Abstract: A method for producing polytetrafluoroethylene, which includes polymerizing tetrafluoroethylene in an aqueous medium in the presence of a nucleating agent and a hydrocarbon anionic surfactant to obtain polytetrafluoroethylene. A total amount of the nucleating agent and the hydrocarbon anionic surfactant at the initiation of polymerization is more than 50 ppm based on the aqueous medium.

Abstract: A refrigeration cycle device including a first pressure reducing valve, a first evaporator that exchanges heat between the refrigerant decompressed in the first pressure reducing valve and air, a second pressure reducing valve that is disposed in parallel with the first pressure reducing valve; a second evaporator in which the refrigerant decompressed in the second pressure reducing valve to absorbs heat from a battery; a third pressure reducing valve that reduces the pressure of the refrigerant evaporated in the second evaporator; and a controller configured to control opening degrees of the second pressure reducing valve and the third pressure reducing valve. The controller performs a limit control for controlling the opening degree of the second pressure reducing valve to an opening degree of smaller one of a battery cooling opening degree and an air cooling opening degree.

Abstract: A vehicle pedal module includes a brake pedal device and an accelerator pedal device. The brake pedal device has a brake pedal first housing configured to rotatably support a brake pedal rotating shaft and to cover a brake-pedal reaction force generation mechanism, and a brake pedal second housing configured to support an end portion of the brake-pedal reaction force generation mechanism opposite to the brake pedal. The brake pedal second housing extends from the brake pedal device to the accelerator pedal device, to have at least a part of the accelerator pedal device fixed thereto, and to be installed on a vehicle body.

Abstract: A pedal pad in an organ-type pedal device swings about a predetermined axis when stepped on by a driver's foot. A sensor unit outputs a signal corresponding to a swing angle of the pedal pad. A reaction force generation mechanism generates a reaction force against a driver's stepping force applied to the pedal pad. A first housing holds or covers at least one of a rotation shaft provided at the axis of the swinging of the pedal pad, the sensor unit, and the reaction force generation mechanism. A second housing is made of a rigid portion having a Young's modulus greater than that of the first housing or has the rigid portion at least in part. The second housing is configured to support a portion of the reaction force generation mechanism on one side opposite to the pedal pad by the rigid portion.

Abstract: A brake pedal device includes a pedal pad rotatable about an axis when stepped on by a driver, and a reaction force generation mechanism generating a reaction force to the pedal pad according to a stepping amount of the pedal pad. The pedal pad includes a pedal base portion extending away from an axis side end to another end, and a pedal operation portion attached to the pedal base portion and stepped on by the driver. The pedal operation portion protrudes toward a pedal return side in a rotation direction about the axis with respect to the pedal base portion, and a surface of the pedal operation portion has a plane portion that is configured as a flat surface and is stepped on by the driver, so that the reaction force generated by the reaction force generation mechanism acts on the pedal pad in a direction piercing the plane portion.

Abstract: A pedal pad in an organ-type pedal device swings about a predetermined axis when stepped on by a driver's foot. A sensor unit outputs a signal corresponding to a swing angle of the pedal pad. A reaction force generation mechanism has an elastic member that generates a reaction force against a driver's pedaling force applied to the pedal pad. A first housing covers the reaction force generation mechanism, and an opening at least on one side. A second housing is provided on one side of the first housing in a swing direction of the pedal pad. Further, the first housing has a largest opening on a second housing side, which is closed by the second housing and into which the elastic member of the reaction force generation mechanism in a non-bending state is insertable.

Abstract: [Object] Provided are a 11C-labeled acyclic retinoid that can be synthesized in a short time with a high yield and can be suitably used for PET for elucidating intracerebral kinetics, a PET probe using it, and methods for producing them. [Solution] The 11C-labeled acyclic retinoid of the present invention is characterized by being represented by the following chemical formula (a). This compound can be produced by a coupling step of cross-coupling a methyl iodide labelled with 11C and the following organotin compound (b) (provided that in the formula, R1 and R2 represent alkyl groups which may have a branch) in an aprotic solvent in the presence of a palladium complex, a phosphine ligand, and a cuprous halide.

