Abstract: A hot-water appliance capable of resisting at least the pressure of the public water supply system, comprising at least one hot-water vessel with a supply conduit connectable to the public water supply system and a discharge conduit connectable to a draw-off tap, wherein the hot-water vessel further comprises a substantially cylindrical jacket wall and two end walls, characterized in that a vacuum insulated jacket (2) surrounds at least the cylindrical wall part (1a, 9) of the hot water vessel, with said vacuum insulated jacket consisting of wall(s) composed of a solid non-plastic material composition and a thickness of less than ca. 2 cm, the wall(s) enclosing a hollow vacuum space whereupon at a temperature difference between the hot water vessel and the ambient atmosphere of at least 90° C. the vacuum insulated jacket will retain an internal absolute pressure in the vacuum space of less than 10−2 millibar, corresponding to a vacuum of less than 0.

Abstract: The present invention provides a recording medium reproduction apparatus that can continuously reproduce different tunes from recording media at the same numbers of beat and the same beat timing. The recording medium reproduction apparatus includes: a first recording medium reproduction unit; a second recording medium reproduction unit; and a control unit that compares the number of beats per unit time of a tune reproduced from a first recording medium with the number of beats per unit time of a tune reproduced from a second recording medium, and adjusts the reproduction rate of the second recording medium reproduction unit so that the number of beats per unit time of the second recording medium reproduction unit becomes equal to the number of beats per unit time of the first recording medium reproduction unit.

Abstract: A dielectric ceramic composition comprising a first compound having the general formula, aCaTiO3—(1−a)Ca(Al½Nb½)O3 in which 0.4≦a≦0.6. Preferably, it further contains a second compound selected from the group consisting of zirconium oxide (ZrO2), manganese oxide (MnO2) and antimony trioxide (Sb2O3), with the second compound present in an amount no more than 2 parts by weight relative to 100 parts by weight of the first compound.

Abstract: A method for operating an automobile electric power steering (EPS) system is provided. Whether or not the automatic adjustment of the steering angle is performed is decided based on a speed of the automobile and a rotational state of each wheel. A cooperative steering angle to cooperate a braking state of the automobile is set based on the decision and the speed of the automobile. A target steering angle is determined to adjust the steering angle based on the cooperative steering angle and a manual steering angle; and a feedback control on the steering angle is performed such that the steering angle of each wheel become to close to the determined target steering angle.

Abstract: A disk apparatus which can prevent a disk from being damaged when a shock is applied to the disk apparatus is provided. A disk is rotatably supported in a space formed between a tray and a cover when the disk is loaded in the disk apparatus. A contacting member is provided in the space so that the contacting member contacts an outermost annular area of a surface of the disk when the disk is warped. The outermost annular area is a non-recordable area which is adjacent to a rim of the disk.

Abstract: High purity Form II crystals of clarithromycin can be easily prepared in a high yield by a process comprising the steps of: protecting the 9-oxime hydroxy group of erythromycin A 9-oxime or a salt thereof with a tropyl group and the 2′- and 4″-hydroxy groups with trimethylsilyl groups; reacting 2′,4″-O-bis(trimethylsilyl)erythromycin A 9-O-tropyloxime with a methylating agent; removing the protecting groups and the oxime group of 2′,4″-O-bis(trimethylsilyl)-6-O-methylerythromycin A 9-O-tropyloxime to obtain crude clarithromycin; treating the crude clarithromycin with methanesulfonic acid in a mixture of a water-miscible organic solvent and water to obtain crystalline clarithromycin mesylate trihydrate; and neutralizing the crystalline clarithromycin mesylate trihydrate with aqueous ammonia in a mixture of a water-miscible organic solvent and water.

Abstract: A polyoxymethylene resin composition, having enhanced tensile elongation, thermal stability, processibility and impact resistance, comprises: (i) from 45 to less than 97% % by weight of a polyoxymethylene resin (Component A); (ii) from 1 to less than 20% by weight of a thermoplastic polyester elastomer (Component B); (iii) from 2 to 35% by weight of a thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer (Component C); and (iv) from 0.1 to less than 10% by weight of a maleic anhydride-grafted aliphatic polyolefinic rubbery polymer (Component D), based on the total weight of Components A, B, C and D.

Abstract: Described in the present invention are a method for determining the pore size distribution of a membrane filter based on the molecular mass distribution curve of the rejected solute fraction of a feed solution when the feed is passed through the membrane, and an apparatus suitable for practicing said method.

