Abstract: The invention relates to the use of a spin trap employed as an electron paramagnetic resonance measurement probe, in a cosmetic or dermatological composition for the light-protective, anti-ageing and/or anti-acne treatment of the skin. In particular, this spin trap is encapsulated in lipid vesicles which are capable of diffusing into the deep layers of the skin.

Abstract: The present invention provides a combined system for activating a fuel cell with hydrogen absorbed and stored in a hydrogen-storage alloy to drive an electric vehicle and for conditioning the air with the hydrogen absorbed and stored in the hydrogen-storage alloy. The combined system of the invention sucks hydrogen out of the hydrogen-storage alloy by a compressor. The combined system of the invention cools the air with a cooling power generated in discharge of hydrogen from the hydrogen-storage alloy and heats the air with a heat generated in absorption of hydrogen into the hydrogen-storage alloy. The combined system preferably includes a heat storage tank disposed in a conduit of a heating medium for storing an excess of a cooling power caused by a variation in an amount of hydrogen required for the fuel cell. Alternatively, the combined system has a secondary battery which is charged with an excess power of the fuel cell and discharges to make up for a deficient power of the fuel cell.

Abstract: A hose fitting assembly which includes a relatively rigid tubular element, an outer sleeve or element defining with a tail of the element an annular chamber for receiving an end part of the hose, a thrust mechanism for compressing the hose axially into contact with the tail, a mechanism locking the outer sleeve to the inner element and a thrust member for completing the fastening.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electrophotographic toner free of metal such as chromium. A novel electrostatic image developing toner is provided, comprising as a charge-controlling agent one or more selected from the group consisting of compounds represented by formulae (I) and (II): ##STR1## wherein A, B and R are as defined in the specification.

Abstract: An agent for preserving freshness of cut flowers, which contains, as an active ingredient, at least one water-soluble polymer selected from the group consisting of:i) a polycondensation product obtained by a reaction of (a) at least one compound selected from the group consisting of an epihalohydrin, an alkylene dihalide, a diepoxide and a dihalogenoalkyl ether, with (b) at least one compound selected from the group consisting of an amine, a diamine and a polyamine,ii) an alkyleneimine polymer, andiii) a mixture of the polymers i) and ii).

Abstract: In a computer system, when an expansion unit is connected to a computer main body by an interface card, power supply control and I/O port selection are performed at the start of the computer system. In the power supply control, when an expansion power supply of the expansion unit is turned on, a first voltage is supplied to a main power supply of the computer main body. When the main power supply is turned on, main voltages are supplied to computer main body elements from the main power supply in response to the main voltage, and a second voltage is supplied to the expansion power supply through the interface. In response to the second voltage, expansion voltages is supplied to expansion unit elements, and an interface voltage is supplied to the interface. After the power supply control is completed, the I/O port selection is performed. The port addresses of the I/O ports in the computer main body are compared with the port addresses of the I/O ports in the expansion unit.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus for fixing image on a recording sheet or film comprises a fixing roller having a surface comprising a fluororesin and contacting with a toner, a heating means for heating said fixing roller, a rotating pressing roller urged against said fixing roller, and means for applying a releasing agent to the surface of said fixing roller, characterized in that said releasing agent comprises a fluorosilicone represented by the following formula (I): ##STR1## wherein a, b, c, d, e and f independently denote an integer of 0 to 3, l and m are an integer of 0 to 3 with a proviso that 1.ltoreq.1+m.ltoreq.6, and n is an integer of 1 or more.

Abstract: A radiation sensitive resin composition which comprises (A) a polymer which becomes alkali-soluble in the presence of an acid and (B) a radiation sensitive acid generator which generates an acid upon irradiation with a radiation, said polymer (A) comprising two recurring units represented by the general formulas (1) and (2) and a recurring unit which acts to reduce the solubility of the polymer in an alkali developer after the irradiation: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group and R.sup.2 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group. Said composition provides a chemically amplified positive resist which can give a fine pattern with a good pattern shape, and said resist is freed from volume shrinkage, peeling failure and adhesive failure, is excellent in dry etching resistance and effectively reacts with various radiations to give a good pattern shape which is excellent in photolithographic process stability, said pattern shape having no thinned portion at the upper part.

Abstract: An apparatus including a slip control device for controlling an amount of slip of a lock-up clutch disposed between pump and turbine impellers in a power transmission system of a motor vehicle, a slip-parameter monitoring device for detecting the actual slip speed of the lock-up clutch or a control error between actual and target slip speeds of the lock-up clutch, a summing device for obtaining a sum of values of the actual slip speed or control error detected by the slip-parameter monitoring device for a predetermined period of time, and a defect detecting device for determining the presence or absence of a defect in slip control of the lock-up clutch by the slip control device, on the basis of the sum as compared with a predetermined reference.

Abstract: Method of forming a single crystal of ZnSe. A charge of material is loaded in a container. The charge of material is melted to create a melt of material. A single crystal is grown from the melt of material. Then, the grown crystal is brought out of contact with the wall surface of the container. The temperature of the crystal is varied across its phase transition temperature range while establishing a temperature gradient from one end of the grown crystal to the other end. This method is carried out, using a crystal grower comprising the container and an elevation member. The container is disposed inside a high-pressure vessel. The container tapers off downward and is provided with a hole extending from its lower end. The elevation member is inserted into the hole from below to push the grown crystal in a crucible upward. The container is composed of plural separable parts.

