Abstract: A vehicle system includes a plurality of devices and a controller. The plurality of devices are mounted on the vehicle, and each of the devices implements a function having a safety standard of a predetermined level set therein. The controller is capable of executing processing related to the safety standard on the devices, and includes a plurality of ECUs respectively allocated for the levels of the safety standards. The plurality of ECUs are respectively connected to the devices in which the safety standards of the allocated levels are set without being connected to the devices in which the safety standards of different levels are set, and execute, on the connected devices, processing related to the safety standards according to the allocated levels. Accordingly, the vehicle system can appropriately construct a system that secures safety.

Abstract: A medical device that can perform plural actions by a single operation and is excellent in operability includes a catheter that is insertable into a living body, a sandwiching portion and a needle positioning portion that are disposed in the catheter so as to be able to advance and retract. A slide portion is operable such that the sandwiching portion and the needle positioning portion advance and retract simultaneously, and an action switching portion causes the sandwiching portion to advance and retract in tandem with or independently of the slide portion by the advance and retraction of the slide portion.

Abstract: A medical device is configured to prevent a member attached to the distal end of an operation wire passing through a catheter from dropping out from an operation wire. The medical device includes an operation wire which passes through a catheter and which is advanceable and retractable toward the axial direction with respect to the catheter, a distal member interlocked on the distal side of the operation wire, and a grasping unit which is interlocked on the proximal side of the operation wire. The medical device also includes a safety mechanism for releasing the interlock between the operation wire and the grasping unit by a load lower than the breaking strength between the operation wire and the distal member.

Abstract: A medical device that can perform plural actions by a single operation and is excellent in operability includes a catheter that is insertable into a living body, a sandwiching portion and a needle positioning portion that are disposed in the catheter so as to be able to advance and retract. A slide portion is operable such that the sandwiching portion and the needle positioning portion advance and retract simultaneously, and an action switching portion causes the sandwiching portion to advance and retract in tandem with or independently of the slide portion by the advance and retraction of the slide portion.

Abstract: A negative electrode of the present invention has an active material layer composed of an intermetallic compound on a collector. The intermetallic compound is capable of occluding/desorbing lithium and contains at least one kind of element A selected from Sn, In, Ge, Ga, Pb, Al, Sb, and Si, and an element X that does not substantially react with Li. In the negative electrode, a ratio Ib/Ia of highest peak intensities Ia and Ib of X-ray diffraction peaks derived from the intermetallic compound and the element A is 0.1 or less. By configuring a non-aqueous secondary battery using the above-mentioned negative electrode, the charging/discharging efficiency and cycle characteristics of a thin film electrode used for the negative electrode of the non-aqueous secondary battery are enhanced.

Abstract: A ?-glucan-containing fat and oil composition contains ?-glucan of microorganism origin or basidiomycete origin. The ?-glucan-containing fat and oil composition has ?-glucan uniformly dispersed in a food without worsening the texture, taste etc. of the food. The novel microorganism can efficiently produce ?-glucan which has a high activity and favorable qualities as ?-glucan of microorganism origin as described above from less expensive saccharides such as sucrose at a high production speed.

Abstract: An alloy material containing an intermetallic compound of metal that is alloyed with Li and metal that is not alloyed with Li, capable of repeatedly absorbing and desorbing Li, is formed on a collector made of a material that is not alloyed with Li, as a plurality of convex portions partitioned with gaps disposed thereamong, and an area the convex portions occupy on the collector is assumed to be 60 to 95% of the area of the collector. Because of this, an electrode containing an intermetallic compound capable of repeatedly absorbing and desorbing Li can be provided, which can configure a non-aqueous secondary battery having a higher charging/discharging efficiency, a larger discharging capacity, and more excellent high rate characteristics and cycle characteristics.

Abstract: An electrode according to the invention can provide a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery having an ability to release a volume expansion at the time of charge and discharge as well as the time of a cycle. The electrode comprises a current collector made of a material which is not alloyed with Li, and a dot pattern 2 of a metallic material able to be alloyed with Li formed on the current collector. At the time of charge, since the volume expansion of each dot 3 is carried out so as to bury adjoining crevices 4 between the dots, a stress generated is released, thereby degradation of an electrode being avoided. Each dot may also be made into porosity.

