Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a method for producing granules for ceramic production, the method having high productivity and making it possible to obtain a ceramic which, when produced by press molding the granules and firing the resulting press molded product, has physical properties kept from lowering. The present invention is characterized by including: a slurry preparation step of preparing a slurry including a mixture containing a powder of an inorganic compound, a binder, and a solvent; a granulation step of introducing the slurry into a spray drying device to form a granulated substance containing the inorganic compound; an exhaust step of exhausting an atmospheric gas within the spray drying device via a cyclone having a surface made of ceramic; and a step of mixing a fine powder, which has been recovered by the cyclone during the exhaust step, with the granulated substance obtained in the granulation step.

Abstract: A steering system installed on a vehicle, including: a steering mechanism including a steering member and configured to enable a wheel to be steered in accordance with a movement of the steering member; an operation assist device configured to apply a torque to a steering shaft for assisting an operation of a steering operation member; a steering assist device configured to assist the movement of the steering member utilizing a working fluid; and a controller configured to control a torque applied to the steering shaft by the operation assist device and control a supply flow rate of the working fluid, wherein the steering assist device assists the movement of the steering member with an assist force that depends on the supply flow rate, and the controller increases the supply flow rate when an operation speed of the steering operation member becomes equal to or higher than a set threshold speed.

Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a method for producing granules for ceramic production, the method having high productivity and making it possible to obtain a ceramic which, when produced by press molding the granules and firing the resulting press molded product, has physical properties kept from lowering. The present invention is characterized by including: a slurry preparation step of preparing a slurry including a mixture containing a powder of an inorganic compound, a binder, and a solvent; a granulation step of introducing the slurry into a spray drying device to form a granulated substance containing the inorganic compound; an exhaust step of exhausting an atmospheric gas within the spray drying device via a cyclone having a surface made of ceramic; and a step of mixing a fine powder, which has been recovered by the cyclone during the exhaust step, with the granulated substance obtained in the granulation step.

Abstract: A vehicle steering assist system, including an engine pump, a flow-rate restricting mechanism, a motor pump, a motor-pump controller, and a steering-force assist device, wherein the steering assist system is configured to restrict an engine-pump ejection flow rate to be lower than a required receiving flow rate to be received by the assist device when the engine pump is operated by being driven by an engine rotating at an idling speed, the engine-pump ejection flow rate being a flow rate of a working fluid ejected from the engine pump to the assist device via the restricting mechanism, and wherein the motor-pump controller is configured to control a motor-pump ejection flow rate such that an insufficient flow rate of the working fluid is covered by the motor-pump ejection flow rate, the insufficient flow rate being a shortage in the required receiving flow rate not covered by the engine-pump ejection flow rate.

Abstract: A steering system installed on a vehicle, including: a steering mechanism including a steering member and configured to enable a wheel to be steered in accordance with a movement of the steering member; an operation assist device configured to apply a torque to a steering shaft for assisting an operation of a steering operation member; a steering assist device configured to assist the movement of the steering member utilizing a working fluid; and a controller configured to control a torque applied to the steering shaft by the operation assist device and control a supply flow rate of the working fluid, wherein the steering assist device assists the movement of the steering member with an assist force that depends on the supply flow rate, and the controller increases the supply flow rate when an operation speed of the steering operation member becomes equal to or higher than a set threshold speed.

Abstract: A vehicle steering assist system, including an engine pump, a flow-rate restricting mechanism, a motor pump, a motor-pump controller, and a steering-force assist device, wherein the steering assist system is configured to restrict an engine-pump ejection flow rate to be lower than a required receiving flow rate to be received by the assist device when the engine pump is operated by being driven by an engine rotating at an idling speed, the engine-pump ejection flow rate being a flow rate of a working fluid ejected from the engine pump to the assist device via the restricting mechanism, and wherein the motor-pump controller is configured to control a motor-pump ejection flow rate such that an insufficient flow rate of the working fluid is covered by the motor-pump ejection flow rate, the insufficient flow rate being a shortage in the required receiving flow rate not covered by the engine-pump ejection flow rate.