Abstract: An electric power steering system includes a torque detection unit, an anti-lock brake system electronic control unit (ABS ECU), an electric power steering control unit and an electric power steering motor. The torque detection unit senses a manual steering torque applied to a steering wheel and detects a braking power difference torque. The ABS ECU outputs an ABS operational signal which provides information on a sharp braking operation of the vehicle. The electric power steering control unit generates a motor current in response to the manual steering torque and outputs a modulated motor current if the ABS operational signal is provided. The electric power steering motor reduces unnecessary movements of the steering wheel caused by a difference in road surface frictional forces of the left and the right driving wheels based on the modulated motor current.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a semi-active suspension system of a vehicle including at least one shock absorber using magneto-rheological fluids. The shock absorber has a rebound valve and a compression valve which are configured such that damping forces of the shock absorber generated in rebound strokes and compression strokes being controlled independently. The apparatus comprises a normal driving control unit for determining a ride value (Sride) and a filtered vehicular vertical velocity (vi) based on a vertical vehicular acceleration, an anti-roll control unit for determining a roll value (Sroll) based on a velocity and a steering angle of the vehicle, and a damping force adjusting unit for controlling the rebound valve and the compression valve of the shock absorber based on the roll value (Sroll), the ride value (Sride) and the filtered vehicular vertical velocity (vi) under a predetermined condition.

Abstract: Malodorous gases such as amines, organosulfur compounds, hydrogen sulfide, styrene and aldehydes are economically and efficiently treated at ambient temperature and pressure by a catalytic absorption and oxidation process comprising: (a) bringing the malodorous gases into contact with a scrubbing water containing a heterogeneous catalyst to absorb the malodorous components catalytically, and (b) subjecting the resulting solution containing the malodorous components to a catalytic oxidation by contacting it with an oxidizing agent such as hydrogen peroxide, ozone, oxygen, air, nitrogen oxides, and NaOCl in the presence of the catalyst at a temperature ranging from 0 to 100 □ under an ambient pressure, the heterogeneous catalyst comprising an active metal element selected from alkali, alkaline earth and transition metals, and an oxide support material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device and a method for processing bristle filaments, in particular toothbrushes, with an abrasive surface. In order to improve, in particular, the processing of contoured brushes, the abrasive surface is formed according to the present invention on at least one tooth flank of at least one tooth which is provided on a rotating circumferential surface and circulates in the rotational direction. The method according to the invention is characterized in that the bristle filaments are moved in a first direction substantially in parallel to at least one tooth flank comprising the abrasive surface, and in a second direction substantially at a right angle to the first direction, over the ridge of the at least one tooth.

Abstract: A disk device has a head for recording and reproducing data to and from a disk-shaped recording medium. A carriage for supporting the head is provided. A driver is included for moving the carriage in the direction of a radius of the disk-shaped recording medium. Also provided is a controller controlling the driver based on a speed profile selected from among a plurality of preset speed profiles. The speed profile is selected in response to values stored in a memory indicating a disturbance to the head.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new fluidized-bed catalyst used in a process of propylene ammoxidation to acrylonitrile. The catalyst comprises a silica as carrier and a composition represented by the following general formulas: AaBbCcGedNaeFefBigMohOx Wherein A represents at least one element selected from a group consisting Li,K,Rb,Cs,Sm, In or Tl; B represents at least one element selected from a group consisting of P, Sb, Cr, W. Pr, Ce, As, B, Te, Ga, Al, Nb, Th, La or V; C represents one element selected from a group consisting of Ni, Co, Sr, Mn, Mg, Ca, Zn, Cd or Cu and the mixture thereof; a is a number of from 0.01 to 1.5; b is a number of from 0.01 to 3.0; c is a number of from 0.1 to 12.0; preferably from 2 to 10; d is a number of from 0.01 to 2.0; preferably from 0.01 to 1.0; e is a number of from 0.01 to 0.7; preferably from 0.05 to 0.5; f is a number of from 0.1 to 8; preferably from 1.0 to 3.0; g is a number of from 0.01 to 6; preferably from 0.1 to 2.

Abstract: A photomask for use in a photolithography technique includes a transparent portion for transmitting light from a light source, an opaque portion coated with an opaque material for interrupting the light from the light source, and a border portion positioned between the transparent and the opaque portions. The border portion includes a number of patterned structures coated with the opaque material and arranged along an edge of the opaque portion, wherein the amount of light passing through the border portion is gradually increased when moving from a first border line between the opaque and the border portions to a second border line between the border and the transparent portions.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a base tube for a fuel cell produced by forming a film of a fuel electrode and a film of an air electrode on a surface of the base tube, the base tube comprising a mixture of a raw material for the base tube, and coarse particles, whereby the mixture shrinks nonuniformly when sintered to increase the porosity of the base tube. Thus, the gas permeability and the cell electrical efficiency can be increased.

Abstract: A recording medium reproducing apparatus includes a recording medium inlet member through which a recording medium is inserted, a recording medium reproducing unit which reproduces said recording medium, and a recording medium supporting member including wing portions which support said recording medium. The wing portions are elastically warped by the recording medium and support the recording medium by an elastically restoring force. Each of the wing portions is provided obliquely in a direction in which the recording medium is inserted in the recording medium reproducing unit.