Abstract: An observation apparatus includes a case having a transmissive window, an image sensor, an optical system, and a light source housed in the case, and an optical deflection unit. The optical system is configured to condense light incident inside the case to form an image of a sample inside a container. The light source is configured to emit light to the outside of the case without passing through the optical system. The optical deflection unit is configured to deflect light emitted to the outside of the case from the light source to a first direction proceeding toward the transmissive window. An angle of exit between the first direction and an optical axis of the optical system is different from an angle of incidence between a second direction in which light emitted to the outside of the case is incident on the optical deflection unit, and the optical axis.

Abstract: Provided is hollow resin particles having higher compressive strength and more excellent heat insulating properties and heat resistance than before. The hollow resin particles each having one or two or more hollow portions, wherein a number average particle diameter is from 0.1 ?m to 9.0 ?m, a void ratio is from 70% to 99%, and an amount of the volatile organic compound contained is 5% by mass or less.

Abstract: A liquefied gas production facility includes a plurality of liquefied gas producers which produce liquefied gas by removing an unnecessary substance and liquefying feed gas containing methane as a main component.

Abstract: A ceramic glow plug includes a ceramic heater; a tubular sleeve which holds the outer circumference of the ceramic heater with a front end portion thereof protruding from the front end of the sleeve; and a tubular housing which surrounds a rear end portion of the ceramic heater and has a mounting portion for mounting the housing. The sleeve has a small-diameter portion which is accommodated in a front end portion of the housing and has an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the front end portion of the housing, and a large-diameter portion which is connected to the small-diameter portion, disposed frontward of the front end portion of the housing, and has a diameter larger than the inner diameter of the front end portion of the housing. The front end portion of the housing is welded to the large-diameter portion.

Abstract: The present invention provides a metabolism improving agent comprising an oxo fatty acid having 18 carbon atoms and a carbonyl group at the 10- or 12-position, and/or a hydroxy fatty acid having 18 carbon atoms and a hydroxyl group at the 10- and/or 12-position(s), and use of the metabolism improving agent as a food, a pharmaceutical product and the like.

Abstract: A motion assisting device or the like, wherein the asymmetry degree of the motion patterns of human limbs is evaluated according to the variation patterns of the values of a pair of posture variables which vary with the postures in the respective same locations of the limbs. Furthermore, the evaluation result of the degree of the asymmetry can be utilized as the foundation of the motion control of the actuator of the motion assisting device. As a result, the motion of the human limbs can be assisted by the motion assisting device in such a manner that the balance of the motion patterns of the limbs is adjusted.

Abstract: A liquefied gas production facility includes a plurality of liquefied gas producers which produce liquefied gas by removing an unnecessary substance and liquefying feed gas containing methane as a main component.

Abstract: The present invention provides a metabolism improving agent comprising an oxo fatty acid having 18 carbon atoms and a carbonyl group at the 10- or 12-position, and/or a hydroxy fatty acid having 18 carbon atoms and a hydroxyl group at the 10- and/or 12-position(s), and use of the metabolism improving agent as a food, a pharmaceutical product and the like.

Abstract: A display apparatus of the present invention includes a reception unit configured to receive an image captured by an imaging apparatus from the imaging apparatus and a switching unit configured to switch the display mode of the captured image to a single shooting display mode for displaying the image captured by the imaging apparatus in the single shooting mode or a continuous shooting display mode for displaying the image captured by the imaging apparatus in the continuous shooting mode based on an interval at which the captured image is received by the reception unit.

Abstract: A ceramic glow plug includes a ceramic heater; a tubular sleeve which holds the outer circumference of the ceramic heater with a front end portion thereof protruding from the front end of the sleeve; and a tubular housing which surrounds a rear end portion of the ceramic heater and has a mounting portion for mounting the housing. The sleeve has a small-diameter portion which is accommodated in a front end portion of the housing and has an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the front end portion of the housing, and a large-diameter portion which is connected to the small-diameter portion, disposed frontward of the front end portion of the housing, and has a diameter larger than the inner diameter of the front end portion of the housing. The front end portion of the housing is welded to the large-diameter portion.

Abstract: A sewing data creation apparatus includes an area specification portion that specifies at least one area in which a plurality of stitches are to be formed and a sewing data creation portion that creates sewing data for forming the plurality of stitches in each of the specified at least one area and for forming an overlapping portion in a case where the specified at least one area includes a first area and a second area. The overlapping portion is a region in which at least one of the first area and the second area is enlarged in a direction that extends across a boundary line, such that a portion of the plurality of stitches to be formed in the first area is one of intersected and overlapped by a portion of the plurality of stitches to be formed in the second area.

