Abstract: The invention provides a polycarbonate diol and a polycarbonate diol copolymer each having excellent mechanical performance, hydrolysis resistance, etc. and exhibiting excellent industrial productivity. The polycarbonate diol includes a repeating unit represented by formula (1), and the polycarbonate diol copolymer includes a repeating unit represented by formula (1) and a repeating unit represented by formula (3): (wherein each of Z1 and Z2 represents a C1 to C10 linear or branched alkanediyl group).

Abstract: An objective of the present invention is to provide polynucleotides encoding insect desiccation resistance proteins, and uses thereof. cDNA libraries were produced from Polypedilum vanderplanki larvae in a desiccated state, a P. vanderplanki EST database was constructed, and genes encoding LEA proteins were isolated. This resulted in the successful isolation of three types of novel gene encoding LEA-like proteins. When secondary structure predictions and motif searches were performed on the proteins deduced from each of the genes, all three proteins had ?-helix-rich structures and LEA_4 motifs, which are characteristic of LEA proteins. Moreover, the recombinant proteins synthesized from these genes were heat soluble even when boiling, so that these proteins have hydrophilic properties as high as plant LEA proteins. Therefore, the three isolated genes were found to be novel P. vanderplanki-derived LEA genes.

Abstract: There are provided trehalose transporter gene and a method of introducing trehalose into cells by using the gene. Candidates for the trehalose transporter genes were searched in P. vanderplanki EST, resulting in being obtained cDNA designated as Tret1. Tret1 encodes a 504 amino acid protein with 12 trans-membrane structures. Tret1 expression was induced by desiccation stress and predominant in the fat body. Functional expression of TRET1 in Xenopus oocytes showed that transport activity was specific for trehalose and independent of extracellular pH and electrochemical membrane potential. The direction of transport of TRET1 was reversible depending on the concentration gradient of trehalose. Apparent Km and Vmax of TRET1 for trehalose were extraordinarily high values. These results indicate that TRET1 is a facilitated, high-capacity trehalose-specific transporter. Tret1 is widespread in insects. Furthermore, TRET1 conferred trehalose permeability upon cells including those of vertebrates as well as insects.

Abstract: A variable valve timing control apparatus of an internal combustion engine has a drive rotary member rotated by an engine crankshaft, a driven rotary member fixedly connected to a camshaft and transferring a turning force from the drive rotary member to the camshaft, and a phase-change mechanism changing a relative rotational phase between the drive and driven rotary members and having an intermediate rotary member installed between the drive and driven rotary members for a relative rotational phase control. The variable valve timing control apparatus further has a holding mechanism and a releasing mechanism. The holding mechanism forces the intermediate rotary member and holds the relative rotational phase between the drive and driven rotary members, and the releasing mechanism releases a holding state of the holding mechanism.

Abstract: An LED module comprises: an insulating substrate in plate form; first main and sub terminals for connection to an external circuit formed near the first side of the insulating substrate; second main and sub terminals for connection to an external circuit formed near the second side opposite to the first side; three or more connecting wires formed on the insulating substrate for connecting LEDs continuously aligned at a distance from each other in series; LEDs individually connected between the connecting wires adjacent to each other and connected in series in a same direction; and a first passing wire formed on the insulating substrate for electrically connecting the first sub-terminal to the second sub-terminal, wherein a first connecting wire located on one side is electrically connected to the first main terminal, and a second connecting wire located on the other side is electrically connected to the second main terminal.

Abstract: The phosphorus-containing polycarbonate polyol disclosed herein has a structural unit (I) represented by a formula: —OCOO— and a structural unit (II) represented by a residue A, wherein A denotes a n-valent residue in which n of alcoholic hydroxyl groups are removed from a phosphorus compound having at least n of alcoholic hydroxyl groups, in which n is an integer of 2 or larger, and wherein a terminal group of the polyol is a alcoholic hydroxyl group. The novel phosphorus-containing polycarbonate polyol, as a reactive flame-retardant agent, can provide flame-retardant properties easily to polyurethane or the like.

Abstract: A valve timing control device includes a drive pulley driven by a crankshaft of an engine, and a driven camshaft. The camshaft has a cam that serves to open and close an intake port. An engine valve is spring-loaded by a valve spring, whereas the cam opens or closes the engine valve against the bias of the spring. Torque is transmittable between the drive pulley and the camshaft, and a rotation angle adjusting mechanism is provided therebetween. The rotation angle adjusting mechanism has a movable operating member being movable in a substantially radial direction.

