Abstract: Provided is an optical element including: a liquid crystal cell including a first substrate, a liquid crystal layer, and a second substrate; and a quarter-wave film. The liquid crystal layer contains liquid crystal molecules twist-aligned. The liquid crystal cell includes electrodes. The electrodes are disposed to enable switching between a first state and a second state by application of voltage to the liquid crystal layer. The switching between the first state and the second state controls a polarization state of light incident on the liquid crystal cell. Circularly polarized light incident on the liquid crystal cell is converted to first linearly polarized light in the first state while converted to second linearly polarized light in the second state. Linearly polarized light incident on the liquid crystal cell is converted to first circularly polarized light in the first state while converted to second circularly polarized light in the second state.

Abstract: A computer system displays a game image (IM1) during replacement play by a second user and a notification of operation details based on an operation input by the second user on a game screen (W1) displayed on a first terminal of a first user. The notification is, for example, a command input by the second user.

Abstract: A server is configured to detect an option element of an advantage option for an option set player and customize a specification of the advantage option that has been set or to be set in the future, based on the option element thus detected, to increase the attractiveness of the advantage option so that the player will be more motivated to actively acquire the advantage option.

Abstract: A server is configured to detect an option element of an advantage option for an option set player and customize a specification of the advantage option that has been set or to be set in the future, based on the option element thus detected, to increase the attractiveness of the advantage option so that the player will be more motivated to actively acquire the advantage option.

Abstract: A bobbin thread winder of a sewing machine including a bobbin winder spindle holding a bobbin and a driving mechanism to apply a drive force to the bobbin winder spindle, comprises a time measuring unit to measure an bobbin-thread winding execution time with respect to the bobbin, and a bobbin-thread winding amount calculating unit which calculates a winding amount of the bobbin based on the bobbin-thread winding execution time with respect to the bobbin measured by the time measuring unit. In the bobbin thread winder, since the bobbin-thread winding execution time was measured by the time measuring unit, and the bobbin winding amount of the bobbin is calculated based on the bobbin-thread winding execution time by the bobbin-thread winding amount calculating unit, it is possible to detect the bobbin winding amount of the bobbin accurately regardless of the type and thickness of the bobbin thread.

Abstract: A server system regularly accesses a video database, searches the video database for a game play video of an online game provided by the server system based on a cyclic check keyword, and stores (manages) access information about the game play video, video-related information, a view count, and the like as cyclic check result data. When the server system has received an inquiry about the game play video of the online game from a user terminal that executes the online game, the server system searches the cyclic check result data and the like for the access information about the game play video that is appropriate for the play state, and returns the access information. The server system gives a bonus to the user (player) of the game play video of which the view count has reached a reference value.

Abstract: A bobbin thread winder of a sewing machine including a bobbin winder spindle holding a bobbin and a driving mechanism to apply a drive force to the bobbin winder spindle, comprises a time measuring unit to measure an bobbin-thread winding execution time with respect to the bobbin, and a bobbin-thread winding amount calculating unit which calculates a winding amount of the bobbin based on the bobbin-thread winding execution time with respect to the bobbin measured by the time measuring unit. In the bobbin thread winder, since the bobbin-thread winding execution time was measured by the time measuring unit, and the bobbin winding amount of the bobbin is calculated based on the bobbin-thread winding execution time by the bobbin-thread winding amount calculating unit, it is possible to detect the bobbin winding amount of the bobbin accurately regardless of the type and thickness of the bobbin thread.

Abstract: An overlock sewing machine includes a first switching part for switching an interlocked state where an upper knife drive part and an upper knife are interlocked and a released state where the upper knife drive part and the upper knife are not interlocked; a second switching part for switching the upper knife between a projection position and a retreat position; and an operation part for switching the first switching part and the second switching part between a first mode, a second mode, and a third mode.

Abstract: A server system regularly accesses a video database, searches the video database for a game play video of an online game provided by the server system based on a cyclic check keyword, and stores (manages) access information about the game play video, video-related information, a view count, and the like as cyclic check result data. When the server system has received an inquiry about the game play video of the online game from a user terminal that executes the online game, the server system searches the cyclic check result data and the like for the access information about the game play video that is appropriate for the play state, and returns the access information. The server system gives a bonus to the user (player) of the game play video of which the view count has reached a reference value.

