Abstract: The present invention relates to a cell cycle regulated repressor protein which binds to a DNA element present in the control sequences of the human cdc25C gene and other cell cycle regulated genes, as well as the use thereof in cell cycle regulated expression systems.

Abstract: A picture processing apparatus which can reduce matching errors and shorten a processing time for matching. In the picture processing apparatus, a binarization circuit individually binarizes a pair of object picture signals to generate line picture signals. A feature point extract circuit extracts a plurality of feature point pixels for each reference area in the reference side line picture. A transforming circuit widens a line width of the search side line picture. A correlation computation circuit, for each reference area, finds a correlation between each pixel within a search area in the line picture whose line width has been widened and the feature point pixels. A composition processing section composites the pair of object picture signals based on the correlations. A picture processing apparatus which can adjust density and color tone of two pictures to be composited.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to make it possible to switch a plurality of infrared communication schemes without depending on an automatic detection of infrared signals. A plurality of communication ports are related to a plurality of infrared communication schemes, respectively. When the communication port is opened, a communication port controller refers to a relating information table of a memory to send relating information to an infrared protocol selector and an infrared modulation/demodulation scheme selector. An IrDA infrared protocol generator, an ASK infrared protocol generator or a consumer IR infrared protocol generator is selected, and then an IrDA modem, an ASK modem or a consumer IR modem is selected. Data communication of infrared signals is conducted through an infrared unit in accordance with the protocol and the modulation/demodulation scheme thus selected.

Abstract: A storage medium includes at least a storage layer, a non-magnetic layer, a storage supplementary layer, an anti-oxidation layer, and a ferromagnetism material layer provided in this or reverse order on a substrate. Owing to a magnetic field produced by the storage supplementary layer with an external magnetic field and the concentration of a magnetic flux caused by the ferromagnetism material layer, the magnetic field is strengthened at the position of the storage layer, and the magnetic field sensitivity of the storage medium is improved. In a magneto-optical disc device, an optical head having an objective lens and a magnetic head having a coil are disposed on the same side with respect to the storage medium to store information onto the storage medium.

Abstract: Bidirectional communication is carried out between a toner bottle end communication device disposed in a toner bottle and a main body end communication device disposed in a device main body while the toner bottle is moved from a first position where the toner bottle starts being attached to the device main body to a second position where the toner bottle is completely attached. The CPU provided in the main body end communication device decides whether or not the information on the toner bottle received from the toner bottle end communication device matches the device main body, and notifies prior to toner refilling. If the toner bottle is not suitable, the CPU specifies a lower quality image forming condition under which operation conditions for the main charging device, exposure device, and fixing device are changed so as to produce an image of relatively low quality in comparison to normal quality.

Abstract: A printed-circuit substrate is described. A film-shaped support base having an electrical insulating property and elasticity is provided with a resin mold section for supporting an integrated circuit. A plurality of foil-shaped electric conductors are connected to the integrated circuit at their base side and are supported by the support base so as to extend toward the periphery of the support base at their tip side. The conductors are formed on a first surface of the support base and the first base faces electrodes of an external device. Exposed portions are provided by removing the support base in an intersecting direction of the foil-shaped electric conductors over an entire area of the support base between the integrated circuit and the periphery thereof, so that one portion of each foil-shaped electric conductor is exposed by separating the main support base supporting the integrated circuit and the periphery thereof.

Abstract: A color image forming apparatus fixes a superimposed multi-color toner image, heat-fused at a heating section of an intermediate transfer belt, onto a recording material at a fixing nip section at which a pressing roller presses against the intermediate transfer belt. The fixing nip section is provided at the downstream end of the heating section in a turning direction of the intermediate transfer belt. The present apparatus can accelerate a fixing rate while maintaining stable fixing properties for a multi-layer toner image of a color image having different layer thicknesses with any kind of recording papers under any operation condition, and requires a shorter warm-up period while attaining excellent heat efficiency.

Abstract: This invention relates to glutamine:fructose-6-phosphate amidotransferase, or its partial peptide or a salt thereof; a DNA coding for the protein; a recombinant vector; a transformant; a method for producing the protein; a pharmaceutical composition comprising the protein, its partial peptide or a salt thereof; and an antibody against the protein or its partial peptide. The protein, its partial peptide or a salt thereof, and the DNA are useful for a prophylactic or therapeutic agent for hypoglycemia. The antibody can be used in the assay of the protein, its partial peptide or a salt thereof. The protein, its partial peptide or a salt thereof is useful as a reagent for the screening for candidate medical compounds.

Abstract: A mathematical teaching apparatus comprising block elements that fit inside a block element container. The block element container will not close until the proper number of block elements are inserted. For teaching counting and addition concepts for a number base, such as base ten, a user will quickly grasp the concepts of grouping an arbitrary number of block elements into units, such as ones, tens and hundreds. A container for holding block element containers is also provided. The block elements and containers have the same shape, and maintain a proportional ratio with each other. All block elements and containers are counted and grouped using counting devices which provide an indication of the number of units of each type present. The counting devices also signal when ten block elements or ten block element containers are inserted, signaling to a user that the block elements or containers should be inserted into a next-larger size container.

