Abstract: To provide a two-cycle combustion engine of a simplified structure with the number of component parts reduced, which is effective to suppress a blow-off of the air/fuel mixture and is excellent in acceleration, the two-cycle combustion engine includes scavenging passages communication between a combustion chamber and a crank chamber, an air/furl mixture passage for introducing an air/fuel mixture from a fuel supply device to the crank chamber, and a branch passage ramified off from the air/fuel mixture passage for supplying a lean air/fuel mixture into the scavenging passages. During an intake stroke, the lean air/fuel mixture from the branch passage is introduced into the scavenging passages and the air/fuel mixture is introduced from the air/fuel mixture passage into the crank chamber. During a scavenging stroke, the lean air/fuel mixture is supplied from the scavenging passages into the combustion chamber prior to introduction of the air/fuel mixture.

Abstract: A light deflection element has a pair of transparent substrates 2, 3; a chiral smectic C phase liquid crystal 5 with a homeotropic alignment filled between the pair of transparent substrates 2, 3; and at least an electric field applying device 6 for activating an electric field in the liquid crystal 5. Because a chiral smectic C phase liquid crystal is used, the problems of the conventional light deflection element, such as high cost, light loss, large size, and optical noise etc. due to its complicated structure, can be greatly improved. The conventional low response time due to the smectic A phase or the nematic liquid crystal is improved, thereby the high-speed response is possible.

Abstract: To provide a two-cycle combustion engine, in which the blow-off of the air-fuel mixture used as the scavenging gas is avoided and the combustion efficiency of the air-fuel mixture can be increased, the two-cycle combustion engine includes first and second scavenge passages (11, 12) for supplying the air-fuel mixture (M) from a crank chamber (2a) into the combustion chamber (1a) of the combustion engine. Each of the first and second scavenge passages (11, 12) has a lower end portion thereof extended to assume the position where it confronts an outer end face of a bearing (81) for the crankshaft (8), so that the air-fuel mixture (M) within the crank chamber (2a) can be introduced into the first and second scavenge passages (11, 12) through the bearing (81) and be then supplied into the combustion chamber (1a) through the first and second scavenge passages (11, 12).

Abstract: In an engine cooling structure, an engine cover defines together with a cylinder a space connected through a cooling air inlet to a cooling air supply device. An exhaust muffler has an exhaust gas discharge opening formed near a back end part of a side, which is opposite to a side facing the cylinder, of the exhaust muffler. The opening is positioned at a height included in a vertical dimension of the cylinder. A cooling air passage, through which a cooling air taken in the space defined by the engine cover and the cylinder through the cooling air inlet flows, is formed so as to cool the cylinder and the exhaust muffler. The cooling air passage includes a main cooling passage for guiding part of cooling air used for cooling the cylinder through a space around the exhaust muffler to a space around the opening, and a cooling air bypass passage for guiding part of cooling air used for cooling the cylinder directly to the space around the opening.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for producing a viral vector comprising a membrane protein that binds to sialic acid as a component of the envelope, using neuraminidase (NA) derived from Gram-positive bacteria. The methods comprise the steps of culturing cells producing a viral vector in the presence of an NA from Gram-positive bacteria, and recovering the produced virus. The methods of this invention enable the production of high titer virus at high cost performance. Such a viral vector is capable of transferring genes at high efficiency into cells such as blood cells and hematopoietic cells, including hematopoietic stem cells, and mucous cells including mucoepithelial cells, those not amenable to gene transfer by conventional methods, and therefore should be useful as a vector for gene therapy.

Abstract: An optical deflection device includes an optical deflection element having a pair of transparent boards arranged in a mutually opposing manner. A liquid crystal layer is filled between the boards and forms a chiral smectic C phase. An orientation film orients liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer in a substantially perpendicular direction with respect to the liquid crystal layer. Electrodes generate an electric field in a substantially parallel direction with respect to the liquid crystal layer. A first voltage application part applies, to the electrodes, an ac voltage of a deflection frequency switching the optical deflection direction of the optical deflection element. A second voltage application part applies, to the electrodes, an ac voltage of a higher frequency than the deflection frequency.

Abstract: A light deflection element has a pair of transparent substrates 2, 3; a chiral smectic C phase liquid crystal 5 with a homeotropic alignment filled between the pair of transparent substrates 2, 3; and at least an electric field applying device 6 for activating an electric field in the liquid crystal 5. Because a chiral smectic C phase liquid crystal is used, the problems of the conventional light deflection element, such as high cost, light loss, large size, and optical noise etc. due to its complicated structure, can be greatly improved. The conventional low response time due to the smectic A phase or the nematic liquid crystal is improved, thereby the high-speed response is possible.

