Abstract: A method of controlling a force assist apparatus worn on a human body comprises separating a force signal relating to a load force imposed on the force assist apparatus detected by a force sensor into a static force component and a dynamic force component, attenuating the static force by a smaller factor than the factor by which the dynamic force is attenuated, attenuating the dynamic force by a factor within a range according to actuator output margin in which saturation does not occur, summing the attenuated signals, subtracting an operating force signal detected by a force sensor from the sum, and using the total signal as an output command to drive actuators.

Abstract: A method for producing a material for a fiber-reinforced composite article is disclosed which comprises preparing an apparatus composed of a belt and at least one fiber-separating and throwing device, setting the belt in motion and the roller in rotation, feeding a mixture of matrix thermoplastic resin fibers (a) and reinforcing fibers (b) to the roller, causing the roller to separate the fibers and throw the separated, fibers, and allowing the thrown fibers to pile up on the moving belt, thereby giving rise to a mat wherein the ratio of the fibers (a) and (b) successively increases or decreases in the direction of thickness of the mat.

Abstract: Solid-electrolyte fuel cell electrode material in the form of a membrane formed on a solid electrolyte surface from a powder obtained by pulverizing a sintered body obtained by sintering a mixture of lanthanum-based electrode material and 5 to 50 mol % platinum.

Abstract: The invention provides a recombinant plasmid containing a sequence encoding any genes inserted between 5' and 3' self-cleavage ribozymes. The recombinant plasmid can be amplified in vivo as well as in vitro while growing the host cell. When obtaining RNA transcripts of the inserted sequence, the recombinant plasmid does not require a restriction enzyme digestion step (run-off transcription) since cis-acting ribozymes perform self-catalyzed cleavage at 5' and 3' sides of the inserted sequence once it is transcribed. In this specific example, the trans-acting RNA enzyme sequence is inserted between 5' and 3' cleavage ribozymes. However, the trans-acting ribozyme sequence in the recombinant plasmid can be replaceable with any other sequence (e.g., antisense RNA, RNAs of HIV-1, HDV and other RNA viruses etc.). This construct is especially useful since each unit, consisting of 5' processing ribozyme, inserted sequence, and 3' processing ribozyme, can be connected in tandem.

Abstract: A nitrogen-containing perfluoroalkanoyl peroxide is provided which is represented by the formula: ##STR1## wherein Rf.sub.1 and Rf.sub.2 independently stand for an alkyl group of 1 to 5 carbon atoms, provided that Rf.sub.1 and Rf.sub.2 are joined to each other in one of the three patterns of union, 1) direct union, 2) union through the medium of an oxygen atom or 3) union through the medium of a nitrogen atom to form one of the three rings, i.e. five-membered ring, six-membered ring or seven-membered ring.

Abstract: In a computer system, when data for a register assigned to a current process arrives at a processing element, an instruction for loading this data is automatically inserted into an instruction sequence to be fetched by an instruction fetch unit provided in the processing element, thus synchronizing of data on registers is enabled. In addition, when data for a register assigned to a process which had previously been suspended and is not the current process arrives at the processing element, the data is written to a corresponding save area allotted in local memory for that register. Suspension of a process occurs at a point in time at which a register assigned to that process is accessed by an instruction but no data is yet present in the register and when this process suspension occurs, the process to be executed is switched to another process.

Abstract: A phase conjugate interferometer includes a laser light source, an optical lens (through which the laser beam is diverged) disposed at the end of the optical fiber, a paraboloidal mirror surface to be tested which reflects the laser beam diverged by the objective lens, a semi-transparent mirror disposed between the objective lens and the paraboloidal mirror surface for transmitting the laser beam from the objective lens to the paraboloidal mirror surface, a light reflection portion having both a parallel plane glass plate with a reference flat surface and a non-linear optical crystal for causing a phase conjugate wave front, and a screen. The light reflection portion reflects the incident laser beam reflected by the paraboloidal mirror surface as two laser beams, one with a reference flat surface and the other with a phase conjugate wave front caused by the non-linear optical crystal.

Abstract: An optical displacement sensor that has a light beam polariscope located on the light path of light reflected from a target surface, and means for detecting the focal point position and transverse position of the light beam from the polariscope. The focal point position corresponds to axial displacement at the target surface, and the transverse position corresponds to inclination of the target surface, so the effect of the inclination of the surface can be compensated for by using a transverse position detection signal to adjust the light beam polariscope.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring transient earth current includes a detection electrode and a second electrode disposed beneath the surface of the earth in vertical alignment with one another at depths greater than those to which electromagnetic waves generated above the surface of the earth having commercial power line frequencies penetrate, such that the electrical resistance between the detection electrode and the second electrode is on the order of several tens of thousands of ohms, and a charge detector for detecting only high frequency components of a current flowing between the detection electrode and the second electrode. On the basis of these detected high frequency components, the likelihood of an occurance of an earthquake may be determined.

Abstract: A nitrogen-containing perfluoroalkanoyl peroxide is provided which is represented by the formula: ##STR1## wherein Rf.sub.1 and Rf.sub.2 independently stand for an alkyl group of 1 to 5 carbon atoms, provided that Rf.sub.1 and Rf.sub.2 are joined to each other in one of the three patterns of union, 1) direct union, 2) union through the medium of an oxygen atom or 3) union through the medium of a nitrogen atom to form one of the three rings, i.e. five-membered ring, six-membered ring or seven-membered ring.