Abstract: Provided is a process for producing a MnZn-base ferrite comprising: firing a compacted raw material to produce the MnZn-base ferrite, wherein the firing comprises, in the following order: a heating phase comprising gradually bringing a firing temperature from room temperature up to a maximum temperature; a maximum temperature holding phase comprising maintaining the maximum temperature for a period of time, wherein a partial pressure of oxygen (p2) at the maximum temperature holding phase is greater than an equilibrium partial pressure of oxygen (p1) as follows: p2>p1, wherein the equilibrium partial pressure of oxygen (p1) is represented by the following equation: log(p1)=log(PO2)=a?b/T, wherein PO2 is measured in a unit of %, and T is measured in a unit of absolute temperature K; and a cooling phase comprising gradually bringing the maximum temperature down to near room temperature, wherein a partial pressure of oxygen (p3) at the cooling phase is operated at an equilibrium partial pressure of oxygen bas

Abstract: A device configured to suppress the occurrence of an inrush current is provided at a low cost, where the device includes a power circuit configured to generate a voltage used to drive a load, a capacitor connected to a supply line provided to supply power from the power circuit to the load, the capacitor being configured in such manner to stabilize the potential of the load, a charging/discharging circuit that supplies an amount of power smaller than a predetermined amount of power to the capacitor and that discharges the smaller amount of power from the capacitor, a charging circuit that supplies an amount of power larger than the predetermined amount of power to the capacitor, and a switch circuit configured to make each of the charging/discharging circuit and the charging circuit operate.

Abstract: Turrets (11, 12), which can rotate about a common axis (y-y) and on the outer peripheral surfaces of which a plurality of tools (15) are radially installed, are disposed along the axis (y-y) in a turret housing (100). Respective turrets (11, 12) can be dividedly rotated by separate turret driving motors (13, 14).

Abstract: A variable valve timing control apparatus of an internal combustion engine has a drive rotary member, a driven rotary member, and an electric motor which rotates with the drive rotary member and changes a rotational phase of the driven rotary member relative to the drive rotary member through a current application to a coil. The electric motor is covered with a cover member with a clearance interposed therebetween, and a bearing member is installed between an outer periphery of the electric motor and an inner periphery of the cover member for rotatably supporting the electric motor. The bearing member defines a space portion between an end surface, in a rotation shaft direction, of the electric motor and an opposing inner end surface of the cover member, and the space portion is supplied with lubricating oil by a lubricating oil supplying mechanism.

Abstract: A data verifying device collects various types of detailed data for each work processing unit (e.g., for each processing unit such as order acceptance and shipping), normalizes the collected various types of detailed data, and registers the detailed data into a defined work detailed database or a work procedure record detailed database, through an ESB. On receiving an execution instruction of a verification process from an administrator or the like the data verifying device verifies the consistency of a plurality of pieces of detailed data registered in the defined work detailed database based on a verification dictionary master included therein.

Abstract: An execution log generation apparatus generates an execution log upon receiving, for each job operation, job operation data indicating content of a job operation performed in a job procedure from a job processing apparatus that performs job processes through job procedures. The execution log generation apparatus includes a definition file holding unit that holds a definition file in which job operations performed in the job procedures are defined along a flow of the job processes and the job procedures, and in which output items to be output as execution logs for the each job operation are listed in a common format; and an execution log output unit that selects, from the definition file, an output item corresponding to a job operation contained in the job operation data, and outputs, as an execution log, the same output item as the selected output item from the job operation data.

Abstract: A valve timing control apparatus for an internal combustion engine, including a drive rotary member that is rotated by the crankshaft, a driven rotary member that transmits rotational force input from the drive rotary member, to the camshaft, and an electromagnetic mechanism that acts to vary a relative rotational phase between the drive rotary member and the driven rotary member. After an ignition switch is turned off and the engine is stopped, the electromagnetic mechanism acts to produce detent torque and hold the relative rotational phase between the drive rotary member and the driven rotary member in a predetermined phase position by the detent torque.

