Abstract: A current collecting member includes first and second portions. The second portion includes a base portion the first end portion of which is connected to the second end portion of the first portion, a twisted portion the first end portion of which is connected to the second end portion of the base portion, and an insertion portion the first end portion of which is connected to the second end portion of the twisted portion and which is inserted into a winding center of the electrode assembly, so as to be electrically connected to the electrode assembly.

Abstract: An automatic transmission comprises a transmission mechanism including plural planetary gear sets, a transmission case storing the transmission mechanism, and an end cover closing an opening at one end of the transmission case. A planetary gear set disposed the closest to the end cover is assembled in such a manner that before the end cover is attached to the transmission case, a sun gear is assembled to the transmission case and a pinion carrier is assembled to the end cover. A thrust washer is disposed between an end face of the sun gear and an end face of an inner peripheral portion of the pinion carrier. The thrust washer is a member for adjusting a gap which is formed in an axial direction in the transmission case, and the member is selected from plural ones which have different axial thicknesses from each other.

Abstract: A coryneform bacterium that is modified by using a yggB gene so that L-glutamic acid-producing ability is enhanced as compared to a non-modified strains is cultured in a medium to cause accumulation of L-glutamic acid in the medium or bacterial cells, and L-glutamic acid is collected from the medium or cells.

Abstract: A method for producing an L-amino acid by culturing a coryneform bacterium having an L-amino acid-producing ability in a medium to produce and accumulate the L-amino acid in the medium or cells of the bacterium, and collecting the L-amino acid from the medium or cells, wherein said coryneform bacterium has been modified to enhance carbonic anhydrase activity.

Abstract: A front body structure for a vehicle includes a striker bracket provided in a hood frame, and a frame reinforcing unit provided in front of the striker bracket to reinforce the hood frame. In addition to, or alternatively, a reinforcement is arranged between the frame and a at least a portion of the hood skin.

Abstract: An electric storage device is provided having a structure that can reliably produce the sealing effect between a case and a sealing member. The electric storage device of the present invention includes an electrode assembly; a case that includes a defining wall and houses the electrode assembly; a sealing member that is arranged on the defining wall; and a conductive member that is electrically connected to the electrode assembly, the conductive member being supported by the sealing member, wherein at least a portion of the defining wall where the sealing member is arranged is made of an aluminum-based metallic material; and the sealing member is made of a material that is softer than the material for the at least a portion of the defining wall where the sealing member is arranged.

Abstract: An electric storage device includes: an electrode assembly; a case that houses the electrode assembly, the case including a defining wall; a rivet that passes through the defining wall, the rivet having a body and an insertion part formed continuously with the body; a conductive member that is electrically connected to the rivet; and a sealing member arranged at least one of between the defining wall and the conductive member and between the defining wall and the body. The insertion part has a portion that is inserted through the defining wall, the sealing member and the conductive member. The insertion part has a diameter smaller than that of the body at least in the portion inserted through the defining wall, the sealing member and the conductive member. The insertion part has a hollow shaft-shaped end with a non-through hole extending in an axial direction of the insertion part.

Abstract: There is provided an electric storage device in which an electrode assembly enclosed in an insulating cover can be smoothly inserted in a case and the electrode assembly is positioned in place inside the case when housed in the case. The electric storage device according to the present invention includes an electrode assembly, an insulating cover covering the electrode assembly, and a case including a case body having a rectangular box shape and having an opening, the case body being configured to house the electrode assembly and the insulating cover, wherein the insulating cover is formed into a rectangular box shape conforming to the case body, and a portion of each of edges at which adjacent side surfaces of the insulating cover meet each other is beveled into a beveled part, the portion being close to the bottom of the insulating cover.

Abstract: Provided is an electric storage device that can ensure seal in a peripheral area of a portion in a defining wall of a case through which a rivet passes even when a rivet is inserted through the defining wall of the case and the rivet is caulked. The electric storage device includes: an electrode assembly; a case that houses the electrode assembly, the case including a defining wall; and a rivet, wherein a peripheral area of a portion in the defining wall through which the rivet passes has a higher hardness than the remaining area.

