Abstract: When a database area multi-written or replicated in an external storage unit is separated, a database management system writes consistent data into the external storage unit. A method and system capable of controlling a timing of separating the replicated database area is provided. Furthermore, new data directory information necessary to access the replicated database is dynamically added based on the data directory information of the replication source database. A method and system capable of selecting whether to access the database which is the source of the replication or access the replicated database are provided. Thus, when the database area multi-written or replicated in an external storage unit is separated and physical replicated databases are created, it is possible to maintain consistency of the replicated databases while continuing transaction processing.

Abstract: An aromatic amide block copolymer containing a specific aromatic amide compound unit and having a weight average molecular weight, as reduced into standard polystyrene measured by the gel permeation chromatography, of from 10,000 to 1,000,000.

Abstract: There is provided a technique capable of executing a predetermined processing while continuing a database processing. Firstly, the database to be operated is switched from the main database to a duplicate database. The predetermined processing is executed to the main database which becomes the non-operation mode by the switching. Next, a database access request is distributed to the duplicate database which becomes the operation mode by the switching, thereby performing the database processing. Update information indicating the content of the update processing performed to the duplicate database is output. The output update information is reflected on the main data base for which the predetermined processing has been executed. After this, the database to be operated is switched from the duplicate database to the main database.

Abstract: A problem solver for generating an action sequence executed from an initial state to a goal state in a state space defined by a particular problem is disclosed, that comprises a cognitive distance learning unit learning a cognitive distance that represents a cost acted on the environment of the state space, the cost being spent in an action sequence executed from a first state in the state space to a second state that is different from the first state, and a next action deciding unit deciding a next action contained in the action sequence that has to be executed in a particular state to attain the goal state in the state space based on the cognitive distance learnt by the cognitive distance learning unit.

Abstract: When a database area multi-written or replicated in an external storage unit is separated, a database management system writes consistent data into the external storage unit. A method and system capable of controlling a timing of separating the replicated database area is provided. Furthermore, new data directory information necessary to access the replicated database is dynamically added based on the data directory information of the replication source database. A method and system capable of selecting whether to access the database which is the source of the replication or access the replicated database are provided. Thus, when the database area multi-written or replicated in an external storage unit is separated and physical replicated databases are created, it is possible to maintain consistency of the replicated databases while continuing transaction processing.

Abstract: A problem solver for generating an action sequence executed from an initial state to a goal state in a state space defined by a particular problem is disclosed, that comprises a cognitive distance learning unit learning a cognitive distance that represents a cost acted on the environment of the state space, the cost being spent in an action sequence executed from a first state in the state space to a second state that is different from the first state, and a next action deciding unit deciding a next action contained in the action sequence that has to be executed in a particular state to attain the goal state in the state space based on the cognitive distance learnt by the cognitive distance learning unit.

Abstract: In bending a glass sheet, the load applied to an intermediate glass sheet can be equalized to improve the quality of a final glass sheet. For this purpose, a forming ring 1 comprises a first forming frame 15 and a second forming frame 16, and the swingable center of each of swingable frames 19, 20, which forms right and left portions of a second forming frame 16, is located at an intermediate position apart from a separation position from each of fixed frames 17, 18. By such arrangement, the intermediate glass sheet can be equally supported when the swingable frames 19, 20 are moved along the intermediate glass sheet and the intermediate glass sheet is transferred from the first forming frame 15 onto the second forming frame 16.

Abstract: The feature quantity selection vectors, indicating which features among those respecting discrete events are to be selected, are fixed. The feature quantity selection spaces taking discrete features as coordinate axes are divided into each segment, and the number of events contained therein is counted. The segments are arranged in order of diminishing event counts contained therein, and the values for functions evaluating the extent of relevance are scanned in the order of segments for which the segments are arranged from the maximum segment counts in the descending order. When the partial situations determined by selection segment counts that are maximum values take evaluation values as their maximum values, even where the feature quantity selection counts are changed, those partial situations are extracted.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming glass sheets is provided wherein in a furnace structure of a heating furnace where molds with glass sheets carried thereon are intermittently conveyed, the staying period in the heating zone just before an annealing zone is variable, and the annealing zone includes a lifting device to separate a mold from a conveying device. By such arrangement, glass sheets having different shapes can be successively produced with a period for job change being greatly shortened.

