Abstract: Pharmaceutical compositions and processes for their preparation containing R-&agr;-lipoic acid or S-&agr;-lipoic acid or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. The pharmaceutical compositions have a cytoprotective activity and are suitable for combatting pain and inflammation.

Abstract: The invention provides an objective system for use on a single objective type binocular stereomicroscope which, albeit having a parfocal length thereof shorter than a focal length thereof, can reduce various aberrations as much as possible, and a single objective type binocular stereomicroscope system which can be well manipulated while the viewing position is invariable even when objective lenses are interchanged. The objective system for use on a single objective type binocular stereomicroscope comprises an objective lens for converting light from an object into an afocal light flux and two viewing optical units for receiving light emanating from the objective lens to form left and right images, which satisfies condition: 1.0<FL/L<1.6 where FL is a focal length of the objective system, and L is a distance from a first lens surface of the objective system on an image point side to a sample surface.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display apparatus having a plurality of pixel cells is disclosed, each of which comprising a scanning line and a signal line disposed on an insulation substrate in such a manner that the scanning line intersects with the signal line, a switching device disposed at the intersection of the scanning line and the signal line, a display pixel electrode electrically connected to the switching device, an opposite electrode disposed opposite to the display pixel electrode through a liquid crystal layer, and an auxiliary capacitor line disposed in a space between two adjacent display pixel electrodes in parallel with the scanning line and capacitively coupled with the display pixel electrode so as to form an auxiliary capacitor, wherein the scanning line overlaps with the display pixel electrode.

Abstract: A binder vehicle composition which is suitable for coating media, containing: A) 20 to 77% by weight of one or more binder vehicles based on oligomeric or polymeric polyol compounds with a hydroxyl number of 80 to 300, an acid number of 0 to 30, a number average molecular weight (Mn) of 500 to 10,000, and a glass transition temperature of −20 to +70° C.; B) 77 to 20% by weight of crosslinking agents based on aliphatic and/or cycloaliphatic polyisocyanates; C) 3 to 20% by weight of oligo- or polyesters, which contain carboxyl groups, as catalyst resins, which have an acid number of 210 to 300 mg KOH/g and a number average molecular weight (Mn) of 420 to 3000; and one or more organic solvents and/or water.

Abstract: Devices and techniques for hybridization of nucleic acids and for determining the sequence of nucleic acids. Arrays of nucleic acids are formed by techniques, preferably high resolution, light-directed techniques. Positions of hybridization of a target nucleic acid are determined by, e.g., epifluorescence microscopy. Devices and techniques are proposed to determine the sequence of a target nucleic acid more efficiently and more quickly through such synthesis and detection techniques.

Abstract: In an engine-motor hybrid vehicle, vehicle drive regions are divided into a plurality of groups specified by a plurality of operation state variables. A learning variable set for each drive region is updated according to an amount of a power state of an engine, when the vehicle is in a steady state running. The learning variable indicates a change in the power state amount with age. When an engine power demand value is determined, it is corrected by using the learning variable of a selected drive region to calculate a corrected engine power demand value compensating a change in the engine with age. In this manner, the engine power is controlled.

Abstract: One electrode is provided in association with the object to be coated, the other electrode. A pre-stretched ion-exchange membrane in a thin tubular form is sandwiched inbetween two nonconductive water permeable screen tubular housings. The assembly contains a supply line that provides a water way for the electrolyte to flow from the top of the device into a lower cap, then to the lower cap reservoir that allows stabilization and disbursement of electrolyte through the rifled housing Inertia developed through this defined pattern creates a swirling action that scrubs the impurities away from the anode, and to the top of the device to be carried out top. The location of the supply line is just inside the inner screen inserted through both the upper housing and lower cap. The tubular electrode is provided to the inside of membrane housing completing the inner portion of the waterway return chamber.

Abstract: The thermistor element of the present invention is composed of a mixed sintered body aM1M2O3.bY2O3 of a composition M1M2O3 (wherein M1 is Y, and M2 is at least one element selected from the elements such as Cr, Mn, Ti, etc.) as a perovskite compound and Y2O3, wherein molar fractions a and b satisfy the relations 0.05≦a<1.0, 0<b≦0.95 and a+b=1. Another wide-range type thermistor element of the present invention is composed of a perovskite compound M1(M2M3)O3, wherein M1 is at least one element selected from the elements of the groups II and IIIA excluding La in the Periodic Table, and each of M2 and M3 is at least one element selected from the elements of the groups IIB, IIIB, IVA, VA, VIA, VIIA and VIII. a and b satisfy the relations a+b=1 and 0<b<0.1, where a is a molar fraction of M2 and b is a molar fraction of M3 in M1(M2M3)O3.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the one-stage resalting and purification of oligopeptides. Oligopeptides are often not formed directly as acetates when synthesised. Acetate salts of oligopeptides are however desirable as bulk-active material for medical and formulation reasons. Processes known from the prior art have hitherto involved two separate steps or pyridine-containing solvents. The resalting and purification can be combined in one step and the use of pyridine as solvent can be avoided, if the oligopeptide in the form of its chloride salt is purified with an acetate-containing solvent by liquid chromatography methods.