Abstract: There is provided an electric storage device having a novel fastening structure of a plastic member which can reduce cost with a simple configuration. An electric storage device according to this invention includes an electrode assembly, a case housing the electrode assembly, a plastic member arranged at an outer surface of the case, the plastic member having a joining surface facing the outer surface of the case, and an external terminal supported by the plastic member and electrically connected to the electrode assembly. The plastic member is a synthetic resin containing an inorganic fiber and is bonded to the outer surface of the case with the inorganic fiber exposed at the joining surface.

Abstract: Provided is a battery assembly that is lightweight while ensuring sufficient bonding strength that is required between frames, as well as a method of manufacturing the same. The battery assembly includes a plurality of cell units that are integrated together, each of the plurality of cell units including: a cell having a metal case; and a plastic frame that is integrally formed with an outer surface of the case, wherein the cell units are integrated together by having the frames of adjacent ones of the cell units joined together through surfaces thereof.

Abstract: There is provided a battery assembly wherein assembly can be facilitated by reducing the number of components to be assembled, by integrally fixing resin plates (52, 62) on the inside of metal plates (51, 61) of end plates (5, 6). A laminated battery body (3) is constituted by adjacently arranging battery holders (2) made of resin forming cooling passages (4) between a plurality of batteries (1) and holding such batteries (1) on both sides between other batteries (1). The metal plates (51, 61) and resin plates (52, 62) that are integrally fixed on the inside of these metal plates are provided on the outside of the batteries (1) at both ends of the laminated battery body (3). Thus, the batteries (1) are held by the resin plates (52, 62), and the end plates (5, 6) are respectively arranged to form the cooling passages (4) between these batteries (1) and the metal plates (51, 61). The laminated battery body (3) is fixed in a clamped manner by fixing means clamping these end plates (5, 6).

Abstract: A method for producing L-glutamic acid by culturing a coryneform bacterium in which the gluX is inactivated in a medium to produce L-glutamic acid in the medium or cells, and collecting L-glutamic acid from the medium.

Abstract: A hand dryer apparatus includes a high-pressure airflow generator that generates a high pressure airflow, a control circuit that controls the high-pressure airflow generator, a power connecting unit that connects a commercial power source to the control circuit, a main body that forms a hull by housing the high-pressure airflow generator, the control circuit, and the power connecting unit, and nozzles that are formed in the main body and blows out the high pressure airflow created by the high-pressure airflow generator; further includes a panel composing a part of the main body and is detachable by a tool, and switching units that are housed in the main body and can switch a setting of the hand dryer apparatus, and enables access to the power connecting unit and the switching unit by removing the panel.

Abstract: A microorganism which has an L-amino acid producing ability and has been modified so that succinate dehydrogenase activity and ?-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase activity are decreased is cultured in a medium to produce and accumulate an L-amino acid in the medium or cells of the microorganism, and the L-amino acid is collected from the medium or cells to produce the L-amino acid.

Abstract: L-amino acids such as L-glutamic acid, L-glutamine, L-proline, L-arginine, L-leucine, and L-cysteine are produced by culturing in a medium a bacterium having an L-amino acid-producing ability and wherein the bacterium has been modified so that the phosphotransacetylase activity is enhanced.

Abstract: Provided is a bacterium which is capable of producing an organic acid and is modified so as to have an enhanced 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase activity as compared with that of an unmodified strain. An organic acid such as succinic acid can be produced by culturing the bacterium.

Abstract: A coryneform bacterium that is modified by using a yggB gene so that L-glutamic acid-producing ability is enhanced as compared to a non-modified strains is cultured in a medium to cause accumulation of L-glutamic acid in the medium or bacterial cells, and L-glutamic acid is collected from the medium or cells.

Abstract: Coryneform bacterium is modified so that an activity of acetyl-CoA hydrolase is decreased, and succinic acid is produced by using the bacterium.

Abstract: L-glutamine is produced by culturing a coryneform bacterium having L-glutamine-producing ability and modified so that intracellular glutaminase activity is reduced, and preferably also modified so that intracellular glutamine synthetase activity is enhanced. The method of production includes culturing the bacterium in a medium, followed by accumulation of L-glutamine in the medium and collecting the L-glutamine from the medium.