Abstract: A device for turning on a thin film transistor liquid crystal display includes a first switching circuit for generating and outputting an inverse common voltage signal in response to a switching signal, a second switching circuit for generating and outputting a common voltage signal in response to an inverse switching signal and a level shift circuit for generating and outputting a potential capable of turning on a thin film transistor by using the inverse common voltage signal and the common voltage signal. The switches preferably are implemented with PMOS and NMOS transistors. This device can reduce power consumption by eliminating the analog switch, the operational amplifier and the push-pull circuit. A similar device for turning off a thin film transistor liquid display is also disclosed.

Abstract: This invention pertains to methods for using oxalate oxidase in plant pathology. A substantially pure gene encoding the oxalate oxidase enzyme is elucidated. The expression product of the gene which can be stably incorporated into a foreign plant host has a unique profile including a pH optimum of 3.5, a positive heat stability, a single sub-unit of approximately 25 kilodaltons and protease stability. The methodology of this invention exploiting oxalate oxidase for protection against oxalic acid encompasses providing to a plant in need of oxalic acid protection an oxalic acid degrading enzyme in an amount sufficient to protect the plant from the oxalic acid.

Abstract: An interior finish member having a door suitable for an air bag comprises a main body and a cover portion. The main body surrounds the periphery of the cover portion, and the main body and the cover portion form a continuous surface. The cover portion covers a folded air bag of an air bag device. The cover portion comprises: a door portion which covers the folded air bag; a breakable portion defined by a recessed periphery of the door portion whose thickness is thinner than adjacent portions of the interior finish member so that it may be broken easily in deployment of the air bag; and a hinge portion for connecting the door portion with the main body and for providing a pivot around which the door portion rotates when the door portion opens under a force of an expanding air bag. The main body is made of thermoplastic resin, and the cover portion is made of thermoplastic elastomer. Because they are capable of thermally fusing with each other, the main body and the cover portion can be integrally formed.

Abstract: A metallic member including not more than 0.6% C, 12 to 19% Cr, 6 to 12% Ni, not more than 2% Mn, not more than 2% Mo, not more than 1% Nb and the balance being Fe and inevitable impurities, whereHirayama's equivalent H eq=?Ni %!+1.05 ?Mn %!+0.65 ?Cr %!+0.35 ?Si %!+12.6 ?C %! is 20 to 23%;Nickel equivalent Ni eq=?Ni %!+30 ?C %!+0.5 ?Mn %! is 9 to 12%, andChromium equivalent Cr eq=?Cr %!+?Mo %!+1.5 ?Si %!+0.5 ?Nb %! is 16 to 19, wherein % is by weight, is made to have at least one ferromagnetized part having a magnetic flux density B.sub.4000 of not less than 0.3 T and at least one non-magnetized part having a relative magnetic permeability .mu. of not more than 1.2 at a temperature of not less than -40.degree. C., as continuously and integrally formed. The non-magnetized part has crystal grain sizes of not more than 30 .mu.m.

Abstract: An improved pneumatically operated fastener driving device comprising an actuating assembly mounted with respect to a housing assembly and movable from an inoperative position to an operative position. A first sealing element is mounted with respect to a feed path. The first sealing element moves from a sealed position, wherein it prevents communication between an air pressure reservoir and a control pressure chamber when the actuating assembly is in the operative position, and an unsealed position, wherein the first sealing element permits such communication to move a main valve to a closed position when the actuating assembly is in the inoperative position.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting a condition of burning in an internal combustion engine includes a spark plug and an ignition coil. The ignition coil has a primary winding and a secondary winding. The secondary winding is connected to the spark plug. An ion current sensing resistor is connected to a low voltage side of the secondary winding of the ignition coil for sensing an ion current. A diode is connected in parallel with the primary winding of the ignition coil. A switching element is connected in series with the primary winding of the ignition coil. The switching element is movable into and out of an on state. A suitable device is operative for resisting a current flowing through the diode when the switching element is in the on state.

Abstract: A process and device produce fibrous starch materials through extrusion of a dispersion or aqueous solution of starch material in a flow of saline coagulant. The dispersion or aqueous solution is extruded through a microporous tubular wall in an annular chamber surrounding the microporous wall to obtain an extrusion flux of starch material which surrounds the tubular wall. Coagulation of the starch material is carried out by feeding a flow of coagulation agent in the annular chamber parallel to the extrusion surface. The fibers obtained from the process or device are able to be used in the paper sector as a substitution for or in combination with cellulose fibers.

Abstract: Four sets of shower heads 100, 200, 300, 400 are located in a surface modifying chamber of a surface modifying apparatus, and each shower head 100, 200, 300, 400 has surface modifier piping including a plurality of spray nozzles. The nozzles are arranged such that showers of an aqueous ozone solution injected from every adjacent two nozzles will contact the resin molded product and partly overlap one another. The phases in position of the nozzles can be offset a half-pitch or staggered with the staggered arrangement of the nozzles serving to compensate for any insufficient oxidation reaction to achieve uniform surface modification over the entire surface of the resin molded product 2. Further, the time required for the surface modification treatment can be reduced.

Abstract: A cradle assembly for a motor vehicle comprises a pair of spaced side frame members, a front cross frame member and a rear cross frame member. The front cross frame member is connected with front ends of the side frame members. The rear cross frame member extends between rear ends of the side frame members. The frame members are formed from tubular metal blanks by a hydroforming process in which each blank has fluid pressure provided internally thereto and thereby radially expanded so that the frame members have a peripheral configuration modified with respect to an original peripheral configuration of the associated blanks.

