Abstract: Disclosed is a pH-sensitive block copolymer obtained by copolymerization of: (a) a polyethylene glycol compound (A); and (b) at least one poly(amino acid) compound selected from the group consisting of a poly(?-amino ester) and poly(amido amine) or a copolymer thereof (B). A method for preparing the same block copolymer, and a polymer micelle type drug composition comprising the pH-sensitive block copolymer and a physiologically active substance that can be encapsulated with the block copolymer are also disclosed. The pH-sensitive block copolymer is obtained by polymerization of a hydrophilic polyethylene glycol compound with a pH-sensitive biodegradable poly(amino acid) compound. Therefore, the pH-sensitive block copolymer can form a micelle structure due to its amphiphilicity and ionization characteristics depending on pH variations, and thus can be used as drug carrier for target-directed drug delivery depending on pH variations in the body.

Abstract: Method for converting thermal energy at a low temperature into thermal energy at a relatively high temperature by means of mechanical energy, and vice versa, with a working medium which runs through a closed thermodynamic circulation process, wherein the circulation process has the following working steps: —reversible adiabatic compression of the working medium, —isobaric conduction away of heat from the working medium, —reversible adiabatic relaxing of the working medium, —isobaric supply of heat to the working medium, and wherein the increase or decrease in pressure of the working medium is produced during the compression or relaxing, increasing or decreasing the centrifugal force acting on the working medium, with the result that the flow energy of the working medium is essentially retained during the compression or relaxing process.

Abstract: When an elastic layer surface having an unapplied area of adhesive agent at its one end is ground, a method of grinding an elastic roller which assures high run-out accuracy and uniform diameter as well as which can carry out surface grinding with good production efficiency is provided. An elastic roller comprises an elastic layer 1 carried on the outer circumference of a shaft 2 via adhesive agent, and an unapplied area of adhesive agent at one end of the elastic layer in the longitudinal direction of the roller. The surface of the elastic layer is ground by a grindstone 10 moving along the longitudinal direction of the roller. The elastic layer has no taper at the both ends, and grinding carried out by the grindstone is started from an opposite end side of the end having the unapplied area of adhesive agent of the roller in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A digital broadcast transmitting/receiving system, and a signal processing method thereof, includes a randomizer for randomizing a transport stream into a specified position of which stuff bytes are inserted, a stuff-byte exchanger for replacing the stuff bytes included in data output from the randomizer with specified known data, an RS encoder for performing an RS-encoding of data output from the stuff-byte exchanger, an interleaver for interleaving data output from the RS encoder, a trellis encoder for performing a trellis encoding of data output from the interleaver, an RS parity generator for generating a parity by performing an RS encoding of data output from the RS encoder, and outputting the generated parity to the trellis encoder, and a modulator/RF converter for modulating data output from the trellis encoder and performing an RF up-converting of the modulated data.

Abstract: There is provided a compound having an excellent controlling effect on arthropod pests represented by the formula (I-1): wherein Z represents an optionally substituted carbocyclic group or an optionally substituted heterocyclic group; G represents a -A1-R1 group, etc.; X represents a -A2-R4 group, etc.; X represents a -A2-R4 group, etc.; X0 represents a -A3-R6 group, etc.; or X and X0 are optionally taken together to form a -A2-T0-A3- group; M1 represents a —R8 group, etc.; A1, A2 and A3 independently represent an oxygen atom, etc.; R1 and R8 independently represents an optionally substituted C1-C20 chain hydrocarbon group, etc.; R4 and R6 independently represent an optionally substituted C1-C6 chain hydrocarbon group, etc.; and T0 represents an optionally substituted C2-C6 alkanediyl group.

Abstract: A membrane-electrode junction agent, a proton conducting membrane having a junction layer, a membrane-electrode assembly, a polymer electrolyte fuel cell, and a manufacturing method of the membrane-electrode assembly, which enhance the power generation performance, realize the high fuel barrier property, and are capable of enhancing the joint strength between the membrane and the electrodes, is provided. A membrane-electrode junction agent that joins a proton conducting membrane and electrodes arranged on both surfaces of the proton conducting membrane to each other, the membrane-electrode junction agent including: a cross-linked compound (X) having a silicon-oxygen bond; a polymer material (Y) containing an acid group; and a hydrophilic resin (Z) containing no acid group.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a composite of a nanoscale particle size. The composite is able to specifically deliver therapeutic agents such as therapeutic nucleic acids or drugs to the liver and selectively release them into hepatic cells to manifest potent therapeutic effects of the therapeutic agents. The composite may be comprised of an apolipoprotein A-1 and a liposome-forming material. A composition containing the composite and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier is disclosed.

Abstract: A substrate set is a mask blank substrate set including a plurality of substrates each for use in a mask blank for producing a photomask to be chucked on a mask stage of an exposure apparatus. In each of the substrates in the mask blank substrate set, a main surface, on the side where a thin film for forming a transfer pattern is to be formed, has a convex shape being relatively high at its center and relatively low at its peripheral portion. In each substrate, the flatness in a 142 mm square area, including a central portion, of the main surface is 0.3 ?m or less and the difference upon fitting to a reference main surface of a reference substrate is 40 nm or less.

