Abstract: When the status of a client X is changed to a status i, a group management unit generates a group agent Xi, corresponding to the status i and registers the generated group agent in the server S, and the presence issuing unit issues the status i and the identifier of the group agent Xi. Initially, a member management unit of the group agent xi manages the client X only. When other clients, such as clients B and C, that are observing the status of the client X send an instant message (IM) to the group agent Xi identified by the issued identifier, an IM delivery unit of the group agent Xi adds the clients B and C, which are IM senders, to the members managed by the member management unit and sends the IM to all members.

Abstract: When a collation result of user information is not matched, user information in one system need be prevented from being leaked to the other system. When hash values for an item serving as a key of correlation match with each other between a plurality of user information lists, it is determined that relevance is present, and then user information of the corresponding user is correlated.

Abstract: A PLL circuit according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a phase comparing circuit comparing phases of a reference clock signal and a feedback clock signal to output a voltage-up signal and a voltage-down signal based on the phase difference; a first charge pump circuit generating a first current based on the voltage-up signal and the voltage-down signal; a dummy signal generating circuit outputting a dummy signal having substantially the same pulse width as a pulse width of the voltage-up signal or the voltage-down signal in sync with the voltage-up signal or the voltage-down signal; a second charge pump circuit generating a second current based on the dummy signal; and a voltage-controlled oscillator controlling an output clock frequency based on a differential voltage between a first voltage generated in accordance with the first current and a second voltage generated in accordance with the second current.

Abstract: A display controller or the like executes an item desired by the user while plural items are displayed. Plural menu item display regions, such as a menu image of a DVD, etc., are displayed. When a touching location on the display screen is detected, in the case when the detected user's touching location corresponds to plural menu item display regions on display screen that allow selection of menu item display regions, processing is executed corresponding to the menu item display region corresponding to the menu item selection region determined according to a prescribed condition. Even when plural menu item display regions overlap each other, it is still possible to select a menu item display region corresponding to a given menu item selection region.

Abstract: A signal conversion circuit for converting an inputted differential signal into a single-ended signal comprises a differential amplifier circuit for amplifying the differential signal, and generating a first non-inverted signal and a first inverted signal being inverted the first non-inverted signal, a first inverter for generating a second non-inverted signal being inverted the first inverted signal and an interpolation unit for interpolating a phase difference between the first non-inverted signal and the second non-inverted signal.

Abstract: A PLL circuit according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a phase comparator to output an up signal and a down signal based on a phase difference between a reference clock signal and a feedback clock signal; an offset correcting circuit to correct a pulse width of at least one of the up signal and the down signal to output a modified up signal and a modified down signal; a first charge pump circuit to increase or decrease a charge pump output voltage to be output in accordance with the modified up signal and the modified down signal; a loop filter to filter out noise of the charge pump output voltage and generate a filter voltage; and a voltage-controlled oscillation circuit having an oscillation frequency controlled based on a voltage value of the filter voltage and outputting an output clock signal.

Abstract: A presentity service client has a presentity that issues presence information to a presence service and a watcher which observes presence information for other presentities; a presence change rule holding part holds a presence change rule; and a presence calculating part changes the presence information for the presentity, using as a trigger a change in presence information of other presentities, based on the presence information of other presentity acquired by the watcher and in accordance with the presence change rule held by a presence change rules holding part.

Abstract: There is provided a sample manipulating apparatus 1 which is an apparatus of manipulating a sample S mounted on a substrate surface 2a, in which at least a position data and a shape data are acquired by observing the sample S, thereafter, a tweezers 4 is positioned by moving means 5 such that the sample S is positioned between an observing probe 15 and a grasping probe 16 based on the two data, after the positioning, a height of the tweezers 4 is set to a position of being remote from the substrate surface 2a by a constant distance by moving means 5 while monitoring a result of measurement by displacement measuring means 7, thereafter, the grasping probe 16 is moved to a side of the observing probe 15 while monitoring the result of measurement by the displacement measuring means 7 at the set height and the sample S is grasped while detecting a grasping start point.

Abstract: There is provided a scanning probe microscope employing a positioning apparatus M1 including a unit to be driven in XY direction having a substantially square form in plane geometry at the center of the plane in the XY directions and having a first elastic support that bends in the X-axis direction at least on one side of the square form and a second elastic support that bends in the Y-axis direction at least on one side orthogonal to the side and a support unit that supports a stage unit 1 in the XY directions such that the facing surface can face in parallel against the facing surface of the unit to be driven in the XY directions. The positioning apparatus has a space of a predetermined thickness between the surface corresponding to the unit to be driven in the XY directions at least and the facing surface of the support unit that faces against it, and the space is filled with a viscosity agent.

Abstract: A process of producing 2-(5-ethyl-5-hydroxymethyl-1,3-dioxane-2-yl)-2-methylpropane-1-ol (DOG) by the acetalization of hydroxypivalaldehyde with trimethylolpropane in water in the presence of an acid catalyst and optional seed crystals. DOG crystals having an increased particle size and containing the trans isomer in a high content are produced by the process in which the reaction temperature, pH of the reaction system and concentration of DOG to be produced in the reaction system are controlled.

