Abstract: A washing machine transmission performs a washing by rotating a pulsator in forward and reverse directions during a washing cycle even though a driving source rotates in any one direction only, so that an overload in the driving source can be prevented. A first link is attached to an upper end of a driving shaft, and has a first guide pin. A second link is hinged to an inner peripheral surface of a brake drum at a first end and has a second guide pin, and has a first oblong slot formed between the first end and the second end. A third link is attached to a driven shaft, and has a second oblong slot. When the driving shaft rotates, the first guide pin rotates.

Abstract: A prosthesis in the form of a flexible tube having a substantially uniform cross section is disclosed. The prosthesis comprises a flange (2) for endoscopically placing stitches or clips in a hiatal hernia (3), and a flexible tubular portion (1) enabling the tube to be squeezed by exerting a pressure (F) on the outer surface thereof in order to prevent reflux of the stomach contents into the esophagus. Food can pass freely through the prosthesis in the direction from the esophagus (4) to the stomach (5). The prosthesis is made of a biocompatible polymer optionally containing barium sulphate to make it detectable using X-rays.

Abstract: A cam gear driving apparatus of a VCR which can drive a cam gear by a relatively lower starting torque and has spur gears used as a driving gear and a cam gear so that it is easy to adjust tolerance. The cam gear driving apparatus has a driving source for generating power, the driving source having a driving shaft which has a plurality of protrusions at a position adjacent to a distal end, a support for supporting the driving section, the driving section being attached at one end thereof to a base and being connected at an other end thereof with a cam gear shaft, the driving shaft of the driving source extending through the support, a driving gear for rotating a cam gear, the driving gear being rotatably supported by a boss mounted in the base, and a power transfer section for transferring power generated by the driving source from the driving source to the driving gear.

Abstract: A coating for reducing brake pad noise is provided that includes about 40 to about 90% by weight of a phenolic thermal setting resin, about 1 to about 40% by weight of graphite, about 1 to about 40% by weight of molybdenum disulfide, and, 0 to about 40% by weight of fillers and pigments. The coating is applied to a brake pad and cured. A method for reducing brake noise is also provided which includes the steps of coating a brake pad surface with a coating including about 40 to about 90% by weight of a phenolic thermal setting resin, about 1 to about 40% by weight of graphite, about 1 to about 40% by weight of molybdenum disulfide, and 0 to about 40% by weight of fillers and pigments, and curing the coating.

Abstract: A method for controlling the injection of a die casting machine in which immediately after molten metal is injected into a cavity of metal molds at a high speed, the pressure oil in the chamber at the rod side of an injection cylinder is discharged into a tank side to commence the increase in pressure. A reference point for a switching-over position where a high speed charge is switched over to the increase in pressure is determined by computing a necessary length along the path for keeping the increased charging pressure on the basis of the supplied molten metal quantity during the previous injection process and subtracting the length from the length between the starting position and the position of limit of the forward movement at the previous injection process.

Abstract: Method of preparing an optically active compound of formula, wherein R and R.sup.1 are independently alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkoxy, alkoxyalkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, aralkyl, a heterocyclic group or a C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl-heterocycle, each being optionally substituted, procided that R and R.sup.1 are not identical and * is an optically active chiral center, from the corresponding racemic ester or diol by treating with a hydrolase enzyme. In particular, racemic 2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-3-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)propan-1,2 diol, an intermediate in fluconazole synthesis, is resolved using porcine pancreatic lipase or lipase from Chromobacterium viscosum.

Abstract: An electrically heatable catalytic converter for internal combustion engines is provided. This catalytic converter includes a honeycomb multi-layered core member wound around an electrode. The multi-layered core member consists of a plurality of flat metal foil sheets and a plurality of corrugated metal foil sheets arranged alternately and bonded to each other for preventing the core member from telescoping in the direction of exhaust gas flow, especially, during high-load engine operation.

Abstract: In a clothes basket having a pulsator apparatus, a pulsator apparatus comprises a driving pulsator 20 disposed above a bottom portion of a clothes basket 2 and rotated by a motor 4, and a plurality of driven pulsators 30 rotated by the rotation of the driving pulsator 20 around each axis 34E of respective support shafts 34 fixed on the side wall 36 of the clothes basket 2.

Abstract: A method of treating a subject afflicted with nicotine dependence with the opiate antagonist, nalmefene is described. The subjects will not gain significant amounts of weight as a result of smoking reduction or cessation.

Abstract: A cordierite honeycomb structure having a coefficient of thermal conductivity of not less than 0.035 J/cm.multidot..degree.K..multidot.sec, a porosity of not more than 16%, and a coefficient of thermal expansion of not more than 1.0.times.10.sup.-6 /.degree.C. at 40.degree. to 800.degree. C. A process for producing a cordierite honeycomb structures, involves at least the steps of: mixing powders of kaolin, talc, and other starting materials for cordierite together so as to provide a chemical composition of cordierite; and extruding the mixture; and firing the extrudate, wherein the kaolin has an average particle diameter of not more than 5 .mu.m and such a particle size distribution that the proportion of particles with diameters of less than 1 .mu.m is 10% by weight and the talc has an average particle diameter of not more than 10 .mu.m and such a particle size distribution that the proportion of particles with diameters of less than 1 .mu.m is not more than 5%.

