Abstract: A cleaning system includes a cleaning vehicle that cleans a predetermined travel route, and a control device. The cleaning vehicle includes a state detection device that detects a state of the travel route, and has a cleaning mode in which the cleaning is performed and a non-cleaning mode in which the cleaning is not performed. The control device executes inspection control for causing the state detection device to detect a state of a pre-set inspection region along the travel route while causing the cleaning vehicle to travel in the non-cleaning mode, specification control for specifying a cleaning required region, where the cleaning needs to be performed in the travel route, based on the state of the inspection region detected in the inspection control, and cleaning control for causing the cleaning vehicle to travel in the cleaning mode in the cleaning required region after the above-mentioned controls end.

Abstract: A cleaning system includes a cleaning vehicle that cleans a predetermined travel route, a maintenance facility provided at a specified position on the travel route and performs maintenance on the cleaning vehicle, and a control device that controls them. The control device executes interruption and maintenance control in response to a state of the cleaning vehicle satisfying a predetermined maintenance condition during execution of the cleaning by the cleaning vehicle. The interruption and maintenance control includes first control for interrupting the cleaning performed by the cleaning vehicle, causing the cleaning vehicle to move to the specified position, and causing the maintenance facility to perform the maintenance on the cleaning vehicle, and second control for causing, after the first control, the cleaning vehicle to move to an interruption position at which the cleaning was interrupted, and causing the cleaning vehicle to resume the cleaning from the interruption position.

Abstract: In a case where the target article is transported between areas, a management control unit executes path setting control, a first area control unit executes first area transport control, a connection control unit executes connecting transport control, and a second area control unit executes second area transport control. With the path setting control, an overall path from a departure point to a destination point is set on the basis of transportation status information of a first area transport facility, a second area transport facility, and a plurality of connecting transport facilities. With the second area transport control, a partial path from a second transfer position of a target connecting transport facility to the destination point is set on the basis of transportation status information of the second area transport facility.

Abstract: A travel path of an article transport facility provided with a plurality of article transport vehicles that travel along the travel path and transport articles, and a control device that controls operation of the article transport vehicles includes a path set in an inspection area for causing a target transport vehicle designated as an inspection target from among the plurality of article transport vehicles to travel along. The target transport vehicle includes a sensor that detects behavior of the target transport vehicle during travel. The control device controls the plurality of article transport vehicles such that only the one target transport vehicle is present in the inspection area, and causes the target transport vehicle to travel in the inspection area in an inspection travel pattern prescribed in advance.

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide an evaluation method kit for evaluating the risk of onset of diffuse alveolar damage due to such factors as anticancer drug administration. The purpose of the present invention is also to provide a method for evaluating the risk of onset of side effects in anticancer drug treatment. An evaluation method and evaluation kit for evaluating the risk of onset of diffuse alveolar damage, including detecting gene polymorphism present in the MUC4 gene. A method for evaluating the risk of onset of side effect in anticancer drug treatment, including detecting gene polymorphism present in the MUC4 gene of a patient scheduled for anticancer drug administration.

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide an evaluation method kit for evaluating the risk of onset of diffuse alveolar damage due to such factors as anticancer drug administration. The purpose of the present invention is also to provide a method for evaluating the risk of onset of side effects in anticancer drug treatment. An evaluation method and evaluation kit for evaluating the risk of onset of diffuse alveolar damage, including detecting gene polymorphism present in the MUC4 gene. A method for evaluating the risk of onset of side effect in anticancer drug treatment, including detecting gene polymorphism present in the MUC4 gene of a patient scheduled for anticancer drug administration.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of distinguishing a respiratory pathogen causing acute respiratory infection, wherein a pathogen to be distinguished is a pathogen colonizing the respiratory tract, the method comprising: a) measuring a gene copy number derived from a subject's cells, in DNA prepared from a sample containing the respiratory secretions of the subject; b) measuring a pathogen-derived gene copy number in the DNA; c) calculating the relative number of the pathogen-derived gene copy number to the gene copy number derived from the subject's cells; and d) distinguishing whether or not the pathogen is the respiratory pathogen, based on a distinguishment reference value and the relative number.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of distinguishing an inflammatory pathogen causing acute respiratory infection wherein the pathogen to be distinguished is a pathogen residing in the respiratory tract, which comprises: (a) a step for counting gene copies originating in subject cells in DNA prepared from a specimen containing secretion from the respiratory tract of the subject; (b) a step for counting the gene copies originating in the pathogen in the DNA; (c) a step for calculating the relative value of count of the gene copies originating in the pathogen to the count of the gene copies originating in the subject cells; and (d) a step for distinguishing whether the pathogen is an inflammatory pathogen causing the disease or not based on the distinguishing standard and the relative value.

Abstract: A cleaning and releasing device has a hand valve provided on a flow passage of a pressurized liquid in the vicinity of an injection nozzle, a switching valve 5 provided in a proper position on the flow passage of a pressurized gas, flow detecting means provided in a proper position on the flow passage of the pressurized liquid, and a controller for controlling the switching operation of the switching valve based on a result of detection transmitted from the flow detecting means, and controls the switching valve to supply and stop the pressurized gas depending on the presence of a flow of the liquid generated by the switching operation of the hand valve. The supply and stop of a powder and granular material may be controlled based on the result of detection transmitted from the flow detecting means.

Abstract: To provide a method of efficiently searching for a disease sensitivity gene and an apparatus therefor.

