Abstract: A resist composition is prepared by reacting an alkali-soluble polymer having a phenolic hydroxyl or carboxyl groups with a vinyl ether compound in an aprotic solvent, such as propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate, in the presence of an acid catalyst, suspending the reaction by the addition of a base, and directly adding a photoacid generator to the reaction solution. When a dialkyl dicarbonate is used in stead of the vinyl ether compound, a resist composition is prepared by carrying out the reaction in the presence of a basic catalyst and adding a photoacid generator directly to the reaction. Thus resist compositions can be prepared without isolating or purifying an alkali-soluble polymer which has been substituted by a catalytic reaction.

Abstract: A resist composition is prepared by reacting an alkali-soluble polymer having a phenolic hydroxyl or carboxyl groups with a vinyl ether compound in an aprotic solvent, such as propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate, in the presence of an acid catalyst, suspending the reaction by the addition of a base, and directly adding a photoacid generator to the reaction solution. When a dialkyl dicarbonate is used in stead of the vinyl ether compound, a resist composition is prepared by carrying out the reaction in the presence of a basic catalyst and adding a photoacid generator directly to the reaction. Thus resist compositions can be prepared without isolating or purifying an alkali-soluble polymer which has been substituted by a catalytic reaction.

Abstract: A fuel cell is formed as a stack of a plurality of unit cells, each unit cell including an electrode unit held by separators, each electrode unit including a solid polymer electrolyte membrane held by a pair of electrodes. Fluid passages extend through the stack in a stacking direction of the stack. An insulating supply-discharge member having a fluid passage communicates with at least one of the fluid passages extending through the stack. A current collection member is held between the supply-discharge member and the stack. An isolating element is positioned to fluidically isolate the current collection member from a fluid in the fluid passage of the supply-discharge member and from the fluid passages extending through the stack. The fuel cell has high reliability and high generating efficiency, and can be produced at low cost.

Abstract: A communication apparatus, a communication system, and a communication method are provided for relaying and receiving data from an information source which presents data services such as video data services via a network such as Internet. With this configuration, the service data can be dynamically changed and a digest corresponding to such a change can be presented. Also with this configuration, a communication apparatus, a communication system, and a communication method are provided which are capable of reducing the load of the whole network and relaying and receiving data at high efficiency.

Abstract: This invention aims at providing a method of obtaining fine alloy powders, which are extremely small in particle size, high in purity, and uniform in composition, providing fine alloy powders obtained by this method, and providing molding materials, slurries, and electromagnetic shielding materials, which use these fine alloy powders. This invention provides a fine alloy powder production method, which is characterized in that after performing the process of mixing at least a trivalent titanium compound and a complexing agent, which binds with the trivalent titanium ion, in an aqueous solution containing two or more types of metal ion, the two or more types of metal are made to deposit simultaneously.

Abstract: An image retrieval method and apparatus for searching a plurality of images stored in an image file for a desired image are disclosed. When a designated image for designating an image to be retrieved for is input, and its color is designated, the sizes and colors are compared between description information which stores the feature of each of regions obtained by dividing each of images to be searched stored in the image file, and feature data of the designated image. In this manner, the regions, which are determined to be included in the designated image, of image data are obtained, and the similarities between the obtained regions of image data and the designated image are calculated. Image data having higher similarities are read out from the image file, and are displayed while being sorted in the descending order from the highest similarity.

Abstract: An image retrieval method and apparatus for searching a plurality of images stored in an image file for a desired image are disclosed. When a designated image for designating an image to be retrieved is input, and its color is designated, the sizes and colors are compared between description information which stores the feature of each of regions obtained by dividing each of images to be searched stored in the image file, and feature data of the designated image. In this manner, the regions, which are determined to be included in the designated image, of image data are obtained, and the similarities between the obtained regions of image data and the designated image are calculated. Image data having higher similarities are read out from the image file, and are displayed while being sorted in the descending order from the highest similarity.

