Abstract: A channel is formed as an asymmetric diffuser-shaped channel having a narrow channel on a diffuser inlet side and a wide channel on a diffuser outlet side. The narrow channel is communicated with a variable volume chamber which is provided therein with a piezoelectric element. Vibration generated by actuation of the piezoelectric element causes a pressure variation of a fluid in the variable volume chamber to generate a nozzle flow which in turn causes a smooth flow of the fluid from the wide channel to the narrow channel.

Abstract: A chopper type DC-DC converter includes a voltage converting circuit, a comparative wave generating circuit, a comparator group, and a switch control circuit. The voltage converting circuit converts a first voltage into a second voltage. The comparative wave generating circuit generates first and second comparative waves such that the voltage range of the first comparative wave is different from the voltage range of the second comparative wave. The comparator group generates a first comparison result signal indicating a result of comparison between the first comparative wave and an error signal indicating an error between the second voltage and target voltage and a second comparison result signal indicating a result of comparison between the second comparative wave and the error signal. The switch control circuit controls the voltage converting circuit based on the first and second comparison signals. The comparative wave generating circuit includes first and second comparative wave generating circuits.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel ?-galactoside-?2,6-sialyltransferase having high productivity and/or high activity, and a nucleic acid encoding the sialyltransferase. The present invention also provides a microorganism producing the sialyltransferase. The present invention further provides a vector carrying a nucleic acid encoding the sialyltransferase, and a host cell transformed with the vector, as well as a method for producing a recombinant ?-galactoside-?2,6-sialyltransferase.

Abstract: The present invention provides an extremely useful and novel ?-galactoside-?2,6-sialyltransferase having an optimum reaction pH in a neutral to alkaline range, and a nucleic acid encoding the sialyltransferase. The present invention further provides a vector carrying a nucleic acid encoding the sialyltransferase, and a host cell transformed with the vector, as well as a method for producing a recombinant ?-galactoside-?2,6-sialyltransferase.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel ?-galactoside-?2,3-sialyltransferase and a nucleic acid encoding the sialyltransferase. The present invention also provides a microorganism producing the sialyltransferase, as well as a method for producing the sialyltransferase using such a microorganism. The present invention further provides a vector carrying a nucleic acid encoding the sialyltransferase, and a host cell transformed with the vector, as well as a method for producing a recombinant ?-galactoside-?2,3-sialyltransferase. The present invention further provides a method for preparing a sialylsugar chain, which uses the sialyltransferase of the present invention.

Abstract: In semiconductor integrated circuit devices for vehicle use, an aluminum pad on a semiconductor chip and an external device are coupled to each other by wire bonding using a gold wire for the convenience of mounting. Such a semiconductor integrated circuit device, however, causes a connection failure due to the interaction between aluminum and gold in use for a long time at a relatively high temperature (about 150 degrees C.). A semiconductor integrated circuit device can include a semiconductor chip as a part of the device, an electrolytic gold plated surface film (gold-based metal plated film) provided over an aluminum-based bonding pad on a semiconductor chip via a barrier metal film, and a gold bonding wire (gold-based bonding wire) for interconnection between the plated surface film and an external lead provided over a wiring board (wiring substrate).

Abstract: To suppress peeling of an Au pad for external coupling provided in a rewiring containing Cu as a main component. On the surface of a rewiring including a two-layer film in which a first Ni film is laminated on the top of a Cu film, a pad to which a wire is coupled is formed. The pad includes a two-layer film in which an Au film is laminated on the top of a second Ni film and formed integrally so as to cover the top surface and the side surface of the rewiring. Due to this, the area of contact between the rewiring and the pad increases, and therefore, the pad becomes difficult to be peeled off from the rewiring.

Abstract: In semiconductor integrated circuit devices for vehicle use or the like, in general, an aluminum pad on a semiconductor chip and an external device are coupled to each other by wire bonding or the like using a gold wire and the like for the convenience of mounting. Such a semiconductor integrated circuit device, however, causes a connection failure due to the interaction between aluminum and gold in use for a long time at a relatively high temperature (about 150 degrees C.).

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel ?-galactoside-?2,3-sialyltransferase and a nucleic acid encoding the sialyltransferase. The present invention also provides a microorganism producing the sialyltransferase, as well as a method for producing the sialyltransferase using such a microorganism. The present invention further provides a vector carrying a nucleic acid encoding the sialyltransferase, and a host cell transformed with the vector, as well as a method for producing a recombinant ?-galactoside-?2,3-sialyltransferase. The present invention further provides a method for preparing a sialylsugar chain, which uses the sialyltransferase of the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel ?-galactoside-?2,6-sialyltransferase having high productivity and/or high activity, and a nucleic acid encoding the sialyltransferase. The present invention also provides a microorganism producing the sialyltransferase. The present invention further provides a vector carrying a nucleic acid encoding the sialyltransferase, and a host cell transformed with the vector, as well as a method for producing a recombinant ?-galactoside-?2,6-sialyltransferase.

