Abstract: This invention is intended to identify a gene cluster involved in biosynthesis of a cyclic peptide compound produced by a filamentous fungus of the Curvularia species and to establish a system for synthesizing such cyclic peptide compound. The gene is composed of a first module to a tenth module and encodes a protein having activity of synthesizing a nonribosomal peptide constituting a basic peptide backbone of a cyclic peptide compound produced by a filamentous fungus of the Curvularia species.

Abstract: Provided are a cable connector and a cable connector assembly that can reduce crosstalk that may occur between proximate differential pairs at an end of a cable on an electronic device side. The cable connector for electrically connecting a cable (31a) to an electronic device (for example, an optical transceiver or an integrated circuit) includes a metal shield member (20) configured to cover a circumference of a part near an end of a differential pair (30a) on the electronic device side, and the differential pair is formed of the cable (31a).

Abstract: A bearing member is to be used for an action mechanism in a keyboard instrument, the action mechanism provided with an action member that pivots in accordance with a key-depressing operation, and the bearing member includes: an inner layer having a through hole through which a shaft provided in the action member is inserted; and an outer layer formed in an outer side of the inner layer. The inner layer is formed of a first material having a higher stability against humidity than a stability against humidity of the outer layer. The outer layer is formed of a second material having a resilience greater than a resilience of the inner layer.

Abstract: A bearing member is to be used for an action mechanism in a keyboard instrument, the action mechanism provided with an action member that pivots in accordance with a key-depressing operation, and the bearing member includes: an inner layer having a through hole through which a shaft provided in the action member is inserted; and an outer layer formed in an outer side of the inner layer. The inner layer is formed of a first material having a higher stability against humidity than a stability against humidity of the outer layer. The outer layer is formed of a second material having a resilience greater than a resilience of the inner layer.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a key input device including plural keycaps used to manipulate key switches, respectively, a backlight radiating a light from a back to the keycap, and a board on which a signal line pattern forming a contact point adapted to be opened or closed in accordance with an up-and-down motion of corresponding one of the plural keycaps, and an electric power line pattern through which an electric power is supplied to the backlight are printed.

Abstract: A card connector having a housing and a card tray with an ejection mechanism for ejecting the card tray from the housing is disclosed. The connector has an ejection member and pivotable ejection lever that act in concert to eject the card tray from the housing. A force applied to the ejection member causes the pivotable ejection lever to pivot, which causes card tray to eject from the housing.

Abstract: A method of producing riboflavin by culturing riboflavin-producing microbes in a culture medium using a plant oil or an animal oil as a carbon source, forming and accumulating riboflavin therein and collecting riboflavin therefrom, wherein a carrier of a clay mineral having oil-adsorbing property, a chemically treated product thereof or a calcium compound is made present in the culture medium. The riboflavin is produced maintaining a high yield and at an increased production rate at a low cost without requiring cumbersome operations for concentrating and recovering the riboflavin. It is further allowed to recover the riboflavin by effectively utilizing the waste plant oil or the waste animal oil that is to be disposed of.

Abstract: A card connector has a housing, a sliding member that is designed to receive a card, and a latching member that is connected to the housing. The sliding member is slidable relative to the housing. The latching member is designed to engage the card to prevent the card from being removed from the housing.

Abstract: A card connector has a housing, a sliding member that is designed to receive a card, and a latching member that is connected to the housing. The sliding member is slidable relative to the housing. The latching member is designed to engage the card to prevent the card from being removed from the housing.

Abstract: A bat for an upright piano is provided for ensuring stable swinging movements of a hammer to generate a proper piano sound even if a hammer assembly has the centroid which is laterally asymmetric about a center pin. The bat for an upright piano is supported by the center pin having a circular cross section and arranged horizontally in a bat flange, in order to swing a hammer to cause the same to strike a string. The bat comprises a bat body integrally formed with the hammer, and having a linear pin holding groove in a back surface thereof, and a metal plate having a linear pin retaining groove in one side thereof, and attached to a back surface of the bat body such that the pin retaining groove extends in parallel with the pin holding groove, wherein the bat is pivotally supported by the center pin while the center pin is in engagement with the pin holding groove and the pin retaining groove, and the center pin is sandwiched between the bat body and the metal plate.

Abstract: A bat for an upright piano is provided for ensuring stable swinging movements of a hammer to generate a proper piano sound even if a hammer assembly has the centroid which is laterally asymmetric about a center pin. The bat for an upright piano is supported by the center pin having a circular cross section and arranged horizontally in a bat flange, in order to swing a hammer to cause the same to strike a string. The bat comprises a bat body integrally formed with the hammer, and having a linear pin holding groove in a back surface thereof, and a metal plate having a linear pin retaining groove in one side thereof, and attached to a back surface of the bat body such that the pin retaining groove extends in parallel with the pin holding groove, wherein the bat is pivotally supported by the center pin while the center pin is in engagement with the pin holding groove and the pin retaining groove, and the center pin is sandwiched between the bat body and the metal plate.