Abstract: A terminal device which can set a connection status of a communication tool line between terminal devices in various ways and an electronic conference system having such a terminal device are provided. The terminal device for communicating information between remote terminal devices comprises a connection status operation/control unit for setting a connection status of a line to be used by the communication tool, a connection modification unit for changing the line connection in accordance with the content set by the connection status operation/control unit, a connection status modification convey unit for outputting the content set by the connection status operation/control unit to other terminal device, and a connection status modification inform unit for receiving the content of the modification of the line connection from the other terminal.

Abstract: Acid-labile group protected hydroxystyrene polymers having recurrent pendant groups such as 1-(2-methanecarbonyl oxyethoxy)ethoxy group and 1-(2-N-methylcarbamatoethoxy) ethoxy group. A resist containing the polymer, a photo acid generator, a base, additives and a solvent is sensitive to UV, electron beam and X-ray. In the resist, acid is formed in the exposed area during irradiation, which deprotects acid-labile group catalytically during application of post-exposure baking. Positive patterns are formed after development using an alkaline solution.

Abstract: A radiation-sensitive composition is disclosed which includes (a) a binder insoluble in water but soluble in or capable of being swelled in an aqueous alkali solution, (b) a dissolution inhibitor composed of (b1) a poly(N,O-acetal) having a general formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.3 is alkyl or substituted or unsubstituted aryl, R.sup.4 is a divalent group selected from alkylene, cycloalkylene, alkene or alkyne, R.sup.5 is alkyl, alkene, alkyne or cycloalkyl, X is --OCO--, --CO-- or --NHCO--, and p is a number not less than 1, and/or (b2) a phenol compound having a hydroxyl group which is protected by a group which can be cleaved in the presence of an acid, (c) a photosensitive compound capable of generating an acid when exposed to an active radiation, (d) a base capable of being decomposed when exposed to an active radiation to form a neutral compound derived therefrom, (e) a plasticizer, and (f) a solvent.

Abstract: A process for producing a solution of a basic or non-basic sulfonium compound (A) of formulae II-V: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.5, R.sup.6 and R.sup.7 each independently represent a C.sub.1 -C.sub.18 alkyl, aryl or heteroaryl group or an aryl group mono-, di- or tri-substituted with an alkyl, an alkylaryl, an aryl, a halogen, an alkoxy, a phenoxy, a thiophenol, a phenylsulfonyl or a phenylsulphenyl;Y represents (CH.sub.2).sub.n (wherein n is 0 or 1), O or S;R.sup.8 and R.sup.9 represent a C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, alkoxy or a halogen;R.sup.10 and R.sup.11 represent a C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, alkoxy or a halogen;n is 5 or 6; andX.sub.2.sup.- represents a basic anion having a pK.sub.B value of -3 to +5; comprising the steps of:(a) dissolving a sulfonium salt (B) in a metal-ion free polar or non-polar solvent to form a solution, said sulfonium salt (B) being selected from said formulae II-V, wherein R.sup.5 to R.sup.11, Y and n of said sulfonium salt (B) have the sane meaning as above and X.sub.2.sup.

Abstract: Image data processing apparatus transmitting data in according with a reception rate includes a receiver for receiving information data transmitted from at least one external terminal, and calculating circuitry for calculating a reception rate of the information data received by the receiver. The reception rate is calculated continuously or at every predetermined transmission time interval. A transmitter then transmits the calculated rate data. Preferably, in a video conferencing system, data is transmitted and received at an appropriated rate.

Abstract: A radiation-sensitive composition is disclosed which includes:(a) a copolymer represented by the general formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, R.sup.2 is a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group or a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group, Ar is a substituted or unsubstituted phenylene group or a substituted or unsubstituted cyclohexylene group, X is a divalent group represented by --SO.sub.2 -- or --CO--, m and n are individually an integer not less than 1;(b) a dissolution inhibitor composed of a compound represented by the general formula: ##STR2## wherein R.sup.3 is an alkyl group or a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group, R.sup.4 is an alkylene group, a cycloalkylene group, an alkenylene group or an alkynylene group, R.sup.

