Abstract: The present invention further improves the reliability of a spacer in comparison to conventional ones. A light control film 10 which is obtained by sandwiching a liquid crystal layer 14 between first and second laminates 13, 12 that are provided with at least alignment layers 23A, 23B, and which controls light transmitted therethrough by controlling the alignment of liquid crystal molecules 14A in the liquid crystal layer 14 by driving electrodes 22B, 22A that are provided on the first and second laminates 13, 12. With respect to the first laminate 13, a base 21B that is formed of a transparent film material is provided with a spacer 24 that maintains the thickness of the liquid crystal layer 14. With respect to the first and second laminates 13, 12, the Vickers hardness Xs of the spacer 24 is from 16.9 to 40.2 (inclusive), and the Vickers hardness Xf of a part of the second laminate 12, said part being in contact with the front end of the spacer 24, is from 11.8 to 35.9 (inclusive).

Abstract: A light-modulating cell includes: a pair of polarizing plates (a first polarizing plate and a second polarizing plate); a pair of electrodes (a first transparent electrode and a second transparent electrode) arranged between the pair of polarizing plates (the first polarizing plate and the second polarizing plate); and a pair of alignment films (a first alignment film and a second alignment film) arranged between the pair of electrodes (the first transparent electrode and the second transparent electrode). A plurality of spacers, which support at least any one of the pair of alignment films and are in two-dimensional contact with at least any one of the pair of alignment films, is provided. At least some of the plurality of spacers have an inconstant distance to another spacer positioned at a closest distance.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus having a storage apparatus shared by a plurality of processors, includes a decision unit that decides, when there is a process to be executed by the plurality of processors synchronously, a group of processors that execute the process from among the plurality of the processors; a control unit that stores a total number of the group of processors in the storage apparatus and make the group of processors execute the process; a counting unit that counts a number of processor that executed the process in the group of processors; a comparison unit that compares the total number of the processors and a counted number of the processors; and a notification unit that sends a notification that all the processors included in the group of the processors executed the process, based on a comparison result.

Abstract: A graphical system includes a first, second, and third controllers. The first controller stores a first texture in texture memory. The second controller generates as a second texture, images of environment things except ambient light emitting sources. The second controller also generates as a third texture images of light emitting sources and shadows of certain environmental things. A third controller reads the first, second, and third textures and maps a synthesized texture to an object.

Abstract: An image generating system and method can be provided which can express even more real luster on an object regarding the reflection of light sources.

Abstract: A circular nozzle disposed in front of a propeller of a ship has a leading edge thereof which divided an upper leading edge and a lower leading edge. The upper leading edge approaches progressively the propeller disc toward the lower part thereof, the angle of inclination of the upper leading edge and that of the lower leading edge become different, with the junction part at which the upper and lower leading edges meet being the border, and the junction is positioned in the proximity of a horizontal plane including the axis line of the propeller shaft.

Abstract: An overhead camshaft engine has a cylinder head, two intake valves and two exhaust valves at each cylinder. A plug hole is formed in a space of a cylinder head between the intake valves and between the intake valves and a camshaft. An end of the plug hole is opened to a combustion chamber at a center position thereof. A spark plug is mounted in the plug hole, so that a center electrode of the spark plug is positioned at the center position.

Abstract: A valve-lash adjuster has a cylindrical hold screw having a male thread on a periphery thereof and a female thread at an upper portion of a bore thereof, and a cylindrical piston having a female thread at an upper portion thereof. The hold screw is screwed in a female thread formed in an end of a rocker arm, and the piston is inserted in a bore of hold screw, and temporarily secured to the hold screw. After a clearance between the piston and a stem of the valve mechanism is adjusted, the piston is removed from the hold screw, and a spring is inserted in the removed piston, and the piston having the spring is engaged in the hold screw.

Abstract: A valve mechanism has a rocker arm comprising a rocker arm member rocked by a cam and an actuating arm member operatively engaged with the rock arm member for operating a stem of a valve. A sleeve is rotatably and slidably mounted on a rocker-arm shaft. The rocker arm member is slidably engaged with splines of the sleeve, and the actuating arm member has splines corresponding to the splines of the sleeve and is slidably engaged with a cylindrical portion of the sleeve. A pistion is slidably mounted on the rocker-arm shaft adjacent the sleeve, and shifted to shift the sleeve to engage the splines thereof with the actuating member. The sleeve is held by a stopper at a disengagement position and an engagement position with the actuating arm member respectively.

Abstract: .epsilon.-caprolactam is produced by gas phase catalytic synthesis with high selectivity of lactam wherein cyclohexanone oxime is brought into contact with a crystalline metallo-silicate catalyst having Si/metal atomic ratio is more than 500. The metal moiety in the catalyst is Ga, Fe, B, Zr, Bi, Nb, Zn, Be, Cr, La, Ti, Hf, V and/or Cu.

Abstract: .epsilon.-caprolactam is prepared by gas phase catalytic synthesis where cyclohexanone oxime is brought into contact with a crystalline zeolite, for example, aluminosilicate zeolite or metallosilicate zeolite having a constraint index of 1-12 which has been surface treated with an organometallic compound represented by the general formula: R.sub.4-n MX.sub.n wherein R which may be identical or different represent an alkyl group of 1-6 carbon atoms or phenyl group, M represnets Si or Ge, X represents Cl or an alkoxy group of 1-6 carbon atoms and n represents 1 or 2.

Abstract: .epsilon.-caprolactam is prepared by gas phase catalytic synthesis in which cyclohexanone oxime is brought into contact with crystalline alluminosilicate, for example, ZSM-5 H.sup.+ form) having 1-12 of constraint index, 500 or more, preferably 1000 or more, of Si/Al atomic ratio and 5.mu. equivalent/g or less, preferably 2.mu. equivalent/g, of external acid amount.

Abstract: A method for selectively dealkylating a 1,4-dialkylbenzene in a dialkylbenzene mixture is disclosed, comprising contacting the mixture with a zeolite catalyst which is prepared by the steps of: (1) hydrothermally synthesizing a zeolite from a system in which an alkali metal cation and an organic cation or its precursor coexist and then calcining the zeolite; and (2) modifying the zeolite with a metal or metalloid oxide. This method permits selective dealkylation of a 1,4-dialkylbenzene while maintaining the yield and purity of olefins formed during the dealkylation at high levels.

Abstract: An industrially excellent method for selectively dealkylating a 1,4-dialkylbenzene in a dialkylbenzene mixture by the use of a specified zeolite catalyst is disclosed, which catalyst is a crystalline zeolite ion-exchanged with sodium ion, potassium ion, potassium ion, rubidium ion, or cesium ion. The specific zeolite catalyst is easy to prepare and allows selective dealkylation of the 1,4-dialkylbenzene and recovery of the formed olefins in a high yield and a high purity.

Abstract: A method for selective dealkylation of 1,4-dialkylbenzene comprising selectively dealkylating a 1,4-dialkylbenzene in a dialkylbenzene mixture using as a catalyst crystalline zeolite having a silica/alumina ratio of at least 12 and a constrained index of 1 to 12 which is modified with an oxide of a metal or mettaloid, said crystalline zeolite being one ion-exchanged with a lithium ion.