Abstract: An orally administered adsorbent which, when orally administered to livestocks and men, is capable of effectively adsorbing and removing nitrogen-containing compounds such as creatinine and the like. The orally administered adsorbent comprises clay particles of a layered structure having a cation-exchange capacity of not smaller than 50 milliequivalent/100 g, wherein a suspension formed by dispersing the clay particles in the deionized water at a concentration of 5 (w/v)% has a pH (25° C.) of not larger than 7.0, and has a proton emission capacity EH calculated according to the following formula, EH=(B-A)×104 wherein A is a hydrogen ion concentration (g ions/L) of the above suspension, and B is a hydrogen ion concentration (g ions/L) of a suspension formed by dispersing the clay particles in a 1 wt% saline solution at a concentration of 5 (w/v)%, of not smaller than 0.5.

Abstract: There is provided an action part for a piano, which has higher rigidity than that of an action part made only of a synthetic resin, while maintaining advantageous effects as provided by the use of the synthetic resin, thereby making it possible to obtain the sound volume with a smaller key depression energy, and enhance responsiveness of the action. The action part is pivotally moved along with depression of key to thereby transmit key depression energy generated by depression of the key, to a hammer. The action part is formed by a molded article of a thermoplastic resin that is molded by a long fiber process and contains long fibers for reinforcement.

Abstract: Embodiments of a connector (which may also be also referred to as a connector unit) are described. In accordance with one embodiment, the connector may comprise a case, first and second connectors, at least one stiffener bar, and at least one flexible circuit. The first connector may be located in a first opening of the case and the second connector may be located in a second opening of the case. The stiffener bar may be disposed in the case. The first connector may receive a first end of the flexible circuit while a second end of the flexible circuit may be interposed between the stiffener bar and the second connector.

Abstract: Embodiments of a connector (which may also be also referred to as a connector unit) are described. In accordance with one embodiment, the connector may comprise a case, first and second connectors, at least one stiffener bar, and at least one flexible circuit. The first connector may be located in a first opening of the case and the second connector may be located in a second opening of the case. The stiffener bar may be disposed in the case. The first connector may receive a first end of the flexible circuit while a second end of the flexible circuit may be interposed between the stiffener bar and the second connector.

Abstract: A method of producing riboflavin by culturing riboflavin-producing microbes in a culture ground using a plant oil or an animal oil as a carbon source, forming and accumulating riboflavin therein and collecting riboflavin therefrom, wherein a carrier of a clay mineral having oil-adsorbing property, a chemically treated product thereof or a calcium compound is made present in the culture ground. The riboflavin is produced maintaining a high yield and at an increased production rate at a low cost without requiring cumbersome operations for concentrating and recovering the riboflavin. It is further allowed to recover the riboflavin by effectively utilizing the waste plant oil or the waste animal oil that is to be disposed of.

Abstract: A method of producing bio-fuels by causing an enzyme to act on the oils and fats in a waste clay to decompose them into a fatty acid which is then reacted with a lower alcohol to form an ester that can be used as a bio-fuel. An environment friendly bio-fuel is obtained from the starting waste clay through a decreased number of steps without requiring cumbersome operations.

Abstract: A card connector for an IC card according to the present invention is provided with a preventive wall of an anti-floating mechanism in an ejector mechanism on a substrate, for suppressing the floating-up of the inserted IC card. Also, projections of an erroneous insert prevention mechanism for inhibiting the opposite insert of the card are provided with a sheet metal cover to prevent the IC card from floating up or being erroneously inserted, so that the IC card is not damaged and no short-circuit accident occurs. The card connector for an IC card is constructed into a hollow flat housing formed of a substrate and a metal sheet cover combined therewith, having the anti-floating mechanism for suppressing the floating-up of the IC card and the erroneous insert prevention mechanism for preventing the IC card from being inserted in such a manner that the rear end is directed forward.

Abstract: The present invention provides a card connector which prevents the retainer fitting from coming off even when the molded base plate is deformed during reflow soldering and which can be reduced in size, height and weight. The card connector includes a shell body and a molded base plate. The molded base plate includes at least a card eject mechanism incorporating a compression coil spring for inserting/ejecting a card and a retainer fitting for holding the card eject mechanism pushed by the compression coil spring. The shell body is formed with at least one engagement hole for engagement with at least one hook portion of the retainer fitting. The retainer fitting includes a horizontal member and a vertical member rising vertically from the horizontal member. The horizontal member and/or vertical member have at least one pair of press-fit projections and one hook portion.

Abstract: A card connector including a base and a sheet metal cover combined with the base to form a flat hollow housing. Also, a plurality of pin-like elongate terminal members extend from an end and lateral walls of the sheet metal cover to be integral with the base, whereby a structure durable against an impact imposed when the housing falls is obtainable as well as the height of the card connector becomes smaller as the market requires.