Abstract: There is provided a method for culturing a microorganism in which a particular polynucleotide or a recombinant vector comprising it/them is introduced with an intermediate compound necessary for biosynthesis of pyripyropene A. The method of the present invention allows for the production of pyripyropene.

Abstract: There is provided a nucleic acid construct comprising a pyripyropene biosynthetic gene cluster and a marker gene. The nucleic acid construct according to the present invention provides an inexpensive and highly productive method for producing pyripyropene.

Abstract: Disclosed is a liquid-sealed vibration isolator (10) provided with a main liquid chamber (42), a portion of the chamber wall of which is formed from a vibration isolating base (16), a subsidiary liquid chamber (44), a portion of the chamber wall of which is formed from a first diaphragm (38), and a first orifice flow path (50) which connects both liquid chambers, wherein a high-frequency second orifice flow path (54) which connects the main liquid chamber (42) and the subsidiary liquid chamber (44) is formed on a partitioning body (40), and a second diaphragm (60) is provided on the opening (59A) of the second orifice flow path (54) on the side of the main liquid chamber. The outer peripheral portion (60A) of the second diaphragm is held by the partitioning body (40) in a liquid-tight manner, and the second diaphragm (60) abuts the peripheral edge portion of the opening (54A) so as to block said opening with a flexible membrane section (60B) which is provided on the inside of the second diaphragm (60).

Abstract: A valve member formed of an elastomeric membrane for opening and closing a second orifice flow passage is mounted on a partition element such that the valve member is arranged orthogonal to the flow direction of the second orifice flow passage. A valve portion for closing openings of the second orifice flow passage due to flexural deformation of a flexible membrane portion caused by liquid flow in the second orifice flow passage is arranged on the flexible membrane, and communication holes for bring the second orifice flow passage into communication are formed in the flexible membrane portion. A cylindrical buffer portion projecting from the flexible membrane portion for surrounding the openings when the flexible membrane portion is deformed by flexure is provided to the valve portion, and a projection height of the cylindrical buffer portion is set larger than a wall thickness thereof.

Abstract: There is provided a vehicle bumper structure. The vehicle bumper structure includes a bumper face exposed outward from a vehicle at a front end of a vehicle body, and a load transmission member having a front end opposing a surface of the bumper face at a vehicle rear side and a rear end secured to a vehicle body structural member. The load transmission member has a groove in either of an upper portion and a lower portion thereof. The groove serves as a starting point for bending the load transmission member in response to a compressive load in the lengthwise direction of the vehicle.

Abstract: A partition element partitions a liquid-sealed chamber into a main liquid chamber and a first sub liquid chamber. A first orifice flow passage for connecting both liquid chambers is provided. A second diaphragm is formed in the partition element. The partition element includes a second sub liquid chamber partitioned from the main liquid chamber by the second diaphragm and a second orifice flow passage for connecting the first and second sub liquid chambers to each other. A valve portion brought into contact with a periphery around an opening of the second orifice flow passage is formed on a flexible membrane portion of the second diaphragm into a surrounding wall shape. A through hole is formed outside the valve portion, and a projection compressed by a counter wall is formed on a membrane surface of the flexible membrane portion on a main liquid chamber side.

Abstract: In a liquid-sealed antivibration device 10 which includes: a main liquid chamber 34A where a vibration-isolating base 16 forms a portion of a chamber wall thereof; a subsidiary liquid chamber 34B where a diaphragm 36 forms a portion of a chamber wall thereof; a partition element 38 by which the main liquid chamber 34A and the subsidiary liquid chamber 34A are partitioned from each other; and an orifice flow passage 40 which allows the main liquid chamber 34A and the subsidiary liquid chamber 34B to be communicated with each other, an elastic membrane 42 is formed on the partition element 38, and the elastic membrane 42 is formed of rubber composition containing butyl rubber or halogenated butyl rubber. Due to such a constitution, an abnormal sound generated by collision of the elastic membrane 42 is reduced.

Abstract: An isolated novel polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding at least one polypeptide involved in biosynthesis of pyripyropene A, a recombinant vector comprising the polynucleotide and a transformant comprising the polynucleotide are disclosed. By the present invention, a pyripyropene A biosynthetic gene useful for production of a novel pyripyropene analog, improvement of productivity of a pyripyropene A-producing bacterium, production of an insecticidal agent for microorganisms, creation of a plant resistant to insect pests or the like are provided.

Abstract: A gas compressor includes a compressor unit having a compressor body for compressing gas and an electricity-generation device generating electricity by obtaining a driving force by vaporizing a working fluid utilizing exhaust heat generated by a compressing action in the compressor body and expanding the working fluid so as to utilize the power generated by the electricity-generation device as a power source, and includes a switch device switching between power from the electricity generation device and power from a commercial power supply to supply power to the power consumption equipment, and a control device detecting an electricity-generation amount or a value correlative to the electricity generation amount and switching between the powers by the switch device, thereby generating the power using exhaust heat as a heat source to surely drive an auxiliary machine by a simple configuration regardless of a shortage of the electricity generation amount.

Abstract: Various embodiments of slide fasteners include a first set of coupling elements and a second set of coupling elements configured to be removably joined together by a zipper. Each coupling element includes a first surface having a first shape and a second surface having a second shape, wherein the second surface is spaced apart from and cofaces the first surface. The first shape may be substantially triangular or substantially trapezoidal, according to various embodiments, and the second shape is substantially gear shaped. When the coupling elements of the first set and the second set are removably joined together, water is substantially prevented from leaking from the first surface to the second surface. In addition, the coupling elements are disposed on stringer tapes, and the surfaces of the stringer tapes adjacent the first surfaces of the coupling elements are laminated with a water resistant material.

