Abstract: The present invention provides a novel G protein-coupled receptor protein comprising the same or substantially the same amino acid sequence as that represented by SEQ ID NO: 1 or salts thereof, and a polynucleotide encoding the same, a use such as pharmaceuticals, etc.

Abstract: The human leukocyte-derived G protein-coupled receptor protein, a nucleic acid encoding the same and its derivative are useful in determining a ligand (an antagonist) to the receptor protein of the present invention, as an agent for the prevention and/or treatment of diseases associated with the dysfunction of the G protein-coupled receptor protein, etc.

Abstract: An electronic flash device includes: a flash light emission circuit that performs a flash light emission; a light emission control circuit that supplies power for light emission to the flash light emission circuit in response to an input of a light emission start signal and cuts off the power to the flash light emission circuit in response to an input of a light emission stop signal; and a protective circuit that detects a state that will induce power supply to the flash light emission circuit in response to an anomalous signal based upon a circuit operation of the light emission control circuit and prevents the power supply to the flash light emission circuit.

Abstract: Proposed is an optical clock distribution system in the WDM network, which particularly relates to a system to control clock synchronization between optical transmission devices constituting an optical communication network. The optical clock distribution system includes an optical clock generator converting a clock signal of PRC (Primary Reference Clock) level into an optical clock signal having a wavelength &lgr;0; a wavelength multiplexer wavelength-multiplexing the optical clock signal having wavelength &lgr;0 together with other optical wavelength data; and a wavelength-demultiplexer provided in a unit of the network, wavelength-demultiplexing the optical clock signal having wavelength &lgr;0, wherein the other optical wavelength data are processed in the unit of the network using the wavelength-demultiplexed optical clock signal having wavelength &lgr;0 as a reference clock.

Abstract: An electronic flash device includes: a flash light emission circuit that performs a flash light emission; a light emission control circuit that supplies power for light emission to the flash light emission circuit in response to an input of a light emission start signal and cuts off the power to the flash light emission circuit in response to an input of a light emission stop signal; and a protective circuit that detects a state that will induce power supply to the flash light emission circuit in response to an anomalous signal based upon a circuit operation of the light emission control circuit and prevents the power supply to the flash light emission circuit.

Abstract: An electric flash device according to the present invention allows selection between an FP flash which repeats flashing at time intervals recognizable as flat light and a discrete flash and comprises a pre-flash part for performing a pre-flash prior to photographing by a camera, a right condition obtaining part for obtaining from the camera information on a condition of a right amount of light which is determined according to subject brightness when the pre-flash is performed, and an actual-flash part for performing an actual-flash according to the condition of the right amount of light obtained by the right condition obtaining part when the photographing is performed. The pre-flash part performs the discrete flash including one or more flashes as the pre-flash, even when the FP-flash is selected as the actual-flash. Consequently, reduction in energy consumption for performing the pre-flash and shortening of photometry time can be realized.

Abstract: A vulcanized rubber comprising a rubber component containing natural rubber, in an amount of 20 to 70 parts by weight, and polybutadiene, in an amount of 30 to 80 parts by weight; a rubber matrix containing 5 to 55 parts by weight of carbon black and 5 to 55 parts by weight of silica per 100 parts per weight of the rubber component; a resin, and resin coated elongated cells having a length (L) to diameter (D) ratio (L/D) of at least 3. The vulcanized rubber can be used in the tread of tires to improve on-ice performance, wet properties and wear resistance in a well balanced manner.

Abstract: An electric flash device according to the present invention allows selection between an FP flash which repeats flashing at time intervals recognizable as flat light and a discrete flash and comprises a pre-flash part for performing a pre-flash prior to photographing by a camera, a right condition obtaining part for obtaining from the camera information on a condition of a right amount of light which is determined according to subject brightness when the pre-flash is performed, and an actual-flash part for performing an actual-flash according to the condition of the right amount of light obtained by the right condition obtaining part when the photographing is performed. The pre-flash part performs the discrete flash including one or more flashes as the pre-flash, even when the FP-flash is selected as the actual-flash. Consequently, reduction in energy consumption for performing the pre-flash and shortening of photometry time can be realized.

Abstract: A dimming plate for dimming light from an internal flash device of a camera, is disposed on the external flash device of the present invention which is mounted for use on a mounting seat of the camera. A two-lamp-lighting photographing is carried out in a state where the light from the internal flash device of the camera is dimmed by covering a luminescent unit of the internal flash device with the dimming plate of the external flash device. Thereby the two-lamp-lighting photographing can be carried out easily and reliably, where the light emission of the external flash device is used as a main light source, and the light emission of the internal flash device of the camera as a supplementary light source. The external flash device becomes inexpensive because the two-lamp-lighting photographing can be carried out only by incorporating the dimming plate therein without a special sub-luminescent unit disposed.

Abstract: In a mesh-type network, a managing section manages QoS (Quality of Service) information, which is accumulated QoS information (inter-neighboring-node QoS information q) between neighboring node apparatuses, about QoS for candidate signal transmission routes in the network at the individual node apparatuses. And a control section controls a signal transmission route selection operation at the self node apparatus based on the network QoS information Q being managed by the managing section. With this construction, it is possible to set/manage a line route satisfying a desired QoS independently at the individual node apparatuses with maximum ease and flexibleness.