Abstract: A process is described for metallizing materials such as plastics, glasses, ceramics and metals, in which (a) the material to be metallized is provided with a coating which contains intrinsically conductive polymer, (b) the intrinsically conductive polymer is activated by reduction and (c) the metal is applied to the material in a non-electrochemical manner by bringing the coated material into contact with a solution containing ions of the metal.

Abstract: An electrode feeding apparatus for electric-discharge machining by discharging between an electrode and a workpiece in order to machine the workpiece includes an occurrence frequency detecting unit for detecting the occurrence frequency of short-circuit current flowing when the electrode contacts the workpiece and a penetration detecting unit for detecting penetration by the electrode to the workpiece based on the occurrence frequency. According to the present invention, it is possible to detect with high precision penetration by the electrode into the workpiece by utilizing the difference between an occurrence frequency of short-circuit current during electrode discharge machine and the occurrence frequency of the short-circuit current when the electrode has penetrated the workpiece.

Abstract: The appliance for dispensing warm and cold water has a heater for heating water in tank, a PTC heater for preliminarily heating newly supplied water in the tank toward a predetermined temperature, and a comparting member for forming a comparted space around the PTC heater. The comparting member is formed with a plurality of water flow apertures for communicating the comparted space with an inner space of the tank. When warm water in the tank is dispensed to outside, the same amount of water with the dispensed water is supplied in the tank. The newly supplied water is flowed into the inner surface of the tank after being heated by the PTC heater in the comparted space. Accordingly, the fall of temperature of warm water in the tank by the newly supplied water is prevented, and it is possible to dispense warm water having appropriate temperature at any time.

Abstract: A refrigerator door switch system for sensing opening of a freezer compartment door and a fresh food compartment door comprises a push button switch installed at the freezer compartment door or the fresh food compartment door, being positioned at a first position for stopping a fan motor for a cool air supply and turning on a cabinet lamp when the freezer compartment door or the fresh food compartment door is opened, and being positioned at a second position for driving the fan motor and turning off the cabinet lamp when the freezer compartment door and the fresh food compartment door are closed; and a switch operation cam installed at the fresh food compartment door or the freezer compartment door, corresponding to the push button switch for positioning the push button switch to the first position when the freezer compartment door or the fresh food compartment door is opened, and for positioning the push button switch to the second position when the freezer compartment door and the fresh food compartment doo

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for dispersing a washing water of a dishwasher comprising a dispersing nozzle arm rotatably connected to a pump which supplies the washing water, nozzle bodies rotating the dispersing nozzle arm and sliding along an outer circumference surface of the dispersing nozzle arm, and a guiding part which is installed on a bottom wall of the dishwasher, for sliding the nozzle bodies along the outer surface of the spraying nozzle arm. The dispersing nozzle arm is rotated by ejecting forces of washing water which is ejected from the nozzle bodies. The nozzle bodies move along a guide rail while sliding along the outer circumference surface of the spraying nozzle arm. Since the nozzle bodies slide on the outer surface of the spraying nozzle arm and evenly disperse the washing water to corners of a washing tank, and the dishwasher can effectively wash dishes, thereby preventing the waste of the washing water.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for the identification from DNA of a fragment comprising a simple tandem repeat locus comprising the steps of:i) contacting a DNA library with at least one hybridisation probe so as to identify a population of DNA fragments enriched for simple tandem repeats;ii) isolating and cloning said population; andiii) screening of the resulting DNA library so as to identify an individual fragment comprising a simple tandem repeat locus.Also provided are simple tandem repeats isolated by the method of the present invention, characterised in that they may be amplified at least in part by PCR using a specified pair of primers, together with amplification primers and probes specific to the simple tandem repeats so isolated.The present invention also provides methods of genetic characterisation using the aforementioned simple tandem repeats, primers and probes.

Abstract: A first semiconductor layer and a second semiconductor layer are laminated on a semiconductor wafer in that order. A resist pattern having an opening is formed on the second semiconductor layer. The second semiconductor layer is etched through the opening in the formed resist pattern to expose the first semiconductor layer. A surface oxide film is formed on the exposed surface of the first semiconductor layer and then selectively etched away. Alternatively, the exposed surface of the first semiconductor layer is subjected to a separate oxidization treatment and the resulting surface oxide film is selectively removed in the subsequent etching.

Abstract: An improved construction of a .?.Randel.!. .Iadd.Lundell.Iaddend.-type rotor of a vehicle-mounted alternator, capable of reducing the windage noise which is produced as a result of interference between the rotor and the stator of the alternator. The rotor has a pair of pole cores provided with a plurality of mutually meshing claws, and an exciting coil disposed at the inner side of the pole cores. Spacers in the form of an integral ring or discrete wedges are fitted in the spaces between adjacent pole core claws so as to provide a substantially smooth cylindrical outer peripheral surface of the rotor portion facing the radial teeth on the stator.

Abstract: A disposable cartridge for measuring the physical properties of blood is disclosed. A waste compartment supports a platform having first and second syringe fittings. First and second syringes containing blood samples to be measured are positioned within the fittings. At least one testing station is located on the platform for subjecting blood flowing from one of the syringes to a test station, and the testing station is connected at a second end to the waste compartment. Tests on blood running through each of the blood channels may be conducted by inducing various platelet activation conditions, such as piercing a channel, or putting a platelet activating substance within a test channel. The cartridge interfaces with a test stand which will measure pressure changes within each of the test channels.