Abstract: A method for determining the passivating properties of a mixture containing cement and water. Taking three elements that are referred to as first-third electrodes. Fixing at least one electrode on a support such that the electrodes are electrically insulated reciprocally and the mixture is able to come in contact with a face on each electrode. Applying between the first and third electrodes a direct current, referred to as first direct current, of predetermined intensity value and predetermined polarity, resulting in electrolytic reactions on the third electrode for a first duration, and then measuring voltage between the second and third electrodes. Storing the measurement for the variation of said voltage, comparing the variations in the voltage with predetermined data defining at least whether or not a mixture has passivating properties, and determining at least whether or not the mixture has such passivating properties.

Abstract: A zoom lens system, in order from an object side to an image side, comprising a first lens unit having negative optical power, a second lens unit having positive optical power, and at least one subsequent lens unit having optical power, wherein in zooming from a wide-angle limit to a telephoto limit, the lens units are moved along an optical axis such that an air space between at least any two lens units among the lens units should vary, so that variable magnification is achieved, wherein the first lens unit includes a lens element having a reflecting surface for bending a light beam incident from the object, and wherein the condition is satisfied: 0.20<|fG1|/fT<0.52 (fT/fW?4.0, fG1 is a composite focal length of the first lens unit, and each of fT and fW is a focal length of the entire system at a telephoto limit or a wide-angle limit), an imaging device and a camera are provided.

Abstract: A vacuum processing apparatus transfers a wafer between a first transfer arm and a second transfer arm via a rotary stage; acquires position data of a peripheral portion of the wafer by using a line sensor while rotating the rotary stage sustaining the wafer before a vacuum process thereon; calculates a center position and a direction of the wafer based on the position data; controls a rotation of the rotary stage to adjust the direction of the wafer based on the calculation result; and controls the second transfer arm such that the second transfer arm conveys the wafer to a wafer mounting member inside a vacuum processing chamber while allowing a center of the wafer to be aligned to a center of the mounting member based on the calculation result.

Abstract: An electrolytic solution for an electrolytic capacitor includes a solvent and an electrolyte dissolved in the solvent. This electrolyte includes at least one of a carboxylic acid and a salt of the carboxylic acid. The carboxylic acid has a carboxyl group and at least one or more of substituents bonded to each terminal carbon of a straight main chain. The substituent bonded to the each terminal carbon of the main chain is hydrophilic, and/or a hydrophilic substituent is bonded to at least one of carbons other than the both terminal carbons of the main chain.

Abstract: A method and system for active noise cancellation is provided. The system employs subband processing, and preferably implements over-sampled filterbank. The system is applicable to adaptive noise cancellation, adaptive echo cancellation for portable listening devices, such as headsets and other similar listening devices.

Abstract: A data storage device including a stack of layers is provided. The stack of layers includes at least one memory layer able to effect a storage of data in a plurality of portions of the memory layer by a modification of at least one physico-chemical property of the material of the portions of the memory layer under the effect of an electric current passing through the portions of the memory layer. A plurality of photoconductive columns disposed in the stack of layers passes through each layer in this stack. Each of the portions of the memory layer surrounds one of the photoconductive columns.

Abstract: A building element (10) is formed from sheet material having opposite major surfaces (11, 12) that extend between longitudinal edges (13, 14). Margins of the sheet adjacent the longitudinal edges are turned out of a mid-plane of the sheet to form opposite profiled sections (15 and 16). The major surfaces (11, 12) of the building element have different surface characteristics, and one profiled section has one of the major surfaces as its outer surface, and the other profiled section has the other major surface as its outer surface.

Abstract: In a noise reduction apparatus for controlling noise up to a predetermined upper limited frequency, a distance from a noise source to control point X is made larger than a distance obtained by subtracting a one-half wavelength from a distance, obtained by adding up a distance from the noise source to a noise detecting microphone, a distance corresponding to time as a sum of respective delay time of the noise detecting microphone, a noise controller, and a control speaker, and a distance from the control speaker to control point X, where one wavelength is a period corresponding to the upper limited frequency.

Abstract: A challenge to be met by the present invention is to provide an electronic component mounting machine and an electronic component loading head in which the loading head has two rows of nozzle shafts and that can promote miniaturization of the machine by minimizing the loading head. In a loading head having two rows of nozzles (L1 and L2) including a plurality of nozzle shafts arranged in rows and at a predetermined nozzle arrangement pitch, a ? rotary drive mechanism that rotates the nozzle shafts around their axes is configured so as to include driven pulleys (28) coupled to the respective nozzle shafts; a plurality of idlers (30) interposed between the two rows of nozzles (L1 and L2); and endless drive belts (29A and 29B) that transmit rotation of the ?-axis motors (27A and 27B) to the driven pulleys (28).

