Abstract: The outside edges of a sealing plate are weld attached to close off an opening in a metal case of a prismatic battery of this invention. The sealing plate has an electrode rivet which passes through an electrode hole and sandwiches an insulating gasket to attach in an electrically insulating fashion. The battery case houses an electrode group with either its positive or negative electrode plate connected to the electrode rivet. The sealing plate has a periphery region or reinforcement rib which is formed thicker than the rivet region where the electrode rivet attaches, and the outside edges of this reinforcement rib are weld attached to the case.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a battery containing a non-circular spiral electrode unit forms a true circular or elliptical cylindrical electrode unit by winding positive and negative electrode plates with a micro-porous polymer film separator disposed between the two electrode plates. The cylindrical electrode unit is pressed from both sides into a non-circular spiral electrode unit and inserted into an external case to form a battery. When the cylindrical electrode unit is pressed into a non-circular spiral electrode unit, the separator gurley value of the pressed non-circular spiral electrode unit is arranged to be in the range from 110% to 150%, where the separator gurley value of the cylindrical electrode unit is 100%.

Abstract: A cleaning agent for removing acidic gases which are harmful materials from a harmful gas containing such acidic gases, and a cleaning method using the cleaning agent are disclosed. The cleaning agent comprises a molded product of a composition comprising strontium hydroxide and an iron oxide, and the harmful gas is passed through a cleaning column packed with the cleaning agent to contact the harmful gas with the cleaning agent, thereby removing the acidic gases from the harmful gas.

Abstract: The battery of the present invention includes a case, an electrode group introduced into the case and a cover sealing the open side of the case. The cover has a battery electrode, an insulation panel, spacers, and a cover tab, fixed thereto. The battery electrode and the cover tab are electrically welded, and are insulated from the cover. The spacers and the insulation panel are made of an insulating material. A connection opening is formed between the introduction of the spacers and enables welding material to weld the cover tab to the electrode group.

Abstract: There is disclosed a process for purifying a halogen-containing gas (halogen gas such as chlorine, fluorine alone or diluted with an inert gas) which comprises bringing the halogen-containing gas into contact with a purifying agent comprising a hydroxide of an alkaline earth metal such as strontium hydroxide and an iron oxide such as triiron tetraoxide to efficiently remove hydrogen halogenides such as hydrogen chloride and hydrogen fluoride along with moisture that are contained as impurities in the halogen-containing gas. The above process enables the formation of a non-corrosive halogen-containing gas having an extremely high purity and capable of being favorably used as etching gas for silicon films, aluminum alloy films, etc. in a semiconductor manufacturing process.

Abstract: An image signal processor for processing both high definition image signal with a high resolution and standard image signal with a resolution lower than that of the high definition image signal in which the high definition image signal is decomposed into a plurality of subband signals and the standard image signal, when input, is converted into a subband signal having a low subband. Each subband signal is encoded and recorded in a predetermined area of a disk. The subband signal recorded is read out and decoded for each subband and the low subband signal is reproduced as the standard image signal by converting the width of the low subband signal into the width of the standard image signal.

Abstract: A coding and decoding apparatus is used to code and decode video signals. Input video signals are enhanced by an emphasis circuit having a nonlinear characteristic increasing an enhancement degree as amplitude of the input video signal decreases. The enhanced video signal, outputted from the emphasis circuit, is compression coded in an encoder and a code stream, representing a compression coded video signal, is outputted from the encoder. The code stream is transmitted to a decoder and the decoder decodes the code stream, outputting a decoded video signal. The decoded video signal is fed to a de-emphasis circuit having a nonlinear characteristic increasing a suppression degree as amplitude of the input signal decreases. As a result, low noise high quality video signals is reproduced from the de-emphasis circuit.

Abstract: In an image coding method, a picture is divided into blocks composed of adjacent plural pixels, and a reference picture is used to predict the picture to be coded. A block including an image region not existing in the reference picture, i.e. newly appearing in the picture to be coded by the movement of an object included in the picture, is detected as an independent block, and the independent block is coded independently, without prediction from the reference picture.

Abstract: The present invention relates to specific activated carbon materials including from 1 to 5% by weight of nitrogen, from 3 to 30% by weight of oxygen and from 40 to 95% by weight of carbon, and having an average pore radius of from 15 to 30 .ANG., with the proviso that mesopores occupy at least 50% by volume based on the total pore volume, and also relates a process for the preparation thereof, and to the use thereof as catalysts.

Abstract: The present invention relates to specific activated carbon materials including from 1 to 5% by weight of nitrogen, from 3 to 30% by weight of oxygen and from 40 to 95% by weight of carbon, and having an average pore radius of from 15 to 30 .ANG., with the proviso that mesopores occupy at least 50% by volume based on the total pore volume, and also relates a process for the preparation thereof, and to the use thereof as catalysts.