Abstract: A lift truck having a mast structure for supporting a liftable implement, a pair of lift cylinders for lifting the implement, and a mast support for supporting the mast structure on a front axle of a vehicle body. The mast structure includes a pair of masts extending substantially vertically and a cross beam for connecting the lower ends of the masts. The mast support includes a pair of support bodies fixed to one of the masts and the cross beam at a first fastened section. The mast support further includes a pair of brackets, each bracket being fixed to one of the support bodies at a second fastened section and connected to the front axle. Each cylinder is located adjacent to a corresponding one of the brackets and is located behind the corresponding one of the masts. The structure allows for simplified manufacture.

Abstract: A display of a video received from a plurality of communication terminals or video input terminals is effected satisfactorily in accordance with a state at a transmission terminal side. A communication terminal connected to other communication terminals via a network, characterized by comprising receiving unit for receiving a video from the plurality of communication terminals, display unit for displaying the received video on a multi-window, command receiving unit for receiving a change indication command to change a display state of the video received from the plurality of communication terminals, and control unit for changing a display state of window displaying the video received from the communication terminals which have issued the change indication command, upon receiving the change indication command from the command receiving unit.

Abstract: A chemically amplified resist material comprising: a) a homopolymer or a copolymer of hydroxystyrene or hydroxystyrene partly protected by a group sensitive to an acid such as a tetrahydropyranyl or t-butoxycarbonyl group, b) a dissolution inhibitor such as poly(N,O-acetal) or phenol or bisphenol protected by a group cleavable with an acid, c) a photosensitive compound capable of generating an acid upon exposure, d) a base capable of degrading upon radiation to regulate the line width in a period between the exposure step and the processing steps after exposure, e) a low-molecular weight phenolic or polyphenolic compound having a structure represented by the following general formula or a mixture of the phenolic or polyphenolic compounds: ##STR1## where n is an integer of 1 to 5, m is an integer of 0 to 4, n+m.ltoreq.5, and p is an integer of 1 to 10, each R is a C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 alkyl group or an unsubstituted or substituted cycloalkyl group or a C.sub.1 -C.sub.

Abstract: A frame structure for a motorcycle provided with a sub-frame extending forwardly from pivot plates fixed at the lower ends of a main frame. The sub-frame includes a U-shaped member having right and left opening ends thereof connected to the pivot plates at the lower ends of the main frame. The sub-frame extends approximately horizontally and forwardly from the connecting portions so that the front end portion of the sub-frame is not connected to the down frames.

Abstract: A material for the formation of a pattern is provided which has a wide exposure latitude and is less liable to cause a dimensional change of a pattern with a change in exposure. The material comprises (A) a compound having a capability of producing an acid upon irradiation with an active beam, (B) a compound capable of producing a base or increasing its basicity, (C) a compound having at least one bond clearable with an acid and/or (D) a compound insoluble in water but soluble in an aqueous alkaline solution.

Abstract: An audio output apparatus obtains image signals of moving images to be displayed in each window of a display and corresponding audio signals from a plurality of connected external reproduction apparatuses. The obtained image signal is screen-synthesized, and moving pictures are displayed in each window by a multi-window system. When one of the moving pictures is designated by a pointing device out of the plurality of moving pictures which are displayed in the windows, the audio signal corresponding to the designated moving picture is selected from the plurality of audio signals which are obtained from the plurality of external reproduction apparatuses. Only the sound corresponding to the designated moving image can be output by designating a desired image out of the plurality of moving picture display windows. As a result, a user can selectively listen to the sound corresponding to the desired moving picture.

Abstract: A radiation-sensitive mixture for use in the production of semiconductor elements, which has high sensitivity and high resolution, which can be developed by an aqueous alkaline solution, and which is based on a novel concept in that a stable acid latent image is controlled by using a radiation-decomposable base.The mixture is characterized by comprising as essential components a) a binder which is insoluble in water but soluble in an aqueous alkaline solution; b.sup.1) a compound having at least one bond which can be cleaved by an acid, or b.sup.2) a compound having at least one bond which is crosslinked with the compound a) by an acid; c) a compound which generates an acid when irradiated; and d) a basic iodonium compound.