Abstract: A leaf spring 4 constituting an elastic member one end of which is fixed to a foundation 6, and other end of which is brought into contact with a laminating type piezoelectric element 2 or a driven member 5 is constituted such that a thickness is thinned from a side of the foundation 6 to a side of the laminating type piezoelectric element 2 to make a moment of inertia smaller on a side of a portion of other end held by the laminating type piezoelectric element 2 than a portion on one end side fixed to the foundation 6. Further, a strain gage sensor 8 is attached to a side face 4a of the leaf spring 4 constituting one face of one end of the leaf spring 4 proximate to the laminating type piezoelectric element 2 orthogonal to a direction of elongating and contracting the laminating type piezoelectric element 2 constituting a side of the driven member 5.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of producing high-purity hydroxypivalaldehyde and/or dimer thereof, including: reacting isobutyl aldehyde with formaldehyde in a presence of a basic catalyst; distilling a low boiling point component including unreacted isobutyl aldehyde to obtain an aqueous solution; adding a diluent to the aqueous solution; cooling the aqueous solution to crystallize the hydroxypivalaldehyde and/or the dimer thereof; and subjecting the aqueous solution to a solid-liquid separation, followed by washing with an organic solvent and/or water, in which the diluent and a basic compound are added to the aqueous solution containing the hydroxypivalaldehyde and/or the dimer thereof obtained by distilling the low boiling point component off so that a concentration of the hydroxypivalaldehyde and/or the dimer becomes 5 to 23% by mass, the concentration of formaldehyde becomes 0.2 to 2.5% by mass, and a pH value becomes 5.0 or more, the solution is crystallized at a temperature of 20 to 45° C.

Abstract: A PLL circuit according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a phase comparator to output an up signal and a down signal based on a phase difference between a reference clock signal and a feedback clock signal; an offset correcting circuit to correct a pulse width of at least one of the up signal and the down signal to output a modified up signal and a modified down signal; a first charge pump circuit to increase or decrease a charge pump output voltage to be output in accordance with the modified up signal and the modified down signal; a loop filter to filter out noise of the charge pump output voltage and generate a filter voltage; and a voltage-controlled oscillation circuit having an oscillation frequency controlled based on a voltage value of the filter voltage and outputting an output clock signal.

Abstract: A PLL circuit according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a phase comparing circuit comparing phases of a reference clock signal and a feedback clock signal to output a voltage-up signal and a voltage-down signal based on the phase difference; a first charge pump circuit generating a first current based on the voltage-up signal and the voltage-down signal; a dummy signal generating circuit outputting a dummy signal having substantially the same pulse width as a pulse width of the voltage-up signal or the voltage-down signal in sync with the voltage-up signal or the voltage-down signal; a second charge pump circuit generating a second current based on the dummy signal; and a voltage-controlled oscillator controlling an output clock frequency based on a differential voltage between a first voltage generated in accordance with the first current and a second voltage generated in accordance with the second current.

Abstract: A PLL circuit according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a first charge pump circuit to control an output current in accordance with an output signal of a phase comparator; an integrating filter to remove a predetermined frequency component; a second charge pump circuit to output a larger current than the first charge pump circuit in accordance with the output signal from the phase comparator; a ripple filter to remove a ripple component; a first voltage-current converting circuit to convert an output voltage from the integrating filter into a current; a second voltage-current converting circuit to convert an output voltage from the ripple filter into a current; and a current-controlled oscillator to control a frequency of output signal based on sum total of the output current from the first voltage-current converting circuit and the output current from the second voltage-current converting circuit.

Abstract: A leaf spring 4 constituting an elastic member one end of which is fixed to a foundation 6, and other end of which is brought into contact with a laminating type piezoelectric element 2 or a driven member 5 is constituted such that a thickness is thinned from a side of the foundation 6 to a side of the laminating type piezoelectric element 2 to make a moment of inertia smaller on a side of a portion of other end held by the laminating type piezoelectric element 2 than a portion on one end side fixed to the foundation 6. Further, a strain gage sensor 8 is attached to a side face 4a of the leaf spring 4 constituting one face of one end of the leaf spring 4 proximate to the laminating type piezoelectric element 2 orthogonal to a direction of elongating and contracting the laminating type piezoelectric element 2 constituting a side of the driven member 5.

Abstract: A scanning probe microscope is capable of radiating light on a sample without moving the sample from the scanning probe microscope and is capable of measuring the sample while controlling the conditions under which the sample is placed without changing the location of the sample. The scanning probe microscope includes a cantilever having a probe at a distal end thereof, a sample moving device for moving the sample, and a detection unit for detecting deflection of the cantilever using a laser beam. The detection unit is detachably mounted to the scanning probe microscope during measurement of the sample and is detachable from the microscope to enable radiation of the sample with light without changing the location of the sample.

Abstract: A communication agent apparatus includes at least one mobile unit, a presence information inquiring unit, a handling method determination unit, and a handling method execution unit. The mobile unit transports a communication device. The presence information inquiring unit acquires presence information indicating the current situation of a called user. The handling method determination unit determines a handling method for communication made from a calling user to the called user on the basis of the acquired presence information. The handling method execution unit executes the determined handling method. When the handling method determination unit determines a handling method of delivering a communication device used for communication to the called user, the mobile unit delivers the communication device to the called user in accordance with a move command from the handling method execution unit.

Abstract: A process of producing 2-(5-ethyl-5-hydroxymethyl-1,3-dioxane-2-yl)-2-methylpropane-1-ol (DOG) by the acetalization of hydroxypivalaldehyde with trimethylolpropane in water in the presence of an acid catalyst and optional seed crystals. DOG crystals having an increased particle size and containing the trans isomer in a high content are produced by the process in which the reaction temperature, pH of the reaction system and concentration of DOG to be produced in the reaction system are controlled.

Abstract: This invention is directed to an in vitro system for rapidly and uniformly inducing immortalized neural crest cells to differentiate to vascular smooth muscle cells. As excessive proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells is a phenotypic response to the development of occlusive arteriosclerotic disease, the in vitro system of this invention is used to identify molecular regulators of smooth muscle cell development and differentiation. As the molecular regulators of smooth muscle cell differentiation are identified, the invention also encompasses methods to isolate the genes coding for these regulators. This invention also relates to molecules identified through the use of the invention's in vitro system, as well as to compounds that inhibit or regulate the identified molecules.