Abstract: Three-dimensional knitted catalyst gauzes made from noble metals have recently come into use for ammonia oxidation and other gaseous reactions. Particularly high yields accompanied by a stable course of the reaction and an extended service life of the catalyst gauze are achieved if the catalyst gauzes are knitted in two or more layers and the layers are connected together by pile threads. Important features are the largest possible number of pile threads per unit area and the alignment thereof as parallel as possible to the direction of flow of the reaction gases.

Abstract: There is disclosed a character recognition machine adapted to recognize Japanese characters such as kanjis and kanas. The machine comprises a character string storage portion, a character extraction portion, a character recognition portion, and a language processing portion. A character string to be recognized is stored as an image in the storage portion. The character extraction portion comprises a network consisting a plurality of interconnected operators each of which has numerous inputs and outputs. An evaluation function which assumes its minimum value when a character extraction produces the best results is calculated by the operators simultaneously so as to minimize the value of the function. The character recognition portion calculates degrees of similarity of a character pattern to various character categories, the character pattern being applied from the character extraction portion.

Abstract: This invention is a heterobifunctional artificial cornea or biomedical membrane and novel process for preparing the heterobifunctional artificial cornea. In this method, plasma induced graft polymerization is adopted to provide the surface property modification of polymer materials like silicone or polyurethane. At first, the frontal side of the material is grafted with polyacrylic acid or polymethacrylic acid and then bonded with collagen, or 2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate (HEMA) is grafted alone. A surface which increases the cell attachment and growth can be then developed. Another side of this membrane is grafted with acrylic acid or polymethacrylic acid and then different molecular weights of polyethylene oxide (PEO) is bonded thereto. 2-methacryloyl-oxyethyl phosphoryl chloride (2-MPC) is grafted to the membrane.

Abstract: A sheet transportation device for use in an image forming apparatus is provided which has self-diagnosis and self-repair functions. The sheet transportation device has a sheet transportation system including a plurality of units (8). A control sequence for a sheet transportation operation is applied from a system body (10) to the respective units (8). The units (8) each execute the control sequence to perform the sheet transportation operation. The units (8) are each constructed so as to perform an autonomous operation. This construction allows the respective units to autonomously perform self-diagnosis and repair operations. The fault diagnosis and repair operations are performed in parallel to the sheet transportation control. Therefore, the sheet transportation device can flexibly adapt itself to an external influence such as a change in the use environment and a malfunction due to a time-related change such as the aging of components thereof.

Abstract: A probing device for inspecting semiconductor devices such as IC chips comprises a mounting section for supporting a silicon substrate wafer (i.e., an object to be inspected), a moving section for moving a probe card in such a way that contacts formed on a surface of the probe card can be pushed against electrode pads formed on the wafer, and a measuring section. The probe card is formed by joining a silicon nitride (Si.sub.3 N.sub.4) thin film (whose thermal expansion coefficient is roughly equal to that of the silicon wafer) to a lower surface of a wiring substrate. The wiring substrate is composed of a polyamide thin film (as an insulating layer) and conductive layers (as conductive signal line paths) formed in and on both the surfaces of the polyamide this film. Further, bumps (contacts) are arranged on the lower surface of the silicon nitride thin film.

Abstract: An eye mold device for electrical machining device in which the electrode with different outer diameter can be readily and firmly supported within the eye mold for machining. A substantially triangular passage is defined by three accurate rods which are disposed within a mounting groove of a receiving barrel. When the electrode is inserted within the triangular passage, the electrode can be vertically and firmly supported and calibrated therein. By this arrangement, the electrode can be prevented from skewing during the machining process. On the other hand, the circularity and verticality of the performed hole can be kept. The size of the triangular passage is defined and dependent upon the outer diameter of the three accurate rods. In practice, the three accurate rods are selected and based on the outer diameter of the electrode such that the triangular passage formed thereof is matched to the outer diameter of the electrode.

Abstract: A sanitary toilet bowl seat envelope including a seat member having a central opening and a tongue extending inwardly from a circumference of central opening, and an elongated strap arranged under the central opening of the seat portion and having two ends connected with respective sides of the seat member, the elongatedstrap being provided with wrinkles.

Abstract: In the optical apparatus, the projection lens has a first lens group and a second lens group, the color synthesizing optical system has a transparent plate, dichroic mirrors and a plane mirror, the second lens group is disposed between the color synthesizing optical system and the polarization beam splitters, and the plane including the normal line of the plane of the transparent plate, the color synthesizing planes of the dichroic mirrors and the optical axis of the projection lens is perpendicular to the plane including the normal line of the polarizing and splitting planes of the polarization beam splitters and the optical axis of the projection lens.

Abstract: A stopper device for a bottle having a neck provided with an outside bead at its free end and intended for use with a water fountain type liquid dispenser comprises a plastics material capsule having an end wall from which project in the same direction a substantially cylindrical outer skirt which has an inside bead which hooks behind the outside bead on the neck of the bottle and a substantially cylindrical inner chimney to receive a dispenser tube on the dispenser which nests in the chimney from the side of the end wall of the capsule when the bottle is fitted to the dispenser. The capsule further comprises a tamperproofing closure which closes off the chimney so that it is irrevocably and visibly destroyed upon nesting of the dispenser tube in the chimney and can comprise a diaphragm made up of a plurality of petals connected together by tear lines.

