or process may be used to produce halogen gas such as chlorine, bromine, fluorine and iodine from a respective anhydrous hydrogen halide, such as hydrogen chloride, hydrogen bromide, hydrogen fluoride and hydrogen iodide.

Abstract: Devices and analytical techniques are disclosed for measuring spatial profiles of complex permeability and conductivity of a material by multiple wavenumber interrogations. Coil array structures are disclosed which define a number of different fundamental wavelengths (or wavenumbers). Spatially periodic interrogation signals (of temporal frequency ".omega.") from the coil array structures are attenuated by varying degrees in the material undergoing analysis, depending on the wavenumber ("k"), thereby permitting the derivation of composite complex permeability/conductivity profile.

Abstract: In signal processing circuitry using active devices, non-linearity of the device causes distortion of pure tones and the generation of intermodulation products for more complex signals. The transfer characteristics of such active devices may be considered as the accumulated characteristics of input and output filter stages separated by a non-linear region. To compensate for non-linearities and reduce intermodulation products, a drive circuit comprises pre- and post-correction filters separated by a compensating amplifier. The frequency response of the pre-correction filter corresponds to that of the input filter stage but is reversed in the frequency spectrum; with conventional I.F. the transfer characteristic of the amplifier and frequency response characteristic of the post-correction filter are the respective complements, of those of the non-linear region and pre-correction filter.

Abstract: A terminal apparatus for use in a cable television system which provides a plurality of channels capable of being tuned for display at a television receiver is provided. The apparatus includes a memory for storing data for generating a plurality of predetermined character screens and for storing deauthorization data, a character generator for generating character screens from the stored character screen data at the television receiver, a deauthorization mechanism responsive to the deauthorization data in the memory for deauthoring selected ones of the plurality of channels, and a controller for controlling the memory and the character generator, and for composing at least one predetermined character screen for display at the television receiver in accordance with the deauthorization of a channel by the deauthorization mechanism.

Abstract: A virtual storage system for use in conjunction with a host computer is disclosed. The system features a memory control processor external to the host computer which divides user-defined data sets into blocks of a size convenient for storage on, e.g., magnetic media and individually assigns these blocks to locations determined external to the host. In this way, the extent of a particular data file is not specified by the user; nor is empty space allocated in anticipation of future use. The virtual memory system may additionally comprise a high speed cache memory for receiving data written to the memory system at high speed from the host. Data anticipated to be the subject of future requests can be staged to the cache, so that it can be supplied to the host at high speed, thus improving system performance. Data compression and decompression may be incorporated in the storage system.

Abstract: An assembly (100) for adjusting the size of a spacesuit and/or for relieving tension applied to the spacesuit is provided in which first and second members (102,104) slide relative to one another along a longitudinal axis (106) to vary the assembly's length. The members (102,104) define a first region (116) which is internal to both members and which changes in volume as the length of the assembly is varied and a second region (118) which is external to the first member (102) and internal to the second member (104) and which also changes in volume as the length of the assembly is varied. The first and second regions (116,118) are connected to one another by a gas conducting path (120). These regions (116,118) have sealed cross-sectional areas which are substantially equal to one another. In this way, pressurization of the spacesuit produces no net sliding motion of the first and second members (102,104) along the longitudinal axis (106).

Abstract: A flexible protective sleeve for use in protecting a wearer's body part, and in particular the bony structures of the arm and leg. The sleeve has a generally tubular shape and includes at least one impact-absorbing portion. One of the impact-absorbing portions is integrally formed along an anterior portion of the sleeve and is of greater thickness than a posterior portion thereof. Other impact-absorbing portions provide protection for the lateral and medial portions of the knee and ankle. First and second reinforced end portions provide mechanical strength against tearing. The sleeve non-compressively adheres to the lower leg of the wearer and maintains the impact-absorbing portion positioned over the shin during use. In an alternative embodiment, a sleeve non-compressively adheres to the arm of the wearer and includes a lower arm impact-absorbing portion and a shoulder impact-absorbing portion.