Abstract: Method for immobilizing nucleic acids by hybridizing the nucleic acid with a capture probe. The capture probe is protected against enzymatic extension and/or enzymatic degradation of the formed hybrid.

Abstract: A wet multi-plate clutch includes a clutch outer connected to an input member, a clutch inner relatively rotatably disposed within the clutch outer and connected to an output member, a plurality of first friction plates axially slidably spline-fitted to an inner peripheral wall of the clutch outer and accommodated within the clutch outer, a plurality of second friction plates axially slidably spline-fitted to an outer peripheral wall of the clutch inner and superposed one on another alternately with the first friction plates, and a clamping device capable of clamping groups of the first and second friction plates axially to bring adjacent ones of the first and second friction plates into friction engagement with each other. In this wet multi-plate clutch, stopper devices are mounted at opposite ends of a spline groove in the clutch outer for limiting the distance of sliding movement of spline teeth of the group of the first friction plates.

Abstract: A system and a semiconductor device for realizing such a system are disclosed. The system uses at least a semiconductor device for retrieving an input signal in synchronism with an internal clock generated from an external clock, the input signal remaining effectively in synchronism with the external clock. Even in the case where a phase difference develops between a clock and a signal at the receiving end, or even in the case where a phase difference develops between a clock input circuit and other signal input circuits in the semiconductor device at the receiving end, data can be transferred at high speed. Each input circuit of the semiconductor device at the receiving end includes an input timing adjusting circuit for adjusting the phase of the clock applied to the input circuit in such a manner that the input circuit retrieves the input signal in an effective and stable state.

Abstract: A flange portion formed on an inner periphery of a flywheel is fitted to an end of a crankshaft. A spline piece is fitted to an inner peripheral surface of the flywheel. The flange portion of the flywheel and a flange portion of the spline piece are commonly fastened to the end of the crankshaft by bolts. An upper end of a driving shaft is spline-fitted at a point into a driving shaft coupled portion of the spline piece which is accommodated in an internal hole in the crankshaft. Thus, in coaxially coupling the flywheel and the driving shaft to the end of the crankshaft, it is possible to make such a coupled area compact and to reduce vibration by an accurate centering thereof.

Abstract: A system for controlling motive force of a vehicle having an engine and a continuously variable automatic transmission connected to the engine to transmit engine torque to a drive shaft of the vehicle. In the system, a desired motive force is calculated or determined from the detected accelerator (pedal) position and vehicle speed, and based on the determined motive force a desired engine speed, more specifically a drive shaft speed of the transmission, is calculated or determined. Then inertia torque acting on the vehicle is calculated or determined based on at least the determined speed and detected speed, and a desired throttle opening is corrected by the determined inertia torque when the vehicle accelerates or decelerates. With the arrangement, the vehicle response delay due to the inertia torque is adjusted and hence, drivability and fuel economy performance are enhanced.

Abstract: Steel with ultrafine grains is produced by altering the transformation from one which normally proceeds with grain boundary nucleation followed by intragranular nucleation at deformation bands and other defects, to one which induces a substantially instantaneous transformation homogeneously over the austenite grain. This is favoured by a reduction or minimisation of grain boundary nucleation, (for example by enlargement of the austenite grain size), prior to or during the transformation. In an embodiment, a partially cooled austenite phase steel is deformed in a single pass at a temperature in the range of 700-950.degree. C. to obtain ferrite grain size of 5 .mu.m or less.

Abstract: A method for determining a nucleic acid A, comprising the formation of a complex, including two molecules capable of hybridizing to A and of participating in formation of a triplex structure with an additional nucleic acid or nucleic acid analogue is useful for sensitive and specific determination.

Abstract: Crystalline titania of which the crystal shape is a novel nanotube. This crystalline titania is produced by treating crystalline titania with an alkali. This crystalline titania is used as an ultraviolet absorber, a masking agent, an adsorbent and an optically active catalyst.

Abstract: A condensed-indan derivative represented by formula (1) and a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof: wherein ring A represents an optionally substituted benzene ring or naphthalene ring, or a benzene ring having a lower alkylenedioxy group, ring B represents an optionally substituted benzene ring or a benzene ring having a lower alkylenedioxy group. Y represents --N.dbd.CR-- or --CR.dbd.N--, R represents a --NR.sub.1 R.sub.2 group, an optionally substituted nitrogen-containing heterocyclic group or a --OR.sub.3 group, wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are the same or different and each is a hydrogen atom; a phenyl group; an optionally substituted nitrogen-containing heterocyclic group; or a lower alkyl group which may be substituted by at least one selected from the group consisting of an optionally substituted amino group, a lower alkoxy group, a phenyl group, a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic group, an amine oxide group substituted by a lower alkyl group or a hydroxyl group(s); R.sub.

