Abstract: The present invention provides an integrated circuit, comprising a semiconductor substrate, an active element formed on the side of one main surface of the semiconductor substrate, an insulating region formed on the side of the main surface of the semiconductor substrate by burying an insulating material in a groove having a depth of at least 20 &mgr;m, and a passive element formed directly or indirectly on the insulating region. It is desirable for the passive element to be an inductor.

Abstract: Electrical cable, in particular for medium- or high-voltage power transmission or distribution, having a metal shield and a semiconductive water-blocking expanded layer. This layer exerts three main functions, the first one is to elastically and uniformly absorb radial forces of expansion and contraction of the cable coating layers due to thermal cycles of the cable during use, thus preventing deformations or breakages in the metal shield, the second one is to ensure electrical continuity between the cable core and the metal shield, the third one is to effectively avoid penetration and propagation of moisture and/or water along the cable core due, e.g., to possible ruptures in the metal shield. The third function is obtained by including in the expanded layer a water-swellable material.

Abstract: In a lever-actuated connector, on one end part of a side surface of a connector body (23) is formed a protruding lever insertion rib (27), into which an end (24C) of a lever (24) is inserted, which allows the end (24C) of the lever (24) to rock, and which extends upwardly and downwardly. An upper rib linking part (27A) that joins opposing walls that surround a lever insertion slit (31) is formed larger than a lower rib linking part (27B), and an upper through hole (32) communicates between the upper end surface of the upper rib linking part (27A) and the lever insertion slit (31). By adopting this configuration, when the lever insertion slit (31) is formed, die removal is done upwardly and downwardly, and it is not necessary to use a sliding die, thereby simplifying the die construction for the connector body (23), reducing the cost, and also enabling smooth insertion and fitting together of connectors.

Abstract: Controlled release compositions of matter are disclosed comprising complexes for treating a population of one or more aquatic organisms in a column of water. The complexes comprise at least one system wherein the system comprises at least one bioactive agent as a component selected for treating a population of aquatic organisms, at least one carrier component, and at least one coating component for regulating the controlled release rate and release profile of the bioactive agent in water or at least one bioactive agent and one joint-function component that can serve as both a carrier and coating to regulate the controlled release rate and release profile of the bioactive agent in water, with or without optional binder components and/or additional formulation materials. The components are selected to sink or float so that the complexes will permeate and/or remain in any planar or volumetric segment of a water column for a period of time that is sufficient to effectively treat a population of aquatic organisms.

Abstract: This invention provides improved electroporation methods for transferring nucleic acids of interest into host cells, wherein the host cells are (1) suspended in a substantially non-ionic solution comprising at least one sugar or sugar derivative, (2) mixed with the nucleic acids of interest, and (3) electrically treated. Also, this invention provides for kits used in the method for transferring nucleic acids into host cells.

Abstract: In an automatic wire cutting and terminating apparatus having a clamping mechanism (60) that grasps a wire (W) when it is returned from a terminal crimper to a cutting and stripping unit, the clamping mechanism (60) is formed by a first support (63), and upper clamp (64) provided on the first support (63), a second support (65) provided so as to be slidable up and down with respect to the first support (63), a lower clamp (66) provided on the second support (65), and drive source (69) having a cam follower (67) that engages with cams (63c) and (65c) provided on each of the supports (63) and (65), wherein movement of the cam follower (67) by the drive source (69) causes the upper and lower clamps (64) and (66), via the supports (63) and (65) and the cams (63c), to move together or apart.

Abstract: A display framework collapsing from an inverted V-shaped display framework to a compact configuration includes rods, hubs, and a fastening mechanism. Each rod pivotally joins to another rod by a scissors-type connection intermediate the rod ends. In addition, the end portion of each rod pivotally joins to a hub, where each hub may receive a plurality of rods. As configured, each rod enjoys pivotal movement in relation to the hub along a single axis of revolution. The rods rotate about this single axis of revolution from the collapsed compact configuration, where the rods are substantially parallel to one another, to the erect inverted V-shaped configuration, where the rods radiate outwardly from one another and the display framework includes a front face, a rear face, and a top. In this erect configuration, the display framework provides display surfaces on both the front and rear faces.

Abstract: An apparatus which permits simultaneous use as reaction vessel for taking up one or more reaction liquids, for incubating and storing these liquids and for carrying out optical measurements is described. The apparatus performs functions of the reaction vessel and functions of the apparatus for liquid uptake. This makes it possible for analysis to be completely free of carryover while, at the same time, requiring minimal use of consumable materials or rinsing solutions.

Abstract: Compositions for the oxidation dyeing of keratin fibers, comprising, as oxidation base, at least one para-aminophenol, of formula (I) and/or at least one acid-addition salt thereof: in which: R1 represents a hydrogen atom, a linear or branched C1-C4 alkyl radical or a C1-C4 trifluoroalkyl radical, R2 and R3 independently represent a hydrogen atom, a C1-C4 alkyl radical or a C1-C4 monohydroxyalkyl radical, and X, Y and Z independently represent a carbon, nitrogen, oxygen or sulphur atom, wherein the bonds XY and YZ are single or double bonds; a dyeing process using these compositions, novel para-aminophenols and a process for their preparation.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electronic parts loading device comprising a head unit on which a operating means, such as a loading mechanism for loading electronic parts on a printed circuit board or an adhesive spread mechanism for spreading adhesive on a place of the printed circuit board where the electronic parts are to be mounted, is mounted; driving means for moving the operating means toward or away from the printed circuit board; measuring means for measuring a distance from the head unit to a loading place of the printed circuit board, the measuring means being mounted on the head unit; and control means for optimally controlling the movement of the operating means in response to data measured by the measuring means whenever the operating means performs a working.

