Abstract: The present invention provides a method for the quantification and assessment of platelet activation in whole blood samples and monitoring of antiplatelet pharmacologic agents. The method for quantifying platelet activation includes exposing platelets to a physiological concentration of an agonist that activates some of the platelets, resulting in the formation of at least one binding site on the surface of the activated platelets, and measuring the activated platelets. The present invention provides a method of assessing specific components of platelet activation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an ink-jet recording head having a pressure generating chamber communicating with a nozzle aperture for jetting an ink droplet. A portion of the pressure generating chamber is composed of a diaphragm. An ink droplet is jetted by the displacement of a piezoelectric layer formed on the surface of the diaphragm. A connection between a lead electrode, for applying voltage to a piezoelectric element including a lower electrode, the piezoelectric layer and an upper electrode are respectively formed in an area corresponding to the pressure generating chamber. The piezoelectric element is provided in an area opposite to a passage communicating with the pressure generating chamber other than an area opposite to the pressure generating chamber. The ink-jet recording head is mounted in an ink-jet recording device and is used for recording on a recording medium.

Abstract: A system for controlling a servo-controlled gearbox (C), configured so as to use gear-shifting strategies similar to those used by a human driver so as to improve the driving sensation experienced by the driver. The control system uses a plurality of sensors (SENS) disposed in the vehicle for detecting the various operative conditions and a system of rules (a rule-based system) for implementing the strategies provided for.

Abstract: A motor for an electric power steering assembly includes a yoke, a multi-polar magnetic field portion composed of at least four poles secured to the inner wall of the yoke, a shaft disposed within the yoke so as to be able to rotate freely, an armature secured to the shaft having a winding constructed by winding wiring into an even number of slots formed on the outer circumferential surface of a core so as to extend in the axial direction thereof, a commutator including a plurality of segments secured to an end portion of the shaft; and a plurality of brushes contacting the surface of the commutator.

Abstract: A thermoplastic skin sheet constituted by (a) a thermoplastic polyolefin or elastomer sheet; (b) a primer layer coated on the sheet, the primer being based on a modified polyolefin resin containing 2 mg-equivalent/g or less of a hydroxyl group or a carboxyl group; and (c) a topcoat layer coated on the primer layer. The topcoat layer may be mainly composed of (a) 100 parts by weight of a polycarbonate polyurethane resin having a number-average molecular weight of 8,000 or more and a 100% modulus of 20 kg/cm2 or more, and (b) 0.1-40 parts by weight of a (meth)acrylate-butadiene-styrene resin. The surface of the topcoat layer may be subjected to embossing.

Abstract: A tetrazole derivatives of formula (I) wherein R1 is H, alkyl, alkoxy, carbocyclic ring, hetero ring, alkyl or alkoxy substituted by carbocyclic ring or hetero ring, etc.; AA1 is bond or  AA2 is bond or  AA1 and AA2, together, may have the formula (a);  Y is the formula (b) (in which Tet ring is tetrazole; Z is alkylene, alkenylene, O, S, SO, SO2, NR26, methylene in alkylene replaced by O, S, —SO—, —SO2— or —NR26—; E is H, alkyl, COOR27 or  in which Cyc is carbocyclic ring or hetero ring); a non-toxic salt thereof, an acid addition salt thereof or a hydrate thereof which has a pharmaceutical agents as an active ingredient. The compound of the formula (I) has an inhibitory effect on interleukin-1&bgr; converting enzyme, therefore, they are useful for prevention and/or treatment of various kinds of inflammatory disease.

Abstract: A silver halide photographic material comprising a support having provided thereon at least a silver halide emulsion layer, wherein the material contains at least one metal complex contained in any of groups A, B and C: group A: an optically active metal complex; group B: a metal complex comprising a metal ion selected from the group consisting of transition metallic elements belonging to period 4 to 6 and group III to XI of the Periodic Table, and typical metallic elements belonging to period 4 to 6 and group XII to XIV of the Periodic Table, and at least one ligand represented by the following formula (I): wherein Z represents an atomic group to form a 5- or 6-membered ring; A represents a carbon atom or a nitrogen atom; X represents O31, S31 , NR1R2 or COO−; R1 and R2 each represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group; R represents a substituent; and n represents 0 or an integer of from 1 to 6; group C: a metal complex selected from a porphyrin complex, a porphycene complex, a pht

