Abstract: In order to prevent conception and/or infection by sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) one or more lectins capable of binding sperm or agglutinable components of male ejaculate and/or the pathogenic microorganisms responsible for STDs or the carbohydrate moieties expressed on cell surfaces by which the microorganisms bind to the cells, are administered to the vagina prior to sexual intercourse. The lectins prevent conception by binding to the sperm or agglutinable components of male ejaculate to render the sperm incapable of fertilization. They also bind to the pathogenic microorganisms to render them non-pathogenic or to carbohydrates expressed on cell surfaces to prevent infection by the microorganisms or treat such infections. Lectins can also be administered to treat sexually transmitted vaginal infections. The lectins can also be applied to or contained within a condom.

Abstract: A novel hydro-dynamic fluid bearing device is herein disclosed which comprises a cylindrical shaft, a substantially cylindrical bearing member for axially supporting the shaft rotatably in a cylindrical hole having a bottom surface, a supporting member fixed on one side of the shaft and the bearing member, and a rotation member fixed on the other side of the shaft and the bearing member and rotatably supported on the supporting member, grooves for generating hydro-dynamic fluid being formed on at least one of the outer peripheral surface of the shaft and the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical hole of the bearing member, wherein the bearing member is made of a resin material, and the outer peripheral surface of the substantially cylindrical portion is fixed to an annular reinforcing member having a higher rigidity than the bearing member.

Abstract: Improved input and output discs for toroidal type continuously variable transmissions are obtained by select processing techniques to form hardened layers. Processing techniques include, e.g., carburizing, carbonitriding, and high-frequency induction hardening. Shot peening may be used to impart compressive residual surface stress to predetermined disc portions to enhance resistance to cracking.

Abstract: A vibration actuator has an elastic member formed into a ring shape, an electro-mechanical converting element joined to the elastic member, and a relative moving member which is in press contact with the elastic member. In the vibration actuator, the electro-mechanical converting element generates, upon application of a driving signal, a first vibration mode that vibrates in a direction parallel to a reference plane where the ring shape is formed, and a second vibration mode that vibrates in a direction perpendicular to or substantially perpendicular to the reference plane, and the relative moving member moves relative to the elastic member in one- or two-dimensional directions in the reference plane by the first and second vibration modes.

Abstract: In a brake band mounted on a transmission for a vehicle which is provided with a strap having opposite end portions and twined around the outer periphery of a drum, an apply side end portion provided on one end portion of the strap, and an anchor side end portion provided on the other end portion of the strap, at least one of the apply side and anchor side end portion of the brake band is supported or fixed so as to have a predetermined gap with respect to the outer peripheral surface of the drum during non-tightening of the brake band.

Abstract: A shock absorbing type steering column assembly which is incorporated in the steering apparatus of an automobile, comprises one end portion of an outer column member formed with a female serration at one end thereof and one end portion of an inner column member formed with a male serration at one end thereof being in engagement with each other, one end portion of the outer column member being in pressure-fitting relationship to a center-side portion in the axial direction of the inner column member to form a first fitted portion, while one end portion of the inner column member is in pressure-fitting relationship to a center-side portion in the axial direction of the outer column member to form a second fitted portion, and pressure fitting strength at the first fitted portion being substantially equal to that at the second fitted portion.

Abstract: In order to prevent conception and/or the spread of sexually transmitted diseases (STD's) one or more lectins capable of binding sperm and/or the pathogenic microorganisms responsible for STD's are administered to the vagina prior to sexual intercourse. The lectins immobilize the sperm to render them incapable of fertilization and also bind to the microorganisms to render them non-pathogenic or to the cells to prevent infection by the microorganisms. Lectins can also be administered to treat sexually transmitted vaginal infections.The invention also encompasses a device for to be placed in the vault of the vagina which comprises a ring which surrounds the cervix and a membrane spanning the central aperture of the ring to prevent the direct contact of ejaculate with the cervical tissues. The device is impregnated or coated with lectins and releases them into the vaginal environment over a period of time.

Abstract: A column mounting assembly for a tilt-type steering device comprises a supporting bracket with a pair of vertical plate portions to be secured to an automobile body, tilt adjusting bolt integrated with a steering column disposed between the vertical plate portions, and held by the vertical plate portions raisably and lowerably, an operation lever rotatably operable between a first angle position and a second angle position, and tilt adjusting for fastening the tilt adjusting bolt to the bracket when the operation lever is located in the first angle position, and unfastening the tilt adjusting bolt to make the tilt adjusting bolt raisable and lowerable when the operation lever is located in the second angle position. A serration engagement section is provided between the operation lever and adjusting nut to transmit rotation of the operation lever to the adjusting nut.

Abstract: An electrically-driven coarse and fine movement apparatus comprises a movable member, a driving device for driving the movable member, a first operation handle, a first rotary shaft fixed to the first operation handle, a second operation handle, disposed coaxially with the first operation handle, for rotating the first rotary shaft, a rotation restricting member for restricting a rotation of the second operation handle, which is accompanied with the rotation of the first operation handle, a rotation detector for detecting a rotational quantity and a rotational direction of the first rotary shaft, a discriminating device, linked to the second operation handle, for judging whether the second operation handle is operated or not to output a judging signal, and a controlling circuit for controlling the driving device so as to provide the movable member with a coarse movement in accordance with an operation of one operation handle of the first and second operation handles and to provide the movable member with a fi

Abstract: The locus of the displacement of the centers of the balls of a ball bearing is made elliptical and the radial bearing rigidity of the ball bearing in one radial direction is made greater than the radial bearing rigidity in another radial direction orthogonal to the one radial direction, or at least one of the axial length of the portion on the inner diametral surface of the inner race of the ball bearing which is fitted to a shaft and the axial length of the portion on the outer diametral surface of the outer race of the ball bearing which is fitted to a housing is made 1/2 or less of the bearing width of the ball bearing, whereby the radial rigidity of a ball bearing device is made very small as compared with the radial rigidity in the prior art. As a result, the stability of a swing arm system can be enhanced and higher speed and higher accuracy of control become possible.

