Abstract: An object of the present invention is to reduce the adhesion of floating glass particulates to the surface of a soot preform during the manufacture of the soot preform, thereby reducing the voids generated in the transparent glass preform made from the soot preform, and to improve the quality of the optical fiber manufactured from the transparent glass preform. The equipment of the invention is equipped with a reaction vessel 1, a burner 2 provided within the reaction vessel 1 into which raw material gas and combustion gas are supplied so as to generate glass particulates by hydrolysis reaction, and a starting rod 5 onto which the glass particulates generated by the burner 2 are deposited. By drawing up the starting rod 5 while turning it around its axis, the glass particulates are deposited on the tip of or around the starting rod 5 to form a soot preform 6 in column-like shape.

Abstract: Reflection photomasks add a buffer layer including at least one Group VIII metal between a reflection layer and an absorber pattern that is configured to absorb extreme ultraviolet rays therein. In particular, reflection photomasks include a substrate and a reflection layer having multiple sets of alternating films of first and second materials, on the substrate. A buffer layer including at least one Group VIII metal is provided on the reflection layer opposite the substrate. An absorber pattern including material that is patterned in a pattern and that is configured to absorb extreme ultraviolet rays, is provided on the buffer layer opposite the reflection layer. The at least one Group VIII metal preferably is Ru. At least a portion of the Ru buffer layer may be less than about 3 nm thick. Alternatively, the Group VIII metal can include Pt, Ir and/or Pd.

Abstract: The present invention is to provide an ultra-thin copper foil with a carrier which comprises a release layer, a diffusion preventive layer and a copper electroplating layer laminated in this order, or a diffusion preventive layer, a release layer and a copper electroplating layer laminated in this order on the surface of a carrier foil, wherein a surface of the copper electroplating layer is roughened; a copper-clad laminated board comprising the ultra-thin copper foil with a carrier being laminated on a resin substrate; a printed wiring board comprising the copper-clad laminated board on the ultra-thin copper foil of which is formed a wiring pattern; and a multi-layered printed wiring board which comprising a plural number of the above printed wiring board being laminated.

Abstract: A liquid crystal is interposed between a first transparent substrate having first electrodes and a second transparent substrate having other electrodes. Pixel regions are formed at portions where the first electrodes and the other electrodes are opposed to each other. A semitransparent reflecting film is formed between the first transparent substrate and the first electrodes. The semitransparent reflecting film is formed with light transmission apertures in each pixel region. The semitransparent reflecting film also occupies portions corresponding to the gaps between the adjacent pixel regions. Alternatively, in addition to the light transmission apertures, the semitransparent reflecting film is formed with slits at positions corresponding to the gaps between the adjacent pixel regions. A light absorption film is formed between the first transparent substrate and the semitransparent reflecting film at positions corresponding to the slits, or the slits are charged with a light absorption film.

Abstract: A process for producing carotenoids, which involves cultivating a microorganism obtained by treating a parent microorganism that produces carotenoids under conditions that induce a reduction in alternative oxidase activity and selecting a microorganism with enhanced carotenoid productivity, a method for obtaining the microorganism with enhanced carotenoid productivity, and the microorganism itself.

Abstract: A color image forming method is disclosed, comprising exposing a silver halide color photographic material and developing the exposed photographic material at 43 to 180° C. to form a color image, wherein when the photographic material is exposed so that the light-sensitive layer has a transmission density of a minimum density plus 0.1, the light-sensitive layer comprises dye-clouds having an average diameter of 3.0 to 20.0 &mgr;m. There is also disclosed a digital image forming process, wherein image recording information of the photographic material which was formed by use of the color image forming method is converted to digital image information through an image sensor.

Abstract: In a heat exchanger comprising a hollow header (2) and a plurality of heat exchanging tubes (1) which are in fluid communication with the header (1), the cross-sectional shape of the header (2) is formed into an angular cross-sectional shape including a rectangular cross-sectional shape and a square cross-sectional shape. Furthermore, the inner space of the header (2) is divided into a plurality of collecting chambers (13) by header-partitioning walls (12) provided in the header (2), and that the inner surface (14) of the tube-non-connecting-side wall in the collecting chamber (13) is formed into a curved surface. As a result, the inner volume of the header (2) can be reduced greatly as compared with that of the conventional header while securing sufficient pressure resistance and lightweight. Furthermore, the heat exchanger can be further miniaturized and the amount of the refrigerant to be used can be reduced.