Abstract: Dry master batch comprising at least one pigment and a dispersion carrier, characterized in that it contains at least 80% by weight calculated on the weight of the mixture of particles of pigment dispersed in said carrier; it can be prepared by means of a process that comprises the steps of feeding a flow of pigment obtained from a process of synthesis in aqueous or organic phase in the form of a filter pressed, tape pressed or centrifuged wet cake and a flow of a solution of a dispersant carrier in a turbo-mixer, centrifuging such flows against the inner wall of said turbo-mixer, with the formation of a dye paste arranged in a thin and dynamic layer; drying the dye paste obtaining said dry master batch, which is particularly suited for the preparation of inks and paints or for the pigmentation of plastic materials.

Abstract: A practical optical film which has excellent anisotropy in the scattering of linearly polarized light, can easily be produced and has excellent thermal stability, and an optical member and an optical element using the optical film, are disclosed. The optical film comprises a birefringent resin film and birefringent minute regions dispersedly contained therein comprising a thermoplastic resin having a glass transition temperature of 50° C. or higher and showing a nematic liquid crystal phase in a range of temperatures lower than the glass transition temperature of the resin constituting the resin film, wherein the difference in refractive index between the resin film and the minute regions in a direction perpendicular to the axis direction in which a linearly polarized light has a maximum transmittance, &Dgr;n1, is 0.03 or larger and that in the maximum-transmittance axis direction, &Dgr;n2, is not larger than 50% of the &Dgr;n1.

Abstract: A process for producing a low pour-point oil which permits the production of a lower pour point oil without severer hydrodewaxing conditions is disclosed, which comprises hydrodewaxing a mineral oil fraction, which has been separated from a crude oil by distillation and has a boiling point ranging from 250 to 600° C., at a temperature range of from 250° C. to 500° C. in the presence of a zeolite catalyst; and separating a lighter fraction by distillation.

Abstract: A vehicular radar includes a transmitter for outputting a transmitted electromagnetic wave; an antenna unit for radiating the transmitted electromagnetic wave and receiving a electromagnetic wave reflected by an object to be detected as a received electromagnetic wave; a receiver for detecting the reflected electromagnetic wave received by the antenna unit; and a signal processor for processing an output signal from the receiver to output information about the object. The antenna unit includes a single electromagnetic radiator for radiating the transmitted electromagnetic wave, a single reflector for reflecting the transmitted electromagnetic wave from the electromagnetic radiator and radiating the transmitted electromagnetic wave as a beam, and a reflector swinging device for swinging the reflector so as to successively change a direction of the beam. The reflector swinging device includes a first arm, a second arm, a swinging pivot, a cam and a cam follower.

Abstract: A flexibly adaptable, i e., configurable and/or extensible, asset management system is disclosed for processing and querying assets, representing data. The system comprises three layers: a Client Application layer, for manipulating and browsing assets, an Asset Manager Server layer, for providing programming interface services specific for assets types, such as storing, querying, and retrieving assets representing data to and from a Data Store, representing the third layer. The Asset Manager Server layer further provides communication services to support the Client Application layer and file transfer between the Client Application layer and the Asset Manager Server layer. The Asset Manager Server includes several configurable and/or extensible modules, including a Client Adapter module, a Schema Adapter module and a Resources module.

Abstract: A practical optical film which has excellent anisotropy in the scattering of linearly polarized light, can be easily produced and has excellent thermal stability, and an optical element using the optical film are disclosed. The optical film comprises an optically isotropic resin film and birefringent minute regions dispersedly contained therein comprising a thermoplastic resin having a glass transition temperature of 50° C. or higher and showing a nematic liquid crystal phase in a range of temperatures lower than the glass transition temperature of the resin constituting the resin film, wherein the difference in refractive index between the resin film and the minute regions in a direction perpendicular to the axis direction in which a linearly polarized light has a maximum transmittance, &Dgr;n1, is 0.03 or larger and that in the maximum-transmittance axis direction, &Dgr;n2, is 50% or smaller of the &Dgr;n1.