Abstract: The overlock sewing machine includes a first switching part for switching an interlocked state where an upper knife drive part and an upper knife are interlocked and a released state where the upper knife drive part and the upper knife are not interlocked each other; a second switching part for switching the upper knife between the projection position and retreat position and, an operation part for switching a first switching part and an second switching part between a first mode where, when the first switching part provides the interlocked state, the second switching part sets the upper knife at the projection position; a second mode where, when the first switching part provides the released state, the second switching part sets the upper knife at the projection position; and, a third mode where, when the first switching part provides the released state, the second switching part sets the upper knife at the retreat position.

Abstract: A game apparatus, a storage medium, a transmission medium and a computer program, which can variously relate a plurality of characters appearing on a game to a plurality of players operating the characters, respectively. The game apparatus for executing a predetermined game wherein groups each of which is composed of a plurality of characters which are controlled by a player or a computer fight with one another, to decide which group wins the predetermined game in accordance with wins or loses of characters of the groups, comprises: a selecting section (51 to 53) for selecting at least one character to be operated by a player, from the characters; and a relating section (212) for relating the player to at least one character selected by the selecting section; wherein a plurality of characters belonging to one of the groups are able to be operated by a plurality of players, respectively.

Abstract: A ball game apparatus has a plurality of balls, a spiral rail for automatically delivering the balls, a field portion on which the balls delivered by the spiral rail can roll with a given degree of freedom, winning pocket portions and invalid pockets formed over the field portion for receiving a plurality of the balls in each of them, a CCD camera for counting the number of balls received in the winning pocket portions and a calculator for calculating a score from the number of balls counted by the CCD camera.

Abstract: Each design data of intarsia, jacquard, and structural stitches is separately stored and independently processed. Each design data is stored in an internal data format where one pixel is allocated to each loop and is compensated for the aspect ratio of loops by affine transformation before being displayed on a monitor. Similarly input coordinates from a stylus are inputted in a coordinate system corresponding to the internal data format and then converted into monitor address with coordinate affine transformation.

Abstract: A method for monitoring and regulating waste water treatment by anaerobic fermentation by measuring enzymatic activity or adenosine triphosphate (ATP) concentration. The method provides for earlier detection of abnormal fermentation conditions and allows adjustment of controllable variables prior to the appearance of abnormal effluents.Also described is an apparatus for controlling waste water treatment by a device which continuously measures the enzyme or ATP concentration in the treated water.

Abstract: A methane fermentation process for processing an evaporator condensate of a waste fluid from a pulp production system is disclosed. The process comprises the pre-treatment step of adding an acid into the evaporator condensate to settle and coagulate inhibitors for methane fermentation, removing the inhibitors, and thereafter neutralizing the waste fluid deprived of the inhibitors; and the fermentation step of allowing the effluent from the pre-treatment step to flow through a methane fermentation bio-reactor where the effluent undergoes fermentation to generate methane.

Abstract: A novel glycoprotein substance possessing a high antitumor activity is provided, which is recovered and isolated from the liquid portion coming from cooking of raw scallop shellfish with a hot aqueous solvent or vapor of such solvent and which is amphoteric electrolyte in nature with an average molecular weight of about 5000 and with an isoelectric point of pH 5.2.

Abstract: A novel glycoprotein substance possessing a high antitumor activity is provided, which is recovered and isolated from the liquid portion coming from cooking of raw scallop with a hot aqueous solvent or vapor of such solvent and which is amphoteric electrolyte in nature with an average molecular weight of about 470,000 and with an isoelectric point of pH 5.5.

Abstract: A voltage-nonlinear resistor having a good polarity characteristics is manufactured by sintering a composition containing metal zinc, zinc oxide and at least one oxide selected from the group consisting of nickel oxide, zirconium oxide, yttrium oxide, hafnium oxide and scandium oxide, each component being contained in an amount within a specific range.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a voltage-nonlinear resistor which has a substantially symmetrical voltage-current characteristic and a large voltage-nonlinearity coefficient and which is thus well resistant to surge voltage. The method comprises: preparing a ZnO-based composition containing metal zinc, at least one metal oxide such as bismuth oxide and at least one spinel type crystalline compound such as spinel type crystalline chromium compound, shaping the ZnO-based composition to form a body, and sintering the body of composition in the air at 1,000.degree. C. or more.