Abstract: In an image processing apparatus, a shooting scene and shooting parameters for each image pickup apparatus that is to be used to pick up an image are set in accordance with a user input. A picked-up image is received from an image pickup apparatus. In accordance with the shooting scene that is set for the image pickup apparatus which has picked up the received image, a threshold of the likelihood of detecting a face region that is included in the shooting parameters for the shooting scene is obtained. A face region is detected from the picked-up image using the obtained threshold of the likelihood of detecting a face region. An image of the detected face region is highlighted and displayed on a display screen.

Abstract: An embroidery data generating device is disclosed. The embroidery data generating device generates embroidery data that is used for sewing an embroidery pattern including multiple color-wise pattern sections with a sewing machine and that includes thread color data specifying a color of each of the color-wise pattern sections. The embroidery data generating device includes a first storage device that stores multiple entries of preset color information; an extractor that randomly extracts color data used as the thread color data from each entry of the color information stored in the first storage device; and an allocator that randomly allocates the color data extracted by the extractor to each of the thread color data associated with each of the color-wise pattern sections.

Abstract: In a belt buckle device including a tongue piece (75, 76; 210; 310) connected to an end of a belt extending in a longitudinal direction and a hook member (68, 70; 220; 320) configured to be selectively connected to the tongue piece by engaging a first lateral bar of the tongue piece in a hook opening (111; 226; 326) defined by a hook portion (71, 72; 225; 324) thereof, a longitudinal dimension (B) between the free end of the tongue piece and a base end side of the first lateral bar is substantially equal to or smaller than a width (A) of the entrance of the hook opening, and the effective thickness (C) of the first lateral bar is greater than the width (A) of the entrance of the hook opening. Thus, the first lateral bar is held inside the hook opening as long as the tongue piece is kept in a flat position in a reliable manner.

Abstract: An embroidery data generating apparatus that includes a pattern data acquisition device that acquires pattern data, an area identification device that identifies a base area in which a plurality of base stitches including a plurality of intersecting portions are to be formed, each of the intersecting portions being a portion at which two base stitches extending in different directions intersect, a first generating device that generates first sewing data to be used to sew the base stitches in the base area, a sewing data acquisition device that acquires second sewing data to be used to sew a pattern represented by the pattern data in an area including at least a part of the base area, and an embroidery data generating device that generates embroidery data including the first sewing data and the second sewing data.

Abstract: When securing a frame (7) made of a rigid member for carrying a heavy object such as a drive unit (3) for a walking assistance device on the hip of a wearer, a hip protective belt (4) made of fabric is wrapped around the hip of the wearer, and the frame (7) is secured thereon via a flexible plate (5) and a pressure plate (6) located on an outer side of the flexible plate (5) and having a higher rigidity than the flexible plate (5). The intermediate members allow the wearer to feel the rigidity of the frame in a mitigated manner, and the wearer would not experience any discomfort from the pressure of the frame even when the posture of the wearer is changed. The hip protective belt can readily conform to the body contour of the wearer, but the frame would not deform. Because the intermediate members absorb the difference in the builds of different wearers, the frame may come in a small number of different sizes to fit almost any wearer allowing the hip support member can be mass produced at low cost.

Abstract: A sewing machine comprises a transport portion that moves an embroidery frame, a contact detection portion that detects contact with the embroidery frame, a first position identification portion that identifies a first position, a second position identification portion that identifies a second position, a direction determination portion that determines a direction of a diagonal line of a virtual rectangle, a third position identification portion that identifies a third position, and an area setting portion that sets a sewable area.

Abstract: A sewing data creation apparatus includes an area specification portion that specifies at least one area in which a plurality of stitches are to be formed and a sewing data creation portion that creates sewing data for forming the plurality of stitches in each of the specified at least one area and for forming an overlapping portion in a case where the specified at least one area includes a first area and a second area. The overlapping portion is a region in which at least one of the first area and the second area is enlarged in a direction that extends across a boundary line, such that a portion of the plurality of stitches to be formed in the first area is one of intersected and overlapped by a portion of the plurality of stitches to be formed in the second area.

Abstract: A sewing machine includes a needle bar to which a needle is attached, a needle bar rocking mechanism which rocks the needle bar, a needle plate having a needle hole through which the needle is passed, an imaging device which images a lower part of the needle bar, a setting section which sets a range of rocking motion of the needle bar based on an image obtained by the imaging device, and a control device which controls the needle bar rocking mechanism based on the range of rocking motion set by the setting section.

Abstract: A motion assisting device or the like, wherein the asymmetry degree of the motion patterns of human limbs is evaluated according to the variation patterns of the values of a pair of posture variables which vary with the postures in the respective same locations of the limbs. Furthermore, the evaluation result of the degree of the asymmetry can be utilized as the foundation of the motion control of the actuator of the motion assisting device. As a result, the motion of the human limbs can be assisted by the motion assisting device in such a manner that the balance of the motion patterns of the limbs is adjusted.