Abstract: In a nondestructive method of quantitatively evaluating a degree of plasticity of ferromagnetic materials, a magnetic field of a surface of a ferromagnetic test body is measured using a magnetic sensor, and the surface of the ferromagnetic test body is partitioned into regions corresponding to domains of the ferromagnetic test body. A difference between a maximum value and a minimum value of a magnetic signal corresponding to the magnetic field for each of the domains is calculated as a spatial difference amount. A distribution width of the spatial difference amounts and an amount of residual strain corresponding to an amount of plastic deformation of the ferromagnetic test body is measured. A correlation between the distribution width of the spatial difference amounts and the amount of residual strain is calculated. A degree of plasticity of the ferromagnetic test body in calculated in accordance with the correlation.

Abstract: To provide an effective method of nondestructively and easily judging plasticization of steel used in a real construction. A magnetic sensor 10 is made to scan along the surface of steel to detect a magnetic field caused by a magnetic anisotropy induced by plastic deformation of the steel, and the existence and position of the plasticization is judged from the state of distribution of the magnetic field. As a magnetic sensor, a differential type one comprised of detection coils 10a and 10b, the winding directions of which are opposite to each other, is used to compensate a magnetic field intrinsic to the steel.

Abstract: The invention provides at least one protein which has biochemical and immunological properties of a major allergen of Dermatophagoides farinae (Derf II).

Abstract: A very small and economical acceleration sensor which can detect acting acceleration with high sensitivity and high accuracy by precisely processing a semiconductor substrate and the like by using the photoengraving technique in a semiconductor manufacturing process to accurately form the elements themselves such as a sensor case, a cavity, a heater, a temperature-sensing resistor element, and a heat-type temperature-sensing resistor element, and the relative placement of each element. One embodiment of the acceleration sensor can detect acceleration acting from any of the three-dimensional directions.

Abstract: The invention provides a DNA encoding at least one part of genetic information of protein which has biochemical and immunological properties of a major allergen of Dermatophagoides farinae (Derf II).

Abstract: Elastomeric block copolymers comprising polyether chains as soft segment in combination with aromatic polyamide chains as hard segment are disclosed, the soft and hard segments being introduced under a sequence control so as to develop excellent physical and mechanical properties. Processes for producing the elastomeric block copolymers are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention provides a DNA encoding at least one part of genetic information of protein which has biochemical and immunological properties of a major allergen of Dermatophagoides farinae (Derf II).

Abstract: A protective relay system detects a first electric variable and a second electric variable of a power system to discriminate in a time series whether or not a fault portion of a line or equipment included in the power system exists within a predetermined range, so as to determine whether protection of the power system should be carried out. The system includes a digital filter for outputting a first difference electric variable data indicative of a difference between at least two sample data of plural sampling data of the first electric variable and a difference between at least two sample data of plural sample data of the second electric variable at plural sampling times of the time series. The system also includes an addition filter for outputting first and second additive electric variable data indicative of orthogonal vector data with respect to the first and second difference electric variable data.

Abstract: A hybrid sensor which is comprised of an acceleration sensor for detecting acceleration based on a temperature distribution of a predetermined gas hermetically enclosed within a fluid-tight space, and an angular velocity sensor for detecting angular velocity based on a deviation of a flow of a predetermined gas. The acceleration sensor and the angular velocity sensor are formed in one piece by the use of semiconductor processing technology in such a manner that the acceleration sensor and the angular velocity sensor are formed on a plurality of semiconductor substrates, and then the plurality of semiconductor substrates are superposed one upon another and united into a laminate.

Abstract: An ester-amide block copolymer of the formula (1): ##STR1## wherein R is an aromatic hydrocarbon group with 6-20 carbon atoms and G is a residue of an aliphatic polyester, an aliphatic polycarbonate, an aliphatic polyethercarbonate or a polyorganosiloxane, and having a weight average molecular weight of 30,000-1,000,000. This copolymer is advantageously prepared by polycondensing an activated acyl lactam-terminated aromatic amide of the formula (2) with a diol of the formula (3) by bulk polymerization in a molten state: ##STR2## wherein R and G are the same as defined above.

Abstract: A very small and economical acceleration sensor which can detect acting acceleration with high sensitivity and high accuracy by precisely processing a semiconductor substrate and the like by using the photoengraving technique in a semiconductor manufacturing process to accurately form the elements themselves such as a sensor case, a cavity, a heater, a temperature-sensing resistor element, and a heat-type temperature-sensing resistor element, and the relative placement of each element. One embodiment of the acceleration sensor can detect acceleration acting from any of the three-dimensional directions.