Author: claimsbot

1. A gas sensor element having a generally elongate laminar structure including at least a first solid electrolyte layer, a second electrolyte layer and a spacer layer formed of a solid electrolyte which are laminated on each other, with the spacer layer being interposed between the first and second solid electrolyte layers, said laminar structure having internal spaces which are formed between said first and second solid electrolyte layers and which include a buffer space, a first space and a second space that are arranged in the order of description in a direction from a distal end of the gas sensor element toward a proximal end of the same, said laminar structure further having a gas inlet which is formed at said distal end and through which an external measurement gas is introduced into said buffer space, a first diffusion controlling passage in the form of a slit through which the external measurement gas is introduced into said buffer space from the gas inlet, a second diffusion controlling passage in the form of a slit through which an atmosphere in said buffer space is introduced into said first space, and a third diffusion controlling passage in the form of a slit through which an atmosphere in the first space is introduced into the second space, wherein an improvement comprises:
said buffer space and said first and second spaces having a thickness substantially equal to a thickness of said spacer layer and extending in a longitudinal direction of the gas sensor element, with a predetermined width dimension, said generally elongate laminar structure including a first partition wall which substantially separates said gas inlet and said buffer space from each other and which is integrally fixed to said first solid electrolyte layer, said first partition wall and said second solid electrolyte layer cooperating to define therebetween said first diffusion controlling passage which extends in a direction of width of the gas sensor element.
2. The gas sensor element according to claim 1, wherein said laminar structure further has a plugging-preventive space which is formed between said first and second solid electrolyte layers and which has a thickness substantially equal to the thickness of said spacer layer, said plugging-preventive space being open through said gas inlet to an external space in which said external measurement gas exists, said first partition wall substantially separating said plugging-preventive space and said buffer space from each other.
3. The gas sensor element according to claim 1, wherein said laminar structure further includes a second partition wall which substantially separates said buffer space and said first space from each other and which is integrally fixed to said first solid electrolyte layer, said second partition wall and said second solid electrolyte layer cooperating to define therebetween said second diffusion controlling passage which extends in the direction of width of the gas sensor element.
4. The gas sensor element according to claim 1, wherein said laminar structure further includes a third partition wall which substantially separates said first and second spaces from each other and which is integrally fixed to said first solid electrolyte layer, said third partition wall and said second solid electrolyte layer to cooperate therebetween said third diffusion controlling passage which extends in the direction of width of the gas sensor element.
5. The gas sensor element according to claim 1, wherein at least one ceramic layer is laminated on one side of said second solid electrolyte layer which is remote from said internal spaces, a total thickness value of said second solid electrolyte layer and said at least one ceramic layer being larger than a thickness of said first solid electrolyte layer.
6. The gas sensor element according to claim 1, wherein said laminar structure further includes a layer of a heater which is located on one side of said second solid electrolyte layer which is remote from said internal spaces and which is electrically operated to heat at least portions of said first and second solid electrolyte layers and said spacer layer which define said first and second spaces.
7. The gas sensor element according to claim 1, wherein said laminar structure has a first inner pumping electrode and a first outer pumping electrode which are formed on respective inner and outer opposite surfaces of a portion of said first solid electrolyte layer which partially defines said first space, said first solid electrolyte layer and said first inner and outer pumping electrodes cooperating to constitute main pumping means for performing a pumping action, with a control voltage being applied between said first inner and outer pumping electrodes, with respect to oxygen contained in the atmosphere which has been introduced into said first space through said buffer space.
8. The gas sensor element according to claim 1, wherein said laminar structure is provided with a second inner pumping electrode and a second outer pumping electrode which are respectively formed inside and outside of said second space, said second inner and outer pumping electrodes cooperating with at least said first solid electrolyte layer to constitute measurement pumping means for performing a pumping action, with respect to oxygen generated by reduction or decomposition of a desired gas component contained in the atmosphere which has been introduced from said first space into said second space.
