Abstract: A video reproducing apparatus that stores video programs on multiple removable media, automatically changes the removable media, and supplies requested video programs to multiple terminal devices has a control unit that stores predicted times at which the programs currently being reproduced will require a change of removable media. When a program request is received, the control unit calculates the media change times of the program, and adjusts these times according to the stored predicted times. The adjustments enable all terminals to receive video programs without noise or interruption when the removable media are changed.

Abstract: A beach cleaner for recovering waste while being towed by a traction vehicle. The beach cleaner includes a grating-like portion for scooping up waste present in front of the beach cleaner as the beach cleaner is moved. The grating-like portion is inclined so that the front side thereof assumes a lower position. A rotor is disposed on an upper side of the grating-like portion and for rotation so that a lower portion thereof moves rearwardly. The rotor is centered on a rotary shaft extending in the transverse direction of the vehicle. The rotor delivers the waste rearwardly between the rotor and the grating-like portion. A reticulate portion is formed behind the grating-like portion. The reticulate portion is inclined so that the rear side thereof is located at a lower position to hold waste.

Abstract: The method for providing a “Don't Care” bit to improve the speed of information matching in a digital information processing system. After the match information is input, it will be divided into multiple sub-bit-streams and then input to a correspondent selector for obtaining the content of a selected memory bank. The output of each selector is forwarded to the product module to compute an unencoded match result. Finally, the priority encoder receives the unencoded match result and performs priority encoding to generate an encoded match result and a match flag. If the match flag is positive, it indicates that there is a hit in the rule table for the match information. Thus, the match result serves as an index for looking up an information table.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an interpolation technology adapted to a picture motion, in particular to a deinterlacing apparatus which is capable of performing accurate motion detection by finding each BD by using an initial detection value when a BD and a BPPD used for the motion detection are detected and performing low pass filtering in order to remove high frequency noise element, improving picture quality by showing motion alteration degree smoothly, and reducing manufacture cost of a circuit to be implemented by simplifying the circuit.

Abstract: The invention relates to process for dimerizing olefinic hydrocarbon feedstock, to hydrocarbon compositions and to fuel components produced by the process. According to the invention, fresh olefinic hydrocarbon feedstock is fed to a reaction zone of a system including at least one reaction zone and at least one distillation zone. The olefinic hydrocarbon feedstock is contacted with an acidic catalyst in the presence of an oxygenate at conditions in which at least a part of the olefins dimerizes. The effluent from the reaction zone is conducted to the distillation zone where dimerized reaction product is separated from effluent, and at least one flow comprising oxygenate is withdrawn from the side of at least one distillation column. The flow is circulated from distillation zone back to dimerization. The reaction mixture is recovered and optionally hydrogenated to form a parafinic reaction product.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing a quantity of a hot beverage, comprising providing a source of a liquid having an adjustable temperature, selecting an infusion time and an infusion temperature, supplying from the source liquid substantially at the selected infusion temperature, the supplied liquid having a volume equal to or slightly larger than the quantity, mixing the supplied liquid with a flavor ingredient having the selected infusion time and infusion temperature, infusing the flavor ingredient in the supplied liquid substantially for the selected infusion time whereby the selected ingredient is at least partially dissipated in the supplied liquid thereby forming a brew, and following the infusion time, removing an undissipated portion of the flavor ingredient from the brew thereby yielding the beverage.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for detecting ionizing radiation are presented. The apparatus includes a scintillator adapted to convert incident ionizing radiation into light; a photocathode adapted to release photoelectrons in dependence on the light; an electron avalanche amplifier adapted to avalanche amplify the photoelectrons; and a readout arrangement adapted to detect the avalanche amplified electrons. The electron avalanche amplifier in one implementation is a gaseous avalanche amplifier including an array of amplification regions. A protective layer is provided to prevent the avalanche gas from coming into contact with the photocathode.

Abstract: A method for feeding a boron compound, which comprises feeding at least one boron compound selected from (1) to (3) described below in the state suspended or slurried in a solvent continuously to a reactor; a boron compound in the form of fine particles being one or more boron compounds selected from (1) to (3) described below and having a maximum particle diameter of 50 &mgr;m or less; a catalyst component for olefin polymerization consisting of said boron compound in the form of fine particles; a method for producing a boron compound in the form of fine particles which comprises dissolving one or more boron compounds selected from (1) to (3) described below in an aromatic hydrocarbon solvent and then precipitating in an aliphatic hydrocarbon solvent; and a method for producing a boron compound in the form of fine particles which comprises pulverizing one or more boron compounds selected from (1) to (3) described below so that their maximum particle diameter is 50 &mgr;m or less.

Abstract: A semiconductor testing apparatus including a server, a robot arm, a gearing unit, a drive unit, a transmission unit, a control unit and a testing head. The drive unit drives the gearing unit and the transmission unit so as to rotate the testing head. In addition, the control unit controls the driving speed and driving direction of the drive unit so as to control the rotation speed and rotation direction of the testing head.

