Abstract: In braking force control apparatus and method for an automotive vehicle, a front-and-rear road wheel braking force distribution determining section determinatively distributes a front-and-rear road wheel braking force at a front-and-rear road wheel braking force distribution toward front and rear road wheel sides of the vehicle in accordance with a vehicular turning state to achieve the target deceleration and the vehicular deceleration developing section develops the target deceleration on the basis of the front-and-rear road wheel braking force distribution determined by the front-and-rear road wheel braking force distribution determining section.

Abstract: A brake control apparatus is configured to suppress fluctuations in the deceleration when transferring from cooperative braking to regenerative braking or hydraulic braking. The brake control apparatus calculates a braking torque command value feed forward component for reaching a target deceleration corresponding to the master cylinder pressure according to an ideal reference model. The brake control apparatus also calculates the braking torque command value feedback component to find a base deceleration for feeding back the difference between the base deceleration and the vehicle deceleration. The brake control apparatus then calculates the braking torque command value by adding the components together.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of producing a water-soluble chain-extended gelatin subjecting a source a source gelatin having a first isoelectric point, in aqueous solution, to a partial crosslinking reaction to form a reaction mixture comprising a partially crosslinked gelatin having a second isoelectric point, filtering the reaction mixture, adjusting a pH value of the filtered reaction mixture to a value equivalent to the second isoelectric point ±1.5, and concentrating, drying and pulverizing the pH-adjusted reaction mixture.

Abstract: A novel optical member is disclosed. The optical member comprises a region having a distributed refractive index, wherein the region comprising a polymer having deuterium-substituted carbon atoms and halogen-substituted carbon atoms. A novel composition for preparation of optical member is also disclosed. The composition comprises an ester of an alcohol having a halogen-substituted carbon atom and a propenoic acid or derivative thereof having a deuterium-substituted carbon atom, a polymerization initiator for the ester and an organic compound having a low molecular weight and a different refractive index from that of a polymer of the ester.

Abstract: A novel optical member is disclosed.

Abstract: A brake control apparatus is configured to suppress fluctuations in the deceleration when transferring from cooperative braking to regenerative braking or hydraulic braking. The brake control apparatus calculates a braking torque command value feed forward component for reaching a target deceleration corresponding to the master cylinder pressure according to an ideal reference model. The brake control apparatus also calculates the braking torque command value feedback component to find a base deceleration for feeding back the difference between the base deceleration and the vehicle deceleration. The brake control apparatus then calculates the braking torque command value by adding the components together.

Abstract: A brake control apparatus is configured to keep a regenerative braking torque imparted to a wheel at an appropriate level and to prevent it from becoming excessive in a case where a regenerative braking force produced by a motor generator is imparted to a wheel via a transmission. When the transmission installed between the wheel and the motor generators is a continuously variable transmission, a regenerative braking torque limit value is set such that it becomes smaller when a gear ratio of the continuously variable transmission becomes larger. For a given regenerative braking torque of the motor generators, the regenerative braking torque imparted to the wheels is larger when the gear ratio is larger. Consequently, the regenerative braking torque limit value is set such that the larger the gear ratio is, the smaller the regenerative braking torque limit value is.

Abstract: A brake control apparatus for a vehicle includes an actuating section to apply a regenerative braking force to a motor-driven wheel driven by a motor of the vehicle. A control section is arranged to vary the regenerative braking force in a direction to shift a front and rear wheel braking force distribution toward an ideal braking force distribution, in accordance with a wheel locking tendency of the motor-driven wheel when the regenerative braking force exceeding a braking force determined by the ideal braking force distribution is applied to the motor-driven wheel.

Abstract: An optical film comprises a transparent support and a polarizing layer. The polarizing layer selectively transmits polarized light, and selectively reflects or scatters other polarized light. The polarizing layer contains a compound represented by the formula (I) of Ar1—C≡C—Ar3—C≡C—Ar2. In the formula (I), each of Ar1 and Ar2 independently is a monovalent aromatic group, and Ar3 is a divalent aromatic group.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a genomic DNA library substantially maintaining copy numbers of a set of genes or the sequences on a genome, an abundance ratio of the set of genes or sequences on the genome, and the polymorphic patterns substantially identical to that of the genomic DNA. The present invention also relates to a method of producing the above genomic DNA library. The genomic DNA library of the present invention is useful in analysis of genetic polymorphism; genetic diagnosis of a disease; preparation of DNA arrays; preparation of samples for searching open reading frames in analysis such as genome analysis; preservation of genes of endangered organisms; gene specimens; mutation analysis; nucleotide sequence analysis; analysis by hybridization methods such as Southern blot hybridization method, dot blot hybridization method, Northern blot hybridization method, macroarray hybridization methods using membrane and the like, or DNA microarray hybridization method.