Abstract: A surge protection device for absorbing surges of either polarity has a second region forming a first pn junction with a first region, a third region capable of injecting first minority carriers into the second region, a fourth region forming a second pn junction with the first region and a fifth region capable of injecting second minority carriers into the fourth region. The surfaces of the fourth region and the fifth region and a first Schottky junction with respect to the first region are in mutual electrical connection with a first ohmic electrode, while the surfaces of the second region and the third region and a second Schottky junction with respect to the first region are in mutual electrical connection with a second ohmic electrode.

Abstract: A flow battery comprises a plurality of unit cells each constituted of stacked unit cells each consisting of a prescribed number of stacked diaphragms and positive electrode chambers and negative electrode chambers separated by the diaphragms, a positive electrode fluid tank associated with each unit cell to have its outlet connected with an inlet of the positive electrode chamber of the unit cell and its inlet connected with an outlet of the positive chamber of a immediately preceding unit cell, a negative electrode fluid tank associated with each unit cell to have it outlet connected with an inlet of the negative chamber of the unit cell and its inlet connected with outlet of the negative chamber of an immediately preceding unit cell, a pump for supplying positive electrode fluid from the positive electrode fluid tanks to the positive electrode chambers, a pump for supplying negative electrode fluid from the negative electrode fluid tanks to the negative electrode chambers, and means for electrically connec

Abstract: A method for the production of a standard oxide sample for X-ray fluorescence analysis of an impurity element contained in an inorganic compound. The standard oxide sample is produced by accurately weighing a high-purity compound of the type of the main-component element of the inorganic compound, dissolving the weighed compound in an acid, adding an element of the type of the impurity element to be subjected to determination in a prescribed amount to the acid solution, evaporating the resultant solution to dryness, and heating the dry residue of evaporation.

Abstract: A method for improving the transient thermal properties of hydrostatic air main spindles for precision machine tools comprises the steps of installing an entire precision machine tool that has a main spindle with an air-lubricated hydrostatic bearing in a temperature-controlled constant-temperature environment, and raising the temperature of the lubricating air supplied to the air-lubricated hydrostatic bearing above the temperature of the constant-temperature environment until the thermal displacement of the main spindle reaches a target value, and thereafter lowering it below the temperature of the constant-temperature environment.

Abstract: A method for transportation, utilization and recovery of heat comprises the wide-area installation of methanol and reformed gas supply pipelines, combustion of the methanol and reformed gas to obtain high-temperature heat, subjecting reformed gas supplied from the reformed gas supply pipeline to an exothermic reform reaction and feeding the methanol thus produced into the methanol supply pipeline to obtain low-temperature heat, subjecting methanol supplied from the methanol supply pipeline to an endothermic reform reaction and feeding the reformed gas thus produced into the reformed gas supply pipeline and recovering the waste heat that is generated.

Abstract: A fibrinolytic enzyme such as urokinase, tissue plasminogen activator or streptokinase is covalently bounded to a bioadaptable porous crystalline glass to produce a thrombolytic material. Production of the glass involves combining 40-50 mol% calcium oxide, 20-30 mol% titanium dioxide and 25-35 mol% diphosphorous pentoxide to form a mixture, and combining the mixture with 0.5-4.0 mol% disodium oxide. A bioreactor for converting plasminogen in blood into plasmin can be prepared by packing the material in a column. When finely comminuted, the material can be administered into the blood of a patient for removing blood clots.

Abstract: A method for producing an oxide superconductor comprises obtaining a cyclic voltammogram using an oxide material containing an element having a redox charge as an electrode, determining an electrolytic potential for the oxide material on the basis of the voltammogram, and electrolyzing the oxide material at the determined potential.

Abstract: A coating film of a carbon allotrope is formed on a substrate by continuously supplying a fine carbon powder onto the substrate and simultaneously irradiating the fine carbon powder with a laser beam of a high output level thereby inducing sublimation of the fine carbon powder, and quenching the sublimated fine carbon powder to cause deposition thereof on the substrate.

Abstract: A gas leak detection system comprises a flow sensor for detecting the amount of gas flowing through a gas flow passage, a flow signal generator for producing a flow signal representing the quantity of gas flow detected by the flow sensor, a pressure sensor installed in the gas flow passage at a point upstream of the flow sensor for detecting the gas pressure in the gas flow passage, a pressure signal generator for producing a pressure signal representing fluctuations in the pressure detected by the pressure sensor and a computing device electrically connected with the flow signal generator and the pressure signal generator. When it is found that no flow signal is being produced, the pressure fluctuation is compared with a prescribed pressure fluctuation range and a leak signal is produced when the pressure fluctuation value falls within the prescribed range.

Abstract: A C/C composite including a carbon matrix and carbon fibers and exhibiting a crystal structure of the carbon matrix differing between (a) the portion at and in the vicinity of the interface between the carbon fibers and the carbon matrix and (b) the other portion of the carbon matrix and excelling in strength and thermal conductivity is produced by a method which includes intercalating a carbonizing catalyst in carbon fibers, causing said carbon fibers having said carbonizing catalyst intercalated therein to be impregnated with a precursor of a carbon matrix, and then firing the product of impregnation.