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: 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: 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: Disclosed is a process for making a lithographic printing plate by subjecting a lithographic printing material having physical development nuclei between an aluminum support and a silver halide emulsion layer to exposure and then processing the lithographic printing material at least with a developing solution and a water washing solution in this order, which comprises performing the processing(s) with the developing solution and/or the water washing solution by using the developing solution and/or the water washing solution containing an organic compound which coagulates gelatin.

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: 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: A tubular blank of filter paper containing measured and separate quantities of tea, or a similar infusionable substance, is pleated and folded so as to obtain a bag with two envelopes by a method that includes the steps of advancing blanks singly and in succession along a feed direction tangential to an indexing wheel with radial grippers, taking up each blank in a position above three bearing elements ordered along the feed direction, forming a pleat in an intermediate portion of the blank, then pinching the two ends of the blank by use of movable pressure elements interacting with two of the bearing elements so as to prevent the escape of the contents from the envelopes while at the same time drawing the tubular blank toward the wheel to bring the two envelopes together and give the filter bag its final shape.

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 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 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: 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 pad covering an air bag has a main body, a backing and a decorative member. The main body may be made from a thermoplastic elastomer and includes a tearing line which tears open when the air bag inflates, a recess formed in its outer surface spaced apart from the tearing line, and a hole formed in the recess and extending between the outer and inner surfaces of the body. The decorative member is arranged in the recess and the hole. The backing is situated on the inner surface of the main body, and has a through hole aligned with the hole of the main body. The decorative member has a decorative plate portion fitted in the recess of the main body, and a support post extending from the inner surface of the decorative plate portion and through the holes of the main body and the backing, and connected to the backing.

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 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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.