Abstract: Lactic acid is obtained by a method including (A) a step of continuous fermentation wherein a fermentation culture medium of a microorganism having an ability of lactic acid fermentation is filtered through a porous membrane having an average pore size of not less than 0.01 ?m and less than 1 ?m with a transmembrane pressure difference within the range of 0.1 to 20 kPa, and the permeate is collected, while retaining the non-permeated liquid in or returning the non-permeated liquid to the culture, and adding a fermentation feedstock to the culture; (B) a step of filtering the permeate obtained in Step (A) through a nanofiltration membrane; and (C) a step of distilling the permeate obtained in Step (B) under a pressure of not less than 1 Pa and not more than atmospheric pressure, at 25° C. to 200° C. to recover lactic acid.

Abstract: A method of producing lactic acid includes filtering a lactic acid-containing aqueous solution through a nanofiltration membrane to recover an aqueous lactic acid solution from the permeate side (Step A); distilling the aqueous lactic acid solution to recover lactic acid from the vapor side (Step B); and crystallizing the lactic acid obtain in Step B, and performing solid-liquid separation to recover a lactic acid crystal(s) (Step C).

Abstract: A method of producing 2,3-butanediol includes subjecting a 2,3-butanediol culture liquid produced by microbial fermentation to nanofiltration membrane treatment and ion-exchange treatment (Step A), and then adding an alkaline substance and performing distillation (Step B).

Abstract: A high-strength cold rolled steel sheet having mechanical characteristics having a tensile strength of not less than 780 MPa, a yield ratio of not more than 70%, and a small in-plane anisotropy of a tensile characteristicis obtained by hot rolling a steel slab comprising by mass % C: 0.07 to 0.12%, Si: not more than 0.7%, Mn: 2.2 to 2.8% and Ti and Nb: 0.02 to 0.08% in total, and cold rolling the sheet, followed by continuous annealing to form a steel texture comprised of ferrite having an area ratio of 40 to 80% with respect to the whole texture, and a second phase constituted by tempered martensite, fresh martensite and bainite, wherein the total area ratio of the bainite and the tempered martensite to the second phase is 50 to 80%, and the aspect ratio of the fresh martensite is in the range of 1.0 to 1.5.

Abstract: A high-strength steel sheet having excellent punchability and a tensile strength of at least 780 MPa has a steel structure containing, by area ratio, 70%-90% ferrite phase and 10%-30% martensite phase. The non-recrystallized ferrite content in the ferrite phase is 30%-50% and the ratio of crystal grains having an aspect ratio of 1.0-1.5 in the martensite phase is 40%-100%, by area ratio.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sequential and efficient method of assembling a battery with a desired number of layers while reliably separating positive and negative electrode sides from each other with one or more separator structures. According to the invention, the method of assembling a battery includes stacking one or multiple combinations each comprising a frame and a positive electrode plate to be disposed in a region defined by the frame and one or multiple combinations each comprising a frame and a negative electrode plate to be disposed in a region defined by the frame, once or alternately, such that the positive and adjacent negative electrode plates are separated from each other by a separator structure and the periphery of the separator structure is held between the adjacent frames. The separator structure includes a separator exhibiting hydroxide ion conductivity and water impermeability.

Abstract: A method of producing lactic acid includes subjecting a lactic acid-containing solution to distillation to collect lactic acid from the vapor side (Step A); subjecting the lactic acid obtained in Step A to crystallization (Step B); subjecting the lactic acid slurry obtained in Step B to solid-liquid separation into lactic acid crystals and a mother liquor (Step C); and circulating the mother liquor obtained in Step C to Step B (Step D).

Abstract: A display apparatus includes: a housing including a top plate having an opening and two opposed side plate units; a display member capable of moving through the opening; a shutter configured to open and close the opening; and a moving mechanism provided on at least one of the two side plate units, the moving mechanism including a first slide member and a second slide member each moving along the at least one side plate unit and a transmission member transmitting an amount of movement of the first slide member to the second slide member while increasing the amount of movement, wherein the shutter moves according to movement of the second slide member.

Abstract: Provided is a method of producing 3-hydroxyadipic acid, the method including the step of culturing a microorganism belonging to the genus Serratia capable of producing 3-hydroxyadipic acid.

Abstract: Disclosed is a vehicle lighting device intended to improve convenience and safety. A vehicle lighting device includes a light disposed in a vehicle interior, a controller controlling the light, and a detecting unit detecting position or motion of a detecting object by detecting a detection object at a plurality of positions, and the controller controls the light when the position or motion of the detection object is detected by the detecting unit.