Abstract: A mobile communication system is provided in which a base station commands a mobile station (or field monitor) to measure the field strength for a specific channel. The mobile station reports the measured results to the base station. The measured results are used in conjunction with base station identification codes to obtain a single representative value which is used to determine what channels can be selected and used by the system. This enables an existing cellular system to be utilized as a first mobile communication system, and makes it possible to construct a second mobile communication system in the same area as the service area of the first system.

Abstract: The present invention provides a purified bacterial protein expressed during infection due to streptococci or enterococci and isolated from human sera, together with immunogenic fragments, analogs, inhibitors, antibodies and antigenic fragments specific thereto. Also provided is a DNA sequence coding for a bacterial protein or an immunogenic fragment or an analogue thereof expressed during infection due to Streptococci or Enterococci, together with homologues thereof, together with vectors, probes and inhibitors therefor. Also provided is fibronectin or an immunogenic fragment thereof or an analogue thereof or an antibody thereto or an anigen binding fragment thereof when used in a method of treatment or diagnosis of the human or animal body for infection due to Streptococci or Enterococci.

Abstract: A high resolution scintillation camera includes a scintillator which generates scintillation light having a light amount proportional to the energy value of incident radiation at the radiation incident position. The generated scintillation light is supplied to several of a plurality of photodetectors forming a detector array. These photodetectors output electrical signals proportional to the supplied light amounts, respectively. The output electrical signals are supplied to a selector to select a photodetector arranged at the radiation incident position and a plurality of photodetectors adjacent to this photodetector. A detection unit detects the radiation incident position on the scintillator on the basis of output signals from a plurality of segments of each photodetector selected by the selector.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting denaturation of a nucleic acid, including: denaturation condition controlling means for controlling condition of denaturation under which a double-stranded nucleic acid is separated into a first single-stranded nucleic acid and a second single-stranded nucleic acid; excitation light irradiation means for irradiating the double-stranded nucleic acid before denaturation, and the first single-stranded nucleic acid and second single-stranded nucleic acid after the denaturation; fluorescence detection means for detecting fluorescence emission based on the excitation light irradiation; and processing means for receiving, storing and processing a signal supplied from the fluorescence detection means.

Abstract: The present invention relates to certain substituted oxadiazole, thiadiazole and triazole peptoids which are useful as inhibitors of human neutrophil elastase (HNE) for the treatment of HNE-mediated processes implicated in conditions such as adult respiratory distress syndrome, septic shock and multiple organ failure. A series of studies also have indicated the involvement HNE in myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury, emphysema. HNE-mediated processes are implicated in other conditions such as arthritis, periodontal disease, glomerulonephritis, dermatitis, psoriasis, cystic fibrosis, chronic bronchitis, atherosclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, organ transplantation, corneal ulcers, and invasion behavior of malignant tumors.

Abstract: A method for preparing an aqueous protein composition from human blood plasma, wherein the plasma undergoes a series of treatments by heating and precipitating agent to give albumin solutions containing the precipitating agent, and said precipitating agent is separated from the resulting solutions to give a crude aqueous albumin solution which is subjected to at least one liquid phase chromatography step to retain at least part of the secondary proteins other than albumin. The chromatography comprises affinity chromatography on a particulate support consisting of neutral particles loaded with at least one compound comprising sulphate groups, whereby, after the albumin solution has been fed through, the particulate affinity chromatography support is eluted by feeding through an aqueous saline solution, preferably by increasing the ionic strength, and the desired protein composition is collected by elution.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an optical waveguide comprises a first step of laminating, on one major surface of a first glass material, a second glass material to a desired thickness, the second glass material having optical characteristics different from those of the first glass material, a second step of forming the second glass material to have a desired circuit pattern, and a third step of laminating a third glass material having optical characteristics similar to those of the first glass material on an entire surface of the first glass material on which the circuit pattern is formed by the second glass material. In at least one of the first and third steps, the glass material to be laminated is laminated by coupling.

Abstract: The present invention relates to salts of azelastine having improved solubility in water. The salts of the present invention are prepared by reacting azelastine with acetic acid, gluconic acid, lactic acid or malic acid. A pharmaceutical composition may be prepared containing an azelastine salt and a pharmaceutically-acceptable carrier or diluent therefor. The pharmaceutical composition is useful in the treatment of allergies, asthma, inflammatory and psoriasis disorders and provides a cytoprotective effect.

Abstract: A process for producing 2-?3(S)-amino-2-(R)-hydroxyl-4-phenyl butyl!-N-tert,butyl decahydro-(4aS,8aS)-isoquinoline-e(S)-carboxamide of the formula (I) via 3(S)-?lower alkoxy carbonyl amino, phenoxy carbonyl amino or benzyl oxycarbonyl amino!-2-hydroxy-4-phenyl butyric acid and process for producing said acid.

Abstract: An improved process for preparing alkanones and alkanols by oxidizing an alkane and/or alkene having from 3 to 30 carbon atoms to form an oxidation mixture containing alkylhydroperoxide. A basic, aqueous solution is added to the oxidation mixture so that a separate basic water phase with a pH higher than 8.5 is formed. The alkylhydroperoxide is then decomposed in the presence of a heterogeneous catalyst which contains a metal compound immobilized on a carrier material. The metal of the catalyst is selected from the group consisting of Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, and Cu. The carrier material is stable in the presence of the separate basic water phase.