Abstract: There is disclosed a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material which comprises a support and provided thereon at least one light-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer and at least one hydrophilic colloidal layer comprising a solid particle dispersion of a water-insoluble photographically useful compound, said solid particle dispersion being a dispersion comprising both a water-insoluble photographically useful compound of the formula 1 and a specific polymer having a carboxyl group and an alkoxycarbonyl group: wherein A is an acidic nucleus, L1, L2 and L3 each are a methine group which may be substituted, R1 and R3 each are a hydrogen atom or a substituent (including an atom), R2 is a substituent (including an atom), n is 0 or 1, m is an integer of 0 to 4, when m is an integer of 2 to 4, R2 may be the same or different, X is an electron-withdrawing group having Hammett's substitution constant &sgr;m of 0.3 to 1.5.

Abstract: Provided are: a polymer comprising a repeating unit represented by formula (I): wherein K represents an alkylene group; M represents a monovalent cation group; a dispersant including the polmer; and a silver halide photographic photosensitive material containing water-insoluble photographic solid grains dispersed in use of the dispersant. The dispersant of the invention prevents the surface tension from lowering where the solid fine grains are dispersed, thereby improving dispersing property and dispersion stability. The silver halide photographic photosensitive material according to the invention has good color reproductivity and improves storability before use and latent image storability at the same time.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of producing a water-soluble chain-extended gelatin subjecting a source a source gelatin having a first isoelectric point, in aqueous solution, to a partial crosslinking reaction to form a reaction mixture comprising a partially crosslinked gelatin having a second isoelectric point, filtering the reaction mixture, adjusting a pH value of the filtered reaction mixture to a value equivalent to the second isoelectric point ±1.5, and concentrating, drying and pulverizing the pH-adjusted reaction mixture.

Abstract: In a traction control device for a vehicle which is equipped with a multi-cylinder engine, fuel supply is cut for a specific cylinder when a slip factor of the drive wheels exceeds a predetermined threshold value. The device comprises a sensor for detecting the engine load, and when the engine load becomes larger than a predetermined load, the threshold value is increased. As a result, the engine operation region wherein fuel cut is performed is narrowed under the high engine load and overheating of the catalytic converter due to fuel cut under the high engine load is thereby prevented.

Abstract: In a traction controller for cutting fuel supply to the cylinders of a multi-cylinder engine based on a slip factor of the drive wheels of a vehicle, an ordinary fuel cut mode in which fuel is cut to only some cylinders and a multi-cylinder fuel cut mode in which fuel is cut to a larger number of cylinders are provided. When the slip factor exceeds a first threshold value, ordinary fuel cut begins, and when the fuel cut duration time exceeds a predetermined value and the slip factor exceeds a second threshold value higher than the first threshold value, multi-cylinder fuel cut is performed. In this way, the drive wheels are prevented from slipping while preventing hunting of the slip factor due to multi-cylinder fuel cut and temperature rise of a catalytic converter.

Abstract: A photographic element which comprises at least one temporary barrier layer formed by applying an organic solvent solution containing at least two kinds of copolymers, wherein each of said at least two kinds of copolymers comprises, as its constituents, at least one monomer selected from group A, at least one monomer selected from group B, and at least one monomer selected from group C:group A: mono(meth)acrylates of polyhydric alcohols;group B: ethylenic unsaturated monomers having a carboxyl group; andgroup C: ethylenic unsaturated monomers which are other than those of groups A and B, and which are copolymerizable with the monomers of groups A and B.

Abstract: A signaling lamp including a hollow cylindrical supporting column made from a light-transmitting material which has a central portion bulged outwardly so that the interior surfaces are made into reflective surfaces. LEDs are arranged in rows so as to face each other above and below the reflective surfaces, and the supporting column and the LEDs are surrounded by a globe which has diffusing lenses. The light from the LEDs is reflected toward the circumference by the reflective surfaces and is projected into the surrounding area via the globe.

Abstract: A driving-torque distribution control system for a four-wheel drive vehicle, comprises a transfer having a transfer clutch for variably adjusting a front and rear drive-wheel torque distribution, and a torque-split controller for setting a weighting coefficient to a lower speed of rotational speeds of secondary drive wheels depending on a wheel-load shift between the secondary drive wheels e.g. a lateral acceleration exerted on the vehicle or a rolling moment. The controller calculates a simple mean of rotational speeds of primary drive wheels, and also calculates a weighted mean of rotational speeds of the secondary drive wheels based on the weighting coefficient so as to control the transfer clutch in accordance with the front and rear drive-wheel torque distribution based on a difference between the simple mean and the weighted mean. The weighting coefficient is held constant until the lateral acceleration exceeds a predetermined threshold.