Abstract: A ?-glucan-containing fat and oil composition contains ?-glucan of microorganism origin or basidiomycete origin. The ?-glucan-containing fat and oil composition has ?-glucan uniformly dispersed in a food without worsening the texture, taste etc. of the food. The novel microorganism can efficiently produce ?-glucan which has a high activity and favorable qualities as ?-glucan of microorganism origin as described above from less expensive saccharides such as sucrose at a high production speed.

Abstract: An electrode according to the invention can provide a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery having an ability to release a volume expansion at the time of charge and discharge as well as the time of a cycle. The electrode comprises a current collector made of a material which is not alloyed with Li, and a dot pattern 2 of a metallic material able to be alloyed with Li formed on the current collector. At the time of charge, since the volume expansion of each dot 3 is carried out so as to bury adjoining crevices 4 between the dots, a stress generated is released, thereby degradation of an electrode being avoided. Each dot may also be made into porosity.

Abstract: An alloy material containing an intermetallic compound of metal that is alloyed with Li and metal that is not alloyed with Li, capable of repeatedly absorbing and desorbing Li, is formed on a collector made of a material that is not alloyed with Li, as a plurality of convex portions partitioned with gaps disposed thereamong, and an area the convex portions occupy on the collector is assumed to be 60 to 95% of the area of the collector. Because of this, an electrode containing an intermetallic compound capable of repeatedly absorbing and desorbing Li can be provided, which can configure a non-aqueous secondary battery having a higher charging/discharging efficiency, a larger discharging capacity, and more excellent high rate characteristics and cycle characteristics.

Abstract: A negative electrode of the present invention has an active material layer composed of an intermetallic compound on a collector. The intermetallic compound is capable of occluding/desorbing lithium and contains at least one kind of element A selected from Sn, In, Ge, Ga, Pb, Al, Sb, and Si, and an element X that does not substantially react with Li. In the negative electrode, a ratio Ib/Ia of highest peak intensities Ia and Ib of X-ray diffraction peaks derived from the intermetallic compound and the element A is 0.1 or less. By configuring a non-aqueous secondary battery using the above-mentioned negative electrode, the charging/discharging efficiency and cycle characteristics of a thin film electrode used for the negative electrode of the non-aqueous secondary battery are enhanced.

Abstract: A &bgr;-glucan-containing fat and oil composition characterized by containing &bgr;-glucans extracted from a gramineous plant; and foods, fat and oil emulsified compositions, bakery products, confectionery products, foods or drugs having a prophylactic effect for a habitual disease, processed rice, wheat, corn or soybean products, liquid foods, and processed foods mainly comprising starch which contain the &bgr;-glucan-containing fat and oil composition.

Abstract: A wheat preparation with a reduced content of proteins of molecular weights of not more than 30,000. A process for producing the same, and a processed food including the same are also disclosed. The processed food is effective for patients with allergy to wheat.

Abstract: A taste-modification composition comprises adding one or more selected from the group consisting of salt, carbohydrate, organic acid, amino acid and protein to fresh Curculigo latifolia fruits, processed fruits there of or a curculin-containing material obtained therefrom.

Abstract: The emulsified taste-modifier composition of the present invention comprises Curculigo latifolia fruits, processed Curculigo latifolia fruits or a component containing curculin obtained therefrom, an emulsifier, an aqueous phase and a fat component.

Abstract: The chewing gum of the present invention contains a coated material prepared by coating Curculigo latifolia fruits, processed Curculigo latifolia fruits or a component containing curculin obtained therefrom with a coating agent.

Abstract: A mevalonic acid-producing microorganism which belongs to Saccharomycopsis fibuligera and is resistant to ML-236B.

Abstract: In the production of mevalonic acid by culturing a mevalonic acid-producing microorganism in a medium, at least peptone originating from casein and corn steep liquor are added to the medium. The content of said peptone ranges from 0.01 to 10% by weight in terms of dry matters, while that of the corn steep liquor ranges from 0.01 to 10% by weight in terms of dry matters.

Abstract: A process for producing a rolled-in type emulsified fat and oil composition by emulsifying 2 to 20% by weight of protein, 30 to 75% by weight of fat and oil and 18 to 65% by weight of water into an oil-in-water type emulsion, which comprises adding 0.1 to 5% by weight, based on the fat and oil, of phospholipid which comprises mono acyl glycero phospholipid at least 40% by weight based on the total phospholipid and at least one emulsifier component to thereby provide the necessary oil-in-water type emulsion.