9. The gas sensor element according to claim 1, wherein said laminar structure is provided with an inner measuring electrode and an outer measuring electrode which are respectively formed inside and outside of said second space, said inner and outer measuring electrodes cooperating with at least said second solid electrolyte layer to constitute oxygen-partial-pressure detecting means operable to generate an electromotive force corresponding to a difference between an amount of oxygen generated by reduction or decomposition of a desired gas component contained in the atmosphere which has been introduced from said first space into said second space, and an amount of oxygen contained in a reference gas.
10. The gas sensor element according to claim 8, wherein said laminar structure is provided with a pair of auxiliary pumping electrodes which are respectively formed inside and outside of said second space, said pair of auxiliary pumping electrodes cooperating with at least said first solid electrolyte layer to constitute auxiliary pumping means for performing a pumping action, with an auxiliary pumping current applied between said pair of auxiliary electrodes, with respect to oxygen contained in said measurement gas which has been subjected to said pumping action of said main pumping means.
11. The gas sensor element according to claim 7, wherein said laminar structure is provided with a pair of auxiliary pumping electrodes which are respectively formed inside and outside of said second space, said pair of auxiliary pumping electrodes cooperating with at least said first solid electrolyte layer to constitute auxiliary pumping means for performing a pumping action, with an auxiliary pumping current applied between said pair of auxiliary electrodes, with respect to oxygen contained in said measurement gas which has been subjected to said pumping action of said main pumping means.
12. A nitrogen oxide sensor including a gas sensor element as set forth in claim 1, for measuring an amount of a nitrogen oxide component contained in an external measurement gas.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A hair replacement apparatus comprising:
a. an anchor base, with an first inner rim, a second outer rim, a first top surface and a second bottom surface,
b. a first attachment means disposed between the first and second rim on the top surface,
c. a second attachment means disposed between the first and second rim on the bottom surface, and
d. a hair piece;
wherein the hair piece is removably attached to the top surface by the first attachment means and the second attachment means is used to removably attach the bottom surface to the user’s head.
2. The hair replacement apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second attachment means further comprise an adhesive means.
3. The hair replacement apparatus of claim 1, wherein the user’s hair is disposed across one or more portions of the first attachment means to assist in removably attaching the anchor base to the user’s head.
4. The hair replacement apparatus of claim 1, wherein the user’s hair is disposed across one or more portions of the first attachment means from the first rim to the second rim.
5. The hair replacement apparatus of claim 1, wherein the user’s hair is disposed across one or more portions of the first attachment means from the second rim to the first rim.
6. The hair replacement apparatus of claim 1, wherein the user’s hair is disposed across one or more portions of the first attachment means alternatively from the first rim to the second rim and the second rim to the first rim.
7. The hair replacement apparatus of claim 1, wherein the anchor base is a generally closed ovoid curve.
8. The hair replacement apparatus of claim 1, wherein the anchor base is an unclosed curve.
9. The hair replacement apparatus of claim 1, wherein the hair piece covers the area described by the first rim of the anchor base.
10. The hair replacement apparatus of claim 1, wherein the hair piece covers a portion of the area described by the first rim of the anchor base.
11. A method for hair replacement comprising:
a. providing an anchor base, with an first inner rim, a second outer rim, a first top surface and a second bottom surface,
b. providing a first attachment means disposed between the first and second rim on the top surface,
c. providing a second attachment means disposed between the first and second rim on the bottom surface, and
d. providing a hair piece;
wherein the hair piece is removably attached to the top surface by the first attachment means and the second attachment means is used to removably attach the bottom surface to the user’s head.
12. The hair replacement method of claim 9, wherein the step of providing a first and second attachment means further comprises the step of providing an adhesive means.
13. The hair replacement method of claim 9, wherein step of removably attaching the anchor base to the user’s head further comprises the step of disposing the user’s hair across one or more portions of the first attachment means to assist in removably attaching the anchor base to the user’s head.