Abstract: An optical deflection device includes an optical deflection element having a pair of transparent boards arranged in a mutually opposing manner. A liquid crystal layer is filled between the boards and forms a chiral smectic C phase. An orientation film orients liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer in a substantially perpendicular direction with respect to the liquid crystal layer. Electrodes generate an electric field in a substantially parallel direction with respect to the liquid crystal layer. A first voltage application part applies, to the electrodes, an ac voltage of a deflection frequency switching the optical deflection direction of the optical deflection element. A second voltage application part applies, to the electrodes, an ac voltage of a higher frequency than the deflection frequency.

Abstract: A method of producing a hologram element is disclosed that is able to prevent spread of a polymerization reaction and light leakage during exposure with interference light, and improve productivity in mass production. The hologram element is for transmitting, reflecting, diffracting, or scattering incident light, and includes a pair of substrates, an isolation member between the substrates that forms an isolated region, and a photo-sensitive recording material sealed in the isolated region. The hologram element includes a periodic structure formed by exposing the recording material to interference light. The interference light is generated by two or more light beams, or by using a master hologram. The recording material is formed from a composite material including a polymerized polymer or a polymerized liquid crystal. The periodic structure is formed by exposing the recording material to the interference light to induce the polymerization reaction and phase separation in the composite material.

Abstract: A valve plate includes a plurality of suction holes and a plurality of suction reed valves for opening and closing them. At least two of these suction reed valves have different natural frequencies. In this configuration, a natural frequency of one reed valve is larger. Therefore, even when an operation frequency is changed to a higher frequency, the compressor can suck a refrigerant gas into a cylinder efficiently without occurring delayed closing and reduction of a lift amount. Thus, refrigerating capacity and compression efficiency can be increased.

Abstract: A grayscale voltage generation circuit includes an input-side resistor circuit including first to J-th (J is a positive integer) input voltage division nodes at which the voltage between first and second power supply lines is divided by (J+1) resistor elements connected in series between the first and second power supply lines and having fixed resistance values, first to J-th voltage follower circuits to which the voltages of the first to J-th input voltage division nodes are respectively supplied, an output-side resistor circuit connected between the power supply lines and including first to J-th output voltage division nodes at which the voltage between both ends of the power supply lines is divided, the output voltage division nodes being driven by voltage follower circuits, and a grayscale voltage select circuit which outputs as the grayscale voltages L (J<L<K, L is an integer) types of voltages selected from voltages of K (J<K, K is an integer) resistance division nodes at which the voltage betw

Abstract: To provide an improved air scavenging type two-cycle combustion engine equipped with a pressure reducing device in which clogging of a decompressing hole can easily be removed, a two-cycle combustion engine includes a delivery passage (32) for introducing air into a combustion chamber (9) prior to an air-fuel mixture. This delivery passage (32) has a downstream opening (32c) through which the air is introduced into the combustion chamber by way of a scavenging port (40a). A decompressing hole (38) is defined for communicating the combustion chamber (9) to a portion of the delivery passage (32) and is closed by a piston (16) then ascending, at a timing delayed relative to closure of an exhaust port (31).

Abstract: An engine including first scavenging passages for fluidly connecting between a combustion chamber and a crank chamber through bearings for the crankshaft, second scavenging passages fluidly connecting directly between the combustion chamber and the crank chamber, a suction chamber formed in a side face of a piston. An air-fuel mixture is sucked into the suction chamber and an air is introduced into the crank chamber. During the intake stroke, the air-fuel mixture from the air-fuel mixture passage is introduced into the first scavenging passages through the suction chambers, and the air is introduced into the crank chamber. During the scavenging stroke, before the air-fuel mixture in the first scavenging passages is introduced into the combustion chamber, introduction of the air in the crank chamber into the combustion chamber through the second scavenging passages starts.

Abstract: The two-cycle combustion engine includes a first scavenge passage (12) for communicating directly between a combustion chamber (1a) and a crank chamber (2a), a second scavenge passage (14) for communicating the combustion chamber (1a) and the crank chamber (2a) through a bearing (81) for a crankshaft (8), an air supply passage (10) for introducing air (A) into the second scavenge passage (14), a reed valve (15) provided in the air supply passage (10), and an air-fuel mixture supply passage (11) for introducing an air-fuel mixture (M) into the crank chamber (2a). The second scavenge passage (14) is positioned at a location nearer to an exhaust port (12a) than the first scavenge passage (13). An air introducing passage (16) is formed in an cylinder block (1) so as to communicate the air supply passage (10) with the second scavenge passage (14) by way of a radially outer portion of the first scavenge passage (13).

