Abstract: PCT Pub. No. WO96/32240 PCT Pub. Date Oct. 17, 1996A method for preparing high-strength biodegradable woven or knit webs or mesh hose from biodegradable foil material is provided. The method utilizes a biodegradable foil material made of a modified starch and having a softening point between 60.degree. C. and 80.degree. C. and a thickness of between 10 .mu.m and 350 .mu.m. The method includes the steps of subjecting the foil material to a relative humidity between 45% and 65%, slitting the foil material into small foil strips, stretching the small foil strips while heating the strips to between 30.degree. C. to 70.degree. C., and stretching at a stretching ratio between 1:3 to 1:10, at a relative humidity of between 45% and 65%. The stretched small foil strips are cooled to room temperature, and processed into a woven or knit web or mesh hose.

Abstract: The invention relates to an enzyme with LeuDH activity, to the B. cereus nucleotide sequence coding therefor, to the transformation of microorganisms of the genus E. coli with a plasmid containing this sequence, and to a process for the preparation of the enzyme.

Abstract: A finder is designed so that in a camera having three or more kinds of formats, a finder magnification can be changed in association with conversion of format, and for conversions into at least two kinds of formats of the three or more kinds of formats, finder magnifications are changed at the same magnification ratio by the same technique.

Abstract: A plucking unit, apparatus or equipment (25) for plucking poultry carcasses on a shackle line (26) including a plurality of individual plucking units (10), one for each of a number of carcasses to be plucked at any one time, and shielding means (12) included in or provided additionally to, said plucking units (10) whereby the plucking heads of each said unit are shielded from the plucking heads of the neighboring units during plucking.

Abstract: A process for producing an electroluminescence element provided with a luminescent layer sandwiched between two electrodes on an insulating substrate, the luminescent layer being composed of a host material with a luminescent center element added. The process comprises a step of forming the aforesaid luminescent layer as a film onto the insulating substrate by either sputtering or evaporation, by use of a source material composed of a compound of an element of Group II and an element of Group VI, to which a halide of a rare earth element is added as the luminescent center element. The atmosphere at the time of the film formation contains either a halogen gas or halide gas.

Abstract: A composition of matter in the form of an amorphous matrix having cesium dispersed therein is disclosed. The composition is capable of cold cathode emission, thus emitting electrons at wide range of temperatures, including room temperature. The matrix can be formed from amorphous diamond, diamond-like carbon, and other materials as well. Methods of making an amorphous matrix using single and multi-ion beam techniques are also disclosed.

Abstract: A check valve (32) includes a cylindrical body (32) and a valve plate (32) attached to one end of the body (32) to open and close a flow outlet. A stepped seat element (36a) having a seat surface (36a) is formed along the periphery of the flow outlet of the body (40). The valve plate (40) is press-cut from a thin stainless steel plate to be integrally formed as a leaf spring. The valve plate includes a leaf element movable with respect to the seat surface so as to close and open the flow outlet, an arm element (41) coupled to the leaf element (41) via a joint element, and a base element connected to the arm element and received by a valve support projection on the cylindrical body.

Abstract: Precipitated silica with the following physical-chemical characteristics:______________________________________ BET surface: DIN 66131 100-130 m.sup.2 /g DBP absorption DIN 53601 .gtoreq.275 g/100 g (anhydrous) ASTM D 2414 Loss on drying DIN ISO 787/II (2 h/105.degree. C.) ASTM D 280 3.5-5.5 wt. % JIS K 5101/21 Oversize with ALPINE air-jet sieve: >63 .mu.m .ltoreq.10.0 wt. % >150 .mu.m .ltoreq.0.1 wt. % >250 .mu.m .ltoreq.0.01 wt. % Chloride content: .ltoreq.100 ppm ______________________________________is prepared by introducing water into a precipitation vessel, adding water glass until an alkali value of 5-15 is reached, then adding further water glass and sulfuric acid simultaneously, interrupting the precipitated silica suspension with sulfuric acid to a pH-value of 8.5, with stirring, then continuing acidification with concentrated sulfuric acid to a pH-value of 4, then separating and washing the precipitated silica which has a solids content in the suspension of approx.

Abstract: A passenger-side air bag device is provided including a door comprising a cover body and a side wall portion extending downwardly therefrom. Lock legs are disposed on the cover body and are configured to lock the door to the inner circumferential edge of an opening portion of an instrument panel. A housing constructed and arranged to be fixed to a car body includes slot portions into which the side wall portion of the door is fitted, and pawl portions for locking the circumferential edges of the lock holes of the door side wall portion to thereby prevent the door side wall portion from coming off from the slot portion. Gaps are provided in three directions between the door and the housing to compensate for any misalignment between the door and the housing.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for making a lithographic printing plate which utilizes the silver complex diffusion transfer process by subjecting the lithographic printing plate to exposure and then development processing and optionally stabilizing processing, which comprises performing the development processing/the stabilizing processing by using a developing solution/a stabilizing solution each containing a monothioether compound containing succinic acid, a salt thereof or a derivative thereof.

Abstract: The invention provides an objective system for use on a single objective type binocular stereomicroscope which, albeit having a parfocal length thereof shorter than a focal length thereof, can reduce various aberrations as much as possible, and a single objective type binocular stereomicroscope system which can be well manipulated while the viewing position is invariable even when objective lenses are interchanged. The objective system for use on a single objective type binocular stereomicroscope comprises an objective lens for converting light from an object into an afocal light flux and two viewing optical units for receiving light emanating from the objective lens to form left and right images, which satisfies condition: 1.0<FL/L<1.6 where FL is a focal length of the objective system, and L is a distance from a first lens surface of the objective system on an image point side to a sample surface.

