Abstract: A modified polyisocyanate which has a high emulsifying/dispersing ability in aqueous resin compositions (solution or dispersion) and can be used advantageously as a curing agent or cross-linking agentis disclosed. The modified polyisocyanate is comprised of a reaction product of a polyisocyanate (an aliphatic or alicyclic polyisocyanate such as 1,6-diisocyanate hexane or a derivative thereof) with one of the following components (1) to (3): (1) a nonionic emulsifying agent which contains active hydrogen atoms reactive with isocyanate group, has a hydrophile-lipophile balance (HLB) value of 17 or less and contains 15 to 35 in average of ethylene oxide units in one molecule, (2) a polyoxyalkylene alkylaryl ether which contains active hydrogen atoms, has an HLB value of from 5 to 17 and contains ethylene oxide unit and (3) a nonionic emulsifying agent which contains active hydrogen atoms and a coupling agent (e.g.

Abstract: A film deposition apparatus to which the present invention is applied comprises a vacuum chamber 11, a plasma beam generator 13, a main hearth 30 which is disposed within the vacuum chamber and which serves as an anode containing a vaporizable material Cu, and an auxiliary anode 31 surrounding the main hearth, the auxiliary anode being formed of an annular permanent magnet 35 and a coil 36. A Cu film is formed on a substrate 41 placed opposite to the main hearth.

Abstract: This invention provides terpenoid lactone compounds, and processes for producing the terpenoid lactone compounds, which comprise cultivating Oidiodedron griseum FERM BP-5778 and then isolating the terpenoid lactone compounds from the fermentation broth. The present invention also provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising the teipenoid lactone compound, which is useful in the treatment of IL-1 and TNF mediated diseases or the like.

Abstract: An electrostatic actuator comprising opposing electrode members displaced relatively by an electrostatic force is provided with improved durability so that electrostatic attraction between opposing members does not drop and the opposing electrode members do not stick together. Hydrophobic films of hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS) are formed on a surface of segment electrode and a bottom surface of a diaphragm (common electrode) of an eletrostatic actuator wherein the diaphragm forms a wall of an ink chamber in an ink jet head. HMDS molecules are smaller than PFDA molecules, and a uniform, variation-free hydrophobic film can therefore be formed even when the gap between opposing electrodes is narrow. Durability and film stability of a HMDS hydrophobic film are also high. An electrostatic actuator with high durability and operating stability can thus be achieved.

Abstract: A device is provided for filing a developed X-ray film such as a developed dental X-ray film. The filing device is formed of a transparent sheet. The transparent sheet has scale marks applied thereon, and is arranged such that a particular site, such as a tooth, in the X-ray film can be diagnosed using the scale marks. The filing device makes it possible to determine with precision and ease the size, relative position or the like of the particular site without removal of the X-ray film from the filing device.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of executing test programs for a semiconductor testing system performing function tests on a semiconductor device through the execution of the test programs by means of an operating system. When a statement of a test program for designating a predetermined set value is executed, the set value is stored in a data area. Then, when a statement on the execution of a function test is executed, the above set value is read to set a corresponding circuit, after which the function tests are carried out.

Abstract: An electrode plate, suitable for constituting a liquid crystal device, includes a light-transmissive substrate, a plurality of first electrodes disposed on the light-transmissive substrate and a plurality of second electrodes disposed on the first electrodes. Each first electrode comprises a layer of metal nitride and is electrically connected with an associated second electrode, and each second electrode comprises a transparent electrode. The electrode plate is effective in improving an adhesiveness between the first electroded and the light-transmissive substrate and an antioxidizing property of the first electrodes while ensuring a good electrical connection state between the first electrodes and the second electrodes.

Abstract: When the manual feeder and developer collecting container is attached to the copier body, there is a space which is formed by translating the developer collecting container in the attaching direction (the B-direction) of the developer collecting container, between the developer collecting container and the rear frame. The manual feeder is attached so that part of the manual feeder is disposed in this space. The attached developer collecting container, is arranged out side of a space which is the paths of the manual feeder for movement in the X-direction and in the Y-direction. The attached manual feeder is disposed outside the space which is the path of the developer collecting container. A lever as a shifting element of shifting a pickup feeding element between active and inactive positions resides in a space defined by translating the mid area across the full sheet width of the acceptable maximum size, in the direction of the sheet thickness.

Abstract: There are provided a position control signal generating means and a rate control signal generating means for driving a master lens group. One of these two means is validated by means of a changeover switch. A macro-shooting controller including the rate control signal generating means also serves as a zoom controller. After the position control signal generating means is validated to adjust a flange back length, the rate control signal generating means is validated, and then the master lens group moves to a macro-shooting position, etc. Thereafter, if the position control signal generating means is validated again by means of the changeover switch, the master lens group automatically returns to the previously-adjusted position of the proper flange back length.

Abstract: There is provided a heat insulating hose which comprises a seamless cylindrical inner tube formed of a synthetic resin, and a cylindrical heat insulating layer formed of a foamed synthetic resin for covering an outer peripheral face of the inner tube, characterized in that the inner tube is provided at its one end with a cylindrical part for connection with a drain outlet of an air conditioning appliance and formed with a number of ring-shaped protrusion stripes which project toward its outer circumference over an entire length thereof in its axial direction except the cylindrical part spacing a distance W which is wider than an axial width w of each of the ring-shaped protrusion stripes, and that an area b of a desired range spaced by a determined length a from the cylindrical part is an area wherein a number of ring-shaped protrusion stripes are formed at a smaller distance s.