Abstract: An audio/video (A/V) device having a volume control function for external audio reproduction units by using volume control buttons of a remote controller is provided. The A/V device includes speakers, an audio output port for externally outputting an audio signal, an audio signal processing unit for reproducing and amplifying the audio signal and applying the amplified audio signal to the speakers or the audio output port, a memory unit for storing volume control values, and a control unit for applying to the audio signal processing unit any of the volume control values stored in the memory based on whether the external audio reproduction unit is plugged in the audio output port. The control unit controls the audio signal processing unit to adjust the volume control values for the audio output port by the volume control buttons when the external audio reproduction unit is plugged in the audio output port.

Abstract: An image signal process apparatus and a method for controlling thereof are provided. The image signal process apparatus includes a storage unit storing pixel data of an incoming frame image, a scaling filter generating one frame image by scaling the pixel data, and a controller retrieving a part of the pixel data among pixel data of the frame image stored at the storage unit, and transmitting the retrieved pixel data to the scaling filter. As a result, a process of processing a stereoscopic image may be reduced such that deterioration of an image quality may be prevented, and a data processing time may be reduced.

Abstract: The invention aims at providing a method for manufacturing a glass substrate for a magnetic disc capable of eliminating undulations of an outer peripheral end face of a glass substrate in a short processing time, and obtaining high roundness. In a method for manufacturing a disc-like glass substrate for a magnetic disc, the method includes a forming step of pressing a rotating grindstone against an outer peripheral end face while the glass substrate is rotated, thereby forming an outer peripheral end. In the forming step, processing is performed using a first condition (S106) on which first undulations are formed and a second condition (S108) on which second undulations having a different wavelength from the first undulations are formed.

Abstract: A device management apparatus may include, but is not limited to, a device controller that controls a device, a communication controller, a management unit, and a monitoring unit. The communication controller controls a communication between the device and the device controller. The management unit manages the device controller and the communication controller. The monitoring unit is disposed between the device controller and the communication controller. The monitoring unit formats data that is transmitted between the device controller and the communication controller so as to create formatted data. The monitoring unit supplies the formatted data to the management unit.

Abstract: A spark plug (1) including a center electrode (5), an insulator (2), a metal shell (3), and a ground electrode (27). Spark discharge is provided substantially along a direction of an axis (CL1) in a spark discharge gap (33). The ground electrode includes a narrowed width portion (42) having a substantially uniform width smaller than an outer diameter of a tip end surface (5F) of the center electrode, and a widened width portion (41) having a width larger than the width of the narrowed width portion. When viewed from a tip end side, a base end of the narrowed width portion is offset from the tip end surface of the center electrode toward the root side of the ground electrode. The base end of the narrowed width portion is offset from a center of the spark discharge gap toward the tip end side of the spark plug.

Abstract: A catalyst having decreased activity is subjected to a contact treatment with a reducing gas containing carbon monoxide and/or hydrogen. Also, the catalyst can be effectively activated by being treated by contacting with an oxidizing gas after having been treated by contacting with the reducing gas. As the catalyst for production of chlorine, a ruthenium catalyst, particularly a catalyst containing ruthenium oxide is suitably activated.

Abstract: A white light emitting device including: a blue light emitting diode chip having a dominant wavelength of 443 to 455 nm; a red phosphor disposed around the blue light emitting diode chip, the red phosphor excited by the blue light emitting diode chip to emit red light; and a green phosphor disposed around the blue light emitting diode chip, the green phosphor excited by the blue light emitting diode chip to emit green light, wherein the red light emitted from the red phosphor has a color coordinate falling within a space defined by four coordinate points (0.5448, 0.4544), (0.7079, 0.2920), (0.6427, 0.2905) and (0.4794, 0.4633) based on the CIE 1931 chromaticity diagram, and the green light emitted from the green phosphor has a color coordinate falling within a space defined by four coordinate points (0.1270, 0.8037), (0.4117, 0.5861), (0.4197, 0.5316) and (0.2555, 0.5030) based on the CIE 1931 color chromaticity diagram.

Abstract: In a waterproof connector, an annular packing 33 is mounted on an outer periphery of a tubular fitting portion of a connector housing, and when a fitting portion of a mating connector is fitted to the tubular fitting portion, the annular packing forms a seal between the two fitting portions. An annular ridge 41 is formed on an outer periphery of the packing 33, and the annular ridge 41 is formed into a generally mountain-shape and has a pair of inclined surfaces 41a and 41b inclining respectively in opposite directions along an axis of the tubular fitting portion. An angle ? of inclination of the inclined surface 41a disposed close to a front end of the packing disposed at an insertion side of the tubular fitting portion is larger than an angle of inclination of the other inclined surface 41b.

Abstract: A game device of a computer game includes plural unit games, each of which can be completed when a requirement for completion is satisfied.

Abstract: Provided is a method of forming an isolation structure of a semiconductor device capable of minimizing the number of performing a patterning process and having trenches of various depths. The method includes partially etching the semiconductor substrate using a first patterning process to form first trenches and second trenches having a first depth. The semiconductor substrate has first to third regions. The first trenches are formed in the first region, and the second trenched are formed in the second region. The semiconductor substrate is partially etched using a second patterning process, so that third trenches are formed in the third region, and fourth trenches are formed in the second region. The fourth trenches extend from bottoms of the second trenches. The third trenches have a second depth, and the fourth trenches have a third depth. An isolation layer filling the first to fourth trenches is formed.