Abstract: A nitride semiconductor laser device having a low threshold current and low noise is provided. The laser device includes n-type and p-type layers made of nitride semiconductor and formed on a substrate, and a light emitting layer between the n-type and p-type layers. The light emitting layer is formed of a well layer or a combination of well and barrier layers. At least the well layer is made of nitride semiconductor containing element X, N and Ga, wherein element is at least one selected from the group consisting of As, P and Sb. The atomic fraction of element X is smaller than that of N. A maximum width through which current is injected into the light emitting layer via the p-type layer is from 1.0 &mgr;m to 4.0 &mgr;m.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to peptide molecules and to derivatives, homologues, analogues and mimetics thereof capable of inducing or facilitating analgesia or partial analgesia alone or in combination with other analgesic molecules. The present invention also contemplates a method of inducing or facilitating analgesia or partial analgesia by the administration of a peptide or a derivative, homologue, analogue or mimetic thereof. The amino acid sequence of the peptide molecules of the present invention are derived from or based on amino acid sequences of snake venom toxins, and, in particular, &agr;-neurotoxins.

Abstract: A capacitive sensor for detecting surface condensation which includes a carrier (2), a metal layer (3) applied to the carrier (2) to form an interdigital structure, a passivation layer (6) formed over the metal layer (3), and a hydrophilic layer (7) applied over the passivation layer (6), where the hydrophilic layer (7) increases a surface tension of the passivation layer (7).

Abstract: The optical amplifier according to the present invention is constructed such that the amount of the electric current fed to the power feeding line 2a is first detected by the current detection means, and then a setting signal is generated to each of the bypass circuits 22 and 23 in accordance with the thus detected amount of the fed current, and thereafter the output level of each of the optical repeater circuits 11 and 12 is controlled respectively by the bypass circuits 22 and 23, so that the output level of these repeater circuits 11 and 12 can be controlled in accordance with the amount of the current fed to the power feeding line 2a.

Abstract: Device and method for detecting a non-writable region of an optical recording medium, wherein a read channel 1 signal and a read channel 2 signal are sliced at respective slice levels to produce header mask signals, and a header region which is a non-writable region is determined for the header mask signal taking the slice levels and written/unwritten regions ion the disk, whereby permitting stabilization of servos because servo error signals, such as a tracking error signal, and a focus error signal can be held exactly at a header region even if the servos are not stable, that prevents deterioration of a data quality in writing and reading, and permitting to shift an optical pickup to a desired position and accurate measurement of an amount of eccentricity because there is no influence of the header in a track jump and a disk eccentricity measurement.

Abstract: The invention relates to pliers having a first operating jaw (1) and a first plier handle (2) fixed thereto, having a second operating jaw (3) which is mounted pivotably by means of a pivot pin (30) and forms a plier mouth with the first operating jaw (1), having a second plier handle (4) which is mounted pivotably on a section (23) of the second operating jaw (3), said section being oriented towards the rear plier end, and having a resilient connecting element (7), of which one end is provided on the second plier handle (4), just behind the second operating jaw (3), and the other end is provided on the first plier handle (2). The pivot pin (30) is fastened on one of the operating jaws (3), and located in the other operating jaw (1) is a slot (33) for accommodating the pivot pin (30), the longitudinal direction of said slot running in the plier plane, at least more or less perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the pliers.

Abstract: An optical disk and method of recording information on the same are provided in which music and images such as, motion pictures can be recorded without dropout of information by more reducing the time necessary to replace than in the prior art. On this optical disk are provided a plurality of management areas, of which one or a plurality of the management areas are located between the innermost and outermost peripheries and are used for storing replacement information. Therefore, the optical head need not be moved to the innermost or outermost periphery at the time of replacement unlike the prior art.

Abstract: The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, an insulating layer on the semiconductor substrate wherein a groove is patterned to a predetermined depth in an upper surface of the insulating layer, a fuse layer at sidewalls and on a bottom of the groove, and a wire connected electrically to the fuse layer.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a transflective liquid crystal display device, including a first transparent substrate; a second transparent substrate having a color filter and spaced apart from the first transparent substrate; a liquid crystal layer interposed between the first and second transparent substrate; a gate electrode arranged on the first transparent substrate; a reflective electrode arranged on the transparent substrate and spaced apart from the gate electrode, the reflective electrode having a light transmitting hole, the light transmitting hole transmitting light; a first insulating layer arranged on the first transparent substrate while covering the gate electrode and the reflective electrode; a semiconductor layer having first and second ends and being arranged over the gate electrode; a source electrode overlapping the first end portion of the semiconductor layer; a drain electrodes spaced apart from the source electrode, overlapping the second end portion of the semiconductor; a second insu