Abstract: The present invention provides an image processing apparatus which may include scene change detection means, object detection means, and determining means. The scene change detection means may be configured to detect a scene change in a motion picture. The object detection means may be configured to detect a predefined object that is contained as a subject in still pictures constituting the motion picture. The determining means may be configured to determine, in accordance with the result of a detection operation that is performed by the object detection means in relation to still pictures constituting a predefined scene between a scene change detected by the scene change detection means and a chronologically adjacent scene change, whether the predefined scene contains a still picture containing the predefined object as a subject.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus may include an input unit for inputting an image, and an extracting unit for extracting from the color of a pixel in the input image a relation level indicating the degree of association under which the image is thought of in response to a predetermined color name.

Abstract: A lamp reflector having a substrate prepared by injection molding a bulk molding compound (BMC). The BMC has a matrix resin mainly including: an unsaturated polyester resin and glass fiber as a reinforcing inorganic filler, and hollow glass spheres in an amount of 10 to 40% by volume based on the BMC as an additional inorganic filler.

Abstract: A method for producing D-lactic acid in high yield, and to provide a method for producing D-lactic acid with high selectivity, in which optical purity is high and a by-product organic acid is small. In one aspect, a microorganism, wherein activity of pyruvate formate-lyase (pfl) is inactivated or decreased, and further activity of Escherichia coli-derived NADH-dependent D-lactate dehydrogenase (ldhA) is enhanced, is cultured to efficiently produce D-lactic acid. With regard to a method for enhancing ldhA activity, by linking, on a genome, a gene encoding ldhA with a promoter of a gene which controls expression of a protein involved in a glycolytic pathway, a nucleic acid biosynthesis pathway or an amino acid biosynthesis pathway, suitable results are obtained compared to the method for enhancing expression of the gene using an expression vector.

Abstract: A lamp body for a vehicle lighting unit includes a PC/PTT alloy material in which 80 to 50% by weight of a polycarbonate resin (hereinafter referred to as a PC) and 20 to 50% by weight of a polytrimethylene terephthalate resin (hereinafter referred to as a PTT) are contained as principal components and 5 to 10% by weight of a filler is added with respect to the total weight of the PC and the PTT. The lamp body constituted by the PC/PTT alloy material can be thermally welded to a lens formed of the PC, and has a heat resistance, a chemical resistance and a bending rigidity which are almost identical to those of a lamp body formed of a polypropylene. Therefore, the lens and the lamp body can be bonded and integrated by a thermal welding method.

Abstract: The present invention provides a portable electronic device including an operator block, a display block, detection means, and control means. The operation block has a plurality of operation buttons arranged in matrix. The display block, arranged in the vicinity of the operator block, is capable of displaying a screen divided into a plurality of areas corresponding to the arrangement of the plurality of operation buttons, displaying a cursor for selecting each the areas, and entering the selection by operation of each of the operation buttons. The detection means detects whether any one of the plurality of operation buttons has been operated. The control means positions the cursor to the area corresponding to the detected operation button and displays the cursor on the display block.

Abstract: A lamp body for a vehicle lighting unit includes a PC/PTT alloy material in which 80 to 50% by weight of a polycarbonate resin (hereinafter referred to as a PC) and 20 to 50% by weight of a polytrimethylene terephthalate resin (hereinafter referred to as a PTT) are contained as principal components and 5 to 10% by weight of a filler is added with respect to the total weight of the PC and the PTT. The lamp body constituted by the PC/PTT alloy material can be thermally welded to a lens formed of the PC, and has a heat resistance, a chemical resistance and a bending rigidity which are almost identical to those of a lamp body formed of a polypropylene. Therefore, the lens and the lamp body can be bonded and integrated by a thermal welding method.

Abstract: A mobile information terminal device of the present invention comprises photographing means for photographing a subject, first display control means for controlling a display operation of images based on the photographed subject by the photographing means, selection means for selecting an image area for recognition from the images the display operation of which is controlled by the first display control means, recognition means for recognizing the image area selected by the selection means, and second display control means for controlling the display operation of a recognition result obtained by the recognition means. According to the present invention, the characters included in the photographed images by the mobile information terminal device can be recognized. Particularly, a predetermined area is able to be selected from the photographed images, and the characters in the predetermined area are recognized.

Abstract: The invention provides a lamp reflector having a substrate prepared by injection molding a BMC comprising a matrix resin mainly comprising an unsaturated polyester resin and glass fiber as a reinforcing inorganic filler, the BMC further comprising hollow glass spheres in an amount of 10 to 40% by volume based on the BMC as an additional inorganic filler, by which the substrate prepared from a BMC has a reduced weight and yet retains the main characteristics expected of a BMC injection molded part.

Abstract: A DNA encoding 20K hGH is connected directly to a gene encoding Escherichia coli OppA protein secretion signal, or a modified form thereof, and a DNA encoding signal peptidase 1 to construct a recombinant plasmid, E. coli is transformed by the plasmid and cells of the resulting E. coli transformant strain are cultured for secretory production of the 20K hGH in the E. coli periplasm. This method enables efficient secretory production of 20K hGH and easy isolation and purification of 20K hGH from the periplasm fraction because the level of impure proteins in the E. coli periplasm is low.

Abstract: A DNA encoding 20K hGH is connected directly to a gene encoding Escherichia coli OppA protein secretion signal, or a modified form thereof, and a DNA encoding signal peptidase 1 to construct a recombinant plasmid, E. coli is transformed by said plasmid and cells of the resulting E. coli transformant strain are cultured for secretory production of the 20K hGH in the E. coli periplasm. This method enables efficient secretory production of 20K hGH and easy isolation and purification of 20K hGH from the periplasm fraction because the level of impure proteins in the E. coli periplasm is low.

