Abstract: The optical compensatory sheet has a transparent support and an optically anisotropic layer formed from liquid crystal molecules aligned in an average inclined angle of less than 5°. The optical compensatory sheet gives the retardation value in plane (Re) in the range of 10 to 1,000 nm and the retardation value along the thickness direction (Rth) in the range of 10 to 1,000 nm.

Abstract: A spiral conveyor with automatic flow control includes a plurality of curved segments connected to form a spiral for the flow by gravity of articles from an upper level to a lower level. Each of the segments includes freely rotating skate wheels forming a conveying surface and a controlled, powered cylindrical roller. A sensor mounted in each segment senses the presence of an article in the segment. A controller receives the signals from the sensors and activates the associated roller for transport mode to assist articles through the conveyor if the path is clear, or if the downstream portion of the conveyor is blocked, to reverse the roller for accumulate mode to hold articles in the segment until the path is cleared.

Abstract: Ink jet printing paper carries a pigment coating comprising (a) a major proportion of a finely divided precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) having a surface area of at least 60 m2g?1, preferably 80 to 90 m2g?1 (b) a minor proportion of a gel-type silica and (c) binder. The silica is preferably present in an amount of 15 to 30% by weight of the total dry weight of silica and PCC. The pigment coating is preferably made up as an aqueous composition having a solids content of 25 to 35% and a Brookfield viscosity of 150 to 2000 mPa s and applied by a blade coating technique.

Abstract: Compensation is provided for bending of an optical fibre in intensity-based optical measuring systems. A measuring signal and a reference signal of different wavelengths are generated and transmitted through an optical connection towards a sensor element. The reference signal is not influenced in the sensor element. The measuring and reference signals are detected and compensation is carried out for bending of the optical connection using correction data. The correction data is based upon pre-store data concerning the relationship between the measured reference signal and the measured measuring signal as a function of the bending influence on the optical connection. Devices and methods according to the invention allow for measurements with an optical pressure measuring system that exhibit effective compensation for any bending of the optical connection.

Abstract: A precise positioning actuator for precisely positioning at least one head element is provided with a base and a pair of movable arms capable of displacing in response to a drive signal applied to the actuator. The pair of movable arms extend from the base for catching a head slider with at least one head element in a space between the pair of movable arms. Each of the pair of movable arms includes an arm member made of an elastic sintered ceramic and having substantially the same cross sectional shape from a root thereof to a top end thereof, a piezoelectric element formed on a side surface of the arm member and a protrusion additionally formed on an inside surface of the arm member near its top end section. The protrusion has tapered surfaces. Side surfaces of the head slider are adhered to the inside surfaces of the arm members at the protrusions and within regions between the protrusions and top ends of the arm members.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an absorbent article in the form of a sanitary napkin, a panty liner or an incontinence protector and comprising a front portion, a rear portion, a liquid-permeable top sheet (2), a liquid-impermeable backing sheet (3), and an absorbent body (1) enclosed between the top and backing sheets, wherein the rear portion of the article includes a longitudinally extending ridge-shaped elevation (9) that projects out from that side of the article that contains the top sheet. According to the invention a central string of material (8) extends in the rear portion of the article and the absorbent body (1) between the top sheet (2) and the backing sheet (3) in the rear portion of the article extends around the long sides of said string. The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing such an article.

Abstract: A seated passenger's weight detection device includes a seat vertical position adjusting means having a front link and a rear link, a weight detection sensor for detecting a weight of a seated passenger on the basis of an input from the front link and an input from the rear link and a backward and forward input cancel means for canceling backward and forward inputs which operate to the front link and the rear link.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for optical measuring systems, comprising a sensor element (6) connected to a measuring and control unit (10) via an optical connection (3), and being adapted for providing a signal defining a measurement of a physical parameter (p) influencing the sensor element (6), said method comprising generation of a measuring signal that is brought to come in towards the sensor element (6), and detection of the intensity of the measuring signal (B) in the measuring and control unit (10), after influencing the measuring signal in the sensor element (6).

Abstract: A plasma display panel using carbon nanotubes is provided. In the front panel of the plasma display panel, transparent electrodes are formed as strips on the glass substrate. Bus electrodes are each formed as strips along the outer edge on the upper surface of each of the transparent electrodes and in parallel to the transparent electrodes. A dielectric layer is formed on part of the glass substrate, parts of the transparent electrodes, and the bus electrodes. Carbon nanotube strips are aligned on the dielectric layer such that the carbon nanotube strips face the transparent electrodes. A protective layer is formed on part of the dielectric layer and the carbon nanotube strips. Accordingly, the secondary electron emission characteristic is improved, resulting in a high-quality display screen having a high luminous efficiency and a high contrast ratio.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a stable, low sulfur, olefinic distillate fuel blend component derived from a Fischer-Tropsch process and a process for producing this stable, low sulfur, olefinic distillate fuel blend component. The stable, low sulfur, olefinic distillate fuel comprises olefins in an amount of 2 to 80 weight percent, non-olefins in an amount of 20 to 98 weight percent wherein the non-olefins are predominantly paraffins, oxygenates in an amount of less than 1 weight percent, and sulfur in an amount of less than 10 ppm by weight. A distillate fuel comprising the above blend component forms less than 5 ppm peroxides after storage at 60° C. for four weeks.