Abstract: A valve timing control apparatus includes a phase varying mechanism arranged to vary a relative rotational phase of a cam shaft with respect to a crank shaft; a driving mechanism arranged to provide a driving force to the phase varying mechanism by energization; a control mechanism configured to control a current applied to the driving mechanism; and a phase angle sensing mechanism arranged to sense the relative rotational phase of the cam shaft with respect to the crank shaft, and to have a detection period longer than a control period of the control mechanism in accordance with an engine operating state. The control mechanism is configured to repeat increasing and decreasing of the current applied to the driving mechanism when the phase varying mechanism continuously varies the relative rotational phase of the cam shaft with respect to the crank shaft by a predetermined angle or more.

Abstract: [Object] A low friction assembly is desired. [Solving Means] The present invention relates to a new low-friction lubrication assembly comprising a first member relatively slidable against a second member, the first member having chemical affinity with an OH-group on its sliding surface; and one or more oxygen containing compounds, provided on the sliding surface of the first member and being able to produce a tribofilm attached to the sliding surface of the first member through hydrogen bond interactions. Preferably the second member comprises a similar OH-terminated sliding surface wherein an oxygen containing compound (lubricant)-supported interface between the first and second sliding surfaces results in a H- and/or OH-terminated interface developing repulsive forces thereinbetween.

Abstract: Disclosed is a polythiourethane having a high refractive index and low dispersion which is obtained through a reaction between a polythiol component containing one or more polythiocarbonate polythiol (preferably one having a —(CO—S—R—S)— structure (wherein R represents a divalent hydrocarbon group) and a number average molecular weight of 200-2,500) and a polyisocyanate component containing a polyisocyanate and/or a polyisothiocyanate. This polythiourethane is useful for plastic lenses, prisms, optical fibers, substrates for information recording, colored filters, infrared absorbing filters and the like.

Abstract: For the purpose of providing a Mn—Zn based ferrite material that is small in magnetic field degradation in high frequency bands of 1 MHz or more, the Mn—Zn based ferrite material includes: as main constituents, Fe2O3: 53 to 56 mol %, ZnO: 7 mol % or less (inclusive of 0 mol %), and the balance: MnO; and as additives, Co: 0.15 to 0.65% by weight in terms of Co3O4, Si: 0.01 to 0.045% by weight in terms of SiO2 and Ca: 0.05 to 0.40% by weight in terms of CaCO3; wherein the ? value (the cation defect amount) defined in the present specification satisfies the relation 3×10?3???7×10?3; and the mean grain size is larger than 8 ?m and 15 ?m or less.

Abstract: An objective of the present invention is to provide polynucleotides encoding insect desiccation resistance proteins, and uses thereof. cDNA libraries were produced from Polypedilum vanderplanki larvae in a desiccated state, a P. vanderplanki EST database was constructed, and genes encoding LEA proteins were isolated. This resulted in the successful isolation of three types of novel gene encoding LEA-like proteins (PvLEA1, PvLEA2, and PvLEA3.) When secondary structure predictions and motif searches were performed on the proteins deduced from each of the genes, all three proteins had ?-helix-rich structures and LEA_4 motifs, which are characteristic of LEA proteins. Moreover, the recombinant proteins synthesized from PvLEA1, 2 and 3 genes were heat soluble even when boiling, so that PvLEA1, 2 and 3 proteins have highly hydrophilic property as well as plant LEA proteins. Therefore, the three isolated genes were found to be novel P. vanderplanki-derived LEA genes.

Abstract: [Summary] [Object] To provide a low-friction sliding mechanism capable of exhibiting an extremely excellent ultra-low friction characteristics at a sliding face existing in a variety of uses. [Solving means] A low-friction sliding mechanism is constituted by disposing a lubricant containing glycerol, at a sliding face formed between sliding members which have respectively hard carbon thin films. A low-friction sliding mechanism is constituted by disposing a lubricant containing hydroxyl group, at a sliding face formed between sliding members which have respectively hard carbon thin films, wherein a friction coefficient of smaller than 0.02 is exhibited in a sliding contacting condition under a boundary lubrication which exhibits a friction coefficient of 0.1 to 0.14 at a sliding face between a steel and a steel in presence of an engine oil. Each hard carbon thin film is formed of a-C or ta-C. Each hard carbon thin film has a hardness of 1500 to 5000 Hv in micro-Vickers hardness under a load of 10 g.