Abstract: In optical module 10, light emitted from laser diode (hereinafter referred to as “LD”) 42 is collimated into parallel light beam by ball lens 44 and then travels through ball lens 26 to be focused on core 104 of optical fiber 100. Since the light passing between ball lenses 44 and 26 is the parallel light beam as described above, allowance is enlarged for axial misalignment between the optical axes of ball lens 44 and ball lens 26. This enables the light from LD 42 to be focused on core 102 of optical fiber 100 even if there occurs axial misalignment between the optical axes of optical fiber 100 and LD 42 due to a factor resulting from fitting of ferrule 102 into sleeve 14 or the like. Accordingly, there is no need for alignment in a work of mounting optoelectronic device 28, i.e., LD 42 in housing 12.

Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for measuring mercury easily with stringent measuring conditions being alleviated are provided, in which while a gas (G) such as an air containing no mercury is allowed to flow through a column (1) filled with an adsorbent material (11) effective to adsorb mercury, hydrocarbon (S) (sample) to be measured is injected into the column to allow the mercury contained therein to be adsorbed by the adsorbent material (11) to remove a volatile component other than mercury that is subsequently measured by a mercury measuring instrument (4).

Abstract: A liquid crystal light valve includes a semiconductor substrate having a region for a plurality of switching elements formed in a matrix form. A first metal layer is formed on the surface of the semiconductor substrate through an insulating layer and divided into a plurality of parts by first slits. A second metal layer is formed on the first metal layer through another insulating layer and divided into a plurality of parts by second slits. A third metal layer is formed on the second metal layer through still another insulating layer and divided into a plurality of parts by third slits. An opposite substrate has an opposite electrode on a surface thereof, disposed so as to be opposite to said third metal layer through an interval on the opposite electrode side. Liquid crystal fills the interval between said opposite electrode and the third metal layer.

Abstract: The present invention is a disposable container having an easily openable structure capable of solving the problems in the easily openable disposable containers, and a die therefore at a low cost. An easily openable disposable container comprising a sheet such as a synthetic resin film or a film-like sheet with an aluminum foil laminated on the film for sealing the substance to be stored by sealing the entirety or a part of the periphery with a content such as a liquid or a particle, with an easily openable part formed in a part of the sealed parts, wherein the sealing of the easily openable part is formed in a width narrower than the sealing width in the other part of the sealed part, and a narrow width vertical sealing is formed continuously from the narrow width sealed part, elongating in the direction substantially orthogonal thereto into the inside of the container such that the sealing of the easily openable part forms a substantially T-shape or a substantially V-shape in a plan view, is provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to a wiper apparatus in which a pair of pivot axes are provided, one pivot axis at the central portion and the other pivot axis one side portion in the left and right direction of the window surface. In the invention, wherein the rod rush angle formed by a link arm, which rotates the pivot axes clockwise and counterclockwise, and a link rod can be made as small as possible. The second pivot axis at one side portion is disposed so that the plane, including the swinging locus, of the second link arm, that is coupled to the corresponding second pivot axis, and the axial line of the second link rod, in the lengthwise direction, are made roughly parallel to each other.

Abstract: The present invention relates to remedies for obesity and obesity-related diseases which comprise as an active ingredient STAT6 having an effect of accelerating the signal transduction pathway from IL-13 to STAT6, or a related substance thereof; and a method of evaluating the activity of such a remedy against obesity and obesity-related diseases by administering the test drug to a STAT6 knockout non-human animal.