Abstract: A polyester laminate including at least one polyester layer C and at least one layer selected from the group consisting of a resin layer D and a paper layer E. The polyester layer C is made of a polyester resin A in which from 5 to 80 mol % of the total diol units is a diol unit having a cyclic acetal structure. The resin layer D is made of a resin other than the polyester resin A. At least one surface layer of the polyester laminate is the resin layer C. The polyester laminate is particularly suited as a container for preserving food because of its excellent heat sealability and high fragrance preservation.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a non-peptidic nerve axon and/or neurite outgrowth agent for allowing a nerve axon and a neurite to elongate. 3-(Aminocarbonyl)-1-[5-O-[[1-(6-amino-9H-purin-9-yl)-1-deoxy-?-D-ribofuranos-5-O-yl]phosphonyloxy(oxylato)phosphinyl]-?-L-ribofuranosyl]pyridinium that is an analogue of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) comprising ?-L-ribose as the sugar component is used as a nerve axon and/or neurite outgrowth agent or composition, a cancer cell growth suppressing and/or apoptosis inducing agent, or a cancer cell growth suppressing and/or apoptosis inducing composition.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a non-peptidic nerve axon and/or neurite outgrowth agent for allowing a nerve axon and a neurite to elongate. 3-(Aminocarbonyl)-1-[5-O-[[1-(6-amino-9H-purin-9-yl)-1-deoxy-?-D-ribofuranos-5-O-yl]phosphonyloxy(oxylato)phosphinyl]-?-L-ribofuranosyl]pyridinium that is an analogue of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) comprising ?-L-ribose as the sugar component is used as a nerve axon and/or neurite outgrowth agent or composition, a cancer cell growth suppressing and/or apoptosis inducing agent, or a cancer cell growth suppressing and/or apoptosis inducing composition.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polyester film produced by melt-extruding a polyester composed of a dicarboxylic acid unit and a diol unit, wherein 1 to 80 mol % of the diol unit is a unit containing a cyclic acetal skeleton, and the polyester film has an in-plane retardation of 20 nm or less at a wavelength of 550 nm. The polyester film is an optically isotropic polyester film which is easily produced by an extrusion-molding method and has an economical advantage. The polyester film is useful for production of optical members or optical products such as phase difference films, protective films for polarizing plates, light diffusion films, lens sheets, anti-reflection films and optical information recording media.

Abstract: An optical film having an inner portion exhibiting an N value defined by the following equation smaller than an N value at a surface of the optical film: N=(nx+ny)/2?nz wherein nx represents an in-plane refractive index in a slow axis direction of the optical film, ny represents an in-plane refractive index in a fast axis direction of the optical film, and nz represent a refractive index in a thickness direction of the optical film.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polyester film produced by melt-extruding a polyester composed of a dicarboxylic acid unit and a diol unit, wherein 1 to 80 mol % of the diol unit is a unit containing a cyclic acetal skeleton, and the polyester film has an in-plane retardation of 20 nm or less at a wavelength of 550 nm. The polyester film is an optically isotropic polyester film which is easily produced by an extrusion-molding method and has an economical advantage. The polyester film is useful for production of optical members or optical products such as phase difference films, protective films for polarizing plates, light diffusion films, lens sheets, anti-reflection films and optical information recording media.

Abstract: An optical film having an inner portion exhibiting an N value defined by the following equation smaller than an N value at a surface of the optical film: N=(nx+ny)/2?nz wherein nx represents an in-plane refractive index in a slow axis direction of the optical film, ny represents an in-plane refractive index in a fast axis direction of the optical film, and nz represent a refractive index in a thickness direction of the optical film.

