Abstract: Diving equipment easily operable by disabled persons, aged persons, etc. and wearable by oneself. The diving equipment such as buoyancy controlling device (BCD) has the function to hold a tank on the shoulder of a wearer and the function as a life jacket providing buoyancy to the wearer. In the diving equipment (BCD) of which the overall is formed in a vest-like shape, a tank holding part (2), shoulder parts (3) positioned at the both shoulder portions of a diver, and the portion (4) positioned at the center of the thoracabdominal part of the diver are formed continuously to each other so as to constitute rigid structural members. Most or all operating portions (5) are installed at the portion (4) positioned at the center of the thoracoabdominal part of the diver.

Abstract: A silicon substrate is trimmed in an area at the top and rear surfaces at the center, and a piezoelectric vibrator is disposed therein. As shown in a top view of FIG. 1, the piezoelectric vibrator is supported by a silicon peripheral portion provided on the peripheral portion including the left and right portions of the view having a large thickness, through two beams formed by removing silicon by a known method such as etching. This supported portion corresponds to a node portion. A film structure of the piezoelectric vibrator includes, in thickness directions of the piezoelectric vibrator from the top to the bottom, an Al electrode, a PZT thin film, a Pt underlying electrode, a Ti underlayer, and an SiO2 thin film. Thereby, the piezoelectric vibrator is supported by the beams integrated with the silicon peripheral portion, thus eliminating a mechanical connection and achieving a stable connection.

Abstract: A TGF-? gene expression inhibitor containing a pyrrole-imidazole polyamide having N-methylimidazole unit (hereinafter also referred to as Py), N-methylimidazole unit (hereinafter also referred to as Im) and ?-aminobutyrate unit which can be holded into an U-shaped conformation at the ?-aminobutyrate unit in the minor groove in a double helix region (hereinafter referred to as the target region) containing a complementary chain corresponding to the sequence at the ?557 to ?536 in the base sequence of a human transforming growth factor ?1 (hereinafter also referred to as hTGF-?1) promoter, either as a whole or a part thereof: TAAAGGAGAGCAATTCT-TACAG (SEQ ID NO: 1) wherein a Py/Im pair corresponds to a C-G base pair, an Im/Py pair corresponds to a G-C base pair, and Py/Py pairs correspond respectively to an A-A base pair and a T-A base pair.

Abstract: For the purpose of forming a biofilm having amount and strength sufficient for the immobilization of a cell mass, the present invention provides a method for producing a biofilm, characterized in that it comprises co-culturing lactic acid bacteria belonging to Lactobacillus plantarum with yeast.

Abstract: A propagation delay time measuring system 100 includes a propagation delay time measuring apparatus 110 and a reply apparatus 120. The propagation delay time measuring apparatus 110 continuously transmits plural measuring packets a. A clock time of transmission is stored in the measuring packet a. The reply apparatus 120 sends back the measuring packets a, transmitted from the propagation delay time measuring apparatus 110, to the propagation delay time measuring apparatus 110. In the propagation delay time measuring system 100, the propagation delay time measuring apparatus 110 receives the measuring packets a sent back from the reply apparatus 120, and the propagation delay time measuring apparatus 110 measures a propagation delay time between the propagation delay time measuring apparatus 110 and the reply apparatus 120 using at least one of the received measuring packets a.

Abstract: A fatigue life estimating method for a spot welded structure is provided comprising the steps of providing a shell model of a spot welded structure for a finite element method analyzing process, calculating the nominal structural stress on a nugget as the center of the spot welded structure using a disk bending theory and a two-dimensional elastic theory of the elastodynamics with the partial loads exerted on the nugget and the deflection on the circumference of a circle, D in diameter, in which the nugget is located, which have been calculated by the finite element method analyzing process of the shell model, and estimating the fatigue life of the spot welded structure from the nominal structure stress. According to the method, the fatigue life of the spot welded structure can be estimated easily, readily, and accurately.

