An apparatus accepts randomly arriving blacks of parallel digital data of varying bit lengths termed datum segments that may have been generated by stripping leading zeros from bytes of a fixed size, each having associated therewith a bit count code that expresses the bit length of each datum segment in the form nnnnndddd. In some embodiments, the processes comprise contacting biomass-derived substrates with ethylene to form terephthalic acid and its derivatives. The latch can be coupled to, and powered by, a power supply providing power to the circuit block within the IC. The hook member is attached to at least the second distal portion of the inner tape strip.