Abstract: A gene which provides resistance to at least one methionine derivative and is capable of enhancing accumulation of S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM) in a cell, a hybrid plasmid having the same, a cell transformed with the above hybrid plasmid, and a process for producing SAM using the above cell. According to the present invention, SAM, which has various therapeutic effects, can be producing in a large amount at a low cost.

Abstract: An automatic stand device for a two-wheeled vehicle with a plurality of sensor switch devices which individually or in conjunction are able to prevent the extension of the automatic stand device when the vehicle is in motion, and also to automatically extend the stand if so desired when the vehicle comes to a stop in the course of moving through traffic or when the vehicle is to be parked. The devices controlling the automatic stand extension each include a switch. In addition sensors are employed to control the switch based on any one or more of several criteria; position of the throttle, speed of the engine, needle position on the speedometer, and the state of a motion detector. Electrical circuits for the interpretation of these criteria are also provided.

Abstract: A pipe expanding apparatus comprising a reciprocating member to which a plurality of pipe expanding mandrels are attached to be capable of being inserted into a plurality of pipes to be expanded under pressure, a plurality of guide posts penetrating through the reciprocating member at desired locations for slidably guiding the reciprocating member, and extending and contacting apparatus which is mounted on a frame uprightly provided on a base, and is operated to reciprocate the reciprocating member for expanding the pipes. The extending and contracting apparatus is constituted by at least one pair of cylinders disposed at both lateral side ends of the reciprocating member, respectively, for inserting the mandrels attached to the reciprocating member into the pipes to be expanded under pressure when actuated.

Abstract: If a member made of rubber containing carbon black and a member made of aluminium alloy come into contact with each other under existence of an electrolytic solution, corrosion of the aluminium alloy member would proceed. Such corrosion of the aluminium alloy member can be suppressed by selecting a surface resistivity (surface electric resistivity) of the rubber member at 10.sup.6 .OMEGA. or higher, and more preferably 10.sup.7 .omega. or higher.

Abstract: A process for preparing valproic acid which comprises:(I) producing a 2,2-dipropyl acetoacetic acid ester from an acetoacetic acid ester,(II) deacetylating the 2,2-dipropyl acetoacetic acid ester with an alcohol to give a valproic acid ester, and(III) hydrolyzing the valproic acid ester. In the process of the present invention, valproic acid can be prepared in a high yield as not less than 85% by mole and by-products such as .alpha.-propyl-.beta.-ethyl acrylic acid and its esters which cannot be easily separated from valproic acid, are not entirely produced.

Abstract: An image forming medium includes a base coated with a layer of at least three kinds of microcapsules encapsulating photocurable compositions for forming a color image thereon. The photocurable compositions contain a radical-polymerizable unsaturated compound, a photosensitizer and a photopolymerization initiator. The photosensitizer may be selected from several dyes which have sensitivity to different spectra of light.

Abstract: A sewing operation procedure display apparatus for a sewing machine for teaching information regarding a sewing operation includes an LCD provided on a body of the sewing machine, and a ROM in which data of a plurality of teaching picture images are stored corresponding to stitches of a "plain seaming stitch", a "button hole" and a "blind stitch" and sewing conditions for an "expansible fabric" and a "blind stitch". The sewing operation procedure display apparatus further includes an operation selection section for selecting one of the stitches and a sewing condition such as a type of a fabric, and a CPU for reading out a teaching picture image or images in accordance with the stitch and the sewing condition selected by way of the operation selection section from the ROM and causes the LCD to display the teaching picture image or images thereon.

Abstract: In an electrophotographic printer, a toner image formed on a photoconductive member is transferred onto a recording medium by charging the recording medium and by making the charged recording medium contact the toner image formed on the photoconductive member. A transfer charger for charging the recording medium is arranged in such a fashion that the transfer charger faces the recording medium at the upstream-side portion, with respect to the feeding direction of the recording medium, of an area where the photoconductive member and the recording medium contact. Therefore, the recording medium is charged at the upstream side of the portion with respect to the lateral center of the portion where the recording medium and the image carrying means contact.

Abstract: In the production of mevalonic acid by culturing a mevalonic acid-producing microorganism in a medium, at least peptone originating from casein and corn steep liquor are added to the medium. The content of said peptone ranges from 0.01 to 10% by weight in terms of dry matters, while that of the corn steep liquor ranges from 0.01 to 10% by weight in terms of dry matters.

Abstract: A hydraulic braking pressure control system which includes a sleeve slidably received in a housing with opposite ends facing an output chamber connected to a brake device, and a pilot chamber connected to a control hydraulic pressure source. A control piston is slidably received in the sleeve, with one end of the control piston facing the output chamber and the other end facing a control chamber connected to the control hydraulic pressure source through a lock valve which is adapted to be closed in response to the movement of the sleeve, in a direction to increase the volume of the output chamber. A cut-off valve located between an input chamber leading to a master cylinder and the output chamber includes a valve member having a maximum amount of movement in a seating direction which is regulated to a position of the valve member spaced apart from a valve seat when a valve seat member follows movement of the sleeve in a direction to reduce the volume of the pilot chamber to the maximum amount.