Abstract: A photo-resist of a dry film patterned to form opening portions and non-opening portions is provided on a release film. An electrically conductive paste is applied by a doctor blade and thereafter is dried. Then, the release film of the dry film is removed and thereafter the dry film is adhered to a ceramic green sheet. The photo-resist is removed from the ceramic green sheet to form an electrically conductive film on the ceramic green sheet. The ceramic electronic component is manufactured by sintering the ceramic green sheet having the electrically conductive film formed.

Abstract: In order to operate a single photon detector in communication wavelength band at a high speed, a DC bias voltage 2 lower than the breakdown voltage is applied to an InGaAs/InP avalanche photodiode (APD) 1. A 500 MHz sine wave gating signal 3 is superimposed with the DC bias voltage 2 and applied to the APD 1 so as to exceed the breakdown voltage by about 4V in a fractional time of each period. The sine wave gating signal 3 passed through the APD 1 is substantially completely removed by a filter 4, thereby improving S/N and enabling to detect a single photon even if the avalanche multiplication time is shortened to reduce the after pulse and the detection period. As a result, it achieves to detect a single photon in the 1550 nm communication band at a high speed.

Abstract: A sound source localizer is provided which includes a receiver (41) composed of a plurality of highly versatile microphones (10) each having a predetermined directivity D, a data base (12) which is to calculate a difference in directional sensitivity between one of the microphones (10) of the receiver (41) pointed in one direction and the other directed at an angle of 180 deg. to the one direction and has pre-stored therein information used for determination of an arrival direction and angle of a sound source, and a calculator (11) for calculating differences in level between signals received by the receiver (41) in different directions to determine the arrival direction, angle and sound level of the sound source with reference to the information stored in the data base (12).

Abstract: We disclose an elasticity-measuring device which can be inserted into a canal part of living body and which is capable of quantitatively measuring the elasticity of the biological tissue of inner side of canal part. The device consists of a probe base (5) and probes (7). The probes (7) are secured to probe base (5) and driven to press onto and return from biological tissue. According to the stress or hardness of the biological tissue measured by sensors on probes (7) and to the deviation between the probes (7) and the probe base (5), we can decide the elasticity of the biological tissue of inner side of canal part quantitatively.

Abstract: A wire for insertion into intravital tracts applicable even to small-diameter tracts while securing the stream in the tract is to be provided. A capture filter 2 is disposed at the tip of a principal wire 1 consisting of steel filaments. The capture filter 2 is configured of four support wires 3 and a basket-shaped filter body 4 consisting of a meshed material. The filaments constituting the support wires 3 and those constituting the filter body 4 are integrally formed and consist of a superelastic alloy.

Abstract: A device for measuring elastic properties, comprising a long bar-like probe base (42) and probes (50a, 50c) fitted to the probe base (42) driven as to be pressed against and withdrawn from a living body tissue. The probes are so formed that generally semi-spherical contact balls (58) having stress detection bases (56) are fitted to the ends of leaf strings (52) and stress detection sensors (60) are disposed on the stress detection bases (56). Light-receiving elements are fitted to the opposite side of the leaf displacement sensors (62a, 62b). The stress sensors (60) and displacement sensors (62a, 62b) are connected to the device body through signal lines (92, 94), respectively. The profile of the displacement of the tissue is calculated and displayed in a manner indicating correlation with stress.

Abstract: Bond strength of a composite resin, an adhesive resin cement or the like to dentin or enamel of tooth is remarkably improved by treating the dentin or the enamel with a self-etching primer agent comprising an aqueous solution of a methacrylic acid derivative such as N-methacryloylglycin, N-methacryloyl-3-aminopropionic acid, N-methacryloyl-4-aminobutyric acid, N-methacryloyl-5-aminovaleric acid, N-methacryloyl-6-aminocaproic acid, N-methacryloyl-2-aminomethylphosphonic acid, N-methacryloyl-3-aminoethyl-phosphonic acid and N-methacryloyl-4-aminopropylphosphonic acid.