Abstract: The present invention was developed in order to realize a multi-channel sound system wherein appropriate output (balance and fader) control can be conducted without adversely affecting the program contents, and a sound system, which can reproduce a plurality of channel signals including at least left and right front channels and a center channel for forward-placed speakers, comprises a gain controller to control the gain of either left or right channel signal and a gain controller to control the gain of the center channel signal depending on the gain control of the left or right channel signal.

Abstract: Disclosed are a novel polylactone having amino groups and to a process for the preparation thereof. The polylactone having amino groups of the present invention is excellent in color hue, and it can be preferably employed in fields such as coatings, inks, ultraviolet ray curable or electronic beam curable resins, etc., in which the color hue becomes a serious problem. Furthermore, disclosed are a novel compound having amino groups and to a process for the preparation thereof. The compound having amino groups of the present invention can be preferably employed as a dispersant for pigments in a coating composition or a printing ink composition.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling a light source that is used during operation of an imaging device (e.g., a camera) and, in particular, during operation of a camera feature/subsystem such as an AF subsystem, a red-eye reduction subsystem, a self-timer subsystem, etc. The apparatus and method include and involve a light source which is configured to emit light in relation to the operation of a subsystem of an imaging device, and a light source control unit which is configured to control an amount of light emitted by the light source based on a preset operating parameter (e.g., a user-selectable camera setting). The apparatus and method may be included within an imaging device such as a camera or in a peripheral (e.g., a flash unit, etc.) configured to operate with such a camera.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprising a tire tread wherein a foamed rubber layer is provided at least in the portion substantially contacting with a road surface, and wherein said foamed rubber layer, which has closed cells, has an expansion ratio of about 2% to about 50%, and the solid rubber phase in said foamed rubber layer contains, in an amount of about 0.5 to about 5 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the rubber component, a vulcanization accelerator represented by one of the following general formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 each independently represents an atom or a group selected from a group consisting of a hydrogen atom, alkyl groups, and aryl groups, excluding a case in which each of R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 simultaneously represents a hydrogen atom. The pneumatic tire which is used as an excellent studless tire suppresses deterioration in performance on ice or snow in the final period of tire use compared to the performance in the initial period of tire use.

Abstract: Disclosed are a novel (meth)acrylate having an alkenyl group, a novel epoxy(meth)acrylate, and processes for the preparation thereof. The (meth)acrylate having an alkenyl group of the present invention can be preferably used as resins for coatings, photo-curable resins, and adhesives by (co)polymerization thereof in the presence or absence of a variety of (meth)acrylic monomers, and the (meth)acrylate compound having an alkenyl group is useful as a silane coupling agent, a starting material for epoxy (meth)acrylates, a modifier for silicone resins, a modifier for unsaturated polyester resins, and a crosslinking agent for acrylic rubbers. The epoxy(meth)acrylate has a well-balanced excellent property between a pot life and reactivity in curing, and it does not contain chlorine, resulting in that a resin therefrom is excellent in an anti-corrosive property and an anti-yellowing property.

Abstract: A rubber composition comprises one or more rubbers selected from the group consisting of natural rubber, polyisoprene rubber, styrene-butadiene copolymer rubber, polybutadiene rubber, acrylonitrile-butadiene copolymer rubber, isoprene-isobutylene copolymer rubber and ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer rubber, and a reinforcing agent and a fluorine-based additive having a perfluoroalkyl group containing copolymer.

Abstract: A bracket for mounting a thermal cutoff device within an electronic device having an electronic component. The bracket includes, but is not limited to, a fastener for fastening the bracket within the electronic device, and a holder integrally formed with the fastener. The holder is configured to releasably hold a thermal cutoff device. The thermal cutoff device is configured to operate based on heat generated by the electronic component. The heat is transmitted to the thermal cutoff device via the fastener and the holder.

Abstract: An alkaline storage battery including a bottomed cell casing assembled as either one of positive and negative terminals, a closure cap assembly coupled with an opening of the cell casing in a liquid-tight manner as the other terminal to hermetically seal the interior of the cell casing and a generator element composed of positive and negative electrodes assembled within the cell casing, wherein a current collecting plate extended from either one of the positive and negative electrodes is welded at least at two spaced portions thereof with a bottom surface of the closure cap assembly to enhance mechanical strength and the vibration resistance property of the storage battery and to reduce internal resistance of the storage battery.

Abstract: A parking rod for a parking lock device of an automatic transmission comprises a straight-shaped parking rod main body portion, and an applied force transmitting portion formed continuously at the base portion side of the parking rod main body portion. The applied force transmitting portion is formed flat and has a linking portion arranged at the base portion side formed to curve so as to engage with the linking portion at the transmission mechanism side for transmitting the applied force from the shift lever.

Abstract: A variable illuminating angle mechanism which can vary the illuminating angle of a flash unit. The variable illuminating angle mechanism includes a device which prevents a light emitting body or an illuminating lens from being moved in excess of a range of normal movement. The variable illuminating angle mechanism includes a drive shaft having a screw thread formed on a circumferential surface of the drive shaft and a drive device to rotationally drive the drive shaft. A transmission member in threaded connection to the drive shaft is moved by rotation of the drive shaft, and a transmission device moves the light emitting unit or the illuminating lens via movement of the transmission member. An escape device is positioned at at least one end of the drive shaft to disconnect the transmission member from the drive shaft when the transmission member is moved beyond a normal operating range of the light emitting unit or illuminating lens.