Abstract: A novel fall protection apparatus is described wherein a worker can climb a pole, while maneuvering about the pole as he climbs. This structure enables the worker to both ascend and descend, but be protected upon an accidental fall from the pole. In particular, the arrangement prevents the worker from falling more than a couple of feet, and at the same time holds the worker away from the pole by an amount sufficient to prevent injuries caused by banging into the pole. This structure is especially beneficial in training new workers to climb poles for work, as well as requalifying previously trained workers.

Abstract: An aromatic carboxylic acid, aromatic aldehyde, and aromatic alcohol are simultaneously and efficiently prepared by liquid phase oxidizing an aromatic compound represented by formula (I) with a gas containing molecular oxygen, in a presence of a catalyst comprising transition metal compound, tertiary amine and bromide compound:

Abstract: The present invention intends to provide an iron-based powder composition for powder metallurgy having excellent flowability at room temperature and a warm compaction temperature, having improved compactibility enabling lowering ejection force in compaction, to provide a process for producing the iron-based powder composition, and to provide a process for producing a compact of a high density from the iron-based powder composition. The iron-based powder composition comprises an iron-based powder, a lubricant, and an alloying powder, and at least one of the iron-based powder, the lubricant, and the alloying powder is coated with at least one surface treatment agent selected from the group of surface treatment agents of organoalkoxysilanes, organosilazanes, titanate coupling agents, fluorine-containing silicon silane coupling agents.

Abstract: A valved device is provided for controlling flow into or out from a surgical patient. It includes a body defining a flow passageway and a valve connected to the body in flow communication with the body's passageway. The valve includes a barrel and a piston extending into the barrel. Means is provided for displacing the piston within the barrel along the barrel's axis to open a flow path that is preferably adapted for liquid suction. Means is also provided for rotating the piston within the barrel around the barrel's axis to open a flow path that is preferably adapted for smoke or gas evacuation.

Abstract: A method for isomerizing a halogenated ethylbenzene characterized by bringing the same into contact with an acidic zeolite containing at least one metal selected among metals of Groups 7 to 11; and a method of efficiently isolating a m-halogenated ethylbenzene from a mixture of halogenated ethylbenzene isomers by adsorption using a specific zeolite X or Y as the adsorbent. The isomerization method enables a halogenated ethylbenzene to be efficiently isomerized with the zeolite catalyst. The separation method enables m-chloroethylbenzene to be efficiently separated from a mixture of chloroethylbenzene isomers by using a specific zeolite as the adsorbent.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for refining silicon by treatment in a graphite vessel with irradiation with an electron beam while removing impurity elements by evaporation. A single graphite vessel is used, or plural graphite vessels are arranged in sequence. During treatment in successive graphite vessels, molten silicon is poured in succession from one vessel to another. Use of graphite vessels improves heat efficiency, prevents contamination and produces refined silicon containing very low contents of impurities.

Abstract: Canine interleukin 12 and a method for producing it by genetic engineering are disclosed. The canine interleukin 12 includes a protein having an amino acid sequence substantially the same as SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:11 or corresponds to part of either of SEQ ID NOS:1 and 11, and a protein having an amino acid sequence substantially the same as SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:12 or corresponds to part of either of SEQ ID NOS:2 and 12, and relates to a production method thereof. There is also an immune disease remedy and preventive agent for dogs and cats containing canine interleukin 12, and a method of treating immune disease and a preventive method for dogs and cats using the immune disease remedy or preventive agent.

Abstract: A box annealing furnace for annealing a metal sheet includes an oxygen removal unit for removing oxygen from the atmosphere in a box annealing furnace, with a gas circulation system for withdrawing atmosphere from the box annealing furnace during annealing, treating the gas, and for refeeding the deoxidized gas to the box annealing furnace. The box annealing furnace may also include a moisture removal unit for removing moisture from the gas. The oxygen removal unit and the moisture removal unit can reliably remove oxygen and moisture from the gas and suppress the formation, during annealing, of oxide film on a ferrous metal sheet.

Abstract: A method and a low iron loss grain-oriented electromagnetic steel sheet are disclosed. The method comprises the steps of: hot-rolling a grain-oriented electromagnetic steel sheet; cold-rolling the hot-rolled steel sheet once or twice intervened by intermediate annealing, so as to achieve the sheet thickness of a final product; annealing the cold-rolled steel sheet for decarburization; finish-annealing the decarburized steel sheet; forming linear grooves on the steel sheet substantially perpendicularly to the rolling direction, after the final cold-rolling step and before the finish-annealing step, by, for example, electrolytic etching or acid dipping; and filling the linear grooves with an element selected from the group consisting of Sn, B and Sb, or an oxide or a sulfate of an element selected therefrom.

Abstract: A fluid separation element assembly comprises a fluid separation element having a membrane unit and a wrapping material formed around the membrane unit, an anti-telescoping plate attached to at least one end of the fluid separation element at a condition free to be detached, and a feed water seal member for preventing feed water from leaking through a gap between the fluid separation element and the anti-telescoping plate. The membrane unit is formed by a separation membrane, a permeate carrier material and a feed carrier material which are spirally wound around a permeate collection tube. By providing the anti-telescoping plate detachably, when the separation membrane has reached its life, it is possible to reuse other members.