Abstract: A process for surgical operations on a rectal/haemorrhoidal prolapse comprises stages of realising, in the anal canal, at least a first circular stitching at a first portion of a haemorrhoidal prolapse; realising at least a second circular stitching in a second portion of the haemorrhoidal prolapse, and nearing the first circular stitching and the second circular stitching in order to create a constriction of the haemorrhoidal prolapse. The invention also relates to a device, preferably for actuating the process, which comprises a hollow divaricator (17) having a prevalent development direction along a longitudinal axis (Z) and being insertable in a patient's anal orifice. The device further exhibits a window (29) defining an operational area and creating a communication between a cavity (17b) internal of the divaricator (17) and a portion of haemorrhoidal prolapse. The device further comprises means for opening and closing (31) the window (29).

Abstract: A valve provides automatic switchover from a plurality of fluid pressure sources to a common outlet. The valve includes first and second spools respectively in first and second spool chambers, and each spool includes at least one sealing member carried thereon for selective sealing engagement with said first and second spool chambers. Fluid passageways transfer spool controlled fluid pressures between the first and second spool chambers. Each of said first and second spools are resiliently biased towards an open position, and fluid-biased towards a closed position. In an open position, the first and second spools are adapted to deliver pressurized fluid from an associated inlet port to an end chamber of the opposite spool chamber. In a closed position, the first and second spools are adapted via the at least one sealing member to inhibit delivery of pressurized fluid. A manifold assembly provides fluid communication to the common outlet.

Abstract: It is an object of the preset invention to provide an activity measurement molecule necessary for measuring biological reactions or changes in in vivo conditions, and a method for measuring activity using the above activity measurement molecule. It is intended to provide an activity measurement molecule used for simultaneously analyzing multiple biological reactions and/or changes in in vivo conditions, which is characterized in that one or more fluorescent molecule-labeled and/or —unlabeled biomolecules used as targets of the biological reactions or changes in in vivo conditions bind onto a quantum dot, and a method for simultaneously analyzing multiple biological reactions and/or changes in in vivo conditions using the above activity measurement molecule.

Abstract: A sanitary washing apparatus includes: a washing nozzle; and a pressurizing device. The sanitary washing apparatus that performs first and second jetting processes alternately jetted with a prescribed waiting time there between. The pressurizing device makes minimum pressure of water in the second jetting process higher than minimum pressure of water in the first jetting process and makes maximum pressure of water in the second jetting process higher than maximum pressure of water in the first jetting process so that the second water mass is faster than the first water mass. The prescribed waiting time between the first and the second jetting processes is set so that before the first water mass impinges on the human body, the second water mass having faster velocity than the first water mass overtakes the first water mass to enlarge jetting water cross-sectional area of the first water mass.

Abstract: Provided is a pattern forming method for forming a pattern serving as a mask, which includes: a process for forming a first pattern 105 made of a photoresist; a process for forming a boundary layer 106 at sidewall portions and top portions of the first pattern 105; a process for forming a second mask material layer 107 to cover a surface of the boundary layer 106; a process for removing a part of the second mask material layer 107 to expose top portions of the boundary layer 106; a process for forming a second pattern made of the second mask material layer 107 by etching and removing the boundary layer 106; and a trimming process for reducing a width of the first pattern 105 and a width of the second pattern to predetermined widths.

Abstract: Systems and method provided herein involve a mechanism that allows users to have more input and influence in customizing their virtual characters' profile by developing their attributes. By developing and improving attributes of their characters, the social value of their characters can be increased within the virtual environment. Additional attributes that can be developed include, but are not limited to, strength, speed, agility, intelligence, creativity, style, streets-smart, safety-awareness, grooming, cooking, and manners. Jobs, tasks, classes, sessions, and the like, as well as competitions can be created that emphasize one or more attributes to facilitate encouraging users to have their characters learn, master, and test such new skills.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a photomask designing method is disclosed. The method includes dividing design pattern data into predetermined regions and obtaining a pattern perimeter for each of the divided regions. The method includes obtaining the pattern perimeter for an entire region of the design pattern data by repeating the obtaining the pattern perimeter for the each of the divided regions. The method includes obtaining a dimension conversion difference for the entire region of the design pattern data using the pattern perimeter for the entire region of the design pattern data and a correlation obtained in advance between a predicted pattern perimeter and a predicted dimension conversion difference. The method includes performing process proximity correction on the design pattern data using a value of the obtained dimension conversion difference, and creating exposure pattern data from the corrected design pattern data.