Abstract: A strain detector includes a bridge circuit having at least two strain resistance elements, a substrate, a first fixed member, and a second fixed member. The substrate has a circuit portion electrically connected to the strain resistance elements. The strain resistance elements are arranged on the substrate. The first fixed member is fixed to a center of an area, where an outer periphery of the area is set at a position at which the strain resistance elements are arranged. The second fixed member is fixed outside the position, where the strain resistance elements are arranged at the substrate. A center of an axis of the first fixed member, a center of an axis of the second fixed member, and the center of the area are positioned on a straight line, and the first fixed member and the second fixed member are arranged on two mutually opposed surfaces of the substrate.

Abstract: An energy usage display unit for displaying energy usage of gas used for a water heater, water used for the water heater or electricity used in housing where the water heater is set, comprising: a clock section for having a clock and calendar function; a counting section for counting usage of gas, water or electricity; a memory section for storing a count value of usage counted by the counting section retroactive to past by a predetermined number with a predetermined time unit; a counting control section for writing the count value of usage from the counting section to the memory section at predetermined time; a display control section for reading one or both of the count value of the counting section and a stored value in the memory section to prepare display data of usage, in accordance with a period unit required by a user; and a display section for displaying usage based on the display data prepared by the display control section.

Abstract: The fuel cell system is provided which detects a freeze among specific components and portions thereof by evaluating various conditions upon starting operation of the fuel cell system. If a freeze is detected through those evaluations, the start of the system is prohibited in order to prevent some deterioration in the fuel cell system.

Abstract: The fuel cell system is provided which detects a freeze among specific components and portions thereof by evaluating various conditions upon starting operation of the fuel cell system. If a freeze is detected through those evaluations, the start of the system is prohibited in order to prevent some deterioration in the fuel cell system.

Abstract: It is intended to provide a method for evaluating a pharmacological effect of a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor, comprising the steps of: (a) preparing a cell expressing CPSF5 protein; (b) contacting the cell with an HDAC inhibitor; (c) measuring the acetylation level of CPSF5 protein in the cell; and (d) comparing the acetylation level measured in the step (c) with the measured acetylation level of CPSF5 protein in a control cell that has not been contacted with the HDAC inhibitor.

Abstract: The method for manufacturing aromatic dicarboxylic acid according to the formula 1 contains the first step of bringing a nitroaryl nitrile to react with a fluorenylidenebisphenol compound in the presence of an alkaline compound to obtain a corresponding di(cyanoaryloxy) derivative; and the second step of hydrolyzing the di(cyanoaryloxy) derivative to convert into a corresponding dicarboxylic acid, where, R1 to R6 are each independently a hydrogen, an alkyl group, or an aryl group, and they may be the same with or different from each other. Since the method does not use halide, the load to purification of the product is significantly light, and the aromatic carboxylic acid which is useful as a monomer for manufacturing polymers is readily obtained at a high purity.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a nickel metal-hydride battery excellent in cycle performance, high-rate discharging ability, and output power performance, by utilizing a hydrogen absorbing electrode comprising a hydrogen absorbing alloy powder as an active material, which is excellent in resistance to corrosion and high-rate discharging performance. Provided are a hydrogen absorbing electrode comprising 100 parts by weight of a hydrogen absorbing alloy powder which contains, as a main component, a rare earth element and a transition metal element, and has a saturation mass susceptibility of 1.0 to 6.5 emu/g, and 0.3 to 1.

Abstract: The aromatic diamine is represented by the formula I, where, R1 to R6 are each independently a hydrogen, an alkyl group, or an aryl group, and they may be the same with or different from each other. The aromatic diamine is useful as a monomer of polyimide, polyamide, polyamideimide, and the like, or as a curing agent for resins such as polyurethane and epoxy.

Abstract: Disclosed is a convertible top assembly for a vehicle, which comprises a pair of reinforcing plate members 20 each attached to an inner surface of a lower region in a corresponding one of right and left lateral edges of a convertible top 3, and connection means X (plate spring 28) for connecting between a main link 6 and each of the reinforcing plate members 20, whereby the rigidity of the lower region in each of the right and left lateral edges of the convertible top 3 is increased to ensure a sufficient sealing between the convertible top 3 and a vehicle body 2 in a closed position of the convertible top 3 in a simplified structure.

Abstract: In a power supply device including a fuel cell unit with a stack of fuel cells or a fuel cell stack and a secondary battery, an intermittent drive mode is selected under a preset condition to receive power supply only from the secondary battery. The control procedure of the invention determines whether a temporary stop of the fuel cell stack or continuance of the stop of the fuel cell stack leads to potential performance deterioration of the fuel cell stack at a restart of the fuel cell unit. In response to estimation of the potential performance deterioration, the control procedure controls the power supply device to continue or start power generation of the fuel cell stack, regardless of selection of the intermittent drive mode under the preset condition.

