Abstract: A probe apparatus includes a probe group supporting member having a substrate on which probes having conductive needles are formed. The main bodies of the probes are constructed from composite beams, e.g. L-shaped beams, formed by joining a plurality of arms, e.g. first and second arms, which extend from the substrate of the probe group supporting member, and which overhang the substrate in a direction parallel to the surface of the substrate. The conductive needles are attached perpendicular to the substrate surface at a selected point on each of the composite beams.

Abstract: A network adapter for interfacing between a communication network and a host computer operating as a network device, and a method of operation of these components. The adapter is initially conditioned to transmit at a lower of two possible speeds, such as 10 Mbps instead of 100 Mbps, and then senses at which speed the network is operating, before matching to this sensed speed, either the higher speed or the lower speed. If the sensed speed is the lower speed, the adapter transmits a burst of high-speed signals and senses again for high-speed operation. If the network has not switched to high-speed operation, the adapter is conditioned for low-speed operation. After the adapter is conditioned for low-speed or high-speed operation, the network speed is continually sensed and, if the network is not operating at the selected speed for some preselected period of time, the adapter is returned to its initial low-speed state to begin network speed sensing over again.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for preparing the inorganic hardenable slurry and the use of same in the solidification of wastes. In addition to water, the essential parts of the slurry are inorganic components including borates, cement-base powder and other additives such as magnesium oxide, gypsum and silica. The slurry is low in viscosity before solidification and flows freely,and within approximately 30 minutes after preparation the slurry becomes hardened into a highly solidified substance. The solidification of the slurry is resulted mainly from reaction of borates and the cement-base powder and to obtain a best result the weight of borates must be the same as that of the cement-base powder or even higher than the weight of the latter. The solidification mechanism differs entirely from the simple hydration reaction that brings about solidification of cement.The present invention also teaches a method for solidifying wastes with this hardenable slurry, i.e.

Abstract: A device including two plates fixed to a wall, a member fixed to each of the plates, a roller rotatably supported between the members, a helical groove formed in one of the members and having a channel communicated between the end portions of the helical groove, an oblong hole formed in one end of the roller, a guide slidably engaged in the oblong hole and having one end slidably engaged in the helical groove, the guide being caused to move along the helical groove when the toilet tissue is pulled by a user and being movable back to the initial position via the channel.