Abstract: A pedal pad includes a plate portion having a plate shape extending in a pedal extending direction and having a thickness in a plate thickness direction, and the pedal pad is rotatably movable about a pedal shaft center that is perpendicular to the pedal extending direction by a step-on operation of a driver to the plate portion from one side in the plate thickness direction. The plate portion has one end portion in the pedal extending direction positioned lower in the vehicle than an another end portion in the pedal extending direction in a non-stepping state in which the driver is not performing the step-on operation on the pedal pad. Furthermore, the one end portion of the plate shape of the plate portion extends in the pedal extending direction, more than a position of the pedal shaft.

Abstract: A method for producing a fluoropolymer, which includes polymerizing a fluoromonomer in an aqueous medium in the presence of a polymer (1), the polymer (1) including a polymerized unit derived from a monomer CX2?CY(—CZ2—O—Rf-A), wherein X is the same or different and is —H or —F; Y is —H, —F, an alkyl group, or a fluorine-containing alkyl group; Z is the same or different and is —H, —F, an alkyl group, or a fluoroalkyl group; Rf is a C1-C40 fluorine-containing alkylene group or a C-C100 fluorine-containing alkylene group and having an ether bond; and A is —COOM, —SO3M, or —OSO3M, wherein M is —H, a metal atom, —NR74, imidazolium optionally having a substituent, pyridinium optionally having a substituent, or phosphonium optionally having a substituent, wherein R7 is H or an organic group, providing that at least one of X, Y, and Z contains a fluorine atom.

Abstract: A method for producing a fluoropolymer, which includes polymerizing a fluoromonomer in an aqueous medium in the presence of a polymer (1), the polymer (1) including a polymerized unit derived from a monomer CX2?CY(—CZ2—O—Rf-A), wherein X is the same or different and is —H or —F; Y is —H, —F, an alkyl group, or a fluorine-containing alkyl group; Z is the same or different and is —H, —F, an alkyl group, or a fluoroalkyl group; Rf is a C1-C40 fluorine-containing alkylene group or a C—C100 fluorine-containing alkylene group and having an ether bond; and A is —COOM, —SO3M, or —OSO3M, wherein M is —H, a metal atom, —NR74, imidazolium optionally having a substituent, pyridinium optionally having a substituent, or phosphonium optionally having a substituent, wherein R7 is H or an organic group, providing that at least one of X, Y, and Z contains a fluorine atom.

Abstract: A method for producing a fluoropolymer which includes polymerizing a fluoromonomer in an aqueous medium in the presence of a surfactant to provide a fluoropolymer, the surfactant being represented by the general formula (1): CR1R2R4—CR3R5—X-A, wherein R1 to R5 are each H or a monovalent substituent, with the proviso that at least one of R1 and R3 represents a group represented by the general formula: —Y—R6 and at least one of R2 and R3 represents a group represented by the general formula: —X-A or a group represented by the general formula: —Y—R6; and A is the same or different at each occurrence and is —COOM, —SO3M, or —OSO3M. Also disclosed is a surfactant for polymerization represented by the general formula (1), a method for producing a fluoropolymer using the surfactant, a composition including a fluoropolymer and the surfactant and a molded body including the composition.

Abstract: This invention relates to a kit or device for detection of hippocampal atrophy comprising a nucleic acid(s) capable of specifically binding to particular hippocampal atrophy marker miRNA(s) or to complementary strand(s) thereof, and a method for detecting hippocampal atrophy comprising measuring such miRNA(s) in vitro.

Abstract: A method for producing a fluoropolymer which includes polymerizing a fluoromonomer in an aqueous medium in the presence of a surfactant to provide a fluoropolymer, the surfactant being represented by the general formula (1): CR1R2R4—CR3R5—X-A, wherein R1 to R5 are each H or a monovalent substituent, with the proviso that at least one of R1 and R3 represents a group represented by the general formula: —Y—R6 and at least one of R2 and R5 represents a group represented by the general formula: —X-A or a group represented by the general formula: —Y—R6; and A is the same or different at each occurrence and is —COOM, —SO3M, or —OSO3M. Also disclosed is a surfactant for polymerization represented by the general formula (1), a method for producing a fluoropolymer using the surfactant and a composition including a fluoropolymer and the surfactant.

