Abstract: The hearing aid includes n electrodes for being implanted in the cochlea at n different points chosen to allow identification by the brain of multiple frequency bands of a sound spectrum. A microphone receives the sound spectrum and outputs a sound signal. The instantaneous energy in the frequency bands in the sound signal is measured. The electrodes are operated cyclically as a function of the energy measured in the frequency bands and in an order determined in accordance with a time distribution of the energy in the frequency bands.

Abstract: A process for producing molten pig iron uses direct reduction of iron ore in a pre-reduction stage followed by a final reduction stage.In the pre-reduction stage iron ore is pre-reduced in a melting cyclone by means of a reducing process gas originating from the final reduction stage. A post-combustion occurs in the reducing process gas in the melting cyclone so that said iron ore in said melting cyclone is at least partly melted. The partly melted iron ore passes downwardly into a metallurgical vessel situated beneath the cyclone in which the final reduction takes place by supply of coal and oxygen, thereby forming a reducing process gas. A partial post-combustion occurs in the reducing process gas in the metallurgical vessel by means of said oxygen supplied thereto. The post-combustion ratio of the gas on exiting the metallurgical vessel is not more than 0.55.

Abstract: Information, an alert or an alarm is supplied to an aircraft in proximity to the ground. A grid of geographic coordinates is established, each mesh of which exhibits a defined relief. The trajectory of the aircraft is predicted over a predetermined time interval. An intersection, if any, between the predicted trajectory and the relief of at least one of the meshes is determined. An alert or alarm is activated in the case of such an intersection. The alert or alarm is inhibited when the aircraft is in landing configuration or when the runway is detected and a series of conditions relating to landing are fulfilled.

Abstract: A circuit for increasing damping factor in an audio amplifier adapted to be coupled to a load by output feed and return leads and components having an impedance causing a reduction in the damping factor, employs a balanced feedback network having first and second inputs and first and second outputs. The first input is coupled to a selected one of the feed and return lead near the output terminal and the second input is coupled to the same lead remote from the output terminal to thereby establish a series impedance between said first and second inputs representative of impedance of the selected output lead. The first output is coupled to the non-inverting input of the amplifier and the second output is coupled to the inverting input of the amplifier. The balanced feedback network positively feeds back a representation of the impedance to compensate therefor and thereby raise the damping factor of the amplifier. In an alternative embodiment, an isolating transformer is employed in the balanced feedback network.

Abstract: A loader conveys a holder, carrying thereon a disc cartridge, between a cartridge ejection position and a reproducing/recording position. The loader has an engaging part which engages with a lock mechanism so as to release a holder pin in the lock mechanism from its locked condition in order to hold a movable chassis in a floating condition and to lock the holding pin in the lock mechanism so as to fix the movable chassis to the stationary chassis when the holder comes to the cartridge ejecting side. When the holder is moved to the reproducing/recording position, the holding pin provided on the holder engages with a shutter closing spring so as to retract an engaging part at the front end of the shutter closing spring through an opening in the holder in order to prevent the disc cartridge from making contact with the shutter closing spring, thereby making it possible to give a satisfactory feeling of insertion of the disc cartridge and avoid damaging the disc cartridge.

Abstract: A sulfonamide derivatives of formula (I) ##STR1## a non-toxic salts, an acid addition salts or a solvates thereof which has an inhibitory effect on elastase.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for improving the characteristics of foundry cores which includes adding to the foundry aggregate mixture one or more biphenyl compounds.

Abstract: Superimposing strip layers including a positive electrode strip and a negative electrode strip, which are put into layers together with a separator strip which is put between the electrode strips, are spirally wound around an outer circumference of a bobbin having an end cross section similar in shape to a center hole of a spiral electrode to form a substantially circular center hole in the spiral electrode while extracting the bobbin.

Abstract: A water treatment system for submersion in a body of water to be treated comprises a water-soluble glass treatment agent and a water-insoluble retaining means for the water-soluble glass treatment agent. The retaining means is adapted, in use, to retain water in contact with the water-soluble glass and may be a hollow container for the water-soluble glass or a moisture penetrable polymer composition which can be used as a matrix containing particulate water soluble glass. The water-treatment system may be immersed in water to act over an extended period of time in preventing or reducing problems caused by corrosion, scaling and/or fouling.

Abstract: A synchronizing arrangement for a gear transmission includes a synchronizing ring and the surrounding annular spring, the ring having at least three equally spaced support elements at the circumference of the ring at which the spring is snugly supported with a press-fit about the ring. The support elements and the spring define opposing contact surfaces which are relatively adjustable upon assembly of the annular spring about the ring in order to balance manufacturing tolerances.

Abstract: Flours prepared from white sweet potatoes, cassava, edible aroids, tropical yams, lotus, arrowhead, buckbean, and amaranth, and a variety of different food products prepared from them, are substitutes for wheat and other grains, legumes, milk, eggs, and a partial substitute for nuts. A variety of different food products, prepared from edible roots, seeds, and starchy fruits including potatoes, arrowroot, water chestnut, sugar beets, jicama, buckwheat, legumes, millet, milo, barley, oats, corn, teff, rice, cotton seed meal, bread fruit, pumpkin, winter squash, white squash, plantain, banana, and jack fruit, are substitutes for wheat and other grains, milk, eggs, and a partial substitute for nuts. A variety of starches, soluble fibers, and insoluble fibers may be combined to provide products that are substitutes for wheat and other grains, milk, eggs, and a partial substitute for nuts.