Abstract: cDNAs encoding mammalian AMP protein kinases, corresponding polypeptides and recombinant proteins together with antibodies thereto. Their uses including the study of gene expression and the characteristics of other proteins.

Abstract: The contact arrangement is a connector block for detachably fastening an electrical component, particularly an integrated circuit having a plurality of terminal contacts disposed in a ball grid array (BGA), in a column grid array (CGA), in a land grid array (LGA) or of the flip-chip type to a printed circuit board. In a support part, a number of contact pins are disposed in a grid in bores. The contact pins project from the bore on the side facing the printed circuit board and are surface-mounted together with contact areas of the printed circuit board. A free end region of each bore is intended for guiding the substantially dome-shaped terminal contacts. Between the end of a contact pin and a terminal contact there is a space bridged for establishing an electrical connection with a contact element, for example an axially compressible coil spring. By means of several holding-down elements disposed peripherally to the integrated circuit, the integrated circuit is pressed down upon the support part.

Abstract: The present invention aims to facilitate easy correction of the center axis of an obstacle detecting apparatus for a vehicle by calculating deflection of the center axis with respect to the vehicle. Each of most obstacles recognized as moving objects is a preceding vehicle 93, and when the subject vehicle 91 is moving straight, the preceding vehicle 93 is detected in a position straight ahead of the subject vehicle 91. If the optical axis 95 of the transmitting/receiving section 31 is oriented straight ahead of the subject vehicle 91, the preceding vehicle 93 will be detected on the optical axis 95. On the other hand, when the optical axis 95 deviates from the center axis of the vehicle, the preceding vehicle 93 is detected in a position deviated from the optical axis 95 by an angle &thgr; m. In this case, the value &thgr; of deflection of optical axis 95 is equal to −&thgr; m.

Abstract: There is disclosed a process for reducing oxidic slags or combustion residues above a metal bath. The metal bath is formed of an iron alloy containing metals nobler than iron and whose redox potential is adjusted such FeO is reduced to Fe not at all or only partially.

Abstract: A semiconductor device including a reduced surface field strength type LDMOS transistor which can prevent the breakdown of elements at channel formation portions when a reverse voltage is applied to its drain. A P well and an N well are formed in an N-type substrate to produce a double-well structure, with a source electrode being set to be equal in electric potential to the N-type substrate. The drift region of the N well has a dopant concentration to satisfy the so-called RESURF condition, which can provide a high breakdown voltage a low ON resistance. When a reverse voltage is applied to a drain electrode, a parasitic bipolar transistor comprising the N well, the P well and the N-type substrate develops to form a current-carrying path toward a substrate, so that the element breakdown at the channel formation portions is avoidable at the application of the reverse voltage.

Abstract: A laser trimming is favorably performed by a strengthened laser beam energy. A level difference portion having a taper portion that is oblique with respect to the thicknesswise direction of a semiconductor substrate is formed at a surface of a semiconductor substrate. An insulating film is formed thereon and has its surface made flat, and then the thin film element is formed thereon. Thereafter, laser trimming is performed with respect to the thin film resistor. As a result, a state of interference between incident laser beam and reflected laser beam reflected from the interface between the semiconductor substrate and the insulating film is varied to thereby enable the production of a zone where laser beam energy is strengthened and a zone where laser beam energy is weakened.

Abstract: A perfumed product containing an antibacterial agent and a perfume material is prepared. The perfumed product can contain triclosan as the antibacterial agent and a mixture of perfume materials such as Amberlyn Super PM 577, clover leaf, dihydro myrcenol, phenyl propyl alcohol and terpineol alpha.

Abstract: A multivalent antigen-binding protein comprises a first polypeptide comprising, in series, three or more variable domains of an antibody heavy chain and a second polypeptide comprising, in series, three of more variable domains of an antibody light chain, said first and second polypeptides being linked by association of the respective heavy chain and light chain variable domains, each associated variable domain pair forming an antigen binding site. Methods for their production and uses thereof, in particular for therapeutic and diagnostic applications, are disclosed.

Abstract: An image display apparatus which enables observation of a clear image at a wide field angle with substantially no reduction in the brightness of the observation image, and which is extremely small in size and light in weight. The image display apparatus has an image display device (7) and an ocular optical system (8) for projecting the image of the image display device (7) and leading the projected image to an observer's eyeball (1). The ocular optical system (8) has at least three optical surfaces, and a space formed by these surfaces is filled with a medium having a refractive index larger than 1. The three optical surfaces are defined as a first surface (3), a second surface (4), and a third surface (5), respectively, in the order in which light rays pass in backward ray tracing from the observer's eyeball (1) to the image display device (7).

Abstract: The compounds of the present invention inhibit the HMG-CoA reductase, and subsequently suppress the biosynthesis of cholesterol. And they are useful in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia, hyperlipoproteinemia, and atherosclerosis.