Abstract: A new and distinct cultivar of Osteospermum plant named ‘Akterra’, characterized by its uniformly mounded plant habit; freely branching growth habit; freely flowering habit; dark green-colored foliage; and large inflorescences with orange-colored ray florets.

Abstract: A distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Yomonica’, characterized by its upright, mounded and rounded plant habit; freely branching habit; dense and full plants; uniform and freely flowering habit; anemone-type inflorescences; pale yellow-colored ray florets; bright to golden yellow-colored disc florets; and natural season flowering in late September in the Northern Hemisphere.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a Torenia plant which displays large globose flowers having vivid red purple petals and a vivid red purple floral tube. The plant has a semi-erect growth habit and medium branching. A great profusion of blooms is formed with the entire plant remaining in bloom for a considerable period of time.

Abstract: A new and distinct cultivar of Verbena plant named ‘Kievervlek’, characterized by its compact, upright and mounded plant habit; freely branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; and light purple and dark violet bi-colored flowers.

Abstract: A new and distinct cultivar of Curcuma named ‘Laddawan’ characterized by green bracts, purplish pink coma bracts on a cylindical inflorescence and florets with yellow labellum.

Abstract: A new and distinct cultivar of Verbena plant named ‘Kieversil’, characterized by its compact, upright and mounded plant habit; freely branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; and light purple to white and violet bi-colored flowers.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a new and distinct variety of a broadly spreading Verbena plant. The new Verbena plant has abundant branching particularly with respect to primary branching, and a great profusion of blooms with the entire plant remaining in bloom for a considerable period of time. The flowers are large and the petals display a vivid red color without an eye. The flowers are formed in profusion in a spike. The blooming period is from early April to November, and the flowering duration is long. The plant exhibits high tolerance to cold and heat, high resistance to pests and diseases, particularly powdery mildew, and high resistance to rain.

Abstract: A new cultivar of Pulmonaria plant named ‘Pink Haze’ that is characterized by a low-growing, dense, mounding habit, variegated medium-green leaves with grey-green spots, and bright, large, clear-pink wide open flowers with tints of violet-blue. In combination these traits set ‘Pink Haze’ apart from all other existing varieties of Pulmonaria known to the inventor.

Abstract: A male holly plant named ‘Heckenstar’ having an upright growth habit, glossy leaves, and tolerance to temperatures to −25° C.

Abstract: A new miniature rose which has abundant, white flowers and attractive foliage. The variety successfully propagates from softwood cuttings and is suitable for year round production in commercial glasshouses. This new and distinct variety has shown to be uniform and stable in the resulting generations from asexual propagation.

Abstract: A female holly plant named ‘Hachfee’ having an upright pyramidal growth habit, serrated glossy leaves, glossy red berries, and tolerance to temperatures to −25° C.

Abstract: A new and distinct Alstroemeria plant named ‘Sophie’ characterized as suitable for pot size larger than 7 cm; growth height 10-30 cm under greenhouse conditions; bushy-dwarf growth habit; pale purple flowers with a yellow base, black stripes on at least 1 to 2 tepals; and 3 weeks inflorescence longevity on the plant, 2 weeks as a cut flower.

Abstract: An apparatus for extracting screw elements from a screw shaft comprises a frame, a stationary clamp mounted on the frame and disposable between open and closed positions, a carriage mounted on the frame for motion toward and away from the stationary clamp, a movable clamp mounted on the carriage for motion therewith and disposable between open and closed positions, a first drive coupled to the stationary clamp for opening and closing the stationary clamp, a second drive coupled to the movable clamp for opening and closing the movable clamp, and a third drive coupled to the carriage for causing motion of the carriage toward and away from the stationary clamp, wherein clamping of a downstream screw element by the stationary clamp, clamping of an upstream screw element by the movable clamp and one or more strokes of the carriage away from the stationary clamp result in removal of the downstream screw element held in place by the stationary clamp from the screw shaft.

