Abstract: A first balloon is fitted to an insertion section of an endoscope, and the insertion section is fixed to an intestinal canal by inflating the first balloon. The insertion assisting tool covers the insertion section, and is pushed to a tip end portion side along the insertion section. When the insertion assisting tool is pushed to the limit state, an indicator provided at a surface of the insertion section appears, and the limit state can be recognized.

Abstract: An SDDI signal in accordance with an AV signal is selectively recorded in an MO disc 6 of a portable AV editing apparatus 1 from a hybrid recorder 20 provided with an on-line editing function. The user carries the portable AV editing apparatus 1 around separate from the hybrid recorder 20 and uses the SDDI signal recorded in the MO disc 6 to perform off-line editing and prepare an EDL (edit decision list). This EDL is transmitted from the field to the station. The EDL is used for on-line editing at the station.

Abstract: An image editing system having an excellent editing operational efficiency. A recording/reproducing unit where compressed images have been recorded and an editing terminal unit are interconnected through a communication line. The compressed image which is needed at the time of editing is transmitted via the communication line without having recourse to a physical recording medium.

Abstract: An editing system and a video signal output system are disclosed. The inventive system comprises a server for reproducing video signals for a plurality of scenes from disk drives and for consecutively outputting these video signals through a single output port, a frame memory for storing one frame of video signals from the output port, a special effect processor for receiving both the output of the memory and the video signals from the output port, and a controller for controlling the writing and reading of data to and from the frame memory as well as the retaining operation of data in that memory. The controller controls the frame memory so that the latter will continuously supply the special effect processor with the video signal representing the last frame of a given scene for a predetermined period of time, thereby allowing the processor to output the video signal having undergone special effect processing. The video signals may be processed in units of fields instead of frames.

Abstract: A DNA fragment coding for a decarbamylase protein improved in thermostability as the result of replacement of at least one base of a DNA fragment coding for a decarbamylase protein derived from a microorganism with another base and the resultant replacement of at least one of the corresponding amino acids, and its production process; a vector containing the DNA fragment; a transformant obtained by transformation with the vector; as well as a decarbamylase improved in thermostability and its production process. Also disclosed is a process for producing a D-.alpha.-amino acid, which comprises converting an N-carbamoyl-D-.alpha.-amino acid into the corresponding D-.alpha.-amino acid in an aqueous medium by the action of a decarbamylase having a thermostable temperature of 65.degree. C. or higher; and collecting the D-.alpha.-amino acid produced.

Abstract: An image editing system having an excellent editing operational efficiency. A recording/reproducing unit where compressed images have been recorded and an editing terminal unit are interconnected through a communication line. The compressed image which is needed at the time of editing is transmitted via the communication line without having recourse to a physical recording medium.

Abstract: A process for the efficient production of a D-amino acid from the corresponding DL-5-substituted hydantoin by one-step reaction which comprises using a composite immobilized enzyme at a pH about neutrality, said composite immobilized enzyme being obtained by immobilizing a hydantoinase having its optimal pH within an alkaline range and a D-N-carbamyl-.alpha.-amino acid amidohydrolase having its optimal pH about neutrality in a coexisting state on an immobilizing support, simultaneously, is disclosed.

Abstract: In a process for the production of a D-.alpha.-amino acid, in which an N-carbamyl-D-.alpha.-amino acid corresponding to the general formula: ##STR1## wherein R represents phenyl, hydroxy-substituted phenyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, or thienyl, is converted by a microbial enzyme in an aqueous medium to a D-.alpha.-amino acid corresponding to the general formula: ##STR2## wherein R is the same as defined above, decarbamylase produced by a microorganism of the genus Comamonas, Blastobacter, Alcaligenes, Sporosarcina, Rhizobium, Bradyrhizobium or Arthrobacter is used as the enzyme converting the N-carbamyl-D-.alpha.-amino acid to the D-.alpha.-amino acid.The conversion of the N-carbamyl-D-.alpha.-amino acids to the D-.alpha.-amino acids is carried out in a neutral to alkaline pH range.