Abstract: A method for producing phytase using a Candida boidinii transformant, by which phytase is secreted to liquid medium without substantially increasing the number of the transformant cells is disclosed. In this method, cells of a Candida boidinii transformant which is transformed with a recombinant vector comprising a promoter inducible with methanol and a gene located downstream of said promoter and operably linked to said promoter, which gene encodes a polypeptide having phytase activity, are cultured in a liquid culture medium containing phosphoric acid or a phosphate compound in an amount effective of restricting proliferation of said cells of Candida boidinii transformant such that the amount of said cells of Candida boidinii transformant is not substantially increased, while adding methanol to the culture medium, so as to make said cells secrete said phytase.

Abstract: A novel phytase is disclosed. The phytase consists essentially of a single type of subunits, and can hydrolyze a phytate to myo-inositol. A gene encoding the phytase, which is originated from Schwanniomyces occidentalis is also disclosed.

Abstract: A novel phytase is disclosed. The phytase consists essentially of a single type of subunits, and can hydrolyze a phytate to myo-inositol. A gene encoding the phytase, which is originated from Schwanniomyces occidentalis is also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed are a 2,3-dihydrobenzofuran derivative represented by formula (1) or a salt thereof, a method for producing the same, and use thereof: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 represents a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl group; R.sup.2 represents a naphthyl group, a pyridyl group, a furyl group or a thienyl group; n is an integer of from 2 to 6; A represents a carbonyl group or a sulfonyl group; and * represents an asymmetric carbon atom. The 2,3-dihydrobenzofuran derivatives of the present invention and the non-toxic salts thereof have a strong affinity for serotonin 1A receptors. Therefore, are useful as pharmaceutical composition containing the 2,3-dihydrobenzofuran derivatives and the non-toxic salts thereof are especially useful for treating a serotonergic neuron-related disease, such as anxiety, depression, eating disorder, high blood pressure, emesis (including emesis induced by motion sickness, space sickness, dizziness and drug, etc.) and the like.

Abstract: Disclosed are a 2,3-dihydrobenzofuran derivative represented by formula (1) or a salt thereof, a method for producing the same, and use thereof: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 represents a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl group; n is an integer of from 2 to 6; A represents a carbonyl group or a sulfonyl group; R.sup.2 represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a lower alkyl group (which is unsubstituted or substituted with at least one halogen atom), a lower alkoxy group, a hydroxyl group, a nitro group or a cyano group; and * represents an asymmetric carbon atom.A 2,3-dihydrobenzofuran derivative of the present invention or a salt thereof has a strong affinity for a serotonin 1A receptor, and, therefore, is useful for prevention and treatment of serotonergic neuron-related diseases, such as anxiety, depression, high blood pressure, emeses (including emeses induced by motion sickness, space sickness and dizziness, etc.) and the like.

Abstract: An azepine compound of the formula ##STR1## wherein R is (a) ##STR2## in which R.sup.1 is hydrogen, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, hydroxy, halogen, or optionally substituted phenyl, and n is 0 or 1, (b) cycloalkyl of C.sub.5-8 which is optionally substituted by lower alkyl, (c) norbornyl, (d) bicyclo[3.3.1]nonyl, (e) naphthyl, (f) 1,3-benzoxolyl, (g) pyridyl, or (h) thienyl, m is an integer of 0-4, and C* is an asymmetric carbon, and nontoxic salts thereof, processes for producing the same, and therapeutic agents containing the same as the active ingredient for treating diseases related to .sigma.-receptor. The compound (1) and nontoxic salts thereof have a high affinity for .sigma.-receptor but scarcely any affinity for other receptors, thus being utilized for treating diseases related to .sigma.-receptor, such as schizophrenia.

Abstract: A compound represented by general formula (1) or an innocuous salt thereof, a process for producing the same, and a schizophrenia remedy containing the same as the active ingredient (wherein the nitrogeneous ring B represents 3-azabicyclo [3.2.2] nonan-3-yl or 4-azatricyclo [4.3.1.1.sup.3.8 ] undecan-4-yl; and R represents hydrogen, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, hydroxy or halogen). The above compound and salt have a high affinity for sigma-binding sites and are useful as an antischizophrenic drug.

Abstract: Disclosed are a novel optically active compound represented by formula (1), a racemic modification thereof, and a pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt of the optically active compound or racemic modification thereof: ##STR1## wherein R is a straight chain or branched C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 aliphatic group which is saturated or unsaturated, or a phenyl group which is unsubstituted or substituted with 1 to 3 substituents which are each independently selected from the group consisting of a halogen atom, a C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl group, a nitro group, an amino group, a hydroxyl group and a C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkoxy group; and mark * indicates an asymmetric carbon atom.

Abstract: Disclosed are a compound represented by formula (1) and a non-toxic salt thereof, a production method thereof, and a pharmaceutical composition for treating a serotonergic neuron-related disease comprising the same as an active ingredient: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 represents a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl group; R.sup.2 represents a pyridyl group which is unsubstituted or substituted with 1 to 3 substituents each independently selected from the group consisting of a halogen atom, a lower alkyl group, a trifluoromethyl group, a lower alkoxy group, a carbamoyl group and a cyano group, or a pyrimidinyl group which is unsubstituted or substituted with 1 to 2 substituents each independently selected from the group consisting of a lower alkyl group and a lower alkoxy group; and n is an integer of from 2 to 5.