14. The hair replacement apparatus of claim 9, wherein the step of removably attaching the anchor base to the user’s head further comprises the step of disposing the user’s hair across one or more portions of the first attachment means from the first rim to the second rim.
15. The hair replacement apparatus of claim 9, wherein the step of removably attaching the anchor base to the user’s head further comprises the step of disposing the user’s hair across one or more portions of the first attachment means from the second rim to the first rim.
16. The hair replacement apparatus of claim 9, wherein the step of removably attaching the anchor base to the user’s head further comprises the step of disposing the user’s hair across one or more portions of the first attachment means alternatively from the first rim to the second rim and the second rim to the first rim.
17. The hair replacement method of claim 9, wherein the step of providing a hair piece further comprises providing a hair piece that covers the area described by the first inner rim.
18. The hair replacement method of claim 9, wherein the step of providing a hair piece further comprises providing a hair piece that covers a portion the area described by the first inner rim.
19. The hair replacement method of claim 9, wherein the step of providing a hair piece that covers a portion the area described by the first inner rim and further comprises the step of utilizing the user’s hair in the portion of the area described by the first inner rim and not covered by the hair piece.

1. A method, comprising:
providing a software application comprising at least two purchase options;
publishing the software application to an online application store; and
based on whether or not a user is a subscriber, selecting an individual one of the purchase options for displaying to the user.
2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising recording receipt data pertaining to a purchase option selected by the user in response to the individual one of the purchase options displayed to the user.
3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising verifying a validity of a transaction in which the individual one of the purchase options displayed to the user is selected.
4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising determining the selection of the user.
5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising delivering the selection to the user.
6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the software application comprising at least two purchase options is provided in response to offering a free application.
7. The method according to claim 1, wherein selecting an individual one of the purchase options for displaying to the user when the user is a subscriber comprises offering an option at a discounted price relative to a non-subscriber.
8. The method according to claim 1, wherein selecting an individual one of the purchase options for displaying to the user when the user is a subscriber comprises bundling an option to an operator bill of the subscriber.
9. A computer readable memory storing a set of executable instructions, the computer readable memory comprising:
code for providing a software application comprising at least two purchase options;
code for publishing the software application to an online application store; and
code for selecting an individual one of the purchase options for displaying to a user based on whether or not the user is a subscriber.
10. The computer readable memory according to claim 9, further comprising code for recording receipt data pertaining to a purchase option selected by the user in response to the individual one of the purchase options displayed to the user.
11. The computer readable memory according to claim 10, further comprising code for verifying a validity of a transaction upon selection of the individual one of the purchase options displayed to the user.
12. The computer readable memory according to claim 9, further comprising code for offering a free application in response to providing the software application comprising at least two purchase options.
13. The computer readable memory according to claim 9, further comprising code for offering an option at a discounted price relative to a non-subscriber when the user is a subscriber.
14. The computer readable memory according to claim 9, further comprising code for bundling an option to an operator bill of the subscriber when the user is a subscriber.
15. An apparatus comprising at least one memory storing a set of computer executable instructions and at least one processor, wherein the memory with the set of computer executable instructions is configured with the at least one processor to cause the apparatus to at least:
provide a software application comprising at least two purchase options;
publish the software application to an online application store; and
select an individual one of the purchase options for displaying to a user based on whether or not the user is a subscriber.
16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the memory is further configured to cause the apparatus to record receipt data pertaining to a purchase option selected by the user in response to the individual one of the purchase options displayed to the user.
17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the memory is further configured to cause the apparatus to verify a validity of a transaction upon selection of the individual one of the purchase options displayed to the user.
18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the memory is further configured to cause the apparatus to offer a free application in response to providing at least two purchase options.
19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the memory is further configured to cause the apparatus to offer an option at a discounted price relative to a non-subscriber when the user is a subscriber.
20. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the memory is further configured to cause the apparatus to bundle an option to an operator bill of the subscriber when the user is a subscriber.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A process for preparing a reaction product comprising 5-methyl-N-aryl-2-pyrrolidone (III), 5-methyl-N-cycloalkyl-2-pyrrolidone (IV), or a mixture thereof, which comprises the step of contacting in the liquid phase at a temperature of from about 50\xb0 C. to about 300\xb0 C. a levulinic acid ester (I) with an aryl amine (II) in the presence of hydrogen gas and a catalyst, the catalyst being optionally supported on a catalyst support, and, optionally, said contacting is performed in the presence of a solvent, and wherein said contacting is carried out at a hydrogen pressure of from about 0.3 MPa to about 20 MPa, and wherein the compound represented by Formula (II) and the compound represented by Formula (I) are in a molar ration of from about 0.011 to about 1001 at the start of the reaction;
wherein R1 is an aromatic group having from 6 to 30 carbons, R2 is hydrocarbyl or substituted hydrocarbyl, C1-C18 unsubstituted or substituted alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted alkenyl, unsubstituted or substituted cycloalkyl, unsubstituted or substituted cycloalkyl containing at least one heteroatom, unsubstituted or substituted aryl, and unsubstituted or substituted heteroaryl, and R3 is a fully or partially reduced derivative of R1, provided that the contacting is carried out for a time sufficient to produce at least some of the compound represented by Formula (IV).
2. (canceled)
3. The process as recited in claims 1, wherein the catalyst is selected from metals selected from the group consisting of nickel, copper, cobalt, iron, rhodium, ruthenium, rhenium, osmium, iridium, platinum, palladium, at least one Raney metal; compounds thereof; and combinations thereof.
4. The process as recited in claim 3, wherein the catalyst is palladium or compounds thereof.
5. The process as recited in claim 3, wherein the catalyst is supported to form a catalyst support and the content of the metal in the supported metal catalyst is from 0.1% to 20% by weight.
6. The process as recited in claims 1, wherein the catalyst support is selected from the group consisting of carbon, alumina, silica, silica-alumina, silica-titania, titania, titania-alumina, barium sulfate, calcium carbonate, strontium carbonate, compounds thereof, and combinations thereof.
7. The process as recited in claim 6, wherein the carbon has an ash content, the ash content being less than 5% by weight of the catalyst support, and optionally wherein the carbon has a surface area of more than 200 m2g.
8. The process as recited in claims 1, wherein the process is optionally performed in the presence of a promoter.
9. The process as recited in claim 1, wherein R1 is an aromatic group having 6 to 12 carbons, R2 is an unsubstituted or substituted hydrocarbyl group having from 1 to 12 carbons, and wherein R3 is a cycloalkyl group having 6 to 12 carbons.
10. (canceled)
11. (canceled)
12. (canceled)
13. (canceled)
14. The process as recited in claim 5, wherein the supported metal catalyst is selected from the group consisting of palladium on carbon, palladium on calcium carbonate, palladium on barium sulfate, palladium on alumina, palladium on titania, platinum on carbon, platinum on alumina, platinum on silica, iridium on silica, iridium on carbon, iridium on alumina, rhodium on carbon, rhodium on silica, rhodium on alumina, nickel on carbon, nickel on alumina, nickel on silica, rhenium on carbon, rhenium on silica, rhenium on alumina, ruthenium on carbon, ruthenium on alumina and ruthenium on silica.
15. The process as recited in claim 14, wherein the supported metal catalyst is selected from the group consisting of palladium on carbon, palladium on alumina, palladium on silica, palladium on titania, and combinations thereof.
16. The process as recited in claims 1, wherein the solvent medium for the reaction is selected from the group consisting of water, alcohols, ethers, aromatics, aryl amines of Formula (II), pyrrolidones and the reaction product of claim 1, respectively.
17. (canceled)
18. (canceled)
19. (canceled)
20. (canceled)
21. (canceled)
22. (canceled)