Abstract: A high strength and ductility &agr;+&bgr; type titanium alloy, comprising at least one isomorphous &bgr; stabilizing element in a Mo equivalence of 2.0-4.5 mass %, at least one eutectic &bgr; stabilizing element in an Fe equivalence of 0.3-2.0 mass %, and Si in an amount of 0.1-1.5 mass %, and optionally comprising C in an amount of 0.01-0.15% mass.

Abstract: Recycled fiber pulp from a vortex cleaning plant (e.g. connected to the short circulation of a paper machine) effects the recovery and return of fillers in the recycled fiber pulp discharged from the vortex cleaning plant, in an efficient and economical manner. The loss of filler in the recycled fiber pulp discharged from the vortex cleaning plant is decreased by treating a concentrated fraction of the rejects from the vortex cleaning plant with a mixer/disperser for dispersing the filler in the recycled fiber pulp, and returning as much usable filler as possible back to the process.

Abstract: A slot valve assembly (10) including a housing (11) having a central opening (19), a valve plate (32), a strongback (20) for carrying the valve plate, a pair of actuators (34, 36) for raising and lowering the strongback to position the valve plate over opening (19), and a second set of actuators (240) for moving valve plate (32) into seating engagement with housing (11). Second actuators (240) are in fluid communication with the working chambers (48, 50) of the first pair of actuators (34, 36). First actuators (34, 36) are located within housing (11) to give the housing a much shorter height.

Abstract: A dual-node capacitor coupling technique is used to lower the trigger voltage and to improve the uniform turn-on of a multi-finger MOSFET transistor. Preferably, each MOSFET is an NMOS device. Specifically, each NMOS device includes a capacitor that is connected between the gate of the NMOS device and the pad terminal. A first resistor is connected between the gate and the p-well, while a second resistor is connected between the p-well and the grounded source. For a positive ESD pulse to VSS, the p-well is pulled up to approximately 0.7 V during the initial ESD event, such that the source junction is forward biased and that the trigger voltage of the NMOS device is lowered. At the same time the gate voltage is coupled within the range of approximately 1 to 2 V to promote the uniform turn on of the gate fingers of the NMOS devices during the initial ESD event.

Abstract: A projection optical system of a projection exposure apparatus according to the present invention has a plurality of optical members made of glass materials at least one of which has a temperature characteristic of index of refraction different from that of the other glass material. Further, a temperature control device for controlling a temperature of at least one of the optical members is provided. An imaging characteristic of the projection optical system is controlled. The imaging characteristic to be controlled is a non-linear magnification or curvature of field. The temperature control device sets the temperature to be controlled to a variable target temperature determined in accordance with the imaging characteristic of the projection optical system. An exposing operation for transferring a mask pattern to a photosensitive substrate is started after the temperature of the optical member to be controlled reaches a predetermined allowable range of the target temperature.

Abstract: A hologram forming layer, transparent evaporated layer, colored layer, adhesion anchor layer, and adhesive layer are sequentially laminated on the under surface of a base member. The laminated body is used as a seal by the presence of the adhesive layer. It is preferable for the base member to have adequate rigidity (flexibility, tensile strength) and surface flatness. The hologram forming layer has a relief type hologram image. The transparent evaporated layer is a multi-layered ceramic layer constructed by alternately laminating high-refractive index layers and low-refractive index layers and the thickness thereof is preferably set to 1 &mgr;m or less. In the transparent evaporated layer, the color of visible light in predetermined wavelength range is changed according to the viewing angle when it is transmitted therethrough or reflected therefrom.

Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a heat-sensitive imaging material for making lithographic printing plates which require no processing. The heat-sensitive imaging element comprises on a lithographic base having a hydrophilic surface a metallic or metal oxide layer and on top thereof an oleophobic oleophilic polymeric layer having a thickness of less than 5 &mgr;m and comprising a polymer containing phenolic groups.

Abstract: A cell potential measurement apparatus, which uses a planar electrode enabling a multi-point simultaneous measurement of potential change arising from cell activities, is provided which can conduct measurements accurately and efficiently as well as can improve convenience of arranging measurement results.