Abstract: A heat retaining knit fabric is comprised of a knit textile design for outer clothing exposed in an open air wherein heat is retained inside a knit structure and a dispersion of heat is prevented when using heat of wetting generating fiber which generates heat by water adsorption and steam adsorption in a interlock stitch of plating stitch comprising minute space surrounded by two kinds of yarn at the front and the back of each knitted loop in a knit-loop portion.

Abstract: An engine stopping/starting control unit having improved accelerating performance. A charging limiting device is provided which limits the charge provided to a generator when the vehicle is stopped. The decreased charging allows for better performance when the vehicle accelerates from a stopped states. Also, the vehicle headlight can be dimmed while the vehicle is stopped, which reduces the load on the generator. An acceleration detector detects when the vehicle accelerates during running, and can decrease the generator load in response to the acceleration.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device of the present invention capable of enlarging and displaying to a high picture quality even when display data having a lower resolution than a liquid crystal panel is inputted is provided with storage element groups every drain line within latches of a liquid crystal driver. A portion of the storage element groups simultaneously captures display data. In doing so, the same liquid crystal apply voltage is outputted from drain lines corresponding to these storage element groups. Storage element groups corresponding to neighboring drain lines then simultaneously capture display data so as to enlarge an image in the horizontal direction. The rate of enlargement can be regulated by changing the number of storage element groups simultaneously capturing display data.

Abstract: In an epitaxial-wafer fabricating process for epitaxially growing a silicon layer on the surface of a silicon wafer having the crystal orientation <100> or <111> and an inclination angle of 0°±1° in a reactive gas at a atmosphereicpressure, a growth temperature T is lower than a normal growth temperature by 50° C. to 100° C. during the process of epitaxial growth.

Abstract: An acetylide-form propargyl-containing resin composition for cationic electrocoating, which comprises a resin having a skeleton of epoxy resin and has a number average molecular weight of 500 to 20,000, and which contains, per 100 grams of the resin composition solids, 5 to 400 millimoles of sulfonium group and 10 to 495 millimoles of propargyl group, the total content of the sulfonium and propargyl groups being not more than 500 millimoles per 100 grams of the resin composition solids, said propargyl group being partly in the form of an acetylide. This resin composition may further contain unsaturated double bonds.

Abstract: In a method for driving a liquid crystal display apparatus which includes liquid crystal having spontaneous polarization disposed between a plurality of pixel electrodes arranged in a matrix form and a common electrode disposed to face the pixel electrodes, the method for driving the liquid crystal display apparatus includes a polarity inversion of periodically inverting polarities of at least one part of voltages applied between the plurality of pixel electrodes and the common electrode, and a write-in operation of applying the voltages to the pixel electrodes to hold display voltages, respectively, corresponding to the applied voltages on the pixel electrode, wherein the polarity inversion is effected to satisfy the expression of TS/TF≧2 when a frame period is set to TF and a period for effecting the polarity inversion is set to TS.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a thermostable DNA polymerase-associated factor capable of enhancing DNA synthesizing-activity of a DNA polymerase; a thermostable DNA polymerase-associated factor possessing an activity of binding to a DNA polymerase and a method for producing the same; a gene encoding the DNA polymerase-associated factor; a method of DNA synthesis by using a DNA polymerase in the presence of the DNA polymerase-associated factor; and a kit comprising the DNA polymerase-associated factor. According to the present invention, there can be provided in vitro DNA synthesis and a DNA amplification system which are more excellent than conventional techniques by utilizing the DNA polymerase-associated factor of the present invention.

Abstract: A recording medium reproducing apparatus includes a recording medium inlet member through which a recording medium is inserted, a recording medium reproducing unit which reproduces said recording medium, and a recording medium supporting member including wing portions which support said recording medium. The wing portions are elastically warped by the recording medium and support the recording medium by an elastically restoring force. Each of the wing portions is provided obliquely in a direction in which the recording medium is inserted in the recording medium reproducing unit.

Abstract: A semiconductor substrate is prepared which has a principal surface, an exposed pad made of conductive material being formed in a partial area of the principal surface, and the other area of the principal surface being covered with a first insulating film. A base conductive film is formed on the first insulating film and the pad. A photoresist film having a thickness of 50 &mgr;m or thicker is formed on the base conductive film. An opening is formed through the photoresist film in an area corresponding to the pad to expose a partial surface area of the base conductive film. A conductive bump electrode is deposited on the base conductive film exposed on a bottom of the opening. The photoresist film is removed. This method is suitable for making a fine pitch between bump electrodes.

Abstract: An inflatable belt has an envelope-shaped or elongated belt body, which is folded in a long band-like configuration, and a cover enclosing the belt body. One end of the belt body 11 is connected to a tongue 15. The cover preferably is made from a stretchable knitted fabric. There is a cushion layer between the belt body 11 and the cover 12. The outer surface of the cushion layer 13 is processed by low frictional treatment such as fluororesin coating. A low-friction film or tape may also be laid between the cushion layer and the cover. Thus, the inflatable belt feels softer when it contacts the occupant or when the occupant touches the belt.