Abstract: A polyurethane composition suitable for producing leather-like sheets having a soft hand and excellent durability and being dyeable with acid dyes comprising a mixture of:a first polyurethane (a) obtained by reacting:an intermediate product diol (D) with both ends thereof substantially being OH and obtained by reacting a tertiary amino group-containing diol (A), a polymer diol (B) having a number average molecular weight of 500 to 3,000 selected from the group consisting of polyesters, polycarbonates, polylactones and polyethers and an organic diisocyanate (C1), in such stoichiometric amounts as to make the molar ratio of NCO/OH 0.5 to 0.

Abstract: A print pattern is formed on a glass plate 1 by using a screen plate in which a second ink-permeable region 7 having a lower ink-permeating rate than a first ink-permeable region 4 is formed in a screen region which corresponds to a space between the flat edge portion of the first ink-permeable region 4 and the outer end portion of the glass plate 1, whereby the formation of a locally raised portion in the film formed by printing at its end portion is avoided, and a decorative print is formed by a simple method without leaving a space in a flat end portion of the glass plate.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium having a magnetic thin film, wherein crystal grains constituting the magnetic thin film are separated by a crystal boundary region containing a non-ferromagnetic and non-metallic phase. The magnetic recording medium of the present invention provides a high coercivity and a remarkably reduced media noise property, and a high productivity in the mass production thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to the welding of cast-iron castings.The process for the fusion welding of spheroidal-graphite cast-iron castings comprises the following steps:a) a preheat at a temperature of between 230.degree. and 300.degree. C. is carried out before buttering the zone of the casting to be welded;b) a heat treatment at a temperature of between 800.degree. and 920.degree. C. is applied to the buttering for a suitable period and .then a cooling cycle is carried out;c) again, a preheat of the buttering is carried out at a temperature of between 130.degree. and 200.degree. C. and followed by a finish weld.Application to the repair of cast-iron castings and to the joining of cast-iron castings together or to steel castings.

Abstract: A ratio tW/pL of a track width tW to a width pL of an end face, in a traveling direction, of a main pole which performs recording or reproduction on or from the magnetic recording layer of a medium, and a saturation magnetic flux density Bs. (T: tesla) of a magnetic material constituting the main pole satisfy:(A.sub.1 .times.Bs+B.sub.1).sup.2 +C.sub.1 .ltoreq.tW/pL.ltoreq.(A.sub.2 .times.Bs+B.sub.2).sup.2 +C.sub.2for A.sub.1 =4.3.times..delta.+0.4, B.sub.1 =-16.2.times..delta.-0.3, C.sub.1 =2.2.times..delta.+0.3, A.sub.2 =378.times..delta..sup.2 -66.times..delta.+4.2, B.sub.2 =264.times..delta..sup.2 -43.times..delta.+2.1, and C.sub.2 =9.times..delta.-2.5 where .delta. (.mu.m) is a distance from the end face of the main pole to the soft magnetic under layer.

Abstract: A new class of stable dioxetanes bears a polycyclic stabilizing group and aryloxy moiety, the oxygen atom of which is provided with a protective group which can be removed by an enzymatic or chemical trigger admixed with the dioxetane. The polycyclic stabilizing group is preferably spiroadamantane. The group further bears an alkoxy, aryloxy, aralkyloxy or cycloalkyloxymoiety which is partially or completely substituted with halogens, particularly fluorine and chlorine. Proper selection of electron active groups on the stabilizing moiety, the aryl group and the OR group yields enhanced enzyme kinetics, superior light intensity and excellent detection sensitivity in various assays.

Abstract: A method of producing a bis(2-carboxyethyl)-alkyl phosphine oxide represented by the following general formula (1) is disclosed. ##STR1## The method comprises the following Steps 1-4: step 1 wherein phosphine is reacted with acrylonitrile to produce bis(2-cyanoethyl)phosphine and then, in step 2, reacted with an alkene to produce a bis(2-cyanoethyl)alkyl phosphine, and in step 3, reacted with an oxidizing agent to produce a bis(2-cyanoethyl)alkyl phosphine oxide, and in step 4, said bis(2-cyanoethyl)alkyl phosphine oxide is reacted with water or a lower alcohol to give a bis(2-carboxyethyl)alkyl phosphine oxide or a derivative thereof.

Abstract: A memory including a semiconductor substrate, an array of memory cells mutually electrically insulated by side insulators, wherein each memory cell includes a gate stack consisting of a gate insulator, a floating gate and a control gate separated by an electrical insulator between the gates, said gate insulator being arranged between the floating gate and the substrate, a source and a drain formed in the substrate on either side of said stack and outside the side insulators, an erasing gate located above the source in partial overlap with the stack, and electrically insulated from the source and said stack by a thin insulator, as well as conductive strips for applying electrical signals to the gate stacks, erasing gates, sources and drains.

Abstract: A method for the quantitative determination of oil in a soil matrix is provided, in which the method involves: extracting a soil sample with a solvent in the presence of a drying agent to provide an extract containing oil, if present in the soil sample, wherein the solvent is capable of complete solvation of oil and is completely miscible with water; filtering the extract; combining the filtered extract with water in the presence of an emulsifier to form an assay sample; and determining the amount of oil in the soil sample by measuring the turbidity of the assay sample to provide a turbidimetric response for the assay sample which correlates to concentration of oil present in the assay sample and comparing the turbidimetric response to a standard curve prepared from performing the methods on soil samples of known oil content. A kit for performing the method is also provided.

Abstract: A fixed installation is placed close to at least one aircraft parking area. The installation includes a pipe connected to the system. Said pipe is routed into a fixed base erected on the ground and then into an articulated structure. Its extremity for connection to the aircraft is mounted on a pod vertically mobile at the extremity of the articulated structure. The chassis rests on the ground by means of orientable driving wheels whose drive controls the deployment and folding of the structure. When deployed, this structure forms a bridge permitting the passage of vehicles.