Abstract: A microstructure comprises a conductive layer of aluminum, copper or alloys thereof on a substrate wherein the layer comprises metal grains at least about 0.1 microns and barrier material deposited in the grainboundaries of the surface of the metal is provided along with a method for its fabrication.

Abstract: A gas-impermeable elastic membrane including a co-polymeric gas-impermeable film including OH groups, positioned between two layers of a co-polymer containing blocks of polyamides and of polyesters, with a rubber coating on at least one of the two layers, as well as a method of manufacturing the membrane.

Abstract: A clean water system and structure that positively utilize the natural water purification system present in rivers, the ocean and other natural water bodies to prevent water fouling and stench over the long term and enable low-cost maintenance of ponds and the like. An underwater pump (2) is installed at one end of a pond (1) and an outlet (3) that discharges water pumped by the underwater pump (2) at the other end of the pond, a sand layer (4) is spread to a prescribed depth on a bottom (10) of the pond, and carp or other swimming fish (5) are allowed to swim in the water and agitate the sand layer as secondary consumers in the food chain. Negative pressure produced at an inlet (20) of the underwater pump (2) sucks water into the inlet (20) to produce movement of water in the pond such as causes water immediately under the outlet (3) to migrate toward the inlet (20).

Abstract: The invention provides a near-field photochromic device for a supra-density optical memory, comprising a scanner carrying a data storage medium, an optical head having a tip, to be used for recording, readout and erasing, and located in close proximity to the data storage medium, and at least two lasers, alternatingly optically alignable with the optical head, wherein the data storage medium is a film consisting of a photochromic compound and wherein the distance between the tip and the data storage medium is within the limits of the near field of the optical head.

Abstract: A method and system for registering vehicle fees by means of radio communication between stationary toll collection facilities in a toll border (1, 2) of a main zone and communication equipments in passing vehicles when making predetermined checking operations such as for securing the authority of the vehicle equipment. Within the main zone a number of radio transmitters are arranged, which transmit data carrying signals relating to additional fees related to passing the respective transmitter. When passing in, the toll collection facilities carry out an introductory part of the checking operations and activate the vehicle equipment to register signals from the transmitters when passing them. When passing out, the registering operation is terminated including the checking operations, then summing up the registered fees and debiting the total fee.

Abstract: A new group of non-chemically amplified negative tone water/aqueous base developable (photo) resists based on redistribution of carbon-oxygen bonds in pendant ester groups of the polymers has been found.

Abstract: An FET structure for utilization with a silicon-on-insulator semiconductor device structure. The structure includes a silicon-on-insulator substrate structure. Source and drain diffusion regions are provided on the silicon-on-insulator substrate. An FET body region is interconnected with the source and drain diffusion regions. A gate oxide region is arranged over at least a portion of the body region and the source and drain diffusion regions. A gate region is arranged over at least a portion of the gate oxide region. A diode is interconnected with and provides a conductive pathway between the gate region and the FET body region. The diode is electrically isolated from the FET source and drain regions and inversion channel by a high threshold FET region.

Abstract: In an electrostatic recording apparatus, a recording medium is transported to a vaporized solvent supply unit where a vaporized organic solvent is given to the recording surface of the recording medium. Then, the recording medium is transported to an electrostatic recording head where an electrostatic latent image is formed on the recording medium. Next, the recording medium is transported to a development processing unit where the development process of the electrostatic latent image using a liquid toner is performed.

Abstract: A laryngeal mask assembly has an elliptical mask portion at the patient end of a tube. The mask portion has a mount attached to the tube and a cuff extending around the periphery of the mount. The patient end of the tube opens into the center of the mount, which has three lateral ribs projecting forwardly and extending parallel and spaced from one another. The forward end of the ribs have a concave profile with rounded projections at each end. The ribs act to hold the epiglottis away from the tube opening during insertion of the assembly and to provide an air passage into the tube.

Abstract: An audio data coding device includes a frequency/time converter circuit for decoding audio data in form of decoded frequency-region signal made by time/frequency conversion, and adjusting circuit for adjusting the frequency-region signal prior to frequency/time conversion by the frequency/time converter circuit to enhance specific frequency components contained in the signal. Since adjustment is made in the frequency region, the processing is easily performed. An audio data coding and decoding system includes a coding device for converting an audio signal into a frequency-region signal by time/frequency conversion and for coding the signal by quantization, and a decoding device for decoding the audio data coded by the coding device.