Abstract: At least part of the inner circumferential wall of the outer casing is provided with a concave surface opposing the rotor blade tips as seen in a longitudinal section. Typically, each of the rotor blades is provided with aerofoil section, and the compressor is designed as a transonic axial flow compressor. Thereby, a compressive wave is produced upstream of the shockwave so that the Mach number of the flow entering the shockwave can be reduced. As a result, the shockwave is made less severe, and the shockwave loss can be reduced. In particular, because the concave surface is provided in the casing wall as opposed to the case where the concave surface is provided in the negative pressure side of the rotor blade, the reduction in the performance owing to the change in the angle of the airflow entering the passage defined by the concave surface under a partial load condition can be avoided.

Abstract: A radio-wave arrival-direction apparatus calculates a correlation matrix of received signals by correlation calculation between antenna elements, and calculates a noise spatial eigenmatrix, of which each row or column is an eigenvector belonging to a noise eigen-space, by eigenvalue factorization of the correlation matrix. The apparatus also factorizes a matrix including a product of the noise spatial eigenmatrix and a conjugated and transposed matrix of it to an upper or lower triangular matrix, using cholesky factorization. The apparatus calculates an angle evaluation value in a predetermined angle range of an arrival-angle evaluation function using the derived upper or lower triangular matrix, and determines an arrival angle based on the calculation result. A calculation amount in a variable angle range can be thus reduced without causing accuracy degradation of arrival direction, in an algorism requiring an angle sweep for arrival angle estimation of MUSIC method or the like.

Abstract: A solid electrolyte type fuel cell which incorporates a metal separator comprising a base material of a metal other than silver or a silver alloy which is plated with silver or a silver alloy. The fuel cell can achieve improved efficiency for electricity generation with no increase of the resistance of the metal separator, even when it is operated at a low temperature.

Abstract: Multi-camera signal distribution conducted by a plurality of broadcasters has various problems of charging, video switching and copyright from the user's viewpoint. In order to solve these problems, first, a charging unit is provided for charging at a measured-rate charging to the assessment price of contents. Secondly, a program scramble is used to encrypt the whole service and a show scramble to encrypt each show, or each channel, thus making it possible to offer service according to the conditions of a contract the viewer made. Third, a show selection unit is provided to select shows on a show selection guide picture displayed on the screen of a communication terminal that has a remote control function. Use of this charging system could prevent the total amount of charging from increasing even if channels to view are frequently changed.

Abstract: A step (1) of heating a fluoronickel compound to release a fluorine gas, a step (2) of allowing a fluorine gas to be occluded into a fluorinated compound, and a step (3) of heating the fluoronickel compound and reducing an inner pressure are conducted in a container, respectively, at least once, and thereafter a high-purity fluorine gas is obtained in the step (1). Also, a step (5) of heating a fluoronickel compound and reducing an inner pressure and a step (6) of allowing a fluorine gas reduced in a hydrogen fluoride content to be occluded into the fluoronickel compound are conducted in a container having a fluorinated layer formed on its surface, respectively, at least once, the step (5) is further conducted, and thereafter a fluorine gas containing impurity gases is contacted with the fluoronickel compound to fix and remove the fluorine gas, and the impurities are analyzed by gas chromatography.

Abstract: A vacuum pump draws gas by operating a gas conveying body in a pump chamber through rotation of a rotary shaft. The vacuum pump has an oil housing member, a stopper and a circumferential wall surface. The oil housing member defines an oil zone adjacent to the pump chamber. The stopper has a circumferential surface. The stopper is located on the rotary shaft to rotate integrally with the rotary shaft and prevents oil from entering the pump chamber. The center of curvature of the circumferential wall surface coincides with that of the rotary shaft. The circumferential wall surface surrounds at least a part of the circumferential surface of the stopper that is above the rotary shaft. The circumferential wall surface is inclined such that the distance between the circumferential wall surface and the axis of the rotary shaft decreases toward the oil zone.

Abstract: In an inkjet printing apparatus which holds a printhead for performing printing by using ink supplied from an ink tank via an ink supply channel, the ink tank has a tank-side terminal for detecting the presence state of ink in the ink tank. The printhead has a head-side terminal for detecting the presence state of ink in the printhead. The printing apparatus detects at least one of the presence state of ink in the ink tank, printhead, and ink supply channel by selecting a terminal used for detection between the tank-side terminal and the head-side terminal.