Abstract: A substrate for detecting base sequences that comprises a transparent support, a thin metal film formed on one side of the transparent support, and a self-assembled monolayer with a nonionic aromatic compound being an intercalator of nucleic acid polymers dispersed over the surface formed on the metal film. The substrate is manufactured, for example, by immersing a transparent support with a thin gold film formed on one side in a solution that contains a disulfide (S—S) compound containing anthracene for the intercalator of nucleic acid polymers form on the metal film. A nucleic acid polymer (probe or target) is immobilized to the monolayer of the substrate, another nucleic acid polymer (target or probe) is hybridized to the nucleic acid polymer immobilized to the monolayer, and the results of the hybridization can be detected by the Surface Plasmon Resonance method after washing.

Abstract: A conference system is formed by multiple workstations which have individual conference control programs and are connected to a network, with each workstation having a destination workstation determined in advance so that a ring-shaped logical communication path is formed on the network. A conference control program which detects a fault on its receiving path during a conference sends a fault recovery request message including an identifier of the conference control program itself and the address of the workstation to the neighboring workstation, and the conference control program of the neighboring workstation relays the received fault recovery request message to the next workstation on the ring-shaped logical communication path so that the fault recovery request message is propagated on the ring-shaped logical communication path.

Abstract: According to a first aspect of the invention, an optical position sensor employs a position encoder having collimators and reflectors with mutually aligned optical axes mounted in a support. A slotted code plate moves between the collimators and reflectors in a plane non-perpendicular to their optic axes. This encoder converts position to optical signals reliably, regardless of mechanical shock or vibration. According to a second aspect of the invention, an optical position sensing system employs wavelength-division multiplexing to distribute light pulses to different position encoders and time-division multiplexing to further distribute pluses to the collimators in each encoder. This permits multiple position encoders to be served by a single light source and optical fiber.

Abstract: In a collaborative information processing system including a plurality of terminals each having a multiwindow function and each being connected to the other terminal via a network, each terminal includes a plurality of application programs for issuing a request for an input event and a request for a window, a window server for converting input data received from the input device into a logical input event and for updating an image on a display screen depending on the content of an output request received from the application program, a plurality of window library modules connected to the window server via a logical communication path and linked with the application programs, and a control program for communicating an input event with other terminals via the network.

Abstract: A system including a plurality of terminal apparatuses connected to each other via a communication network for achieving joint information processing, such as involved in an electronic joint project and an electronic meeting. The terminal apparatuses are interconnected to each other via a logical ring path formed on the communication network. Each terminal apparatus is loaded with a control program for supervising the joint information processing. Each control program functions in cooperation with control programs of other terminal apparatuses to conduct communication procedures for establishing, for changing, or for terminating the logical ring path and to control a display operation to supply the user with information identifying those members currently participating in the joint information processing.

Abstract: In the machine of this invention, a rotation-support member is provided in an outer tub for containing water so that the rotation-support member can rotate about a vertical axis. The rotation-support member supports a perforated inner tub rotatable about a horizontal axis. A heating means heats air in the inner tub. When the laundry is washed or rinsed, the laundry is loaded in the inner tub, water is supplied to the outer tub until the water reaches inside the inner tub, and the inner tub is rotated about the horizontal axis. The laundry is prevented from jumping out of the inner tub during the washing and rinsing process due to boards or net provided in the inner tub. When the washed or rinsed laundry is dehydrated, water is drained from the outer tub, the rotation-support member and the inner tub are rotated together about the vertical axis in the same direction at the same high speed.

Abstract: In the machine of this invention, a rotation-support member is provided in an outer tub for containing water so that the rotation-support member can rotate about a vertical axis. The rotation-support member supports a perforated inner tub rotatable about a horizontal axis. When the laundry is washed or rinsed, the laundry is loaded in the inner tub, water is supplied to the outer tub until the water reaches inside the inner tub, and the inner tub is rotated about the horizontal axis. When the washed or rinsed laundry is dehydrated, water is drained from the outer tub, the rotation-support member and the inner tub are rotated together about the vertical axis in the same direction at the same high speed. Consequently, the machine is simply constructed and inexpensively manufacture.

Abstract: A carbon-containing mixture is obtained by collecting a dispersed phase mixture from an aerosol which has been formed by introducing a decomposable carbon compound and a decomposable metallic compound into a hot gas containing steam.Since this carbon-containing mixture is extremely high in uniformity and consists of extremely fine particles, it can afford after heat treatment a metal carbide of high quality.

Abstract: A process for producing a sialon powder, which process comprises the steps of:introducing a decomposable silicon compound, decomposable aluminum compound and a decomposable carbon compound into a steam-containing hot gas to decompose said decomposable silicon compound, aluminum compound and carbon compound in said hot gas into silicon oxide, aluminum oxide and elemental carbon, respectively, thereby producing a fine solid particle mixture consisting essentially of said silicon oxide, aluminum oxide and elemental carbon to be dispersed in said gas;collecting said fine solid particle mixture dispersed in the gas from the gas phase by a solid-gas separating technique; andcalcining the thus-obtained carbon-containing composition consisting essentially of said silicon oxide, aluminum oxide and elemental carbon, in a nitrogen containing gas atmosphere.

Abstract: An electronic print board comprising: a recording medium formed by a flexible sheet for recording erasable recordings and/or drawings or for holding a data sheet thereon, a mechanism for moving said recording medium, a scanning system for scanning the writings and/or drawings or data carried on a data sheet secured on the recording medium and providing electric signals corresponding to the writings and/or drawings or the data, operating unit including sheet size selecting switches, an image memory for storing data corresponding to the writings and/or drawings or the data carried on a data sheet secured on the recording medium. A control circuit for controlling the scanning operation of the scanning system, reading data from the image memory and printing the data on a printing sheet, and a reading and printing unit for reading data from the image memory and printing the data read from the image memory under the control of the control circuit.

Abstract: A slice level deciding circuit includes a slice level generator for generating a variable slice level and a comparator for comparing a slice level generated from the generator with a picture image signal. An optimum slice level can be provided by operating, via an arithmetic circuit, a prescribed value on the same slice level as generated from the generator when an output from the comparator satisfies a prescribed slice level deciding condition. Accordingly, deterioration of a picture image quality can be prevented, which is caused by changes of a quantity of light due to variations of ambient temperature around the light source used for obtaining a picture image signal from the readout medium and noise produced upon reading portions on the readout medium where a quantity of light from the light source is reduced.