Abstract: To provide a method for efficiently searching for a recessive disease gene without needing any pedigree analysis. In a homoeologous region determining method, the following steps are conducted. It is determined whether or not the base constituting a polymorphic marker of a sample DNA of diploid or higher polyploidy is a homojunction. Homojunction region information representing the region of the sample DNA where polymorphic markers determined as continuous homojunctions acquired. If the continuous probability and/or continuous distance of the polymorphic markers contained in the homojunction region information satisfy a predetermined determination condition, the homojunction region is determined as a homoeologous region. A homoeologous region determining device and a gene screening method for identifying a disease susceptibility gene from the determined homoeologous region are also provided.

Abstract: Brass consists essentially of Cu, Sn, Bi, Fe, Ni and P in weight ratios respectively of 58.0-63.2%, 0.3-2.0%, 0.7-2.5%, 0.05-0.3%, 0.10-0.50% and 0.05-0.15% plus the balance of Zn and unavoidable impurities to exhibit excellent tolerance for dezincification, hot forgeability and machinability.

Abstract: Brass consists essentially of Cu, Sn, Bi, Fe, Ni and P in weight ratios respectively of 58.0-63.2%, 0.3-2.0%, 0.7-2.5%, 0.05-0.3%, 0.10-0.50% and 0.05-0.15% plus the balance of Zn and unavoidable impurities to exhibit excellent tolerance for dezincification, hot forgeability and machinability.

Abstract: This invention is intended to provide a method for producing a resin composition used for paint which is preferable for improving dispersibility of pigments, thereby improving productivity. The method is characterized in that a plurality of pigments which consist a resin composition used for paint is mixed, the mixed pigments are dispersed at an optimal dispersion mixing ratio with a resin and a solvent, which has been found in advance using a Daniel Flow Point Method (a Flow Point Method), and then other components are added thereto to obtain the predetermined resin composition used for paint. It is particularly preferable for the resin composition used for paint to be an electrodeposition paint composition.

Abstract: A copper-based alloy includes one base phase selected from the group consisting of &agr; phase, &agr;+&bgr; phase, and &agr;+&bgr;+&ggr; phase, a component having a lower melting point than the base phase, and a component for dispersing the base phase and the low melting component to uniformly disperse the low melting component and improve the copper-based alloy in machinability. A method for producing the copper alloy in the form of a bar or plate includes the steps of compounding raw materials in predetermined ratios thereby obtaining a mixture, fusing the mixture thereby obtaining a melt, continuously casting the melt into a cast billet, or rolling the cast billet thereby obtaining a shaped mass, heat-treating the shaped mass, drawing or rolling the heat-treated shaped mass thereby obtaining a plastic mass, and subjecting the plastic mass to a heat-treatment of air cooling or furnace cooling.

Abstract: This invention is intended to provide a method for producing a resin composition used for paint which is preferable for improving dispersibility of pigments, thereby improving productivity.

Abstract: A cleaning and releasing device has a hand valve provided on a flow passage of a pressurized liquid in the vicinity of an injection nozzle, a switching valve 5 provided in a proper position on the flow passage of a pressurized gas, flow detecting means provided in a proper position on the flow passage of the pressurized liquid, and a controller for controlling the switching operation of the switching valve based on a result of detection transmitted from the flow detecting means, and controls the switching valve to supply and stop the pressurized gas depending on the presence of a flow of the liquid generated by the switching operation of the hand valve. The supply and stop of a powder and granular material may be controlled based on the result of detection transmitted from the flow detecting means.

Abstract: A water pump is connected to a mixer so as to blast high pressure water at a high speed in the mixer. The air and powder are supplied to the blast flow of the high pressure water through an air supply pipe and a powder supply pipe respectively so that a mixture flow composed of the gas, the droplet-like fluid, and powder is formed. The mixture flow is blasted from a nozzle at a high speed so as to be sprayed onto a surface to be treated. Thus, impact actions held by the powder and the droplet-like fluid as cleansing/scraping media are given to the surface to be treated. Thus, a cleansing/scraping operation is achieved. Then, if the fluid, gas or the like supplied to the mixer is heated, the cleansing/scraping operation can be further accelerated.

Abstract: A hydraulic braking pressure control system for a vehicle comprises a master cylinder (M) operatively connected to a brake pedal (P), an operation-amount detector (S) for detecting the amount by which the brake pedal is operated, a hydraulic pressure control unit (2.sub.FL etc.) for controlling the hydraulic pressure to be applied to a brake device (B.sub.FL etc.) mounted on a wheel in accordance with an applied quantity of electricity, and a control circuit (3) for controlling the quantity of electricity to be applied to the hydraulic pressure control unit, in accordance with a detection value provided by the operation-amount detector. The system further includes a cut-off valve (30.sub.FL etc.) adapted to be closed in response to depression of the brake pedal, and a reservoir (R.sub.2) connected through the cut-off valve to an oil passage (27) connecting the hydraulic pressure control unit and the brake device.

Abstract: A hydraulic braking pressure control system includes a shut-off valve (4) which is provided in an oil passage (58) connecting a brake device with an output port in a master cylinder and which is brought into a closed state by a control circuit when a braking operation is detected by an operation-amount detector, and a locking device (5) for inhibiting the closing of the shut-off valve when the output hydraulic pressure from a hydraulic pressure supply source in equal to or less than a predetermined value. The shut-off valve is opened when there is no braking operation, thereby ensuring that even if a hydraulic pressure is delivered from a hydraulic pressure control valve when there is no braking operation, such hydraulic pressure can be released into a reservoir.