Abstract: In a vehicle rear body structure in which a muffler is disposed below a rear cross member disposed to extend transversely below a rear part of the body of a vehicle, a lower end portion 10 of the rear cross member 7 extends downwardly to substantially the same height of that of a lower end portion 4c of a rear bumper face 4a disposed rearward of the rear cross member. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the generation of heat deformation by protecting from heat related effects from a muffler a lower end portion of a rear bumper which tends to easily heat deform.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are an operation support unit, an operation support system, and an operation support method capable of supporting operation of a printer with reliability and stability. A suppression factor that is suppressed is set according to a control mode, and a plurality of control objects for the printer, effective in suppressing the suppression factor, is allocated as a control group. Then, a set of data that is under printing conditions nearly coinciding with the present predetermined printing conditions is collected from among a plurality of data sets in which printing conditions, printing-quality information, and mechanical information are correlated.

Abstract: Prior to an exposure process in which a pattern formed on a mask is transferred by exposure onto photo-sensitized substrates, the temperature of the mask and/or the temperature of the photosensitized substrate is/are adjusted to an equilibrium temperatures which would be established during an exposure process, so that any inconvenience may be avoided, which may otherwise arise due to temperature changes with time in the environment of the exposure apparatus. Further, in a waiting interval during which no control sequence for exposure of a substrate is performed, a substrate stage for carrying a substrate is caused to wait at a position in the exposure apparatus at which stability against heat is obtained, so that any adverse effects may be minimized, which could occur due to changes in the temperature gradients prevailing in the exposure apparatus.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device is structured in such a manner that plural of liquid crystal display panels each comprised of a liquid crystal layer provided between a pair of transparent substrates which have electrodes disposed on each facing inner surface, and a reflection-type polarizing film is disposed at least on the top surface of the plural liquid crystal display panel, or between the liquid crystal display panels, or on the lowest surface of the plural liquid crystal display panel. By controlling a reflection state and a transmission state through the reflection-type polarizing film with electric voltage applied on the liquid crystal layer of the liquid crystal display panel, a display which represents the opening and closing of a metallic shutter is made possible.

Abstract: A valve train for an internal combustion engine includes a rocker shaft (9) provided with an oil passage, first and second rocker arms (7, 8) having support parts (7a, 8a) provided with bores (7b, 8b) to receive the rocker shaft (9) therein so as to be supported on the rocker shaft (9) for rocking motion, and a rocker arm interlocking mechanism (10) for selectively engaging or disengaging the first and the second rocker arms (7, 8). The first rocker arm (7) is provided with a pressure chamber (33) holding a piston (30) therein, a straight connecting passage 34 connected to the pressure chamber (33) and an oil passage (35)formed in the rocker shaft (9). An open end surface (7b1) of the bore (7b) of a first support wall (7e) of the rocker arm (7) is on an axially outer side of the pressure chamber (33).

Abstract: A contactor used for testing a semiconductor device is provided. The semiconductor device testing contactor is electrically connected to electrodes of a semiconductor device to be tested. Such a contactor includes a wiring board and a first reinforcing member for reinforcing the wiring board. The contactor has a flexible base film and device connecting pads to be electrically connected to the electrodes of the semiconductor device. The first reinforcing member is disposed on the surface opposite to the semiconductor device connecting surface of the wiring board. The wiring board and the first reinforcing member are collectively bonded.

Abstract: A two reagent-type kit for assaying GPT by acting GPT on L-alanine and &agr;-ketoglutarate in the presence of pyridoxal phosphate, converting the resulting pyruvate into lactate with L-lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in the presence of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) and measuring GPT based on a decrement of NADH, the GPT assay kit comprising a first reagent and a second reagent, one of which contains pyridoxal phosphate, L-alanine, &agr;-ketoglutarate, LDH and NADH and the other reagent contains no pyridoxal phosphate but contains L-alanine. The GPT assay kit is stable over a long period of time.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fixing belt adapted to move circularly and cooperate with a pressing member to form a nip region for fixing an unfixed toner image on a recording medium, capable of achieving a desirably enhanced durability even under high-temperature atmosphere. The fixing belt comprises a substrate formed of an endless-shaped electroformed sheet consisting of a nickel-carbon alloy containing 0.05 to 0.12 mass % of carbon. The carbon content may be adjusted in proportion to the amount of a secondary brightening agent to be added to an electrolytic bath or to a cathode current density to be sent to the electrolytic bath. The secondary brightening agent may be 2-butyne-1,4-diol. In the fixing belt of the present invention, the substrate may have a surface provided with a releasing layer which may be formed as a single layer or multilayer made of a material having heat resistance and non-adhesive, such as silicone rubber, fluorine rubber, fluororesin, or their mixture.