Abstract: A biological property check device includes a plurality of probes (20) each having a light emitting element (26) for applying light to a biological tissue and a light reception element (28) for detecting the reflected light. Each probe (20) is successively selected by a switch circuit (60) under control of a control section (76) and connected to a property calculation section (64). The property calculation section (64) includes a phase shift circuit for changing the frequency according to the phase difference between the input waveform to the light emitting element (26) and the output waveform from the light reception element (28). According to the frequency change, the property of the biological tissue is calculated. The property calculated is displayed on a display section (74) via a data collection section (70) and a display processing section (72).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for screening a gene involved in early recurrence of HCV-positive hepatocellular carcinoma associated with chronic hepatitis, comprising: determining an expression level of a gene in a noncancerous site from each of early and late recurrent cases of HCV-positive hepatocellular carcinoma associated with chronic hepatitis; and selecting a gene whose expression is increased in the early recurrent case compared with that in the late recurrent case. The present invention can provide a gene involved in recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Abstract: A fatigue life estimating method for a spot welded structure is provided comprising the steps of providing a shell model of a spot welded structure for a finite element method analyzing process, calculating the nominal structural stress on a nugget as the center of the spot welded structure using a disk bending theory and a two-dimensional elastic theory of the elastodynamics with the partial loads exerted on the nugget and the deflection on the circumference of a circle, D in diameter, in which the nugget is located, which have been calculated by the finite element method analyzing process of the shell model, and estimating the fatigue life of the spot welded structure from the nominal structure stress. According to the method, the fatigue life of the spot welded structure can be estimated easily, readily, and accurately.

Abstract: In an X-ray computerized tomography scanner, a correction phantom embedding an X-ray absorbing object is put on or around a non-vertical rotary axis between an X-ray source and a two-dimensional X-ray detector, and two dimensional imaging data of the phantom is acquired. Then a locus of the X-ray absorbing material is determined in the two-dimensional imaging data, and based on the locus an ideal locus is obtained in the direction of the rotary axis. Next, a difference between the calculated position of the ideal locus and a measured position is determined in the direction of the rotary axis. The difference is used to correct deviation in the direction of the rotary axis.

Abstract: In a hardness measurement system, selecting an operating frequency is facilitated by using a phase shift circuit. A hardness sensor is connected to an operating frequency selection apparatus and in a free end state the amplitude versus frequency characteristic is acquired, and the frequency and the phase of the peaks are measured and acquired as the free end characteristic. Next, the hardness sensor is placed into contact with a first test piece, and the frequency and the phase that change for the peaks are measured and acquired as the first characteristic. The same procedure is performed for a second test piece that is harder than the first test piece to yield the second characteristic. Based on these characteristics and a predetermined selection criterion a peak suitable for hardness measurement is selected and the operating frequency is set from the frequency of the peak.

Abstract: To provide an aircraft propulsion system which can secure the optimum thrust and thrust vector for flight conditions, as well as the optimum sectional area for the engine, and which is highly compatible with the environment. An electrical generator is coupled to a turbofan engine, the electrical generator is driven by output power of the turbofan engine to output electric power, and an electromagnetic driving fan is driven by the electric power. On the other hand, after bringing each of coils in the electromagnetic driving fan to a superconductive state, liquid hydrogen is introduced to a heat exchanger, collects the energy of exhaust as heat, is then vaporized, and thereafter supplied to a combustor and to a fuel cell. Further, the electromagnetic driving fan is changed in its rotational phase by a rotating mechanism portion, is made movable in a width direction of a wing and a wing chord direction by a slide mechanism portion, and can be stored inside or outside the wing by a storage mechanism portion.

Abstract: Provided is a cutting bar for dental use that can cut both dentin and enamel with a single bar unanesthetically and efficiently without causing any pain or unpleasant sensation in a patient, in particular, a cutting bar for dental use that can fundamentally solve the problem in that a cutting blade of a cutting bar rotating at low speed comes into contact with hard enamel present in a surface layer of a tooth during cutting of carious dentin to cause unpleasant sensation in a patient. A cutting bar for dental use includes a head in which a cutting blade is formed; a neck leading to the head; and a handle joined to the neck through an intermediation of a joint portion, wherein diamond abrasive grains are electrodeposited in a predetermined range extending from a substantially maximum diameter portion of the head to the neck.