Abstract: To provide a muffler for a compact combustion engine, which is simple in structure and effective to sufficiently reduce the temperature of exhaust gases while avoiding contact with an external air, an exhaust guide passage 7 for communicating the exhaust gases (G) to a discharge port (63) is provided within an interior hollow of a muffler housing 6 defining an exhaust chamber (61) therein, and a side wall of this exhaust guide passage (7) is constituted by a portion (6W) of the muffler housing (6) and a duct wall (71) jointed to the muffler housing (6).

Abstract: A numerical controller capable of performing synchronous control of a master axis and a slave axis in different control systems at a desired ratio and with a desired relation in phase. A workpiece attached to a master axis of a first system is machined into a first gear by a rotary tool attached to a slave axis of the first system and machined into a second gear by a rotary tool attached to a slave axis of a second system. Synchronous motion amounts of the slave axes are obtained by multiplying a motion amount of the master axis by set synchronous ratios to be converted into motion amounts of the slave axes. The synchronous motion amounts are added to the motion commands for the slave axes to drive the slave axes, so that the slave axes are driven at the set ratios in synchronism with the master axis. Further, the motion commands for the slave axes are compensated such that positional phases of the slave axes have set relations with respect to a positional phase of the master axis.

Abstract: It is an object to provide a liquid storage bag and a liquid ejection apparatus for accurately setting the relative position between storage means of data of the liquid consumption amount, etc., and a data transfer section. A flexible bag main body 2 is provided with a liquid supply port 4, storage means 17 for storing data of the liquid type, the storage capacity, the consumption amount, etc., is provided in a part of the bag main body 2, an interface section 54 for making it possible to transfer data between a data transfer section 34 placed in a part of a case 5 or an apparatus main unit 12 and the storage means 17 is attached to a part of the bag main body 2, and position correction means 43 capable of correcting the position of the interface section 54 is provided. In doing so, the position of the interface section 54 relative to the data transfer section 34 is adjusted with the bag main body 2 housed in the case 5, and data transfer in the data transfer section 34 is established precisely.

Abstract: The present invention provides cell fusogenic vectors having replicative ability, whose protease-dependent tropism has been modified. M gene-deficient viral vectors encoding modified F proteins, in which the cleavage site of the F protein of paramyxovirus is modified to be cleaved by different proteases, were produced. In cells transfected with these vectors, the genomic RNA present in the vectors is replicated, and cell fusogenic infection spreads to neighboring cells depending on the presence of other proteases; however, no viral particles are released. The vectors of this invention, encoding the F proteins which are cleaved by proteases whose activity is enhanced in cancer, show cancer growth suppressive effect in vivo.

Abstract: A two-cycle combustion engine having a two-staged piston, is simple in structure and inexpensive and addresses a undesirable blow-off phenomenon of the air-fuel mixture. The two-cycle combustion engine includes a cylinder block having a two-staged cylinder bore with a reduced diameter bore portion and a large diameter bore portion, and a two-staged piston having a reduced diameter piston portion and a large diameter piston portion. An annular auxiliary chamber is defined between the two-staged cylinder bore and the reduced diameter piston portion. The two-cycle combustion engine also includes an air-fuel mixture passage for introducing the air-fuel mixture into a crank member, an air passage for introducing air into the auxiliary chamber, a scavenge passage for supplying the air-fuel mixture within the crank chamber into a combustion chamber, and injection passages and for injecting the air within the auxiliary chamber into the combustion chamber to counter a press-out issue.

Abstract: To provide a two-cycle combustion engine of a simplified structure with the number of component parts reduced, which is effective to suppress a blow-off of the air/fuel mixture and is excellent in acceleration, the two-cycle combustion engine includes scavenging passages (13, 14) communicating between a combustion chamber (1a) and a crank chamber (2a), an air/furl mixture passage (11) for introducing an air/fuel mixture (EM) from a fuel supply device (3) to the crank chamber (2a), and a branch passage (10A) ramified off from the air/fuel mixture passage (11) for supplying a lean air/fuel mixture (TM) into the scavenging passages (14). During an intake stroke, the lean air/fuel mixture (TM) from the branch passage (10A) is introduced into the scavenging passages (14) and the air/fuel mixture (EM) is introduced from the air/fuel mixture passage (11) into the crank chamber (2a).