Abstract: The present invention proposes a liquid chromatograph/mass spectrometer constructed to present a maximized or almost maximized ion-producing efficiency of APCI, irrespective of whether positive or negative ions are produced. In an embodiment of the invention, two discharging electrodes 222, 223 for ionizing solvent gas molecules are disposed ahead of a sprayer 221 for spraying sample droplets; one electrode is disposed at the position optimal to the positive ion production, and another electrode is disposed at the position optimal to the negative ion production. In the analyzing operation, the same high voltage is applied to the discharging electrodes 222, 223 to generate corona discharge. According to whether positive or negative ions are to be produced, one of the discharging electrodes dominantly contributes to the ionization. Thus, the ion-producing efficiency is almost maximized irrespective of whether positive or negative ions are produced.

Abstract: A dehumidifying apparatus capable of continuously supplying dry air having an absolute humidity of 4 g/kgDA or lower is provided.

Abstract: An electronic timepiece comprises power generation means for generating electricity by using external energy, storage means for storing electric energy received from the power generation means, time-indicating means powered by electric energy supplied from the power generation means or the storage means for indicating time, a switch circuit including a plurality of switching devices and adapted to transfer or intercept electric energy between the power generation means and the storage means and between the power generation means and the time-indicating means, voltage measuring means for measuring voltage across the time-indicating means, and control means that selects one of predetermined power ratios based on the results of measurement by the voltage measuring means and controls the switch circuit according to the selected ratio when the power generation means charges the storage means and the time-indicating means.

Abstract: The present invention provides a safe immortalized bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell obtained by transferring a cell proliferation factor gene inserted between a pair of site-specific recombination sequences to a bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell.

Abstract: A charged particle beam exposure method includes the steps of creating dot pattern data indicative of a pattern to be exposed, storing the dot pattern data in a first storage device having a first access speed, transferring the dot pattern data from the first storage device to a second storage device having a second, higher access speed, reading the dot pattern data out from the second storage device, and producing a plurality of charged particle beams in response to the dot pattern data read out from the second storage device by means of a blanking aperture array, wherein the blanking aperture array includes a plurality of apertures each causing turning-on and turning-off of a changed particle beam pertinent to the aperture in response to the dot pattern data.

Abstract: A tilt-swivel stand includes a base member, a movable member mounted on the base member, and a connecting mechanism for connecting the base member to the movable member. The connecting mechanism consists of a protrusion and a guide groove into which the protrusion is inserted. The protrusion includes a shank and an engaging portion. This engaging portion has a normal size greater than the width of the guide groove. The engaging portion is flexible enough to go through the guide groove.

Abstract: A battery module has a plurality of electrically connected unit cells fixed in a container. A buffer member is provided at the void between the inner wall of the container and the unit cell. By virtue of the buffer member in the battery module formed of a heat conductive elastic body, the requirement of vibration resistance can be met by the buffer member while the heat generated by the unit cell can be easily discharged via the buffer member. Thus, a battery module suppressed in degradation of the performance of the unit cell caused by heat can be provided.

Abstract: A lithium secondary battery comprises a cathode 1 capable of charging and discharging lithium ions, an anode 2 formed from a material which can be doped and de-doped with lithium ions, lithium metal, or the like, and an electrolyte that allows the movement of lithium ions. The anode 2 contains an imide compound represented by the chemical formula below. In the chemical formula above, Z is an optionally substituted —(CH2)n— (where n is an integer from 2 to 7), 1,2-cyclohexylene or 1,2-phenylene; X is a hydrogen atom, or an optionally substituted alkyl group, aralkylcarbonyl group, alkylcarbonyl group, alkoxycarbonyl group, aralkyloxycarbonyl group, or imidyloxycarbonyl group.

Abstract: A composition useful as a blowing agent having no flash point or reduced combustibility comprising 2-chloropropane and a gas selected from the group consisting of a fluorohydrocarbon, perfluorocarbons, fluoroethers, hydrofluoropolyethers and mixtures thereof is disclosed. A polyisocyanurate foam or a polyurethane modified polyisocyanurate foam having a mainly closed cell structure and also a method for preparing this foam, the latter comprising closed cells wherein a foam blowing agent consisting of a mixture of 2-chloropropane and one or more HFC compounds including pentafluoropropane, pentafluorobutane, heptafluoropropane, hexafluoropropane or pentafluoroethane are disclosed. Pentanes can be added if desired. Azeotropic mixtures in which 2-chloropropane is an ingredient are disclosed.

Abstract: An output shaft bearing portion which is provided in an extension housing to be attached to an outside of an end wall portion of a casing main body of a transmission casing is lubricated by lubrication oil which is supplied to lubricating portions inside the casing main body. In the end wall portion there is formed an oil guide passage which guides the lubrication oil supplied to the lubricating portions inside the casing main body. Inside the extension housing, there is formed a rib which guides the lubrication oil flown from the oil guide passage, into a position in which the lubrication oil can be scraped by a gear wheel provided inside the extension housing. The lubrication oil scraped by the gear wheel is supplied to the output shaft bearing portion.

Abstract: A polyoxyalkylene monoalkyl ether which gives, in gel permeation chromatography, a chromatogram which satisfies a relation expressed by an equation: S1/S0≦0.