Abstract: A semiconductor fabrication apparatus for evaporating a material in a growth chamber by a molecular beam epitaxy technique to fabricate a semiconductor is provided. The apparatus includes: an ultra-high vacuum chamber including a liquid nitrogen cold trap therein, the ultra-high vacuum chamber being connected to the growth chamber via a valve; a first evacuation system including an ultra-high vacuum evacuation system, the first evacuation system being connected to the ultra-high vacuum chamber; and a second evacuation system including an evacuation system capable of conducting an evacuation operation even in a low vacuum condition, the second evacuation system being connected to the liquid nitrogen cold trap. The first evacuation system and the second evacuation system independently conduct the respective evacuation operations.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is described that records with the developer a desired image on a recording medium, which is transported in a transporting direction through a gap between a control electrode and a counter electrode, by supplying a potential to the control electrode based on image data and selectively permitting the developer to pass through gates. The control electrode is a flat-shaped member interposed between the developer carrier and the counter electrode. It has a pair of support regions that are spaced apart from a central region, one supporting region on each side of said central region in the transporting direction. A first support member has a first flat surface and a first fixing member that holds one support region of the control electrode member fixedly on said first flat surface and (2) a second support member has a second flat surface and a second fixing member that holds the other support region of the control electrode member fixedly on said second flat surface.

Abstract: The image processing circuit essentially includes an image data input portion, an image processing portion, an image data output portion, an image memory composed of a hard disk drive etc., a central processing unit (CUP), an image editing portion, an external interface portion. Based on the determination result of the laser recording status determination by the CPU, an LCU also serving as a mirror motor control device, stops or retards the drives of driving motors, one by one, in the order of their completion of laser recording. The image processing circuit may further has a mode manager for checking the usage frequencies of the first most processing mode in which the input image information is image processed as color image information and the second processing mode in which the input image information is processed as monochrome image information. Moreover, the image processing portion may further has an original discriminating portion for determining the color type of an original.

Abstract: In an optical pickup, a beam splitter is arranged on an optical path between a hologram and a grating. Beam splitter includes a first reflecting surface reflecting part of a beam reflected from a disk, and a second reflecting surface arranged parallel to the first reflecting surface. Part of the beam which is reflected from the disk and passed through hologram is reflected at the first reflecting surface and thereafter reflected by the second reflecting surface of beam splitter, and thereafter directed to optical waveguide device, whereby a signal recorded on the disk is detected (reproduced). The beam which has transmitted through hologram and the first reflecting surface is directed to photodiode and detected as a servo error signal.

Abstract: A specimen collecting device is disclosed. The device has an elongated foam member that is circumscribed by a hollow tubular member along a portion of its longitudinal axis. The hollow tubular member has a cross sectional area less than the uncompressed cross sectional area of the foam member so that the foam member is compressed along the circumscribed portion. Around the hollow tubular member is slidably mounted a flexible sleeve member having a first end that fits snugly around the hollow tubular member and a second end with an enlarged diameter that can surround the uncompressed foam member.

Abstract: A region with high resistance equal to the atmosphere is provided in a transfer roller. A discharge electrode capable of performing discharge between a base member and the discharge electrode is arranged within the region. When a predetermined electric potential is applied to the discharge electrode from a transfer power supply, the electric potential is separated and respectively applied to a first region in the transfer roller and a second region between the transfer roller and a photosensitive drum. At this time, since both the first and second regions are regions of high resistance, the electric potential applied to each region is equal, and therefore the electric field can never be concentrated in the second region. Moreover, since a predetermined electric field is formed in the first region, even when the transfer roller and photosensitive drum come into contact with each other, a transfer current can never collect in the contact.

Abstract: The opposing electrode has an opposing portion facing the peripheral surface of the toner support and a brush portion formed of a partial circumferential surface continuous to both ends of the opposing portion. The opposing electrode is rotated about a rotary axis disposed at the center of the partial circumference forming the brush portion. When the opposing electrode rotates, the brush portion comes into contact with the undersurface of the control electrode. The opposing electrode is applied with a high voltage, e.g. 2 kV from a high-voltage power source so that the brush portion can remove the toner adhering to the control electrode.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a metal paste comprising an organo- or inorganometallic compound of a metal that is a solid at ordinary temperature and belongs to group 3 through 15 of the periodic table, and an amino compound as medium, and which exhibits coatable viscosity, is provided. By using the metal paste, metal films of various types of metals or alloys can be formed inexpensively with an industrially simple process and apparatus even on various types of general-purpose, inexpensive substrates having a low softening point such as a glass, plastic, film and so forth, in addition to a ceramic substrate. In particular, the metal film can be formed easily in an ordinary pressure onto a printed wiring board or a substrate to be coated with a metal, which has a poor heat resistance.

Abstract: A particle surface improving method for forming a film of a surface improving agent that improves the property of a particle surface by exposing particles to a supersaturation atmosphere of the surface improving agent to let the surface improving agent condense on the particle surface. This method can improve the particle surface by a simpler manipulation in a shorter time without charging the particles.

Abstract: A diagnostic test strip for determining the presence of a specified analyte in a fluid sample is described. The test strip has a test membrane sandwiched between two layers of a plastic sheath. The upper layer of the sheath has a sample well into which a liquid sample is placed. The test membrane has a sample receiving zone typically containing a buffer and a fatty acid sarcosinate. Adjacent to the sample receiving zone is a reagent zone containing reagent chemicals including gold colloid particles coated with antibodies to the specified analyte. In fluid connection with the reagent zone is a test zone containing immobilized molecules of the specified analyte. Preferably, in fluid connection with the test zone is a control zone containing an indicator that changes color when wetted by the sample and a liquid sink zone to absorb excess liquid in the sample.

Abstract: A multiple section telescoping police baton is disclosed. The baton has a locking mechanism which is activated upon twisting of one section relative to the other in order to prevent sliding motion of one section relative to the other.