Abstract: A navigation method and apparatus and a navigation program are provided for guiding a vehicle to a destination along a guide route. An off-route detection unit detects an off-route condition when the vehicle is displaced from the guide route and a guide route searching unit searches or determines, when the off-route detection unit detects an off-route condition, a route from a present position of the vehicle to the destination or return point on the guide route. The guide route determining or searching unit includes a weight factor determining unit for determining a weighting value to modify or scale a road parameter used in determining the guide route, a modifying unit for modifying the parameter based on the weighting value, and a calculating unit for calculating a route from the present position of the vehicle to the destination or the return point on the guide route, as a function of the modified parameter. A display is provided for displaying the guide route to the operator of the vehicle.

Abstract: An Internet information displaying apparatus comprising character signal generating means for generating a character signal and displaying it on the screen of the displaying means, and character signal generation controlling means for detecting the state of transmission and reception of digital data of the digital data transmitting and receiving means, and controlling the character signal generating means so as to generate a character signal to indicate the transmission or reception state. The state of transmission or reception of the digital data of the digital data transmitting and receiving means, in other words, the state of connection to the provider is displayed on the screen.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to new nucleoside monophosphate derivatives of lipid ester residues of general formula (I) ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 represents an optionally substituted alkyl chain having 1-20 carbon atoms;R.sup.2 represents hydrogen, an optionally substituted alkyl chain having 1-20 carbon atoms;R.sup.3, R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 represent hydrogen, hydroxy, azido, amino, cyano, or halogen;X represents a valence dash, oxygen, sulfur, a sulfinyl or sulfonyl group;Y represents a valence dash, an oxygen or sulfur atom;B represents a purine and/or pyrimidine base;with the proviso that at least one of the residues R.sup.3 or R.sup.5 is hydrogen;to their tautomers and their physiologically acceptable salts of inorganic and organic acids and/or bases, as well as to processes for their preparation, and to drugs containing said compounds.

Abstract: In nonvolatile semiconductor memory devices, during program write operations for example, writing is accomplished by changing the threshold condition until the output from a memory cell exceeds the read verify level. During read operations, it is determined whether a target memory cell has been programmed or not by sensing whether the output from the memory cell exceeds a prescribed read level. When the data retention capability of a memory cell declines, the threshold condition of the memory cell changes. If the output of the memory cell changes to a level at which the output does not exceed the read level, the wrong data is read out. In the present invention, a monitor level which differs from the read level is established, and in the event that the output from a memory cell changes such as to approach this monitor level, this fact is sensed in advance, thereby preventing readout of wrong data.

Abstract: Dispensing device for dispensing small quantities of fluid comprising a compressible balloon with an end-to-end capillary inserted within the walls of the balloon in such a way that the one end of the capillary communicates with the interior of the balloon and the other end of the capillary communicates with the exterior space. The balloon has at least one opening through which the interior space of the balloon communicates with the exterior space. The at least one opening has a flow resistance that is designed so that a fluid contained in the capillary is expelled when the balloon is compressed. The present invention also comprises a system and method for the metered dispensing of fluids.

Abstract: A printing apparatus having ink feeders for selectively feeding inks to a plurality of image areas on a plate or plates mounted on a plate cylinder. A plate cylinder supports, peripherally thereof, a single plate having a first and a second image areas. A plurality of cams are rotatable synchronously with the plate cylinder, and are arranged in positions laterally of the plate cylinder corresponding to the image areas. A plurality of ink rollers are arranged circumferentially of the plate cylinder for contacting a surface of the plate to feed ink to the image areas. A plurality of ink roller support arms rotatably support the ink rollers. An ink roller support arm swing mechanism includes cam followers for contacting the cams to swing the ink roller support arms successively, with rotation of the cams, between an ink feeding position in which the ink rollers contact the surface of the plate and a retracted position in which the ink rollers are separated from the surface of the plate.

Abstract: The method for exterminating plants pests comprises making an adjustment for causing the aqueous solution for exterminating pests to have the concentration within the range between the upper limit of being, by 0.4 mol/l, higher than the concentration of the said cell sap of plants and the lower limit of 0 concentration, and dipping the said plants in the said aqueous solution adjusted at the above concentration for a period of time required for exterminating pests.When the concentration of the said aqueous solution is adjusted within the ranged mentioned above, the pests gathering on the said plants may be suffocated to death without doing any harm to the plants dipped in the said aqueous solution.

Abstract: A photosensitive member which has an electrode provided on the front side and a photoconductive layer stacked on the electrode, the photosensitive member being disposed face-to-face with an electrostatic information recording medium that includes a charge retaining layer having an electrode provided on the rear side, either in or out of contact with each other, to carry out exposure with a voltage being applied between the two electrodes, thereby forming an electrostatic charge pattern on the electrostatic information recording medium in accordance with an exposure light pattern. The layer arrangements of the photosensitive member and the photoconductive layer as well as the method of forming the photoconductive layer are improved so that electrostatic information can be recorded on the electrostatic information recording medium with high sensitivity and it is also possible to improve the contrast ratio of the information charge at the exposed region to that at the unexposed region.

Abstract: A charge card is described which is made from a rubber or plastic laminate with precious metal forming the upper surface and preferably lower surface. The precious metal layers are adhered to the rubber material by means of a suitable adhesive formulation or the plastic materially a latex adhesive. The laminated card has uniquely flexible properties which render it suitable as a credit card.