Abstract: An endoscope system includes an endoscope having internal conduits, a cleaning solution supply portion formed in the endoscope and communicating with the internal conduits, and a solution feed unit for feeding a cleaning solution to the cleaning solution supply portion. The internal conduits are formed such that the cleaning solution supplied from the cleaning solution supply portion to the internal conduits by the solution feed unit flows in all the flow paths of the internal conduits at a flow speed almost equal to that in the cleaning solution supply portion.

Abstract: A cantilever has a probe on one surface of the free end and a reflection surface on the opposite surface thereof. A laser diode is located so as to emit a laser beam to the reflection surface at a predetermined angle. The cantilever is supported at a support member fixed to a cylindrical actuator for scanning the probe across the surface of a sample. Further, there is provided a photodiode having two portions for receiving the laser beam from the reflection surface of the cantilever to detect displacement of the probe on the basis of the incident position of the beam.

Abstract: In a stopwatch of this invention, when a lap switch is operated after time measurement is started, a lap time from the immediately preceding lap switch operation to the current lap switch operation is stored and compared with a measurement time after the current lap switch operation. Since an alarm tone is generated if the measurement time after the current lap switch operation coincides with the stored lap time, the immediately preceding lap time can be used as a target time of the time measurement. The stopwatch can be conveniently used when a running speed is increased or decreased in each lap in a track race or the like.

Abstract: An ID card material comprises a thermal transfer image-receiving layer, and provided thereon, a substrate layer and a writing layer in this order, the substrate layer comprising a biaxially oriented polyester film layer having a thickness of 300 to 500 .mu.m and a resin layer having a thickness of 30 to 500 .mu.m selected from the group consisting of a polyolefin layer, a polyvinyl chloride type resin film layer and an ABS resin film layer.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a Pb-based Cu oxide superconductor. The method includes the steps of mixing powders of a raw material containing at least Pb, Sr, Ce, M, where M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Y, La, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Yb, and Lu, and Cu in a proportion to have the composition of the formula (I),Pb.sub.a (M.sub.1-x-y Ce.sub.x Sr.sub.y).sub.4 Cu.sub.3-a O.sub.z(I)where M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Y, La, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Yb, and Lu, and a, x, y, and z denote the numbers which satisfy 0.3.ltoreq.a.ltoreq.0.7, 0<x.ltoreq.0.25, 0.3.ltoreq.y<0.5, 8.5.ltoreq.z.ltoreq.9.5, respectively, forming the mixed powder into a shaped body, and firing the shaped body at a temperature of 900.degree. to 1150.degree. C. in an oxidizing atmosphere.

Abstract: Trans-4-hydroxy-L-proline is produced microbially, especially by the cultivation of a microorganism of the genus Clonostachys, Gliocladium or Nectria.

Abstract: A fracture resistant stainless steel sheet comprises: non-metallic inclusions of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, MnO, and SiO.sub.2 which inevitably exist in stainless steel; the non-metallic inclusions having a composition situated in a region defined by nine points in a phase diagram of a 3-component system of "Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 -MnO-SiO.sub.2 "; the stainless steel sheet having an 1.0% on-set stress of at least 1520 N/mm.sup.2 (155 kgf/mm.sup.2); the stainless steel sheet having an anisotropic difference of 1.0% on-set stress of 196 N/mm.sup.2 (20 kgf/mm.sup.2) or less; and the stainless steel sheet having a punch test work load of at least 25 kgf.multidot.mm or more.A method for producing a high fracture resistant stainless steel sheet comprises the steps of: preparing a stainless steel strip; applying to the stainless steel strip a process of annealing--pickling --first cold rolling (CR.sub.1)--first intermediate annealing--second cold rolling (CR.sub.2)--second intermediate annealing--third cold rolling (CR.sub.

Abstract: Sound information is binarized by delta modulation or adaptive delta modulation. The resulting data is subjected to pulse wide modulation and the resulting data is delivered to a reproducing device, which detects a leading edge of a received signal pulse to produce a self operation timing clock to thereby reproduce a sound. When the reproducing device detects the absence of edges for a predetermined interval after the edge detection, it turns off a power source for an analog circuit to suppress power consumption.

Abstract: Compounds of formula (I): ##STR1## [wherein: A-- B is .dbd.C.dbd.CH--or a nitrogen atom; R.sup.1 is hydrogen, alkyl, aryl or aralkyl; and Z is alkylene] and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof are useful in the treatment and prevention of allergies and asthma.

Abstract: In an electronic timepiece having a signal receiving function, the present time at a place where a user is located can be displayed without designating a regional name. The quasi-distance data between the satellites and the signal receiving point is calculated based upon the delay times of the signals transmitted from the satellites. The positional information about the signal receiving point is obtained from four quasi-distance data. Subsequently, this positional information is compared with the longitude/latitude data previously stored in ROM, to search a city located nearest this signal receiving point. Furthermore, a judgement is made whether or not the city located nearest the present receiving point is coincident with the city located nearest the preceding receiving point. If these cities are coincident with each other, then the present time of the city stored in the time counting register is directly displayed.

Abstract: A telephone answering device that is activated by a proximity sensor when a user crosses its field of detection and whose operation is controlled by simple voice commands. The device incorporates speaker-independent voice recognition circuitry to respond to spoken commands of the user that are elicited by a system generated voice request menu. The telephone answering device performs all the basic functions of a telephone answering machine in response to these simple commands and there is no need for the user to manually operate the telephone answering device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel antibacterial compound obtainable from the genus Alteromonas and which shares structural similarity with the pseudomonic acids.

Abstract: A data service company comprises an integrated database (DB) in which various business data dispersively kept in each part in an apparel industry including plan, manufacture, and sales relating to a dress as a product and textile raw material as material is integrated and a host computer (integrated database management system) including a computer hardware and a software for retrieving data from the integrated DB in accordance with data service to be provided and for outputting data. There is formed a data service network in which the integrated DB of the data service company is provided as the nucleus, and a plurality of sales companies, that of apparel manufacturers, that of sewing companies and that of textile companies are connected to each other.

Abstract: A vacuum clamp plate is built up from a plurality of clamp plate sections (1, 2), as building blocks. Hexagonal and pentagonal base patterns are provided in the buildingblock structure and on its top, each clamp plate section has a groove grid (18 ). The clamp plate sections (1, 2 ) are connected to each other by coupling elements that also serve to carry the vacuum.

Abstract: A taste-modification composition comprises adding one or more selected from the group consisting of salt, carbohydrate, organic acid, amino acid and protein to fresh Curculigo latifolia fruits, processed fruits there of or a curculin-containing material obtained therefrom.

Abstract: Deep drawability and aging resistibility as required are imparted to cold rolled steel sheet by controlling the amount of C, starting temperatures of rapid cooling and cooling rate in a proposed continuous annealing process.

Abstract: Compounds of formula (Ic): ##STR1## having valuable platelet-aggregation inhibitory activities useful for the prophylaxis and treatment of such diseases as thrombosis and pharmaceutical compositions containing said compounds.

Abstract: Compounds having a 16-membered macrolide ring, and related to the milbemycins and avermectins, with substituents at positions 5.13, 25 and optionally also 23, have acaricidal, insecticidal and anthelmintic properties. They are useful for treating various pests in plants and animals.

Abstract: A cover slip for use in a microscope, which is employed for a water-immersed objective lens, is made of a transparent material with a refractive index, the difference between the refractive index of the transparent material and that of water being 0.02 or less.