Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for determining the consistency of a database including indirect reference to data elements. There is provided an apparatus for determining consistency of a database. This database includes, in association with each data element, an indirect list element including a storage address of the associated or corresponding data element so that other data elements can reference that data element. This apparatus reads, from each data element, identification information of an indirect list element corresponding to that data element and generates a hash value. This apparatus further reads, from each data element, identification information of an indirect list element corresponding to a data element referenced by that data element and generates a hash value. On condition that these hash values are equivalent to each other, the apparatus determines that the database is consistent.

Abstract: An efficient method and system is provided for promptly providing recommended information on a product or service giving consideration to a site user trend. It comprises a recommended information providing server for managing information on users and user terminals used by users to access the recommended information providing server. The recommended information providing server has an information management section for managing transmission network information for specifying a channel for transmitting information among the plurality of user terminals. The transmission network information includes settings of users similar in trends to a target user as virtual users. Upon receiving event information (e.g.

Abstract: Where a plurality of delivery vehicles must start at a product distribution center, deliver products to one or more destinations on a route and then return the distribution center, a delivery plan is used to minimize operating costs. Possible delivery plans, having a plurality of delivery routes, are established. Plan evaluation values are established by accumulating the travel times for each route in the plan. The travel time for each route is the sum of the actual inter-destination travel times and weighted travel times for the initial (distribution center to first destination) and final (last destination to distribution center) segments of the route. The weighting reduces the effect of the initial and final segments relative to the effect of the inter-destination travel times. The evaluation values are compared in a series of iterations until it is determined that no further improvement can be obtained in evaluation value.

Abstract: A device for controlling an internal combustion engine capable of estimating the amount of NOx emission within short periods of time maintaining high precision and realizing improved control performance without increasing the cost as a result of not using map data in the ROM. The device includes NOx operation circuit for estimating the amount of NOx in the exhaust gas from a theoretical formula and an empirical formula based upon the intake air amount Qa, intake air temperature To, pressure Pb, air-fuel ratio &lgr; and EGR rate &bgr;, and control circuit for controlling at least either the NOx purifying catalyst or the combustion state in the internal combustion engine in order to lower the amount of NOx emission.

Abstract: A device for controlling an internal combustion engine capable of estimating the amount of NOx emission within short periods of time maintaining high precision and realizing improved control performance without increasing the cost as a result of not using map data in the ROM. The device includes NOx operation means 34A for estimating the amount of NOx in the exhaust gas from a theoretical formula and an empirical formula based upon the intake air amount Qa, intake air temperature To, pressure Pb, air-fuel ratio &lgr; and EGR rate &bgr;, and control means for controlling at least either the NOx purifying catalyst 17 or the combustion state in the internal combustion engine in order to lower the amount of NOx emission.

Abstract: Apparatus, program and method for receiving input and specifying a plurality of junctions on a map, specifying an editing object range, and specifying a predetermined block of a road by inputting modifying data items, in order to modify road attribute data items within a predetermined extent. Coordinates of a starting point and a terminal point on a map are input. Additionally, coordinates of relay points can be input. Junctions closest to the starting point and the terminal point are searched, and identified. A search for a route is performed using the junction data items, and road data items of the editing object block are specified. From the junction data items included in the editing object block, the data items of a road connected to the junction within a predetermined extent are specified, and, at the same time, made to be an editing object. Modification data is received, and road attribute data items of the road that is the modifying object are updated based on the modification data.

Abstract: A DC circuit breaking device is provided for interrupting the transmission of direct currents to an electric power system by making external changes to an arc generated upon contacting or separation of contacts 11 and 12 in order to rapidly extend and vibrate arc currents. In a self-excited commuting DC circuit breaking device, coils 41 and 42 opposed to a fixed and a movable contact 11 and 12, respectively, are disposed around the outer circumferences of the contacts 11 and 12, and currents flowing through a commutation circuit or the contacts 11 and 12 are allowed to flow through the opposed coils 41 and 42 so as to apply magnetic fields to the neighborhood of an arc. This constitution provides the DC circuit breaking device with high performance that it can rapidly extend and vibrate arc currents to thereby interrupt direct currents.

Abstract: An active torque-split control system for actively controlling a distribution of driving torque applied to front and rear wheels in a four-wheel drive vehicle employing a transfer device including a transfer clutch for varying said driving torque distribution depending on the operating state of the vehicle, comprises sensors for monitoring the operating state, and a torque-split controller for switching from a normal torque-split control mode to a rigid torque-split control mode only when the controller determines that the vehicle is operated in a warning region closer to a critical state.

Abstract: An active suspension system includes vertical acceleration sensors provided at positions where suspension systems associated with respective vehicular wheels are provided. A control unit receives vertical acceleration data of the respective suspension systems for processing the received data for deriving control command values representative of required damping magnitudes at the respective suspension systems. For this, the control unit derives angular velocity of vehicular attitude change. The control command value is thus derived on the basis of the vehicular attitude change and angular velocity.

Abstract: An active suspension system employs a vertical acceleration sensor for monitoring vertical acceleration exerted on the vehicular body at an orientation where a suspension system is provided, to produce a vertical acceleration indicative signal. The system derives a vertical displacement speed on the basis of the vertical acceleration indicative signal. A suspension control command for stabilizing vertical vibration is thus derived on the basis of the vertical motion speed and a given gain. In order to facilitate satisfactorily high cornering stability, the system varies the gain for deriving the suspension control command depending upon a lateral acceleration exerted on the vehicular body.

Abstract: In a puffer type gas-blast circuit breaker, a fixed arc contact (1) which has a hollow (1a) therein, with at least one vent (1b) on an end part thereof, stores a high pressure insulation gas which is heated and expanded by an arc formed between the fixed arc contact (1) and a moving arc contact (6) and is pressurized by passing through a nozzle (8) in an operation breaking a current, and after breaking of the current, the insulation gas stored in the hollow (1a) flows out of the vent (1b) and expands around the end part of the fixed arc contact; whereby a dielectric strength of the space around the end of the fixed arc contact (1) is strengthened so that reignition between the fixed arc contact (1) and the moving arc contact (6) is avoided.

Abstract: In an interrupter, an insulated nozzle is disposed in the vicinity between a pair of contact elements and is adapted to extinguish an arc occurring between the contact elements by blowing an insulating gas thereto. This insulated nozzle is formed from a fluoroplastic and boron nitride mixed thereinto, the mixed proportion of boron nitride being within a range of weight percentages of 0.3 to 1.0.