Abstract: A process for surgically correcting presbyopia includes anesthetizing a patient and marking a portion of an eye of the patient which is to be ablated. At least a portion of the cornea is resected to expose the corneal stroma. An annular portion of the corneal stroma is then ablated using radiation from a laser beam. After ablation, the cornea is repositioned onto the eye. The cornea may be resected such that a portion of the cornea remains intact, and is folded back to expose the corneal stroma. Alternatively, a complete disk of the cornea may be removed from the eyes to thereby expose the corneal stroma. After exposure but before ablating, the corneal stroma should be dried to prevent uneven ablation which may occur if fluids are present on the stroma. The laser beam may be directed in a circular fashion until an annular ablation is formed, or a mask may be provided over a central area of the corneal stroma. To prevent edema, the ablated portion should be cleaned by brushing and irrigating.

Abstract: The present invention provides certain 6-hetarylalkyloxy pyrimidine derivatives of formula II ##STR1## wherein R is (i) a cyclic group having at least one 5- or 6-membered heterocyclic ring, optionally with a carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring fused thereto, the or each heterocyclic ring having at least one hetero atom chosen from O, N, or S, or a substituted derivative thereof; or (ii) phenyl or a substituted derivative thereof,R.sup.2 is selected from H, C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 alkyl, halogen or NH.sub.2,R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 which are the same or different are selected fromH, NH.sub.2 or NO.sub.n where n=1 or 2, or R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 together with the pyrimidine ring form a 5-or 6-membered ring structure containing one or more heterocyclic atoms, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, exhibit the ability to deplete O.sup.6 -alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase (ATase) activity.

Abstract: The present invention provides a video and audio signal multiplex transmitting apparatus having a video and audio signal multiplex sending apparatus for grouping audio data to packets of a fixed length in the sending side, and multiplexing video and audio signals by multiplexing horizontal and vertical phase signal outputs from horizontal and vertical counters that are in synchronization with a video signal to an audio data as video phase information, and a video and audio signal multiplex receiving apparatus provided with an audio packet interpolating device for separating the signal received to video and audio signals, detecting, if any audio data is lost, a lost audio data from a data block number of the audio data and audio clock phase information, and recovering an audio clock by means of horizontal and vertical counters and the clock phase information transmitted.

Abstract: A spade consists of a blade and a handle. The blade has an elongated shank. The handle is composed of a fastening tube and a casing for covering the fastening tube. The fastening tube has an axial hole in which the shank of the blade is securely located. The fastening tube is provided in the outer wall thereof with a plurality of ribs for retaining the casing.

Abstract: A sealing mechanism for preventing the leakage of powder from between a through-hole and a rotary shaft which is supported between one side wall of a container containing said powder and the other side wall thereof and of which one end protrudes outwardly beyond said through-hole formed in said one side wall. A circular flange is formed on the rotary shaft, and a seal ring member is fitted between the circular flange of the rotary shaft and said one side wall. A to-be-engaged groove is formed in one end of the rotary shaft. An input gear made of a synthetic resin is fitted to the one end of the rotary shaft, and an engaging projection that engages with said to-be-engaged portion is formed in a portion of the input gear that is fitted to the rotary shaft.

Abstract: A braking force control system comprises a yaw rate sensor for detecting an actual yaw rate of a vehicle, a target yaw rate calculating section for detecting a vehicle speed and a steering angle to calculate a target yaw rate, a yaw-rate difference calculating section for calculating a difference in yaw rate by subtracting the target yaw rate from the actual yaw rate, and a braked-wheel discriminating section for selecting a rear-inside wheel as a braked wheel when the sign of the actual yaw rate is different from that of the difference in yaw rate, and for selecting a front-outside wheel as the braked wheel when the sign of the actual yaw rate is the same as that of the difference in yaw rate. Therefore, when the vehicle is in an under-steering tendency, the rear-inside wheel is selected, and when it is in an over-steering tendency, the front-outside wheel is selected.

Abstract: The casting apparatus has a holding furnace for holding a reservoir of molten material, at least one smaller pumping furnace also for holding a reservoir of molten material and a casting cavity connected to the pumping furnace by one or more feed pipes. The pumping furnace is provided with a pressurizing assembly for applying a pressure to force the molten material from the pumping furnace into the casting cavity. The pumping furnace and holding furnace are contiguous and are connected by a non-return valve which prevents the flow of molten material from the pumping furnace to the holding furnace during pressurization but which allows the flow of molten material from the holding furnace to the pumping furnace after pressurization.

Abstract: A monitor flywheel control for use in adjustment of the color monitor display includes a flywheel type bit generator to replace the conventional adjusting pushbuttons and knobs so that by use of a micro-controller technique, a single flywheel control knob which is both rotatable and depressible can be used to perform all the desired adjustment of the computer monitor display.

Abstract: A motion toy includes a toy body having an upper part and a lower part pivotally connected together, and a power drive coupled between the upper part and the lower part of the toy body. The power drive is controlled to tilt the upper part and the lower part of the toy body alternatively inward and outward in reversed directions.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a paste for bonding a semiconductor, which has excellent low stress and excellent heat conductivity and is useful industrially. The object has been achieved by a heat-conductive paste comprising(A) an epoxy resin which is liquid at room temperature and which has at least two epoxy groups in the molecule,(B) an epoxy group-containing reactive diluent having a viscosity of 100 cp or less at room temperature,(C) a phenolic compound as a curing agent represented by the following general formula (1), which is crystalline at room temperature: ##STR1## wherein R is hydrogen atom or an alkyl group of 1-5 carbon atoms, and (D) a silver powder,wherein the amount of the silver powder (D) is 70-90% by weight of the total paste; the silver powder (D) contains an atomized silver powder consisting of flake-shaped particles having longitudinal lengths ranging from 10.mu. to 50.mu. and thicknesses ranging from 1.mu. to 5.mu.