Abstract: A fluoroacrylic polymer having a lubricating effect, which comprises at least one kind selected from units derived from a fluoroalkyl acrylate and units derived from a fluoroalkyl methacrylate as a part or all of structural units and a reducing viscosity .eta.Sp/C not higher than 2 as measured at 25.degree. C. with respect to a solution of 0.1 g of the polymer in 100 ml of chloroform. The fluoroacrylic polymer is incorporated into a thermoplastic resin for rendering an excellent lubricating property thereto.

Abstract: A computerized method and system for reducing the number of false-positive detections of nodule candidates in the detection of abnormalities in digital chest radiography. The image is initially subjected to an image difference technique where the detection sensitivity is increased so as to avoid missing small nodules which might otherwise go undetected. Such a technique tends to increase the number of false-positives, however, leading to possible incorrect diagnoses of the radiographs. To reduce the number of false-positives, feature extraction techniques are applied to grown regions around the nodule candidates, in order to provide computer generated information concerning the candidates. A data base of parameters common to false-positives is compared to calculated parameters of a candidate of interest. The candidates with grown region parameters within the data base range common to false-positives are eliminated as being probable false-positive detections due to normal background anatomical features.

Abstract: A multiport memory is provided which permits both random access and serial access. In order to reduce parasitic capacitance and improve operating speed, the serial input/output lines are each divided into two parts at their middle points. Sense amplifiers for the serial input/output lines are provided at upper and lower ends of the serial access memory elements to respectively amplify signals from the divided lines. Additional features are provided for improving both the serial and random operation. For example, during the serial read mode, the column selector for random access is simultaneously operated, and read data passing through the random access column selector is used as head data for the serial output operation to be delivered through the serial output circuit. Also, a serial selector can be controlled by a select signal formed by a Gray Code counter to improve operating speed.

Abstract: A fluoroalkyl group-containing organosilicon oligomer is represented by the following formula (I) or (IV) of: ##STR1## wherein R, R.sub.1, R.sub.2, X and Y each are the same or different groups and stand for an alkyl, alkoxy or alkylcarbonyloxy group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, n represents an integer of 1 to 3, m.sub.1 and m.sub.3 represent an integer of 1 to 10, m.sub.2 represents an integer of 0 to 10, m.sub.4 represents an integer of 1 to 5 and R.sub.F represents --CF.sub.2).sub.n.sbsb.1 A or ##STR2## where A stands for a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom or a chlorine atom, n.sub.1 represents an integer of 1 to 10 and n.sub.2 represents an integer of 0 to 8. A surface treating agent contains the oligomer defined by the formula (I) or (IV).

Abstract: The present invention provides an easily employed and economical process for removing substantially all of the metals from vinylphenol polymers by dissolving the vinylphenol polymer in a solvent and contacting the solution with a strong acidic cation exchange resin. In this way, vinylphenol polymers of high purity are attained, with a metal content which is virtually eliminated or substantially reduced.

Abstract: A system allowing both map data and service-related data to be displayed on request for users' reference. Locations of candidate service-offering establishments are displayed in the map covering a specific geographical region. When one of these establishments is selected, detailed service-related information on that establishment is provided on the display screen. This allows the users to quickly obtain and process necessary service-related information wherever they are and to take action accordingly.

Abstract: A high frequency heating arrangement includes a power converting unit with one or more semiconductor devices which dissipates a slight heat loss. A magnetron receives an output from the power converting unit and supplies electromagnetic waves to a heating chamber. The magnetron dissipates a heat loss that is relatively larger than that of the power converting unit. A cooling fan has a motor which dissipates a heat loss which is relatively smaller than that of the power converting unit. The cooling fan is for cooling the power converting unit and the magnetron. A case is provided in which at least the power converting unit and the magnetron are housed and which is made of an electricity-conductive material. A cooling air passage, along which the motor and the case are arranged, and through which air flows from said cooling fan is provided. Air sent from the cooling fan first cools the motor, then cools at least a portion of the power converting unit, and finally cools the magnetron.

Abstract: A talking, soft football for young children, which when caught by a player then emits an audible voice message or crowd roar sounds appropriate to the game of football. The football is formed by an elliptical casing of flexible plastic enclosing a core of compressible material. Nested in a cavity in the core is an electronic module, access to which is had by way of a longitudinal slit in the casing that is closable by a lacing so that the soft football looks like a regulation football. Housed in the module at one side thereof adjacent the inner surface of the casing are a miniature loudspeaker from which the voice messages and crowd roar sounds are emitted, and a piezoelectric sensor which generates a command signal only when the football is caught by a player and impacts on his hands. Also housed in the module are batteries and an integrated circuit chip powered thereby, the chip being normally quiescent and being activated by the command signal.