Abstract: In a liquid-sealed type vibration isolator having a first orifice flow channel 56 and a second orifice flow channel 60, a valve member 66 formed of a rubber elastomeric membrane for opening and closing the second orifice flow channel 60 is provided on a partitioning member 40 so as to be orthogonal to the direction of flow in the second orifice flow channel. The valve member is held at the outer peripheral portion thereof by a wall surface of a valve housing chamber 68, and includes inside the outer peripheral portion thereof a membrane portion 66B which is subjected to the flexural deformation by the liquid flow in the second orifice flow channel to close openings 60C and 60D of the second orifice flow channel. Communicating holes 76 which bring the second orifice flow channel into communication are provided at positions not overlapped with the opening of the membrane portion 66B. Accordingly, the switching of characteristics is enabled with an inexpensive structure.

Abstract: In a liquid-sealed type vibration isolator having a first orifice flow channel 56 and a second orifice flow channel 60, a valve member 66 formed of a rubber elastomeric membrane for opening and closing the second orifice flow channel 60 is provided on a partitioning member 40 so as to be orthogonal to the direction of flow in the second orifice flow channel. The valve member is held at the outer peripheral portion thereof by a wall surface of a valve housing chamber 68, and includes inside the outer peripheral portion thereof a membrane portion 66B which is subjected to the flexural deformation by the liquid flow in the second orifice flow channel to close openings 60C and 60D of the second orifice flow channel. Communicating holes 76 which bring the second orifice flow channel into communication are provided at positions not overlapped with the opening of the membrane portion 66B. Accordingly, the switching of characteristics is enabled with an inexpensive structure.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of analyzing examinee item response data comprising constructing a diagnosis model for reporting skill profiles of examinees, wherein the diagnosis model comprises at least a variable representing unobserved subpopulations, creating an item design matrix, distributing examinees across the unobserved subpopulations, iteratively estimating values for a plurality of variables within the diagnosis model, and reporting the estimated values to a user.

Abstract: A semi-automatic slider assembly having a slider body, a lock pin, and a pull tab. When the pull tab is in a first orientation, the lock pin engages with elements of the tape and the slider assembly is in a locked configuration that prevents the slider assembly from moving along the tape. When the pull tab is in a second orientation, the lock pin does not engage with the elements of the tape and the slider assembly is in an unlocked configuration so that the assembly is permitted to move along the tape. The slider body has a recess for receiving a portion of the lock pin, and the lock pin has an opening that reduces interference when the pull tab is in the second orientation.

Abstract: An isolated novel polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding at least one polypeptide involved in biosynthesis of pyripyropene A, a recombinant vector comprising the polynucleotide and a transformant comprising the polynucleotide are disclosed. By the present invention, a pyripyropene A biosynthetic gene useful for production of a novel pyripyropene analog, improvement of productivity of a pyripyropene A-producing bacterium, production of an insecticidal agent for microorganisms, creation of a plant resistant to insect pests or the like are provided.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for scoring a response to a character-by-character highlighting task. A similarity value for the response is calculated by comparing the response to one or more correct responses to the task to determine the similarity or dissimilarity of the response to the one or more correct responses to the task. A threshold similarity value is calculated for the task, where the threshold similarity value is indicative of an amount of similarity or dissimilarity to the one or more correct responses required for the response to be scored at a certain level. The similarity value for the response is compared to the threshold similarity value. A score is assigned at, above, or below the certain level based on the comparison.

Abstract: Force of depressing operation of a brake pedal is estimated on the basis of an output torque of an internal-combustion engine computed by an engine ECU and acceleration of a vehicle detected by an acceleration sensor. When the estimated force of the depressing operation of the brake pedal is greater than or equal to a second determination value and the amount of depressing operation of an accelerator pedal detected by an accelerator operation amount sensor is greater than or equal to a first determination value, the output torque of the internal-combustion engine is restricted. Accordingly, acceleration and start of the vehicle due to simultaneous depressing of the accelerator pedal and the brake pedal can be restricted without providing a sensor for detecting the amount of the depressing operation of the brake pedal.

Abstract: Various embodiments of slide fasteners include a first set of coupling elements and a second set of coupling elements configured to be removably joined together by a slider. Each coupling element includes a first surface having a first shape and a second surface having a second shape, wherein the second surface is spaced apart from and cofaces the first surface. The first shape may be substantially triangular or substantially trapezoidal, according to various embodiments, and the second shape is substantially gear shaped. When the coupling elements of the first set and the second set are removably joined together, water is substantially prevented from leaking from the first surface to the second surface. In addition, the coupling elements are disposed on stringer tapes, and the surfaces of the stringer tapes adjacent the first surfaces of the coupling elements are laminated with a water resistant material.

Abstract: There is provided a method for culturing a microorganism in which a particular polynucleotide or a recombinant vector comprising it/them is introduced with an intermediate compound necessary for biosynthesis of pyripyropene. A. The method of the present invention allows for the production of pyripyropene.

Abstract: There is provided a nucleic acid construct comprising a pyripyropene biosynthetic gene cluster and a marker gene. The nucleic acid construct according to the present invention provides an inexpensive and highly productive method for producing pyripyropene.