Abstract: In a method for producing a cyclic ester according to an embodiment of the present invention, a mixture (I) containing an aliphatic polyester, a specific polyalkylene glycol diether, and a sulfonic acid compound as a thermal stabilizer is prepared and heated in predetermined conditions to obtain a mixture (II) in a state of solution. Furthermore, heating of the mixture (II) is continued to distill, together with the polyalkylene glycol diether, a cyclic ester formed by the depolymerization reaction, and thus a distillate (III) is obtained. The cyclic ester is recovered from the distillate (III). At this time, a specific solubilizing agent is added to at least one of the mixture (I) or (II). In this production method, the sulfonic acid compound as the thermal stabilizer is contained in the mixtures (I) and (II) and the distillate (III).

Abstract: Provided is a polyamide composition including a linear and high molecular weight polyamide and having a low residual monomer content. The composition includes a polyamide having a site formed of repeating structural units having at least one alkylene group and at least one amide bond, each of the at least one alkylene group having a carbon number of 1 to 3, the polyamide having a linear structure with a weight average molecular weight of 200000 or greater, and the content of the included raw material monomer, which is a raw material of the structural units, being less than 1000 ppm.

Abstract: An electric component manufacturing device includes a preheater that contacts and preheats a transported work, a melting heater that is downstream of the preheater in a transport direction of the work and contacts and heats the work at a temperature which is higher than a temperature of the preheater and at which a solder melts, a cooler that is downstream of the melting heater in the transport direction and contacts and cools the work, and a transporter that supports and transports the work to sequentially contact the preheater, the melting heater, and the cooler in this order. The transporter performs intermittent transport in which the work is transported from the preheater to the melting heater without stopping to contact both the preheater and the melting heater at the same time, and then the work stops on the melting heater.

Abstract: Provided is a molded article comprising an aliphatic polyester. The aliphatic polyester is at least one selected from the group consisting of polyglycolic acid and a copolymer of a glycolic acid monomer and a monomer other than the glycolic acid monomer. The molded article has a uniaxial compressive strength at a temperature of 23° C. of greater than 250 MPa and not greater than 350 MPa.

Abstract: A method of producing a PAS, which is the method capable of providing a PAS having a high melt viscosity in high yield in a shorter polymerization time, is provided. The method including: a preparation step; a first polymerization step; and subsequently a second polymerization step for continuing to perform a polymerization reaction by adding to the reaction mixture from 0.09 to 0.2 mol of an additional alkali metal hydroxide relative to 1 mol of the sulfur source. In the first polymerization step, the polymerization reaction is performed on condition that a pH of the reaction mixture is 11 or higher until a conversion ratio of the dihalo aromatic compound being 50 mol % or greater.

Abstract: A method for processing substrates includes providing a first substrate including a first region and a second region, the first region including a stack of a silicon oxide film and a silicon nitride film, the second region including a single layer of a silicon oxide film; etching the first substrate with a process gas including a sulfur containing gas, in accordance with varied flow rates of the sulfur containing gas, thereby determining each relationship between a given flow rate from among the varied flow rates of the sulfur containing gas and a shape difference between respective recessed portions formed in the first region and the second region; determining a flow rate of the sulfur containing gas on a basis of each relationship; and etching a second substrate at the determined flow rate of the sulfur containing gas.

Abstract: A moving image encoding/decoding system may include a video predictive encoding device, which may include: an encoding device which encodes each of a plurality of input pictures to generate compressed picture data including a random access picture, and encodes data about display order information of each picture; a restoration device which decodes the compressed picture data to restore a reproduced picture; a picture storage device which stores the reproduced picture as a reference picture; and a memory management device which controls the picture storage device. Following completion of an encoding process of generating the random access picture, the memory management device refreshes the picture storage device by setting every reference picture in the picture storage device, except for the random access picture, as unnecessary immediately before or immediately after encoding a picture with display order information larger than the display order information of the random access picture.

Abstract: A moving image encoding/decoding system may include a video predictive encoding device, which may include: an encoding device which encodes each of a plurality of input pictures to generate compressed picture data including a random access picture, and encodes data about display order information of each picture; a restoration device which decodes the compressed picture data to restore a reproduced picture; a picture storage device which stores the reproduced picture as a reference picture; and a memory management device which controls the picture storage device. Following completion of an encoding process of generating the random access picture, the memory management device refreshes the picture storage device by setting every reference picture in the picture storage device, except for the random access picture, as unnecessary immediately before or immediately after encoding a picture with display order information larger than the display order information of the random access picture.

Abstract: In image predictive encoding according to an embodiment, one or more motion information sets are derived from plural pieces of motion information stored in a computer readable storage medium. Each of the one or more information sets includes two pieces of motion information between which any one of constituent elements differ in value. A predicted signal of a target region in a picture is generated by motion compensation, using two pieces of motion information in a motion information set selected from the one or more motion information sets. The two pieces of motion information in the selected motion information set are stored in the computer readable storage medium, and are used for generation of a predicted signal of another region.

Abstract: An encoding target region in an image can be partitioned into a plurality of prediction regions. Based on prediction information of a neighboring region neighboring a target region, the number of previously-encoded prediction regions in the target region, and previously-encoded prediction information of the target region, a candidate for motion information to be used in generation of a predicted signal of the target prediction region as a next prediction region is selected from previously-encoded motion information of regions neighboring the target prediction region. According to the number of candidates for motion information selected, merging block information to indicate generation of the predicted signal of the target prediction region using the selected candidate for motion information and motion information detected by prediction information estimation means, or either one of the merging block information or the motion information is encoded.