Abstract: A slack adjuster (1) for a cable operated system, such as a brake assembly operable by a brake lever (2), includes two drive parts (9) and (10) which are engageable to form a drive connection between the brake lever (2) and the cable (29) to enable the lever (2) to impart an actuating force to the cable 929) during movement of the lever (2) between a rest and a fully actuated position. The slack adjuster (1) further includes a pivotal lever (23) which is operable to disengage the drive parts (9) and (10) during a predetermined portion of one of either the applied or release strokes of the brake lever (2), but inoperative during other portions of the strokes, thereby enabling adjustment of slack in the cable (29) by movement of one drive (9, 10) relative to the other drive part (10, 9) to occur only during the one stroke.

Abstract: In an optical pickup, light, emitted from a light-emitting element, is transmitted through a first beam splitter film with polarization selectivity, and a zero-order diffraction beam and two (.+-.) first order diffraction beams are produced. These beams are applied in a condensed manner to an optical disk through a condensing element, and the return light beam from the optical disk is fed to a photodetector through a second beam splitter film with polarization selectivity, thereby effecting the recording and reproduction of information, the tracking and the focusing. A diffusion angle conversion hologram is provided between the light-emitting element and the first beam splitter film, and with respect to the diffusion angle conversion hologram, the relation between the diffusion angle of the incident beam and the diffusion angle of the outgoing beam is specified.

Abstract: First and second motors are provided for moving a workpiece support in an up and down direction and and for rotation about an axis. Third, fourth and fifth motors are provided for moving a rotating cutter in a lateral direction, for rotating the cutter about an axis, and for moving the cutter toward and away from a workpiece. A first conductive pin sensor senses workpiece parameters. A cutter motor rotates the cutter at constant speed, and a second sensor senses changes in cutter motor torque when the cutter comes into contact with a workpiece. A computer includes a memory for storing instructions for cutting a desired pattern, and the computer causes the first, second, third, fourth and fifth motors to vary the relative position of the cutter and workpiece support to cut a pattern in the workpiece.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for increasing pasta production and for ensuring a more uniform and quality pasta product which includes heating the die face of a die by positioning on the die face an electric resistance heater.

Abstract: A loading mechanism of a video tape recorder is provided which reduces the thickness of the mechanism for guiding a loading boat along a loading guide. Also, a loading post driving device for a magnetic recording/playback apparatus is provided which can prevent the rotary head cylinder from being damaged or interfered with in its rotation. Furthermore, a loading post holding device which can considerably reduce the height of the device is provided. Additionally, an arrangement of a loading ring guide is provided for loading post driving device to reduce the number of parts used and improve the assembling efficiency of the device.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide R-Fe-B permanent magnet materials having a good oxidation resistance and magnetic characteristics, and a process of producing the same capable of pulverizing efficiently, whereby an R-Fe-B molten alloy having a specific composition is casted into a cast piece having a specific plate thickness and a structure, in which an R-rich phase is finely separated below 5 .mu.m, by a strip casting process, the cast piece is subjected to a Hydrogenation for spontaneous decay, and thereafter, an alloy powder is dehydrogenated and stabilized for pulverization so as to fractionize crystal grains of a main phase constituting an alloy ingot, thereby the powder having a uniform grain distribution can be produced at an efficiency of about twice as much as the conventional process, and the R-rich phase and an R.sub.2 Fe.sub.

Abstract: A precompression pump sprayer has a variable volume suck-back chamber in communication with the discharge orifice for inwardly suctioning any residual liquid away from the orifice and the spin mechanics to avoid clogging as a result of dried accumulated product. In one embodiment a cover on the plunger head is spring loaded and therewith defines the suck-back chamber. In another embodiment the plunger head is spring loaded on the piston stem, such that in both embodiments a top end wall of the suck-back chamber is shiftable relative to the piston stem independently of piston reciprocation. The biasing spring has a spring force permitting a shifting of the end wall to reduce the volume of the suck-back chamber at a peak pressure reached in the pump chamber beyond the threshold pressure required to open the discharge valve, at which time the spring is compressed. The restoring force of the spring causes the top end wall to shift to expand the volume of the suck-back chamber.

Abstract: A liquid feeding pump includes two coaxial cylinder chambers, a piston mounted in each chamber, and a piston rod connecting the pistons. A head side of one cylinder chamber functions as a liquid chamber, a rod side functions as a first air chamber, a rod-side of the other cylinder chamber functions as a second air chamber, and a head side functions as a third air chamber. The liquid chamber is formed with liquid inlets or outlets. Each of the air chambers is formed with air inlets or outlets, a part of the supplying pipes connected to the liquid inlet or outlet of the liquid chamber is wound around an outer periphery of the other cylinder chamber, or a peripheral wall of the other cylinder chamber is formed with a liquid cooling chamber and supplying pipes communicated with and connected to the liquid inlets or outlets of the liquid chamber are connected to the liquid cooling chamber.