Abstract: The determination method of the present invention includes steps of measuring equol in a biological sample derived from a subject who has ingested soybean isoflavone by an immunological method using S-equol as at least one antigen selected from the group consisting of the standard antigen and the labeled antigen, and determining an equol-producing ability of the subject based on the measured value of equol obtained in the above step.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for measuring equol in a biological sample by an immunological method, a kit for the measurement, and a method for determining equol-producing ability of a subject. The measurement method of the present invention is characterized in that S-equol is used as at least one antigen selected from the group consisting of a standard antigen used for the preparation of a standard curve and a labeled antigen that competes with equol in a biological sample. The kit of the present invention is characterized in including S-equol as at least one antigen selected from the group consisting of the standard antigen and the labeled antigen.

Abstract: A master cylinder includes a cylinder main body forming a piston mount space and a piston mounted in the cylinder main body. An auxiliary supplying/discharging passage communicating sideways with the piston mount space is provided at a longitudinally middle portion of the cylinder main body. The inner circumferential surface of the cylinder main body and the outer circumferential surface of the piston are shaped such that a communication path communicating a pressure chamber near a supplying/discharging opening and the auxiliary supplying/discharging passage is formed at the outer side of a seal ring mounted on the piston with the piston moved back to a rearmost position most distanced from the supplying/discharging opening. The position of the piston and the pressure in the pressure chamber can be stabilized when the piston is located at a rearmost position from the supplying/discharging opening.

Abstract: A hollow cylinder has an opening at one end, and a push rod passes through the opening so that a coupling at one end of the push rod is in the cylinder. A piston is reciprocally movably in the cylinder, and a spring urges the piston into contact with the coupling. The opening includes a through groove configured to pass the coupling when the longitudinal axes of the cylinder and the push rod are normal and to prevent the coupling from coming out when the longitudinal axes of the cylinder and the push rod align. An insertion groove in the side surface of the cylinder is continuous with the through groove and is adapted for passing a rod portion in the inserting state.

Abstract: A pedal module adapted to be fixed to a dashboard for separating a vehicle body of an automotive vehicle into a vehicle chamber and an engine room is provided with a pedal which is operable by a stepping operation of a driver of the vehicle, a master cylinder including a cylinder body and a push rod which protrudes through an opening end of the cylinder body and is made reciprocable in an axial direction of the cylinder body in accordance with the stepping operation of the pedal by the driver, and a pedal bracket which is attached to the cylinder body for pivotally mounting the pedal thereon. The cylinder body has an attachment member on an end portion thereof opposite to the opening end in the axial direction of the cylinder body, and the attachment member is fixed to the dashboard.

Abstract: A master cylinder has a resin cylinder main body formed with a step at a boundary between a cylinder hole and a mount hole. A piston cooperates with the inner circumferential surface of the cylinder hole to define a hydraulic chamber. A guide sleeve is locked in the cylinder main body and guides a base end of the piston. A first annular sealer, which has an inner seal member made of a soft material and an outer seal member made of a hard material, is held on the outer circumferential surface of a leading end of the piston. A second annular sealer is squeezed between the step and a leading end of the guide sleeve. At least a portion of the outer circumferential surface of the piston is made of a metal. The master cylinder is inexpensive and suppresses squeaks and rattles caused by the stick-slip phenomenon.

Abstract: A hollow cylinder has an opening at one end, and a push rod passes through the opening so that a coupling at one end of the push rod is in the cylinder. A piston is reciprocally movably in the cylinder, and a spring urges the piston into contact with the coupling. The opening includes a through groove configured to pass the coupling when the longitudinal axes of the cylinder and the push rod are normal and to prevent the coupling from coming out when the longitudinal axes of the cylinder and the push rod align. An insertion groove in the side surface of the cylinder is continuous with the through groove and is adapted for passing a rod portion in the inserting state.

Abstract: A master cylinder includes a cylinder main body forming a piston mount space and a piston mounted in the cylinder main body. An auxiliary supplying/discharging passage communicating sideways with the piston mount space is provided at a longitudinally middle portion of the cylinder main body. The inner circumferential surface of the cylinder main body and the outer circumferential surface of the piston are shaped such that a communication path communicating a pressure chamber near a supplying/discharging opening and the auxiliary supplying/discharging passage is formed at the outer side of a seal ring mounted on the piston with the piston moved back to a rearmost position most distanced from the supplying/discharging opening. The position of the piston and the pressure in the pressure chamber can be stabilized when the piston is located at a rearmost position from the supplying/discharging opening.