Abstract: There is provided a DC-DC converter control circuit, wherein a reference feedback signal related to a supply voltage to a load is compared to a reference oscillation signal to generate a result of comparison. The result of comparison is used as a switching control signal to control the supply voltage to the load. The result of comparison is frequency divided to generate a frequency divided signal; and the switching control signal is generated in response to the frequency divided signal.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of binding a protein to a carrier in such a way that the protein is not impaired in its function but can be allowed to act more efficiently than when it is bound directly. The method of the present invention for binding a protein to a carrier comprises: preparing a biotin-bound carrier; preparing a fusion protein having the protein bound to a tamavidin; and binding the protein to the carrier via tamavidin-biotin bonds.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel ?-galactoside-?2,6-sialyltransferase having high productivity and/or high activity, and a nucleic acid encoding the sialyltransferase. The present invention also provides a microorganism producing the sialyltransferase. The present invention further provides a vector carrying a nucleic acid encoding the sialyltransferase, and a host cell transformed with the vector, as well as a method for producing a recombinant ?-galactoside-?2,6-sialyltransferase.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel ?-galactoside-?2,3-sialyltransferase and a nucleic acid encoding the sialyltransferase. The present invention also provides a microorganism producing the sialyltransferase, as well as a method for producing the sialyltransferase using such a microorganism. The present invention further provides a vector carrying a nucleic acid encoding the sialyltransferase, and a host cell transformed with the vector, as well as a method for producing a recombinant ?-galactoside-?2,3-sialyltransferase. The present invention further provides a method for preparing a sialylsugar chain, which uses the sialyltransferase of the present invention.

Abstract: A knob structure for parking brake apparatus that can prevent a sink mark or a weld mark from being produced at the time of molding, and allows an inexpensive resin material with a good moldability to be adopted. The knob structure includes a rod that is movably disposed on the vehicle body side, and a knob main body that is connected to the nose end side of the rod, wherein the knob main body is made up of a core part that is previously assembled to the nose end side of said rod, and a surface layer part that coats the surface of the core part after assembly with a substantially uniform coating thickness.

Abstract: A valveless micropump for transforming a pressure variation of fluid in a volume variation chamber (8) into an oscillatory flow of fluid (10) by means of a piezoelectric element (7), making the fluid (10) to flow smoothly in channels (5, 6). A channel (2) is formed as an asymmetric diffuser-shaped channel (12) having a narrow channel (5) on the diffuser inlet (3) side and a wide channel (6) on the diffuser outlet (4) side, and the volume variation chamber (8) provided with the piezoelectric element (7) is communicated with the narrow channel (5). Vibration generated by applying a voltage to the piezoelectric element (7) causes a pressure variation of the fluid in the volume variation chamber (8) to generate a nozzle flow. The fluid (10) is made to flow smoothly from the wide channel (6) to the narrow channel (5) by the nozzle flow.

Abstract: In semiconductor integrated circuit devices for vehicle use or the like, in general, an aluminum pad on a semiconductor chip and an external device are coupled to each other by wire bonding or the like using a gold wire and the like for the convenience of mounting. Such a semiconductor integrated circuit device, however, causes a connection failure due to the interaction between aluminum and gold in use for a long time at a relatively high temperature (about 150 degrees C.).

Abstract: The present invention provides an inexpensive and simple method which allows efficient glycosylation with glycosyltransferases derived from microorganisms of the Vibrionaceae family when compared to conventional enzymatic reaction systems. According to the method of the present invention, glycosyltransferases derived from microorganisms of the Vibrionaceae, such as ?-galactoside-?2,6-sialyltransferase derived from Photobacterium damselae, ?-galactoside-?2,3-sialyltransferase derived from Photobacterium phosphoreum and ?-galactoside-?2,3-sialyltransferase derived from Vibrio sp., enhance their enzymatic activity when an appropriate amount of NaCl is added to their enzyme reaction systems.

Abstract: The present invention provides an extremely useful and novel ?-galactoside-?2,6-sialyltransferase having an optimum reaction pH in a neutral to alkaline range, and a nucleic acid encoding the sialyltransferase. The present invention further provides a vector carrying a nucleic acid encoding the sialyltransferase, and a host cell transformed with the vector, as well as a method for producing a recombinant ?-galactoside-?2,6-sialyltransferase.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel ?-galactoside-?2,6-sialyltransferase having high productivity and/or high activity, and a nucleic acid encoding the sialyltransferase. The present invention also provides a microorganism producing the sialyltransferase. The present invention further provides a vector carrying a nucleic acid encoding the sialyltransferase, and a host cell transformed with the vector, as well as a method for producing a recombinant ?-galactoside-?2,6-sialyltransferase.