Abstract: A defrosting control unit for providing centralized control of the defrosting a showcase having showcase units with defrosting devices includes an environmental informer ion signal generation portion and a defrosting control portion. The signal generation portion generates a signal reflecting at least one environmental parameter such as whether it is daytime or nighttime, the difference in air temperature measured at different places in a showcase unit, the deviation of the temperature difference with respect to a steady-state value, and the temporal variation of the deviation. The defrosting control portion receives the environmental information signal from the signal generation portion and sends a defrosting start signal and a defrosting end signal to the defrosting devices at a time interval . The signal generation portion may include a fuzzy reasoning portion, membership functions, and rules so that an inference on the optimal time for starting a defrosting operation can be made.

Abstract: A novel 2-piperidinecarboxylic acid derivative represented by the formula: ##STR1## wherein X represents an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom or a nitrogen atom to which a hydrogen atom is bound; and * represents that the configuration of the carbon atom binding to the carboxyl group is (S), (R) or a mixture of (S) and (R); and a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof which exerts an antitumor effect over a wide range of tumor cells.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device is disclosed, which comprises a liquid crystal cell including a first substrate having a first electrode, a second substrate having a second electrode, which is opposite to the first substrate, and a nematic liquid crystal layer disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate; a first polarizer disposed outside of the first substrate; a second polarizer disposed outside of the second substrate; and at least one optically anisotropic layer disposed at least one of between the first substrate and the first polarizer and between the second substrate and the second polarizer. The twist angle of the nematic liquid crystal layer is greater than 180.degree.; and the following conditions are fulfilled: ##EQU1## where .DELTA.n.sub.LC represents a birefringence of the nematic liquid crystal; d.sub.LC a thickness of the nematic liquid crystal layer; .DELTA.n.sub.i a birefringence of the optically anisotropic layer; d.sub.

Abstract: A leaf paper bundling apparatus winds a tape around the periphery of a stack of leaf papers. A stacking device stacks and aligns a predetermined number of leaf papers in an upright position in a direction parallel to the short edges of the leaf papers. Left and right holding fingers are employed to hold the stacked leaf papers and transfer the stacked leaf papers to a bundling position, maintaining the upright position of the stacked leaf papers. A tape fed by a tape supply is wound around the stacked leaf papers by a tape winding device. The tape is tightened about the stacked leaf papers, and a pair of clamping members clamp the stacked leaf papers therebetween. The clamping members each have spaced contact edges straddling the tape. The stacked leaf papers can then be tightly held together without interfering with the winding of the tape about the stacked leaf papers.

Abstract: First to third frames are formed by etching to penetrate a silicon substrate on the substrate. A plurality of thin cantilevered beams are formed in different lengths by cutting by etching the substrate in the frames; the beams formed in the first frame are formed perpendicular to the surface of the substrate to bend only in the X-axis direction, parallel to the surface of the substrate; the beams formed in the second frame are formed perpendicular to the surface of the substrate to bend only in the Y-axis direction, parallel to the surface of the substrate; and the beams formed in the third frame are formed to bend only in the Z-axis direction, perpendicular to the surface of the substrate. Masses are formed at the free ends of the beams, and piezo resistance layers are formed at the fixed ends.

Abstract: For test, a sequential circuit operable in a normal and a shift mode is logically divided into a plurality of partitions, each comprising a first and a second sequence of registers. A testing device specifies the first sequence in each partition, one partition after another, and supplies the registers of the specified first sequence, in the shift mode, with a test pattern prescribed for the specified partition. A pattern resulting from the test pattern is supplied in the normal mode to the registers of the second sequence in the specified partition and shifted out thereof subsequently in the shift mode to be compared with a correct or reference pattern predetermined for the test pattern for detection of a fault. For location of the fault in the specified partition, the test and the shifted-out patterns are combined into a combined pattern, which is supplied to the registers of the first and the second sequences in the normal mode following the shift mode in which the fault is detected.

Abstract: A disposable diaper comprises an absorbing material comprising a sheet containing water-absorbing polymer powder and two papers to fix said powder between them, a great number of slits being formed on said sheet, and fluff pulp layers sandwiching said sheet, among said two papers the paper which is close to the surface of the diaper where to contact with the skin being a high wet strength paper, the paper which is close to the back face of the diaper being a low wet strength paper.

Abstract: 5-Alkoxy-picolinic esters represented by the formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R represents an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms and R.sub.1 represents an unsubstituted phenyl group; a phenyl group substituted with one or more of an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms or an acetyl group; a phthalidyl group; an alkoxyalkyl group wherein the alkyl moiety and the alkoxy moiety each has 1 to 4 carbon atoms; an alkoxyalkoxyalkyl group wherein the alkyl moiety and the alkoxy moiety each has 1 to 4 carbon atoms; an indanyl group; or an acyloxyalkyl group having the formula ##STR2## wherein R.sub.2 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group and R.sub.3 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms (such as a methyl, n-propyl, isobutyl, t-butyl, etc.

Abstract: 5-Alkoxy-picolinic acids and the salts and the esters thereof represented by the formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R represents an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms and M represents a hydrogen atom; a calcium atom; a sodium atom; a potassium atom; an aluminum atom; an unsubstituted phenyl group; a phenyl group substituted with one or more of an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms or a halogen atom (such as a chlorine, bromine, iodine, etc., atom); a phthalidyl group; an alkoxyalkyl group wherein the alkyl moiety and the alkoxy moiety each has 1 to 4 carbon atoms; or an acyloxyalkyl group having the formula ##STR2## wherein R.sub.2 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group and R.sub.3 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms (such as a methyl, n-propyl, isobutyl, t-butyl, etc.