Abstract: A battery charger includes a transformer having a primary coil and a secondary coil, a switch for duty control of a current flowing through the primary coil of the transformer, a detector for detecting a value of a current flowing through the secondary coil of the transformer, and a secondary controller for receiving the detected value from the detector and for outputting a charge control signal. The pulse of the charge control signal is modulated in accordance with the detected value by the detector.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photosensitive member has a photosensitive layer on an electroconductive support. The photosensitive layer comprises a compound having a structure represented by the general formula (1) or (2) as a charge-generating material: ##STR1## wherein A.sub.1 and A.sub.3 are respectively an alkyl radical, an aralkyl radical, an aromatic radical or a heterocyclic radical which may have a substituent; A.sub.2 is hydrogen atom, or an alkyl radical, an aralkyl radical, an aromatic radical, or a heterocyclic radical which may have a substituent; A.sub.1 and A.sub.2 may be the same with or different from each other; A.sub.1 and A.sub.2 may be linked together to form a ring; and n is an integer of 1, 2, or 3.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an aldose reductase inhibitor represented by the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is (CH.sub.2).sub.2 COOH and R.sub.2 is phenyl or p-hydroxyphenyl, or R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are combined together to form a group of the formula: ##STR2## which was isolated from the fermentation products of Chaetomella circinoseta RF-3192.

Abstract: In a pressure control valve, a filter member is disposed in a feedback path for feeding back fluid pressure in the corresponding control port to a pilot chamber for feedback controlling a position of the valve spool in cooperation with an electric or electromagnetic actuator. The filter member is so arranged as to remove foreign matter. The filter member also serves for regulating fluid flow in the feedback path.

Abstract: A carrier injection type light emitting element with employment of a pn junction established between porous silicon and a semiconductor having a conductivity type different from that of the porous silicon, and also optical devices such as an opto-optical converting element, a light transmitting element, a photocoupling circuit element, a photocoupling element and a display apparatus, which comprise such a carrier injection type light emitting element and a semiconductor light receiving element.

Abstract: An audio device controllable with a card having at least one operation identifying device related to a specific reproduction operation. The card is provided on the respective surfaces thereof with first and second items of visual data corresponding to the reproduction operation. The audio device has a card inlet, an optical sensor for detecting the mark of the card, and a system controller for controlling the device to realize the reproduction operation identified by the mark.

Abstract: An acid addition salt of .delta.-aminolevulinic acid is prepared in such a way that tetrahydrofurfurylamine (VI) is reacted with phthalic anhydride under an anhydrous condition to introduce a phthal group which protects amino group of tetrahydrofurfurylamine to give N-tetrahydrofurfuryl phthalimide (III), carbon atoms of the first- and fourth-positions of thus obtained N-tetrahydrofurfurylphthalimide (III) are oxidized at 80.degree. C. using sodium periodate as a oxidizing agent and ruthenium chloride hydrate as a catalyst to yield 5-phthalimidolevulinic acid (II), then the protecting group of 5-phthalimidolevulinic acid (II) is deprotected using an acid to prepare an acid additional salt of .delta.-aminolevulinic acid. The acid additional salt of .delta.-aminolevulinic acid is readily converted by neutralization by an alkali to .delta.-aminolevulinic acid, which is very useful as a precursor of Vitamin B.sub.12, heme and chlorophyll.

Abstract: Recently, vinylphenol polymers have received special attention as materials for photoresists, since these materials have excellent transmittance of deep ultraviolet light in the neighborhood of 248 nm. Although particularly useful in this regard, vinylphenol polymers usually contain metal impurities, while photoresists must have high transmittance and extremely low metal content. As a result, vinylphenol polymers satisfying these requirements have not been available on industrial scale. In the present invention, a process for producing such purified vinylphenol polymers, both economically and easily, is realized. In the process of this invention, the vinylphenol polymer solution is hydrogenated and the hydrogenated solution is contacted with a strongly acidic cation exchange resin. In this way, substantially metal-free vinylphenol polymers are obtained.

Abstract: A coding apparatus is disclosed, in which coding can be achieved by simply storing, in a memory, the results of necessary coding operations including the feedback of the quantization error and reading out the data from an address of the memory specified by input data. Consequently, an encoded code can be obtained at a far higher speed than in a case where operations are performed by individual operation circuits for coding and decoding.

Abstract: An apparatus for and method of automatically tuning control parameters of a servo or spindle drive system controlled by a numerical control unit is disclosed. The numerical control unit employs an automatic tuning device that automatically selects a tuning program and test run program associated with a selected control parameter. The tuning device test runs the servo or spindle according to the test run program selected and changes and controls the status value data measured in accordance with the control parameter selected. The invention also relates to a method of changing a criterion for the feature values of a control parameter, a method of comprehensively determining the feature values where there are a plurality of tuning conditions, and a method of sampling the status value data of the servo or spindle.