Abstract: A toner comprising: a plurality of mother particles; and a plurality of external additive particles to be attached to the mother particles, the external additive particles including external additive particles attached to the mother particle and external additive particles liberated from the mother particles, wherein an inclination (particle sizes of the external additives/particle sizes of the mother particles) of an approximation straight line obtained by approximating distribution of particle sizes of the external additives with respect to the particle sizes of the mother particles by a least-square method is not larger than 0.6. Also, disclosed is an image forming apparatus using the toner.

Abstract: A sheet for protecting a paint film which does not deteriorate or discolor the paint film even when the sheet is adhered to protect the paint film under the condition containing acidic rainwater or detergent and can maintain the adhered state over an extended-period of time without peeling off is disclosed. The sheet for protecting a paint film comprises a porous substrate and a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer formed on one surface of the porous substrate. The sheet has an air permeability in a direction of sheet thickness of 20,000 sec/100 cc or more and a moisture permeability in a direction of sheet thickness of 2,000 g/m2·24 hr or more. The sheet for protecting a paint film further comprises a porous substrate and a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer formed on one surface of the porous substrate, wherein the porous substrate has an ultraviolet transmission of 10% or less at a wavelength of from 190 to 370 nm.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for storing data provide data memory in a systematic, cyclical arrangement, provide plural data portals in an arrangement defined by modular arithmetic, and provide sequential, relative movement between the data memory and the data portals. When one or more of the plural portals is selected, data can be input or output in a manner which is predictable, straight-forward, free of scheduling constraints, and very efficient, without contention between the separate portals. Also disclosed are a method and apparatus which provide data memory in a systematic, cyclical arrangement, provide a systematic arrangement of plural data outputs, and provide sequential, relative movement between the data memory and the data outputs. The memory devices of the present invention can be designed so that the memory device circulates data either through or past fixed portals. Alternatively, the data can be stored in fixed locations and the portals moved from location to location.

Abstract: A compound of formula (I) for use in the treatment or prevention of mental diseases A is N, CH, C having a double bond or CR5; each of B and Z is independently N, CH or CR1, with the proviso that A is N when B and/or Z is N; R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 and n are as defined in the specification.

Abstract: An optical communication transmission system including an optical amplifier lumped repeater system of the present invention includes, for the purpose of preventing degradation of the transmission characteristic arising from wavelength dispersion of optical fibers due to raised power of the optical signal, transmission optical fibers provided for all or most of the repeating sections and having wavelength dispersion values set to different values from zero, and optical fibers provided for the individual sections to compensate for the sum of wavelength dispersion of the sections so as to reduce the total wavelength dispersion to zero. The optical fiber for compensation for each section may be replaced by a substitutive compensation element. Alternatively, very small wavelength dispersion which remains due to failure in compensating to zero dispersion may be compensated for using a dispersion equalizer of an electric system in the reception section.

Abstract: A coins receiving and dispensing apparatus suitable for food shops or restaurants allows precise transfer and reception of various coins without error and confirmation of the balance of the coin. When coins received from customers are inserted into this apparatus, the coins are immediately sorted by a sorting mechanism with respect to the denominations of the currency and stored at the respective storage portions. When the coins are paid out as change, the coin feeder operates based on a dispensing command signal produced corresponding to the differences between the sold amount inputted in the register and the received amount from the customers to feed the coins of the wanted denomination in the necessary number.

Abstract: A signal selection circuit is disclosed for use in an intelligence TV. The intelligence TV can display a signal prioritized in the order of a TV OSD signal, a PIP signal, an information signal, and a TV signal. The structure for carrying out this prioritization includes a TV signal processor for processing a TV signal and outputting a TV signal, an information signal processor for outputting an information signal by decoding the received information data from value added networks and for outputting a first switching control signal by recognizing a selection mode, and a PIP signal processor for processing the TV signals as a main picture signal and a sub picture signal and for outputting a PIP signal and a second switching control signal. A TV microcomputer generates an OSD for the operation of the TV. Plural switching devices operate responsively to switching control signals from the TV microcomputer, the information signal processing unit and the PIP signal processor.