Abstract: A predictive coding system can encode motion vectors by determining a motion vector of a target partition in a frame picture of an encoding target; determining a first motion vector predictor candidate from a motion vector or motion vectors of one or more partitions belonging to a left-neighboring region to the target partition; determining a second motion vector predictor candidate from a motion vector or motion vectors of one or more partitions belonging to an above-neighboring region to the target partition; selecting an optimum motion vector predictor and outputting motion vector predictor indication information to specify the selected optimum motion vector predictor, the optimum motion vector predictor selected based on comparison between one or more motion vector predictor candidates including the first motion vector predictor candidate and the second motion vector predictor candidate, and the motion vector of the target partition; and encoding the motion vector predictor indication information.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory device, includes a resistance change type memory cell; a first charge section into which a charge based on a current flowing in the memory cell is charged; a second charge section coupled to the first charge section via a switch element; a sense amplifier configured to determine data stored in the memory cell based on the charge charged into the second charge section; and a control circuit configured to control the first charge section, the second charge section, and the sense amplifier.

Abstract: A predictive coding system can encode motion vectors by determining a motion vector of a target partition in a frame picture of an encoding target; determining a first motion vector predictor candidate from a motion vector or motion vectors of one or more partitions belonging to a left-neighboring region to the target partition; determining a second motion vector predictor candidate from a motion vector or motion vectors of one or more partitions belonging to an above-neighboring region to the target partition; selecting an optimum motion vector predictor and outputting motion vector predictor indication information to specify the selected optimum motion vector predictor, the optimum motion vector predictor selected based on comparison between one or more motion vector predictor candidates including the first motion vector predictor candidate and the second motion vector predictor candidate, and the motion vector of the target partition; and encoding the motion vector predictor indication information.

Abstract: Provided are non-spherical polyamide particles having small variations in particle shape. The polyamide particles include a polyamide including repeating structural units having at least one alkylene group and at least one amide bond, wherein each of the at least one alkylene group has 1 to 3 carbon atoms. The main shape of the particles is a non-spherical shape with a circularity of less than 0.98, and a coefficient of variation (CV) of the circularity distribution is 30% or less.

Abstract: A drive force distribution apparatus includes a clutch housing, first and second multi-plate clutches, and a center plate located between the first and second multi-plate clutches. The clutch housing includes a body member having a cylindrical portion and a bottom portion, and a tubular fixation member fixed to part of the cylindrical portion close to an open end. The cylindrical portion of the body member includes a first fit portion to which the first multi-plate clutch is fitted, a second fit portion to which the center plate is fitted, and a third fit portion to which the fixation member is fitted. The center plate is interposed between the fixation member and a step surface between the first fit portion and the second fit portion so as not to allow axial movement of the center plate relative to the body member.

Abstract: A driving force distribution apparatus distributes and outputs, to a first clutch hub and a second clutch hub, a driving force input from a driving source. The driving force distribution apparatus includes a clutch housing to which a driving force is input, a first multi-disc clutch disposed between the clutch housing and the first clutch hub, and a second multi-disc clutch disposed between the clutch housing and the second clutch hub. A first pressing mechanism that presses the first multi-disc clutch includes an annular pressing portion disposed between a bottom wall portion of the clutch housing and the first multi-disc clutch, legs inserted in insertion holes formed in the bottom wall portion, and a lubricating oil introduction portion that guides lubricating oil supplied from the clearance between the first clutch hub and the bottom wall portion toward the first multi-disc clutch.

Abstract: Provided is a molded article comprising an aliphatic polyester. The aliphatic polyester is at least one selected from the group consisting of polyglycolic acid and a copolymer of a glycolic acid monomer and a monomer other than the glycolic acid monomer. The molded article has a uniaxial compressive strength at a temperature of 23° C. of greater than 250 MPa and not greater than 350 MPa.

Abstract: A predicted signal generation unit provided in a video predictive encoding device estimates a zero-th motion vector for derivation of a zero-th predicted signal, selects a zero-th motion vector predictor similar to the zero-th motion vector, and generates zero-th side information containing a zero-th motion vector predictor index to identify the motion vector predictor and a motion vector difference determined from the zero-th motion vector and the zero-th motion vector predictor. The video predictive encoding device selects a motion vector for generation of a first predicted signal having a high correlation with a target region, generates first side information containing a first motion vector predictor index to identify the motion vector as a first motion vector predictor, sets the first motion vector predictor to a first motion vector, and combines the zero-th and first predicted signals to generate a predicted signal of the target region.

Abstract: A decoding device includes a decoder that decodes information of a direction of intra-picture prediction of a target block and compression data of a residual signal, a prediction signal generator that generates an intra-picture prediction signal using the information of the direction and an previously reconstructed reference sample of an adjacent block, a residual signal restorator that restores a reconstructed residual signal of the target block, and a block storage that restores and stores a pixel signal of the target block. The prediction signal generator derives reference samples from a previously reconstructed block neighbouring the target block stored, selects two or more key reference samples, performs an interpolation process between the key reference samples for generating interpolated reference samples, and generates the intra-picture prediction signal by extrapolating the interpolated reference samples based on the direction of the intra-picture prediction.

Abstract: A decoding device includes a decoder that decodes information of a direction of intra-picture prediction of a target block and compression data of a residual signal, a prediction signal generator that generates an intra-picture prediction signal using the information of the direction and an previously reconstructed reference sample of an adjacent block, a residual signal restorator that restores a reconstructed residual signal of the target block, and a block storage that restores and stores a pixel signal of the target block. The prediction signal generator derives reference samples from a previously reconstructed block neighbouring the target block stored, selects two or more key reference samples, performs an interpolation process between the key reference samples for generating interpolated reference samples, and generates the intra-picture prediction signal by extrapolating the interpolated reference samples based on the direction of the intra-picture prediction.