Abstract: An application service providing method of providing a user with application services, the method including the steps of: selecting applications or application providers and their applications satisfying user requirements from a plurality of applications provided by a application provider or providers; and providing application services by performing data format conversion, communication protocol conversion, or work flow management between the selected applications. Techniques are provided being capable of efficiently providing services of applications requested by a user.

Abstract: A process for producing a pivaloylacetic acid ester comprises reacting pivaloyl chloride with an acetoacetic acid ester of an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms in the presence of at least one nitrogen-containing basic compound (a) selected from among pyridine compounds, N,N-dialkylanilines and imidazole compounds and from 0.01 to 0.5 mole equivalent, based on the pivaloyl chloride, of a magnesium compound (b) to thereby prepare a pivaloylacetoacetic acid ester and then alcholyzing or alkali-hydrolyzing the pivaloylacetoacetic acid ester to thereby give a pivaloylacetic acid ester having a high purity at a low cost.

Abstract: A gateway system comprises a character code conversion table, a data code conversion table, a data format conversion table, and a transmitter/receiver combination table. Concerning data exchange among a plurality of information systems, which are connected in the same network as that connected to this gateway system, the gateway system has a function of checking whether or not combination of a transmitter and a receiver is appropriate by referring to the transmitter/receiver combination table, and a function of performing data format conversion, data code conversion, and character code conversion corresponding to the combination of the transmitter and the receiver by referring to the related tables. In addition, each of the information system is connected to the gateway system via the network, and has a transmitter/receiver combination table and a function of checking validity of transmitter/receiver combination included in received data by referring to this table.

Abstract: A process for producing a pivaloylacetic acid ester comprises reacting pivaloyl chloride with an acetoacetic acid ester of an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms in the presence of at least one nitrogen-containing basic compound (a) selected from among pyridine compounds, N,N-dialkylanilines and imidazole compounds and from 0.01 to 0.5 mole equivalent, based on the pivaloyl chloride, of a magnesium compound (b) to thereby prepare a pivaloylacetoacetic acid ester and then alcholyzing or alkali-hydrolyzing the pivaloylacetoacetic acid ester to thereby give a pivaloylacetic acid ester having a high purity at a low cost.

Abstract: A novel process for producing 3-oxocarboxylic acid esters, which are useful as intermediates in the synthesis of ceramides to be used as a humectant, biodegradable polymers, drugs, etc., at a high purity and a high yield without requiring any troublesome procedure, is disclosed. The process comprises reacting an acetoacetic ester with a calcium compound, a barium compound or a strontium compound in the presence of an organic solvent at a temperature of 10 to 120.degree. C., further reacting the obtained product with a carboxylic acid chloride to thereby acylate it, and then adding thereto an alcohol in an amount 1 to 5 times by mol as much as the calcium compound, barium compound or strontium compound to thereby deacetylate the same.

Abstract: With the aim of designing efficiently and quickly such plans as production plans having a variety of requirements involved and requiring frequent modification of software, a planning logic prepared without regard to the preparation sequence of a plan is converted into a planning program. Upon the conversion, the planning logic is edited so that only part of the planning logic requiring modification may be modified, and a result of modification is displayed on a screen so as to be checked through a display.

Abstract: At least two platelike electrodes are arranged on the two major surfaces of a platelike varistor element having rounded sides and corners. A pair of external electrodes are formed on the two major surfaces and are connected to the platelike electrodes. The platelike electrodes partially overlap each other. The portion of the varistor element, sandwiched between the overlapping portions of the electrodes, provides varistor characteristics.

Abstract: Tin-free steel sheets having intimately bonded metallic chromium and hydrated chromium oxide coatings thereon and possessing improved resistance to retorting treatment and improved adhesion to paint films to be applied thereon are produced by chromium plating a steel sheet in a chromium plating bath containing an assistant to deposit and form metallic chromium and hydrated chromium oxide coatings on the sheet surface, subjecting the sheet to reverse electrolysis in the same chromium plating bath to partially dissolve away the metallic chromium and hydrated chromium oxide coatings together with the assistant anions codeposited in the hydrated chromium oxide coating, rinsing the sheet with water, and thereafter subjecting the sheet to an electrolytic chromate treatment in an electrolytic chromate treating bath.

Abstract: A process for improving the rust and corrosion resistance of thinly coated tinplate is disclosed, wherein a steel sheet coated with 0.02-0.2 g/m.sup.2 of nickel prior to annealing is coated with 0.05-1.5 g/m.sup.2 of tin, subsequently being trated with 0.3-10 C/dm.sup.2 of chromate and then subjected to a treatment of melting tin (reflow). A layer of alloy thus formed is highly rust resistant and structurally different from any of those formed on thinly coated tinplate according to the prior art, so that highly rust resistant tinplate sheets for use in the manufacture of welded cans can be obtained.

Abstract: An improved wire with an excellent adhesion with rubber is disclosed for reinforcing rubber goods, made by a diffusion process wherein oxides formed on the surface of plated metal during diffusion are removed before drawing.

Abstract: A method of producing a highly corrosion resistant tin-plated steel sheet is disclosed by which a metal or alloy coating having a thickness from 0.005.mu. to 0.5.mu. and selected from the class consisting of Ni, Cu and Ni-Sn alloy is plated upon a steel sheet. The thus plated steel sheet is heated in a non-oxidizing atmosphere to such an extent that said plated coating is penetrated and diffused into the steel sheet whereby a reformed steel sheet surface where said plating coating is disappeared is secured. A tin coating is then plated upon said reformed steel sheet surface. This reformed steel sheet surface is sandwiched between the plating tin coating and the steel sheet and contributes greatly to corrosion resistant property of the tin-plated steel sheet.

Abstract: A method of producing an aluminum or aluminum alloy coated steel sheet with the aid of powder method is disclosed. The method comprises preliminarily applying a zinc coating having a thickness of 0.01 to 0.3 .mu.m, preferably 0.03 to 0.3 .mu.m to a steel sheet surface, applying an aluminum powder to the zinc coated steel sheet and subjecting the coated steel sheet to steps of heating, rolling and heating again or steps of rolling, heating, rolling again and heating again.

Abstract: A composite zinc-aluminum dispersion plated steel sheet and a method of producing same are disclosed. The plated steel sheet comprises an electrolytical zinc plated layer containing 1.5 to 70% by weight of aluminum dispersed therein. The method comprises adding aluminum powder to an electrolytical zinc plating bath composition, dispersing the aluminum powder into the plating bath to provide a composite zinc-aluminum dispersion plating bath, and electrolytical treating a steel sheet in the composite zinc-aluminum dispersion plating bath while agitating it. The plated steel sheet enhances corrosion resistances and does not show any spangles which impair the appearances after subsequent painting of the plated steel sheet.