Abstract: A production process of a yoke a for universal joint using a flat metal sheet to make a yoke for universal joint comprising a base for engaging with an end of a rotary shaft and fixing the end, a pair of arms having respective surfaces opposite to each other and extending in the axial direction of the base from opposite positions in the diameter direction and on one axial edge of the base, and press-worked circular holes coaxial with each other, formed in associated tip portions of said respective arms, wherein in portions of said flat metal sheet to become said respective circular holes, prepared holes having an inner diameter sufficiently smaller than an inner diameter of the circular holes are punched by press working, thereafter the flat metal sheet is curved to form said base and the pair of arms, then rough machining is carried out to punch the portions of the prepared holes in a nearly circular shape by press working, and thereafter press working is carried out to shave an inner peripheral edge of each

Abstract: A damper apparatus for a torque converter having a lock-up mechanism provided with a direct-coupled clutch displaceable between a joined state and a liberated state, and a torque converter body for transmitting power by a fluid, comprises a reaction ring movably fitted to an input piston of the direct-coupled clutch, a clutch plate attached to an output turbine hub on an inner diameter side of the reaction ring, and a pair of retainer plates for holding the reaction ring and the clutch plate and also sandwiching an inner peripheral spring and an outer peripheral spring therebetween. The inner and outer peripheral springs are held in corresponding windows of the retainer plates, and they are constructed and arranged to operate serially.

Abstract: Disclosed is a single plate projection type display apparatus which is capable of achieving a high luminance without an increase in an output of a light source. A first lens plate having a plurality of lenses divides a light from a light source into a plurality of light beams. A second lens plate having a plurality of lenses superposes the divided plurality of light beams on a light valve, thereby performing an illumination. A color separation optical system composed of dichroic mirrors which are perpendicular to an XY plane and form predetermined angles to each other, performs a color separation for the light beams from the second lens plate. The light valve modulates R, G and B light beams which are incident thereonto. The modulated lights are projected by a projection lens. The whole shape of the second lens plate is a rectangle.

Abstract: This invention is a one-way clutch directed to decrease the number of parts and the number of working steps and achieve a reduction in cost by changing the material and shape of a holder for the sprags of a conventional art one-way clutch, and is characterized in that the holder is made of a flexible material such as resin and by the utilization of the flexure thereof, the holder is fitted and fixed to an outer race.

Abstract: There is disclosed an exposure method for transferring, using an optical system for illuminating a mask having patterns to be transferred on a substrate and a projection optical system for projecting images of the patterns to the substrate, the patterns to the substrate through the projection optical system by means of scanning the mask and the substrate synchronously relative to the projection optical system. The method comprises the steps of providing a plurality of measuring marks on the mask formed along a relative scanning direction, and providing a plurality of reference marks formed on the stage corresponding to the measuring marks, respectively, moving the mask and the substrate synchronously in the relative scanning direction to measure successively a displacement amount between the measuring marks on the mask and the reference marks, and obtaining a correspondence relation between a coordinate system on the mask and a coordinate system on the stage according to the displacement amount.

Abstract: Skin irritation, such as diaper rash, appearing when the skin is allowed to remain in contact with proteolytic enzymes found in feces is prevented by inactivating the fecal proteolytic enzymes by contact with organophilic clays. The organophilic clays are applied to the skin in areas likely to come into contact with feces or to garments such as diapers. A composition suitable for practicing the method of the invention comprises an amount of an organophilic clay effective to inactivate irritating fecal proteolytic enzymes dispersed in a pharmaceutically acceptable non-toxic dermatological vehicle. A fabric incorporating organophilic clay, preferably dispersed in a matrix of a superabsorbent polymer is useful for preparing diapers for infants that can help to prevent skin irritation by fecal enzymes.

Abstract: An apparatus for carrying a substrate having a substrate storage part for storing substrate casings that encase substrates, and a carrier system for carrying the substrate to a substrate stage from the substrate storage part. The apparatus a first carrier device, a temporary storage part and a second carrier device. The first carrier device carries the substrate to a first substrate carry position from the substrate storage part. The temporary storage unit incorporates a holding mechanism for individually adsorptively holding the substrate by vacuum in a predetermined state and is provided between the first substrate carry position and the substrate stage. The second carrier device is capable of carrying the substrate to the substrate stage from the first carry position and also carrying the substrate between the temporary storage unit and the substrate stage.

Abstract: A plastic drum is formed with a body having an access hole on top and protective chimes. The body also includes a sloping bottom with a sump aligned with the access hole to allow, substantially, all the contents of the drum to be removed without turning the body upside down.

Abstract: An exposure apparatus for exposing mask patterns on a sensitive plate comprises a set (for X and Y direction) of a laser interferometer for measuring a position of a wafer stage and satisfying Abbe's condition with respect to a projection lens and a set (for X and Y direction) of the laser interferometer and satisfying Abbe's condition with respect to off-axis alignment system.When a fiducial mark on the wafer stage is positioned directly under the projection lens, a presetting is performed so that measuring values by the two sets of laser interferometers are equal to each other.