Abstract: A composition including a fluoropolymer and substantially free from a compound represented by the following formula (3): (H—(CF2)8—SO3)qM2, wherein M2 is H, a metal atom, NR54, imidazolium optionally containing a substituent, pyridinium optionally containing a substituent, or phosphonium optionally containing a substituent; R5s are each H or an organic group and are the same as or different from each other; and q is 1 or 2.

Abstract: A sealing device includes a metal core configured to be attached to a stationary member of a bearing mechanism, an annular slinger configured to be attached to a rotary member of the bearing mechanism, a seal member attached to the metal core, and a discharge body. The discharge body includes a base having discharge holes, an attachment that is continuous with the base and attached to the slinger, and fins protruding from the base. The discharge body is configured to be rotated together with the slinger. A communication space surrounded by the slinger and the seal member is configured to communicate with an external space of the bearing mechanism via an opening. At least the fins of the discharge body are positioned in the communication space. When the rotary member rotates, an inflow flowed into the communication space is moved by the fins toward the external space.

Abstract: A fuel storage device includes a fuel tank, a circulation passage, a canister, a vapor passage, and an adjuster. The fuel tank is configured to store fuel. The circulation passage fluidly connects the fuel tank and a vicinity of a fuel supply port. The canister is configured to recover gas generated in the fuel tank. The vapor passage fluidly connects the fuel tank and the canister. The adjuster is configured to adjust a circulation flow rate of the gas flowing through the circulation passage in supply of the fuel, using a negative pressure.

Abstract: A method for producing a fluoropolymer of the invention which includes polymerizing a fluoromonomer in an aqueous medium in the presence of a surfactant to provide a fluoropolymer. The surfactant includes at least one selected from the group consisting of a surfactant represented by R1a—CO—R2a—CO—R3a-Aa and a surfactant represented by R1b—CO—(CR2b2)n—(OR3b)p—(CR4b2)q-L-Ab.

Abstract: A physical quantity measurement device includes a housing forming a measurement flow path through which the fluid flows and a container space that houses a part of a detection unit. An inner surface of the housing includes a housing intersecting surface that intersects an arrangement direction in which the measurement flow path and the container space are arranged, a housing flow path surface extending from the housing intersecting surface toward the measurement flow path, and a housing container surface extending from the housing intersecting surface toward the container space. The housing includes a housing partition that protrudes from the inner surface toward the detection unit and contacts the detection unit between the housing and the detection unit such that the housing partition separates the measurement flow path and the container space from each other.

Abstract: A flow rate measurement device includes a housing having a main flow path, a sub flow path formed inside the housing to allow a part of a fluid to be detected flowing through the main flow path, an inlet portion that allows the fluid to be measured flowing in the main flow path to flow into the sub flow path, an outlet portion that allows the fluid to be measured flowing in the sub flow path to flow out to the main flow path, a flow rate detection unit that is provided between the inlet portion and the outlet portion in the sub flow path and detects a flow rate of the fluid to be measured flowing through the sub flow path, and a communication hole that is provided between the flow rate detection unit and the outlet portion and communicates the sub flow path and the main flow path.

Abstract: Provided is an environmental factor prediction device that includes a predictor and predicting means. The predictor uses, as explanatory variables: water quality data in a plurality of layers in water, the data including a value corresponding to a biochrome level or a bioluminescence level (e.g. chlorophyll concentration), water temperature, salt concentration, dissolved oxygen, turbidity and flow rate; and meteorological data including atmospheric temperature, precipitation and sunshine duration, and outputs an estimated value of each item of the explanatory variables at a unit time later, based on time series data of the explanatory variables. The predicting means predicts the water quality data up to an N unit time later by repeating prediction using the estimated value acquired by the predictor as input of the predictor again.