Abstract: A photovoltaic device comprises a microcrystalline silicon layer, wherein the microcrystalline silicon layer, when a maximum value of a crystallinity Xc along a film thickness direction is scaled to 1, shows increasing tendency of the crystallinity Xc along the film thickness direction, and has a high-nitrogen-concentration region (region a) of higher nitrogen concentration than other regions in the microcrystalline silicon layer in a range of the film thickness direction where the crystallinity Xc is 0.75 or more.

Abstract: The supply of a negative pressure to an opening P(+1) adjacent to an opening P(0) is stopped by switching a suction valve connected to the opening P(+1) from an open state to a closed state while keeping a positive pressure valve connected thereto closed. Then, near the opening P(+1), a force for holding a blanket becomes gradually weaker against a pressure force in a pressurized space. Associated with that, an air component in the pressurized space flows into a space between a portion of the blanket vertically above the opening P(+1) and an upper surface, whereby the blanket portion is lifted from the upper surface and brought into contact with the lower surface of a printing plate. In this way, a contact area is slowly and stably widened while a sudden change of a pressure in the pressurized space SP5 is suppressed.

Abstract: A small-sized disposable pull-on diapers having optimized waist circumferential length and leg opening length. The small-sized disposable pull-on diapers have a better performance in ease of application and waist and leg fit.

Abstract: A tip section of a discharge nozzle 31 is shaped like a wedge, and projections 310 which further protrude are formed at the tip of the wedge. Lower surfaces 310b of the projections 310 define a substrate-facing-surface which is brought into proximity to the substrate, and discharge outlet bearing surfaces 310c, which gradually retract back from the substrate W, are formed as if to rise from the edges of the lower surfaces 310b. At adjacent positions within the discharge outlet bearing surface 310c which are adjacent to the substrate-facing-surface 310b, discharge outlets 311 for discharging an application liquid are opened. Areas around the discharge outlets 311 and a wall around a fluid feeding path 312 are integrated with each other.

Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a carriage, a chamber room, a heating part and an agitating part. A recording head is mounted on the carriage. The chamber room covers the carriage while allowing a nozzle face of the recording head to be exposed. The heating part is configured and arranged to heat an atmosphere inside of the chamber room. The agitating part is configured and arranged to agitate the atmosphere heated by the heating part.

Abstract: The present invention provides a substrate treatment apparatus for performing a substrate periphery cleaning process. The substrate treatment apparatus includes substrate holding mechanism which holds a substrate, a brush having a cleaning surface inclined with respect to a longitudinal axis thereof extending perpendicularly to a front surface of the substrate held by the substrate holding mechanism, brush moving mechanism which moves the brush along the longitudinal axis and along a lateral axis orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, load detecting unit which detects a load applied along the longitudinal axis to the brush, and first judging unit which judges, based on an output of the load detecting unit, whether or not the brush is located at a reference position serving as a reference for guiding the brush to a treatment position at which the brush is located in the cleaning process.

Abstract: An absorbent article comprising a backsheet, comprising a graphic and the registration mark are located on opposite surfaces to each other. The backsheet extends in a first direction and in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The backsheet has a first surface, a second surface opposing to the first surface, a first edge and a second edge each extending substantially in the first direction, and a third edge and a fourth edge each extending substantially in the second direction. The backsheet is provided with a graphic and a registration mark for adjusting the graphic to a predetermined position in the absorbent article. The registration mark is detected when the absorbent article is conveyed in the first direction in the manufacturing process. The graphic is provided on the first surface. The graphic has a first direction component and a second direction component. The second direction component extends substantially continuously from the first edge to the second edge.

Abstract: A fluid filled type vibration-damping device including: an elastic body connecting a first and second mounting member and sealing off one opening of the second mounting member; a flexible film fluid-tightly sealing off an another opening of the second mounting member; a partition member firmly fitted into the second mounting member thereby forming a pressure-receiving chamber partially defined by the rubber elastic body and an equilibrium chamber partially defined by the flexible film, which communicate together via an orifice passage; a short circuit passage is formed to connect the two chambers, and a valve body placing the short circuit passage in a communicating state on a basis of elastic deformation of the elastic body when an excessive pressure differential arises between the two chambers.

Abstract: The present invention provides an RNA polymerase III promoter characterized in that a part of its sequence is substituted with a sequence capable of undergoing specific DNA recombination by Cre recombinase in such a manner functions of PSE and a TATA box are not impaired. This RNA polymerase III promoter can be used in a RNAi induction method with the condition that RNAi molecules to be used in analyzing gene function can be induced at an arbitrary point of time or only in a specific tissue (organ).

Abstract: The present invention provides a screening method for a compound capable of preventing/treating a particular disease, which comprises (1) a step for selecting one or more mRNAs whose regulation of translation can result in the prevention/treatment of the disease, (2) a step for searching for mRNA(s) having a sequence, in the molecule, capable of assuming a local secondary structure capable of regulating the translation of the mRNA(s) from among the mRNAs selected in (1) above, (3) a step for selecting a particular sequence from among sequences capable of assuming a local secondary structure in the particular mRNA extracted in (2) above, (4) a step for confirming that a partial structure capable of interacting with the compound in the particular sequence selected in (3) above is not present in the region involved in the regulation of the translation of other mRNA, or even if present, is incapable of regulating the translation, and (5) a step for bringing an RNA strand comprising a particular sequence confirmed

Abstract: The present invention provides a foam sheet for a car interior member which is capable of being molded into a desired shape while keeping an excellent sound absorbency. The foam sheet for a car interior member according to the invention comprises a modified polyphenylene ether-based resin foam sheet having an open cell ratio of 50% or more, and the modified polyphenylene ether-based resin foam sheet has pore portions formed in a single face thereof so as to be open to the face thereof. Accordingly, vibration energy of sounds is smoothly induced through the pore portions to the open cells of the foam sheet 1 to vibrate cell walls of the open cells, thereby converting the vibration energy to thermal energy. Thus, an excellent sound absorbency is exhibited.