Abstract: A cyclic tetrapeptide compound of the formula (I): wherein R1 is hydrogen; R2 is lower alkyl, aryl, optionally substituted ar(lower)alkyl, heterocyclic(lower)alkyl, cyclo(lower)alkyl(lower)alkyl, lower alkylcarbamoyl(lower)alkyl or arylcarbamoyl(lower)alkyl; R3 and R4 are each independently hydrogen, lower alkyl, optionally substituted ar(lower)alkyl, optionally substituted heterocyclic(lower)alkyl or cyclo(lower)alkyl(lower)alkyl, or R3 and R4 are linked together to form lower alkylene or condensed ring, or one of R3 and R4 is linked to the adjacent nitrogen atom to form a ring; R5 is lower alkylene or lower alkenylene, Y is [wherein RY1 is hydrogen, halogen or optionally protected hydroxy, RY2 is hydrogen, halogen, lower alkyl or phenyl, and RY3 is hydrogen or lower alkyl]; R8 is hydrogen or lower alkyl; and n is an integer of 1 or 2, or a salt thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed is a convertible top assembly for a vehicle, which comprises a pair of reinforcing plate members 20 each attached to an inner surface of a lower region in a corresponding one of right and left lateral edges of a convertible top 3, and connection means X (plate spring 28) for connecting between a main link 6 and each of the reinforcing plate members 20, whereby the rigidity of the lower region in each of the right and left lateral edges of the convertible top 3 is increased to ensure a sufficient sealing between the convertible top 3 and a vehicle body 2 in a closed position of the convertible top 3 in a simplified structure.

Abstract: One problem with a sealed type nickel-metal hydride battery is that the high-rate discharge capability is inferior to that of a nickel-cadmium storage battery, because of a slow transfer rate of charges to the surface of a hydrogen storing alloy that is a negative electrode. Another problem is that the use of an alloy having excellent life characteristics takes much time for initial activation of battery characteristics. The invention provides a solution to the aforesaid problems by the provision of a sealed type nickel-metal hydride battery (1) improved in high-rate discharge capability and charge-discharge cycle characteristics. To this end, the invention is characterized by locating a 50 nm to 400 nm thick nickel-rich layer (11) on the surface of a hydrogen storing alloy powder, and locating the nickel-rich layer (11) as well on the surface of cracks (12) that open at the surface of alloy, and more preferably setting the mass saturation magnetization of the alloy powder at 2.

Abstract: The invention relates to a novel method for selecting an immunosuppressive agent with a less thrombocytopenia effect. According to the invention, a method for selecting an immunosuppressive agent which has a potent immunosuppressive activity but a lower thrombocytopenia effect, said method comprising measuring an IL-2 transcription inhibitory activity in a test cell in to which an IL-2 reporter gene has been introduced in the coexistence of an analyte, while measuring a GATA-1 transcription inhibitory activity in the test cell into which a GATA-1 reporter gene has been introduced in the coexistence of an analyte, and comparing both the transcription inhibitory activities, is provided.

Abstract: In a fuel cell system of the invention, a pressure regulator is provided in the pathway of a hydrogen supply conduit that connects a hydrogen tank to a fuel cell stack. An anode off gas discharged from the fuel cell stack is recirculated through a recirculation pipe into the hydrogen supply conduit. A hydrogen pump is provided in the pathway of the recirculation pipe to increase the pressure of the anode off gas. A control unit of the fuel cell system includes a hydrogen pump control module, an abnormality diagnosis module, and an atmospheric pressure-based correction module. The hydrogen pump control module regulates the rotation speed of the hydrogen pump corresponding to a power demand to be output from the fuel cell system. The abnormality diagnosis module detects an abnormal state, based on a result of determination of whether the pressure of the hydrogen supply measured by a pressure sensor is within a certain range defined by two preset threshold values.

Abstract: A process is provided for the production of 2,7-dibromofluorenone. According to the process, a 2,7-dibromofluorene-contianing raw material is oxidized with molecular oxygen in the presence of a phase transfer catalyst such as a quaternary ammonium salt in a heterogeneous, mixed solvent of an aqueous solution of a caustic alkali and a water-insoluble organic solvent. Crude crystals of 2,7-dibromofluorenone, which have been obtained by the oxidization, can be purified by recrystallization to recover 2,7-dibromofluorenone as crystals having a purity of at least 99 wt. %.

Abstract: A method for preparing bromofluorenes includes a step of dispersing a compound selected from the group consisting of fluorene, fluorenone, and derivatives of fluorene and fluorenone in water to prepare a disperse system. Bromination is initiated by adding bromine Br2 into the disperse system. Thus, bromofluorenes can be efficiently and economically prepared without using any environmentally harmful organic solvent requiring a high cost to dispose of.

Abstract: Indene is produced from an indene-containing coal tar distillate by adding a glycol to the indene-containing coal tar distillate and then conducting azeotropic distillation to obtain an indene fraction while eliminating benzonitrile from the indene-containing coal tar distillate.

Abstract: A process is provided for the purification of 4,4′-(9-fluorenylidene)diallylphenol. With an inclusion-compound-forming solvent which contains an inclusion-compound-forming compound capable of forming an inclusion compound with 4,4′-(9-fluorenylidene)diallylphenol, crude 4,4′-(9-fluorenylidene)diallylphenol is dissolved to form the inclusion compound in the form of a solution. The inclusion compound is then caused to deposit, for example, by charging the solution of the inclusion compound into a poor solvent for the inclusion compound, for example, an aliphatic hydrocarbon solvent such as n-hexane, n-heptane, cyclohexane or a mixture thereof.

Abstract: The fuel cell system is provided which detects a freeze among specific components and portions thereof by evaluating various conditions upon starting operation of the fuel cell system. If a freeze is detected through those evaluations, the start of the system is prohibited in order to prevent some deterioration in the fuel cell system.