Abstract: A near infrared rays-curing putty composition containing (A) a polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated group-containing resin, (B) a polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated compound and (C) a near infrared rays polymerization initiator, said near infrared rays polymerization initiator (C) being a near infrared rays-absorbing cationic dye and a resin powder consisting of gelation polymer fine particles.

Abstract: The use of the compound I ##STR1## or its pharmaceutically utilizable salts for the propylaxis and treatment of the squelae of chronic reduced cerebral blood supply, in particular of stroke, and for the treatment of nuerodegenerative disorders is claimed.

Abstract: A wiring structure of semiconductor device and a method for manufacturing the same which fills up a contact hole of below one half micron. An insulating layer is formed on a semiconductor substrate, and a contact hole or a via hole is formed in the insulating layer. On the insulating layer, a first metal is deposited via a CVD method to form a CVD metal layer or a CVD metal plug filling up the contact hole. Then, the thus-obtained CVD metal layer or the CVD metal plug is heat-treated in a vacuum at a high temperature below the melting point of the first metal, thereby planarizing the surface thereof the CVD metal layer. A second metal is deposited via a sputtering method on the CVD metal layer or on the CVD metal plug to thereby form a sputtered metal layer. The contact hole is filled up with the first metal by the CVD method and then a reliable sputtered metal layer is deposited via a sputtering method. The wiring layer can be used for the semiconductor device of the next generation.

Abstract: In a dielectric isolation substrate, an end point of a polishing process for selective polishing for forming an SOI layer is detected with a high precision. When polishing a wafer with a polishing pad, the temperature of a region of the polishing pad having polished the wafer at a position immediately thereafter is detected by a temperature sensor and the selective polishing process is ended by discriminating that the rate of variation in the detected temperature has changed from a positive to a negative state and then to a fixed saturated state.

Abstract: A detergent composition comprising an alkaline metal hydroxide, an alkaline metal salt of L-aspartic-N,N-diacetic acid, optionally a scale inhibitor and/or an alkaline metal salt of gluconic acid. This detergent composition is used for removing soils, stains and other contaminants adhering to or deposited on the surfaces of glass, plastics, metals, etc., specifically the hard surfaces of, for example, containers for foodstuffs such as drinks and process foods, container boxes, piping of food production equipment, tanks, sterilizing plates, plate heat exchangers, filling machines and the like, by such means as soaking the parts to be cleaned in a cleaning solution, circulating a cleaning solution in the facilities to be cleaned, or spraying a cleaning solution over the surfaces to be cleaned. This detergent composition has excellent cleaning performance and excellent biodegradability.

Abstract: A remotely actuated fastener driving tool includes a housing defining a fastener drive track, a fastener driving element carried by the housing for movement within the drive track through successive cycles of operation. A drive piston is operatively connected with the fastener driving element. A pilot pressure operated main valve is movable from a normally closed position into an opened position allowing a supply of air under pressure to be communicated with the drive piston to effect the movement of the drive piston and fastener driving element. A magazine assembly is carried by the housing for receiving a supply of fasteners and feeding successive fasteners into the drive track. Valve structure is provided which includes a valve member carried by the housing and is constructed and arranged to move from a normal, inoperative position into an operative position to initiate the movement of the main valve from its closed position to its opened position.

Abstract: A hydraulic closure system is disclosed for use in a motor vehicle that enables automatic opening and closing, as well as manual closing, of a closure pivotably mounted to an opening frame defining a closure opening in the motor vehicle. The system includes at least one hydraulic actuator assembly attached at opposite ends thereof to the closure and the opening frame, respectively. A motorized hydraulic pump inputs energy to the actuator to move the closure from the opened position to the closed position, and a biased energy storage system inputs energy to the actuator to move the closure from the closed position to the opened position. In a preferred embodiment, the pump is activated by manually generated movement of the closure from the opened position toward the closed position for a prescribed distance in more than a prescribed time. An obstacle detection mechanism detects obstacles interfering with closing of the closure based on monitored pressure in the system.

Abstract: A method for operating a hydraulic closure system for a motor vehicle includes automatic opening and closing, as well as manual closing, of a closure pivotally mounted to an opening frame defining a closure opening in the motor vehicle. The system used in the method includes at least one hydraulic actuator assembly attached at opposite ends thereof to the closure and the opening frame, respectively. A motorized hydraulic pump inputs energy to the actuator to move the closure from the opened position to the closed position, and a biased energy storage system inputs energy to the actuator to move the closure from the closed position to the opened position. In a preferred embodiment, the pump is activated by relatively slow manually generated movement of the closure from the opened position toward the closed position. Also, an obstacle detection mechanism detects obstacles interfering with closing of the closure based on monitored pressure in the system.

Abstract: A disc shaped data recording medium adapted for recording/reproducing information data in a medium adapted for recording/reproducing information data in accordance with a modified constant angular velocity system and having sectors allocated in an interleaving manner which is adjusted in accordance with a track location along the radius of the disc shaped data recording medium. By allocating the sectors in this fashion, the data rate of the data recorded on the medium can be unified over the data recording medium from its innermost track to its outermost track.