Abstract: The present invention provides a substrate treatment apparatus for performing a substrate periphery cleaning process. The substrate treatment apparatus includes substrate holding mechanism which holds a substrate, a brush having a cleaning surface inclined with respect to a longitudinal axis thereof extending perpendicularly to a front surface of the substrate held by the substrate holding mechanism, brush moving mechanism which moves the brush along the longitudinal axis and along a lateral axis orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, load detecting unit which detects a load applied along the longitudinal axis to the brush, and first judging unit which judges, based on an output of the load detecting unit, whether or not the brush is located at a reference position serving as a reference for guiding the brush to a treatment position at which the brush is located in the cleaning process.

Abstract: After subjected to a developing process, a rinsing process and a replacing process in this order in a developing unit 10A, 10B, a substrate W wet with an anti-drying solution is wet-transported to a supercritical drying unit 20 by a primary transport robot 30. The supercritical drying unit 20 performs a high-pressure drying process (supercritical drying process) in a dedicated manner. Accordingly, by virtue of the presence of the anti-drying solution, the substrate W is effectively prevented from becoming air-dry during the transportation of the substrate W.

Abstract: A fluid filled type vibration damping device includes: a main rubber elastic body elastically connecting first and second mounting members; a partition member supported by the second mounting member; a pressure-receiving chamber partially defined by the elastic body and having a non-compressible fluid sealed therein; an equilibrium chamber partially defined by a flexible film and having the non-compressible fluid therein. The chambers are formed to either side of the partition member and an orifice passage permits a fluid communication between the two chambers. A short-circuit passage is formed so that the pressure-receiving and equilibrium chambers are able to be short-circuited through the short-circuit passage. A valve is used for switching the short-circuit passage, and a metal spring is used for holding the valve in a closed state at a predetermined initial level of elastic deformation.

Abstract: A transferring apparatus transfers an article to be processed, which is carried by a carrier device, to a holder provided in a processing chamber defined by a processing vessel and adapted to hold the article at a specified processing position. The transferring apparatus includes a temporarily holding member, and transfers the article from the intermediate position to the processing position after receiving the article carried by the carrier device at an intermediate position distanced from the holder and temporarily holding it. The temporarily holding member is retracted to a position in the outside of the processing vessel after the article is transferred.

Abstract: A waist belt used for supporting a disposable absorbent assembly is disclosed. The belt includes a central segment positioned along the longitudinal centerline of the belt, at least two intermediate segments transversely outwardly extending from the central segment, and at least two distal segments transversely outwardly extending from an intermediate segment. Each intermediate segment covers a side hip of the wearer when the belt is worn. The longitudinal length of each intermediate segment is greater than that of the central segment, and greater than that of each distal segment. The belt further includes a fastener element positioned on at least one of the distal segments for releasably securing the belt around the waist of the wearer, and an attachment surface formed at least on each intermediate segment for releasably attaching the disposable assembly to the belt. An absorbent article comprising such a belt is also disclosed.

Abstract: A fluid filled type vibration damping device includes: a main rubber elastic body elastically connecting first and second mounting members; a partition member supported by the second mounting member; a pressure-receiving chamber partially defined by the elastic body and having a non-compressible fluid sealed therein; an equilibrium chamber partially defined by a flexible film and having the non-compressible fluid therein. The chambers are formed to either side of the partition member and an orifice passage permits a fluid communication between the two chambers. A short-circuit passage is formed so that the pressure-receiving and equilibrium chambers are able to be short-circuited through the short-circuit passage. A valve is used for switching the short-circuit passage, and a metal spring is used for holding the valve in a closed state at a predetermined initial level of elastic deformation.

Abstract: A fluid filled type vibration-damping device including: an elastic body connecting a first and second mounting member and sealing off one opening of the second mounting member; a flexible film fluid-tightly scaling off an another opening of the second mounting member; a partition member firmly fitted into the second mounting member thereby forming a pressure-receiving chamber partially defined by the rubber elastic body and an equilibrium chamber partially defined by the flexible film, which communicate together via an orifice passage; a short circuit passage is formed to connect the two chambers, and a valve body placing the short circuit passage in a communicating state on a basis of elastic deformation of the elastic body when an excessive pressure differential arises between the two chambers.

Abstract: The present invention provides a foam sheet for a car interior member which is capable of being molded into a desired shape while keeping an excellent sound absorbency. The foam sheet for a car interior member according to the invention comprises a modified polyphenylene ether-based resin foam sheet having an open cell ratio of 50% or more, and the modified polyphenylene ether-based resin foam sheet has pore portions formed in a single face thereof so as to be open to the face thereof. Accordingly, vibration energy of sounds is smoothly induced through the pore portions to the open cells of the foam sheet 1 to vibrate cell walls of the open cells, thereby converting the vibration energy to thermal energy. Thus, an excellent sound absorbency is exhibited.

Abstract: The present invention provides an RNA polymerase III promoter characterized in that a part of its sequence is substituted with a sequence capable of undergoing specific DNA recombination by Cre recombinase in such a manner functions of PSE and a TATA box are not impaired. This RNA polymerase III promoter can be used in a RNAi induction method with the condition that RNAi molecules to be used in analyzing gene function can be induced at an arbitrary point of time or only in a specific tissue (organ).