Abstract: In the invention, a polyester resin comprising dicarboxylic acid constitutional units and diol constitutional units wherein 5 to 60 mol % of the diol constitutional units has a cyclic acetal skeleton is produced by a process comprising an oligomerization step and a polymerization step. In the oligomerization step, an ester having a limited acid value is transesterified with a diol having a cyclic acetal skeleton in the presence of a basic compound to obtain an oligomer. The oligomer is then polymerized in the subsequent polymerization step to increase the molecular weight.

Abstract: In a hydraulic pump, a cam ring is provided in a cylindrical adaptor for movement in a radial direction, and a differential pressure control valve is provided to control internal pressure and load pressure at the front and back sides of a variable orifice to be introduced into action chambers and formed at the opposite sides of the cam ring for controlling a discharge amount of the pump in accordance with the rotation speed of the pump. The differential pressure control valve is operated under the internal pressure and load pressure respectively introduced into action chambers and the load of a thrust spring biasing the differential pressure control valve toward the internal pressure chamber. The load of the thrust spring is increased or decreased in accordance with an increase or a decrease of the load pressure.

Abstract: A flow controlling apparatus for a power steering system includes a variable throttle mechanism installed in the pump to change the flow rate of discharged oil from the pump to a hydraulic device; a linear solenoid mechanism controlling the variable throttle mechanism by a predetermined energizing current; a spool feeding back the excess discharged oil to a bypass passage of the pump in accordance with a differential pressure between the upstream and downstream sides of the variable throttle mechanism when the excess fluid exceeds a predetermined value; and an ECU controlling the energized current to change the transition process in accordance with a steering angular velocity of the steering wheel.

Abstract: The invention provides a thermoplastic resin composition which is excellent in transparency, heat resistance, resistance to chemicals, and mechanical strength as well as moldability, printability, etc. The thermoplastic resin composition containing a polycarbonate resin in an amount of 2 to 99.5 wt. % and a polyester resin in an amount of 98 to 0.5 wt. %, wherein the polyester resin (B) contains diol units each having a cyclic acetal skeleton in an amount of 20 to 60 mol % with respect to total diol structural units.

Abstract: Polyester resin composition (C) comprises polyester resin (A), which comprises polyester resin (l) comprising a diol unit having a cyclic acetal structure (CA) and a dicarboxylic acid unit having no CA, polyester resin (m) comprising a dicarboxylic acid unit having CA and a diol unit having no CA and/or polyester resin (n) comprising a diol unit having CA and a dicarboxylic acid unit having CA, and polyester resin (B) having no CA. The sum of the fraction of the dicarboxylic acid unit having CA in the entire dicarboxylic acid unit and the fraction of the diol unit having CA in the entire diol unit in composition (C) is 0.05% by mole or greater. The polyester resin compositions are excellent in transparency, melt viscoelasticity, heat resistance and moldability, and exhibit a samll crystallization rate.

Abstract: A flow controlling apparatus to control flow rate of working fluid discharged from pump apparatus to a power steering apparatus including a electric variable throttle, a solenoid mechanism and a spool. The solenoid mechanism varies opening degree of the electric variable throttle based on a electric signal from electric controller. The spool slides in accordance with the differential pressure of the variable throttle due to increase of flow rate of working fluid discharged from pump apparatus so as to return excess working fluid to bypass passage connecting to a suction port of pump apparatus. The flow controlling apparatus further comprising means for increase flow rate of bypass flow to bypass passage when rotating speed of the pump apparatus exceed predetermined value.

Abstract: A polyester laminate including at least one polyester layer C and at least one layer selected from the group consisting of a resin layer D and a paper layer E. The polyester layer C is made of a polyester resin A in which from 5 to 80 mol % of the total diol units is a diol unit having a cyclic acetal structure. The resin layer D is made of a resin other than the polyester resin A. At least one surface layer of the polyester laminate is the resin layer C. The polyester laminate is particularly suited as a container for preserving food because of its excellent heat sealability and high fragrance preservation.