Abstract: A process of an enzymatic interesterification in a low water content condition, which comprises subjecting a reaction liquid containing (a) a fat or oil and (b) a member selected from the group consisting of (i) another fat or oil, (ii) a fatty acid ester with a lower alcohol and (iii) a fatty acid to the action of a lipase in the form of dried Rhizopus cells while maintaining the water concentration between 5 and 1000 ppm in the reaction liquid during the reaction. In accordance with the process of the present invention, an interesterification of fat or oil can be carried out efficiently in a high yield.

Abstract: A surface treating agent for an aluminum line pattern substrate is disclosed, comprising an aqueous solution containing 0.01 to 15% by weight of quaternary ammonium hydroxide represented by the general formula: ##STR1## wherein R is an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, or a hydroxy-substituted alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, and R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are independently an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, and 0.1 to 20% by weight of sugar or sugar alcohol. This agent can inhibit the after-corrosion of aluminum effectively.

Abstract: This invention provides a process for concentration and separation of an eicosapentaenoic acid ester comprising:(1) a step in which a solution, in a nonpolar solvent, of a mixture of fatty acid esters containing an eicosapentaenoic acid ester is allowed to contact with a zeolite, so as to allow said eicosapentaenoic ester to be adsorbed on said zeolite;(2) a step in which said zeolite is allowed to contact with a nonpolar solvent, so as to desorb impurities; and(3) a step in which said zeolite is allowed to contact with a polar solvent, so as to allow said eicosapentaenoic acid ester to be desorbed.This process makes it possible to obtain a highly pure eicosapentaenoic acid ester on a commercial scale.

Abstract: A gene which provides resistance to at least one methionine derivative and is capable of enhancing accumulation of S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM) in a cell, a hybrid plasmid having the same, a cell transformed with the above hybrid plasmid, and a process for producing SAM using the above cell. According to the present invention, SAM, which has various therapeutic effects, can be producing in a large amount at a low cost.

Abstract: This invention provides a method of concentrating and separating .gamma.-linolenic acid esters and/or arachidonic acid esters characterized in that a fatty acid ester mixture containing .gamma.-linolenic acid ester and/or arachidonic acid ester is brought in contact with crystalline aluminosilicate zeolites to make adsorption and desorption. According to this invention, high purity .gamma.-linolenic acid and/or arachidonic acid ester(s) may be obtained on industrial scale.

Abstract: A method of measuring a combustible component in a liquid or gas employs a gas having a high oxygen content, instead of air or an inert gas, as the carrier gas to thereby improve drastically the scope and accuracy of measurement by a semicondutor gas sensor. The carrier gas having a high oxygen content is supplied into a combustible component sampler formed from a gas-permeable membrane and disposed in the liquid or gas to be tested so that the combustible component may be diffused into the carrier gas through the gas-permeable membrane. The carrier gas entraining the combustible component therein is introduced into a detector having a semiconductor gas sensor, in which the combustible component is detected, and its concentration is determined continuously or intermittently.

Abstract: A broth containing yeast cells is continuously or intermittently removed from a fermentor. Then, yeast cells are separated from the filtrate using a cell separator, or further washed with water. Then, the yeast cells so obtained are recycled to the fermentor, whereby yeasts are cultivated at a high cell concentration of from 6% to about 20% based on dry weight. As discussed herein, by removing the filtrate from the cultivation system, there is no accumulation of metabolites and salts prohibiting the cultivation of yeasts, and further the growth of miscellaneous microorganisms which interfere with yeast cell growth, is surprisingly suppressed.

Abstract: Apparatus for cultivating aerobic microorganisms is provided which comprises cell multiplying compartment and cell ripening compartment. The invention also provides a cultivation process using the same apparatus. The invention improves oxygen transfer rate and utilization of oxygen, thus enabling cultivation at a higher concentration of microorganisms as compared with any conventional process.

Abstract: A dynamic complementary metal -oxide-semiconductor circuit (CMOS) includes a pair of gate stages connected in cascade. The first gate stage includes a first logic block which effects a prescribed logical function, the logic block being connected between a P-type and the N-type MOSFET. The source electrodes of the P-type and the N-type MOSFETs are connected between a power supply and ground, respectively, and their gate electrodes are connected in common. Moreover, the first gate stage has its output terminal connected to a load capacitor.The second logic block is also connected between a P-type MOSFET and an N-type MOSFET. The source electrodes of these MOSFETs are connected between a power supply and ground, respectively, while the gate electrodes thereof are connected in common. Also, a second load capacitor is connected to the output of the second gate stage.A pair of pulse signals, inverted with respect to each other, are applied to the first and second gate stages for driving the same, respectively.