Abstract: A vending machine operating system architecture connects vending machine peripherals of different communication standards to a main vending machine controller. One way to connect the two disparate buses is to use a UART device for each. An even more cost effective approach is to use a communications coprocessor (which is at least equivalent to a UART device) to which each of the two disparate buses is selectively connected by a multiplexer under the control of the main vending machine controller.

Abstract: A method is proposed for the production of high-strength low-expansion cast iron enabled to acquire improved strength, hardness, and cutting workability while retaining the property of low expansion intact. The product is a low-expansion cast iron having a high nickel content and exhibiting a coefficient of thermal expansion of not more than 8.times.10.sup.-6 /.degree. C. at temperatures in the range of from room temperature to 100.degree. C. By causing a carbide to be finely precipitated in an area ratio in the range of from 0.3% to 20% in the metal structure of the cast iron and lowering the C content in the cast iron, there is produced a high-strength low-expansion cast iron. The deposition of the carbide mentioned above is accomplished by incorporating in the material for cast iron at least one element selected from the group consisting of the transition metal elements of IVa, Va, and VIa Groups in the Periodic Table of the Elements.

Abstract: A system for determining a position of a probe relative to an object such as a head of a body of a patient. The head includes a surface such as a forehead having a contour. Cross sectional images of the head are scanned and stored as a function of the forehead contour. If the forehead contour does not appear in the scan images, then the position of the forehead contour relative to the scan images is determined with an optical scanner and a ring. During surgery, the optical scanner also determines the position of the forehead relative to the ring. An array for receiving radiation emitted from the probe and from the ring generates signals indicating the position of the tip of the probe relative to the ring. A stereotactic imaging system generates and displays an image of the head corresponding to the measured position of the tip of the probe. The system may also display scan images from different scanning technologies which scan images correspond to the same position in the head.

Abstract: In the method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, according to the present invention, first, a dummy gate electrode consisting of a semiconductor layer and a non-metal cap layer formed on the semiconductor layer, is formed above a substrate. Then, diffusion layers are formed respectively on both sides of the dummy gate electrode. The dummy gate is used as a mask here, and thus the diffusion layers are self-aligned respectively with both sides of the dummy gate electrode. The formation of these diffusion layers requires a high-temperature heat treatment, however since the cap layer is made of a non-metal material, it is not melted down even in the high-temperature heat treatment. Next, the cap layer formed on the semiconductor layer is removed, and a gate groove made by the removal is filled with metal. Thus, a metal gate electrode made of a semiconductor layer and a metal layer is completed.

Abstract: Alumina particles having high dispersibility and plasticity, at least on the surface of which a phosphoric acid or phosphate is present and suitable for use as a material for pigments for paints, precision abrasives or ceramics. The alumina particles are produced by adding a crystallization inhibitor containing at least phosphate ion to aluminum hydroxide or alumina hydrate and then conducting a hydrothermal synthesis treatment. The amount of the phosphate ion to be added is in the range of 3.0.times.10.sup.-3 to 2.5.times.10.sup.-2 mol per mol of aluminum hydroxide or alumina hydrate. The particle size of aluminum hydroxide or alumina hydrate is 0.1 to 5.0 .mu.m. The hydrothermal synthesis is preferably conducted at 350.degree. C. or above under a pressure of 50 to 200 atm and at a temperature elevation rate of 50.degree. C./min to 0.3.degree. C./min. The thus obtained alumina is .alpha.-alumina in the form of hexagonal plate single crystal having a particle size of 0.2 to 15 .mu.

Abstract: An electric vehicle whose wheels are powered by a d.c. power supply includes a combination of a rechargeable high-energy battery and a rechargeable high-power battery or to a hybrid electric vehicle whose wheels are powered by the d.c. power supply and an internal combustion engine. The d.c. power supply is formed by connecting a d.c. circuit which comprises a rechargeable high-power battery and a current-stiff two-quadrant chopper in parallel with the rechargeable high-power battery. When an current of the rechargeable high-power battery is increased to a value which is greater than a specified value, the chopper is activated to charge or discharge the rechargeable high-power battery, thereby reducing an current of the rechargeable high-power battery to a value which is smaller than the specified value.

Abstract: An outer surface of an object 23 is irradiated with visible light from a light source 21, and the reflected light is acquired by a TV camera 24. A two-dimensional image with gradation is Fourier transformed by an image analyzer 20. The brightness and darkness of the image are bipolarized using an emphasis coefficient in a predetermined wavelength range in the process of Fourier transform. The bright regions and dark regions forming closed regions are calculated separately as regions representing gloss irregularity or printing unevenness, thereby outputting a statistical parameter of the areas as a measured result.

Abstract: According to the invention, there are provided a novel process for preparing an anti-scaling coating on the walls of a polymerization vessel by using aromatic compounds reacted with sodium hydroxymethanesulphinate, and an anti-scaling coating obtained by this novel process.

Abstract: A work flow system is disclosed which, when a work effort is divided into multiple work points for execution in each of domains (sections or departments in enterprises, government offices, or the like), permits easy work allocation to work points in another domain. Each domain has a public flow management section for storing a public flow which consists of its own work points which is made open to another domain and, when detecting a public flow consisting of work points that belong to another domain in a flow indicating work originating in it, sends identification information for that public flow to that domain. Upon receipt of identification information for a public flow consisting of work points that belong to it from another domain, each domain carries out the public flow.

Abstract: A microscope objective lens has a modulator. The modulator can be rotated with respect to the objective lens to compensate for a change in orientation of the objective lens. This is achieved by providing various means on the objective lens for transmitting torque to the modulator, thereby rotating it.