Abstract: A high-speed broadband, wireline modem including an adaptive equalizer having both a training mode and a decision-directed non-training mode. The adaptive equalizer comprising at least one of a forward path coupled to receive signal samples, the forward path including a forward filter and a decision element, and a feedback path coupled between an output of the decision element and an input of the decision element, the feedback path including a feedback filter; and means for adapting the one of said forward filter and said feedback filter based on a least squares error criterion performed substantially according to a predetermined algorithm.

Abstract: A lithographic printing plate precursor comprising an aluminum substrate, an image-recording layer and a hydrophilic film, the aluminum substrate being subjected to an electrochemical surface-roughening treatment in an aqueous solution comprising hydrochloric acid and provided with the hydrophilic film having a heat conductivity of 0.05 to 0.5 W/mK and/or at least one of a density of 1,000 to 3,200 kg/m3 and a porosity of 20 to 70%; and a lithographic printing plate precursor comprising an aluminum substrate, an image-recording layer and a hydrophilic film, the aluminum substrate having a surface-roughened shape comprising a small pit wherein an average opening size of the small pit is 0.01 to 3 ?m and a ratio of an average depth of the small pit to the average opening size is 0.1 to 0.5, and being provided with the hydrophilic film having a heat conductivity of 0.05 to 0.5 W/mK and/or at least one of a density of 1,000 to 3,200 kg/m3 and a porosity of 20 to 70%.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of tissue factor for influencing blood vessel formation, particularly for activating blood vessel formation, above all for wound healing.

Abstract: An electroluminescent element in which at least one layer containing at least one of novel hydrocarbon compounds with an anthracene ring and a fluorene ring directly bound is held between a pair of electrodes. The compounds can advantageously be used in a luminescent element and provide an organic electroluminescent element having an excellent luminescent efficiency and a long luminescent life.

Abstract: For measuring an electric voltage in an electro-optic voltage converter, polarized light of two wavelengths is sent through a medium. At the output side, the light is led through a polarizer and the remaining signal is measured. For compensating a temperature dependence of the electro-optic coefficients, the measured results at both wavelengths are compared, and the voltage value consistant with both measurements is used.

Abstract: A transformer coil is produced by forming a sheet of composite material over a plurality of annular shaped support plates to form an inner layer. A coil is wound around the inner layer. An outer layer is formed by wrapping a sheet of composite material over the coil. The outer layer is mechanically attached to the coil. A base is attached to the coil assembly and epoxy is used to encapsulate the coil. The epoxy forms a bond with the inner and outer layers, which become an integral part of the transformer coil.

Abstract: An arrangement for lubricating the bearing surfaces between a tool of a hydraulic impact device and the impact device, the arrangement comprising a supply pump and a channel for supplying lubricant. The arrangement comprises at least two separate channels (19, 20), and both channels comprise a separate dosing pump (17, 18) which supply predetermined amounts of lubricant between the bearing surfaces when the impact device starts.

Abstract: An absorbent product, such as a sanitary towel, has a stiffening element (6) which is intended to contribute to the three-dimensional shape of the product during its use. The stiffening element (6) is in a plane state before use of the product and extends in the longitudinal direction of the product over the crotch portion (3) and at least some way in over the front portion (1). The stiffening element (6) has a width (M) at the transition (12) between the crotch portion (3) and the front portion (1) which is adapted to the distance between the muscle tendons of the wearer on both sides of the crotch of the wearer in the groin of the latter and which is of the order of 15-45 mm. The stiffening element (6) extends some way in over the rear portion (2) and there consists of two separate portions (14, 15), one on each side of a longitudinal center line (L).

Abstract: The invention concerns polyamides modified by a multifunctional compound. Finished articles formed from said polyamides or from compositions based on said polyamides exhibit excellent mechanical properties, and a very good surface appearance. The modified polyamide is obtained by mixing in melted form a polyamide and a polyamide macromolecular compound comprising star-shaped or H-shaped macromolecular chains.

Abstract: A golf putter head of triangular shape. A ball-striking leading wall has a first breadth greater than a second breadth of a trailing wall. The leading and trailing walls are interconnected at their respective opposite ends by sidewalls that converge toward one another and define a cavity of trapezoidal shape. The center of gravity of the golf putter head is closer to the trailing wall than the leading wall to provide a moment of inertia that reduces the effects of missing a sweet spot on the leading wall during a putt. In one embodiment, the trailing wall is weighted to move the center of gravity closer to the trailing wall. In another embodiment, a web interconnects the leading and trailing walls along a longitudinal axis of the golf putter head. Another embodiment adds a pair of weights to the leading end of each sidewall, significantly increasing the moment of inertia.