Abstract: A three-layered prosody control description language is used to insert prosodic feature control commands in a text at the positions of characters or a character string to be added with non-verbal information. The three-layered prosody control description language is composed of: a semantic layer (S layer) having, as its prosodic feature control commands, control commands each represented by a word indicative of the meaning of non-verbal information; an interpretation layer (I layer) having, as its prosodic feature control commands, control commands which interpret the prosodic feature control commands of the S layer and specify control of prosodic parameters of speech; and a parameter layer (P layer) having prosodic parameters which are objects of control by the prosodic feature control commands of the I layer. The text is converted into a prosodic parameter string through synthesis-by-rule.

Abstract: A nuclear fuel based on UO2, ThO2 and/or PuO2 having improved retention properties for fission products. The fuel comprises a metal such as Cr or Mo able to trap oxygen in order to form an oxide having a free formation enthalpy equal to or below that of the superstoichiometric oxide or oxides (U, Th)O2+x and/or (U, Pu)O2+x (O<x≦0.01). Thus, it is possible to trap oxygen atoms released during the fission of U, Th and/or Pu. This leads to an increase in the retention level of the fission products and a possibility of obtaining a high burn-up of nuclear fuel elements.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices are fabricated by providing a substrate; forming isolation regions in the substrate; forming a first insulating layer on the isolation regions and the substrate; forming a conductive-forming layer on the first insulating layer; forming a second insulating layer on the conductive layer; forming a resist layer on the second insulating layer; forming an opening through the resist down to the second insulating layer located vertically between the isolation region; removing the second insulating layer beneath the opening down to the conductive-forming layer; depositing a conductive material through the opening over the conductive layer; planarizing the second insulating layer and the conductive material; removing the second insulating layer, the conductive-forming layer and the first insulating layer except beneath the conductive material; and forming source/drain regions in the substrate; or by providing a substrate; forming isolation regions in the substrate; forming a first insulating laye

Abstract: A structure including a substrate. A first electrode and a second electrode are arranged spaced apart from each other on the substrate. A polymer string is positioned on the substrate between the two electrodes, the polymer line has a width of less than about 50 nm.

Abstract: An electrodeposition apparatus for depositing material on a surface of a substrate. The electrodeposition apparatus includes at least one contact for laterally contacting the substrate and providing electrical connection to the substrate. The at least one contact does not obscure the surface of the substrate to be plated. A voltage source is connected to the at least one contact.

Abstract: Every frame represented by a moving picture signal is divided into blocks. Calculation is made as to a number of pixels forming portions of a caption in each of the blocks. The calculated number of pixels is compared with a threshold value. When the calculated number of pixels is equal to or greater than the threshold value, it is decided that the related block is a caption-containing block. Detection is made as to a time interval related to the moving picture signal during which every frame represented by the moving picture signal has a caption-containing block. A 1-frame-corresponding segment of the moving picture signal is selected which represents a caption-added frame present in the detected time interval.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cleaning polishing debris from the surface of a polishing pad by wetting the surface with a liquid and irradiating the wetted surface with a beam of light. The light beam has sufficient intensity at the polishing surface of the pad to vaporize at least a portion of the liquid such that the vaporized liquid causes at least a portion of the debris to be expelled from the polishing surface of the pad.

Abstract: A borderless contact to diffusion with respect to gate conductor is provided by employing a double insulating film stack as a mask for defining the gate conductor shapes for the entire chip and providing a relatively thin damage preventing layer on exposed conductive layer following defining the gate conductor shapes. In one embodiment, a borderless contact is provided by forming an insulating layer on a substrate, providing a conductive layer on the insulating layer, providing a second insulating layer on the conductive layer, providing a third insulating layer on the second insulating layer, removing preselected portions of the second and third insulating layers, providing a damage preventing layer in those areas where the second and third insulating layers have been removed, removing preselected portions of the third insulating layer, removing the damage preventing layer, removing exposed portions of the conductive layer, and removing now exposed portions of the second insulating layer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a nonelution type antifouling method which comprises applying a nonelution type antifouling coating composition comprising at least two resins insoluble in seawater and incompatible with each other on top of the outermost layer of underwater portion of a marine structure and forming a coating film having a microheterogeneo us structure in which granular or disk-like minute protrusions with a mean size of 10 nm to 20 &mgr;m in diameter comprising at least one of said resins occupy 5 to 49% of the surface area of the coating film.

Abstract: A method is provided for cleansing a protein from multivalent metal ions bound thereto, these ions being released from the protein by exchanging the ions with monovalent metal ions, whereafter the multivalent metal ions are removed. The release and removal of these ions is effected, in particular, by diafiltration or gel filtration processes.