Abstract: A traveling hearth for producing reduced metal by charging and stacking a raw material containing a metal-containing material and a solid-reducing material on a horizontally moving hearth, arranged for disposing a solid-reducing material layer on the hearth, forming concave portions at the solid-reducing material surface, stacking the raw material on the surface of the solid-reducing material layer, reducing the raw material by at least once heating and melting the material on the hearth to separate metal and gangue and ash ingredients, and discharging metal from the hearth.

Abstract: Disclosed is a plastic-clad optical fiber (PCF) comprising a quartz core and a polymer clad as tightly formed around the core, in which the clad has a multi-layered structure of a plurality of different polymers, and the refractive index of the core (nCO), that of the first clad as tightly formed around the core (nCL1) and that of the second clad as tightly formed over the first clad (nCL2) satisfy both 0.21 ≦(nCO2−nCL12)≦0.35 and nCL2<nCL1. This is a wide-band PCF which exhibits reduced loss in connection with crimp-style connectors, reduced bending loss, and lower transmission loss with temperature changes. Therefore, this PCF is useful as a light information-transmitting material in constructing ATM-LAN, high-speed Ethernet, etc.

Abstract: 2-(&ohgr;-alkoxycarbonyl alkanoyl)-4-butanolide is produced with a high selectivity and yield through condensation reaction of Y-butyrolactone with a readily available, low-price dicarboxylate as represented by the following general formula: ROOC(CH2)nCOOR wherein n denotes an integer of 8-13, and R denotes an alkyl group or an alkenyl group.

Abstract: Disclosed are carbon fibers consisting of a plurality of single filaments, wherein the carbon fibers as a resin impregnated strand are characterized by satisfying the following relations: &sgr;≧11.1−0.75 d where &sgr; is the tensile strength of said carbon fibers as a resin impregnated strand in GPa, and d is the average diameter of said single filaments in &mgr;m, and RD≦0.05 where RD is the difference in crystallinity between the inner and outer layers of each of the single filaments evaluated with RAMAN, and an acrylic fibers for producing the carbon fibers and a process for producing the acrylic fibers.

Abstract: A forming stand for continuously forming a skelp material into a pipe, by pressure of spaced-apart forming rolls supported by spaced upper and lower shafts, the forming rolls having two portions, with one portion fixedly fitted on one side of its shaft, a sleeve slidably fitted to the other end of the shaft and fixedly secured to the sleeve and slidable with respect to the shaft; a bearing box for supporting one side of the associated shaft; a bearing box supporting the other side of the associated shaft through the sleeve; upper and lower stand supporting frames for supporting both of the bearing boxes to be movable in an axial direction; and supporting columns for supporting the stand supporting frames; the pipe-forming force is continuously measured and the forming operation is adjusted such that the measured value of pipe-forming force does not exceed a predetermined pipe-forming upper limit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is described for performing a liposuction procedure by means of a power-assisted liposuction device. The apparatus comprises a hand-holdable handle assembly (enclosing a gas driven reciprocating piston rod), a detachable cannula, an aspirator pump attached to the hand-holdable handle assembly and a foot pedal assembly that includes a vibrator element for regulating the supply of gas to the hand-holdable handle assembly. The hand-holdable handle assembly generally consists of a barrel, a hollow piston rod which reciprocates relative to the barrel, a seal body, an end cap (having a internal aspirated chamber), an atmospheric access return gallery, and a return spring chamber. Detachably coupled to the hand-holdable handle assembly by means of a quick disconnect is a hollow cannula, the distal end of which contains an aspiration aperture.

Abstract: An epoxy resin composition to seal semiconductors constructed of a semiconductor element, a base to support said semiconductor element, and an epoxy resin composition covering only one side opposite to the base, said epoxy resin composition comprising (A) epoxy resin, (B) hardener, and (C) inorganic filler, and giving a cured product which has (a) a flexural modulus of elasticity of 10 to 30 GPa at 23° C. and (b) a coefficient of linear expansion of 4×10−6/K to 10×10−6/K in the temperature range from 23° C. to the glass transition point, with the product of (a) and (b) being smaller than 2×10−4 GPa/K.

Abstract: The present invention relates to ketone derivatives represented by the following formula and medical agents containing the ketone derivatives or pharmacologically acceptable salts thereof as an active ingredient, and in particular, relates to a hematopoietic agent; it is shown that the present invention increases blood cells, such as platelets, white blood cells, and red blood cells, and is effective in preventing and treating cytopenia caused by cancer chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and the like.

Abstract: Fe—Cr—Si steel sheet having an excellent corrosion resistance and high toughness and method for manufacturing the same; the amount of Cr is about 10-30 wt %, the total amount of C and N is not more than about 100 ppm and the remainder consists of Fe and incidental impurities; when a cast piece of this steel is subjected to hot rolling to roll into a thickness of not more than about 3 mm, the hot rolled sheet can be subjected to cold rolling or to warm rolling without annealing.

Abstract: A platelet function increment agent including a prostaglandin I2 derivative as an active ingredient, and a therapeutic method for thrombocytopathy using the same. The platelet function increment agent of the present invention does not induce platelet aggregation, has superior activating action on platelets and is greatly useful as a platelet function increment agent.