Abstract: A high-strength steel sheet having a tensile strength TS of 1320 MPa or more and excellent workability. The high-strength steel sheet has a chemical composition containing, by mass %, C: 0.20% or more and 0.40% or less, Si: 0.5% or more and 2.5% or less, Mn: more than 2.4% and 5.0% or less, P: 0.1% or less, S: 0.01% or less, Al: 0.01% or more and 0.5% or less, N: 0.010% or less, and Fe and inevitable impurities. A microstructure of the steel sheet includes, in terms of area fraction with respect to the whole steel sheet microstructure, lower bainite in an amount of 40% or more and less than 85%, martensite including tempered martensite in an amount of 5% or more and less than 40%, retained austenite in an amount of 10% or more and 30% or less, and polygonal ferrite in an amount of 10% or less (including 0%).

Abstract: A high-strength steel sheet having a tensile strength (TS) of 1,320 MPa or more and good workability. The high-strength steel sheet has a specific component composition and a steel microstructure containing, on an area-percentage basis with respect to the entire steel microstructure, 40% or more and less than 85% of a lower bainite, 5% or more and less than 40% martensite including tempered martensite, 10% or more and 30% or less retained austenite, and 10% or less (including 0%) polygonal ferrite, the retained austenite having an average C content of 0.60% by mass or more. Additionally, a Mn segregation value at a surface of the steel sheet is 0.8% or less, the ratio R/t of a limit bending radius (R) to a thickness (t) of the steel sheet is 2.0 or less, and tensile strength×total elongation of the steel sheet is 15,000 MPa % or more.

Abstract: A method for selective production of ?-caprolactam, wherein a substance inducible from a biomass resource is used as a material; the reaction process is short; ammonium sulfate is not produced as a by-product; and production of by-products is suppressed; is disclosed. The method for producing ?-caprolactam comprises the step of reacting a particular compound inducible from a biomass resource, such as ?-hydromuconic acid, 3-hydroxyadipic acid, or 3-hydroxyadipic acid-3,6-lactone, or a salt thereof with hydrogen or ammonia.

Abstract: Disclosed is a vehicle lighting device intended to improve convenience and safety. A vehicle lighting device includes a light disposed in a vehicle interior, a controller controlling the light, and a detecting unit detecting position or motion of a detecting object by detecting a detection object at a plurality of positions, and the controller controls the light when the position or motion of the detection object is detected by the detecting unit.

Abstract: Provided are a high-strength steel sheet having a specified chemical composition, in which a Mn-segregation degree in a region within 100 ?m from a surface thereof in a thickness direction is 1.5 or less, in a plane parallel to the surface of the steel sheet in a region within 100 ?m from the surface of the steel sheet in the thickness direction, the number of oxide-based inclusion grains having a grain long diameter of 5 ?m or more is 1000 or less/100 mm2, a proportion of the number of oxide-based inclusion grains having a chemical composition containing alumina of 50 mass % or more, silica of 20 mass % or less, and calcia of 40 mass % or less to the total number of oxide-based inclusions having a grain long diameter of 5 ?m or more is 80% or more, a specified metallographic structure, and a TS of 980 MPa or more, a high-strength galvanized steel sheet, and a manufacturing method thereof.

Abstract: The display device includes: a housing; a display member which gets in and out of the housing; and a transfer member which moves in a depth direction of a side face of the housing by a driving of a driving unit and transfers a driving force of the driving unit to the display member. The supporting part of the display member engages with a guide on the transfer member, and moves along a guide on the side face of the housing while moving in the guide on the transfer member in the thickness direction of the housing.

Abstract: A method of producing 3-oxoadipic acid from an aliphatic compound easily utilizable by a microorganism, such as a saccharide, by utilization of a metabolic pathway of the microorganism is disclosed.

Abstract: A method of producing lactic acid includes removing glycerol from an aqueous lactic acid solution containing glycerol as an impurity using an ion-exchange resin. The lactic acid can be separated simply and at low cost from an aqueous lactic acid solution containing glycerol as an impurity.

Abstract: A method of producing 2,3-butanediol includes the steps of: culturing a microorganism belonging to the genus Zymobacter in a fermentation feedstock containing a carbon source (Step A); and purifying 2,3-butanediol from culture liquid obtained in this step (Step B). In this method, the carbon source contains pentose, and the microorganism belonging to the genus Zymobacter has a capacity to metabolize pentose.

Abstract: Provided are a cold-rolled steel sheet which can preferably be used for manufacturing a high-strength galvanized steel sheet and methods for manufacturing the steel sheets. The cold-rolled steel sheet has a specified chemical composition, in which the Mn concentration in a surface layer of the steel sheet satisfies relational expression (1) and relational expression (2) below. 8?(Cp/Cc)×Mn??(1) (Cmin/Cc)×Mn?2.5??(2) where Cp: maximum Mn concentration in a region within 0.5 ?m of the surface of a steel sheet in the thickness direction; Cc: average Mn concentration in a region from a position located 5 ?m from a surface of a steel sheet in the thickness direction to a position located 5 ?m from an opposite surface in the thickness direction; Cmin: minimum Mn concentration in a region from 0.