Abstract: A liquid heating apparatus includes a pulse combustion burner mounted to a liquid vessel and having a combustion chamber secured to a side wall of the vessel and immersed in liquid in the vessel, a tailpipe connected at its one end to an exhaust port of the combustion chamber and immersed in the liquid, and a fuel supply conduit in communication with the combustion chamber and being provided thereon with an electrically operated valve which is closed in a deactivated condition to interrupt the supply of fuel into the combustion chamber and opened in an activated condition to permit the supply of fuel into the combustion chamber.

Abstract: A new antibiotic, named Conagenin, is provided which can exhibit useful carcinostatic or antitumor activities on carcinomas and tumors, particularly malignant tumors, of mammalian animals including man. Conagenin can be produced by fermentation of microorganisms of genus Streptomyces, typically Streptomyces roseosporus MI696-AF3 strain identified under the deposit number FERM BP-2738. Conagenin has formula (I) and is useful for medicinal purposes, particularly as carcinostatic agent or antitumor agent for inhibiting carcinomas and malignant tumors of mammalian animals, including man.

Abstract: A steering system for a vehicle includes a steering mechanism mechanically separated form a steering handle and having a motor for steering road wheels, a steering detector for detecting a steering operation of the handle, a steered angle sensor for detecting steered angles of the road wheels, and a control circuit mechanism for driving the motor to thereby steer the road wheels in response to detected signals from the steering detector and steered angle sensor. The steered angle sensor comprises a measuring member which makes rotational movements in proportion to the steered angles of the road wheels and occupies a constant space relative to the vehicle.

Abstract: An exposure control apparatus of a camera includes a first switch which can select a plurality of drive modes including an auto-exposure bracket mode (AEB mode), a second switch which issues signals when operated, a third switch which can modify an exposure correcting value and a memory which stores a plurality of predetermined exposure correcting values. A drive mode selector successively selects the drive modes in response to signals from the second switch when the second switch is actuated during the operation of the first switch. A modifying device successively selects an exposure correcting value to be used to correct the exposure value among those stored in the memory in response to signals issued from the second switch when the latter is actuated during the operation of the third switch. A photographing controller is provided which takes a plurality of pictures at different exposure values in an exposure width correcting values selected by the modifying device when the AEB mode is selected.

Abstract: A stirring reactor for a viscous material. The reactor comprises a stirring vessel; a revolvable shaft provided in the vessel; a surface layer stirring vane provided on the revolvable shaft in the vicinity of interface of the gas and the liquid to be stirred; a stirring vane having at least a pair of radially directed multiple portion blades which extend radially towards the inner wall, a first of which blade portions is fastened on the revolving shaft below the upper layer stirring vane and the other of which blade portions extends outwardly radially from said first portion to terminate close to the inner wall of the vessel; and baffle plates provided on the inner side wall at positions substantially parallel to the surface layer stirring vane, and at a height between the heights of any stirring vanes having multiple blades.

Abstract: An imaging material providing device of the present invention comprises: means for carrying imaging material particles charged to a first polarity, the imaging material carrying means having a portion formed of elastic material for holding the imaging material particles; means for receiving imaging material particles, the imaging material carrying means being disposed apart from the imaging material carrying means with a gap therebetween and being charged to a second polarity opposite to the first polarity so that the imaging material particles may be electrostatically attached onto the imaging material receiving means; means for elastically deforming the elastic portion of the carrying means, the imaging material particles being introduced into the gap when the deformed elastic portion is restored; and means for generating an electric field in the gap and electrostatically attracting the charged imaging material particles in a direction toward the imaging material receiving means.

Abstract: There are disclosed a modified oriented polyacetal product, the surface of said product being coated partly or entirely with a phenolic compound-polyacetal composite layer, the application thereof and a process for preparing the same.

Abstract: A method for purifying a crude high-molecular weight substance containing an alkali metal compound by extracting the alkali metal compound with water is disclosed, which comprises stirring a mixture comprising said crude high-molecular weight substance and water in a high-speed stirring tank to extract the alkali metal compound into an aqueous phase and separating the high-molecular weight substance phase and the aqueous phase from each other by continuous centrifugation. An alkali metal compound as an impurity can be efficiently removed with small-sized equipment in a short time.

Abstract: A pad support device for supporting a pad member which is to be pressed against a disk member accomodated in a jacket. A movable member is moved toward and away from the disk member. A plate member carries the pad member, and a leaf spring is formed such that the leaf spring has at least two openings. A first portion of the leaf spring between the at-least-two openings is bent in one direction out of the plane of the surface thereof to be substantially arch-shaped while at-least-two second portions of the leaf spring are bent in a direction in which the first portion is bent to also be substantially arch-shaped. The first portion is secured to one of the movable member and the plate member, while the second portions are secured to the other of the movable member and the plate member, whereby the plate member is resiliently suspended from the movable member.

Abstract: The numerically controlled machine tool provided with an automatic tool exchange device and a work indexing device. After the spindle head completely retreats, the preparation for the next tool, the exchange of the tools or the change of the machined surface are carried out. Since the interference region at the time of the change of the machined surface is determined, the tools can be exchanged closest to the work but without interfering with the work. The indirect operation time required for the exchange of the tools and the change of the machined surface can be minimized. When the work has multiple surfaces to machine, the work can be rotated minimum angle in a predetermined direction without interfering with the peripheral device by the indexing device to change the machined surface. The operator can confirm the direction on the display.