Abstract: In a process for the production of a D-.alpha.-amino acid, in which an N-carbamyl-D-.alpha.-amino acid corresponding to the general formula: ##STR1## wherein R represents phenyl, hydroxy-substituted phenyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, or thienyl, is converted by a microbial enzyme in an aqueous medium to a D-.alpha.-amino acid corresponding to the general formula: ##STR2## wherein R is the same as defined above, decarbamylase produced by a microorganism of the genus Comamonas, Blastobacter, Alcaligenes, Sporosarcina, Rhizobium, Bradyrhizobium or Arthrobacter is used as the enzyme converting the N-carbamyl-D-.alpha.-amino acid to the D-.alpha.-amino acid.The conversion of the N-carbamyl-D-.alpha.-amino acids to the D-.alpha.-amino acids is carried out in a neutral to alkaline pH range.

Abstract: Decarbamylases are provided capable of producing D-.alpha.-amino acids by hydrolysis of N-carbamyl-D-.alpha.-amino acids. A source of the decarbamylases is recombinant microorganisms produced by gene manipulation methods. Decarbamylases having improved thermostability can be obtained in which amino acids at a thermostability-related site of a natural decarbamylase have been replaced with other amino acids by mutating a DNA fragment encoding the natural decarbamylase. Recombinant DNA is obtained from a vector DNA and a DNA fragment encoding a natural decarbamylase where the nucleic acid sequence encoding an amino acid at a thermostability-related site is replaced with a nucleic acid sequence encoding another amino acid. The recombinant DNA is used to produce transformants that produce thermostable decarbamylases.

Abstract: An SDDI signal in accordance with an AV signal is selectively recorded in an MO disc 6 of a portable AV editing apparatus 1 from a hybrid recorder 20 provided with an on-line editing function. The user carries the portable AV editing apparatus 1 around separate from the hybrid recorder 20 and uses the SDDI signal recorded in the MO disc 6 to perform off-line editing and prepare an EDL (edit decision list). This EDL is transmitted from the field to the station. The EDL is used for on-line editing at the station.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a gene which is related to a D-N-carbamoyl-.alpha.-amino acid amidohydrolase which is an enzyme capable of converting D-N-carbamoyl-.alpha.-amino acids into D-.alpha.-amino acids; a recombinant plasmid in which a DNA fragment containing the gene is incorporated into a vector; a microorganism belonging to the genus Escherichia, Pseudomonas, Flavobacterium, Bacillus, Serratia, Corynebacterium, or Brevibacterium, which is transformed by incorporating the recombinant plasmid thereinto; a process for the production of D-N-carbamoyl-.alpha.-amino acid amidohydrolases, comprising the steps of cultivating the transformed microorganism and collecting the desired product therefrom; a D-N-carbamoyl-.alpha.-amino acid amidohydrolase obtained by the method; and a process for the production of D-.alpha.-amino acids with the aid of an action of the enzyme.The D-N-carbamoyl-.alpha.-amino acid amidohydrolase can be fixed on a support for immobilization and used as an immobilized enzyme.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a teleconference system in which display data is transmitted at least between a data transmitting apparatus and a data receiving apparatus. The data receiving apparatus comprises a display device, a data memory, a control information memory for storing therein display control information representative of an order in which transmitted display data is displayed, and a controller. The controller is responsive to display switching information transmitted from the data transmitting apparatus to read the display control information stored in the control information memory, sequentially reads the display data from the data memory in accordance with the display order represented by the read-out display control information and supplies the same to the display device.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a gene which is related to a D-N-carbamoyl-.alpha.-amino acid amidohydrolase which is an enzyme capable of converting D-N-carbamoyl-.alpha.-amino acids into D-.alpha.-amino acids; a recombinant plasmid in which a DNA fragment containing the gene is incorporated into a vector; a microorganism belonging to the genus Escherichia, Pseudomonas, Flavobacterium, Bacillus, Serratia, Corynebacterium, or Brevibacterium, which is transformed by incorporating the recombinant plasmid thereinto; a process for the production of D-N-carbamoyl-.alpha.-amino acid amidohydrolases, comprising the steps of cultivating the transformed microorganism and collecting the desired product therefrom; a D-N-carbamoyl-.alpha.-amino acid amidohydrolase obtained by the method; and a process for the production of D-.alpha.-amino acids with the aid of an action of the enzyme.The D-N-carbamoyl-.alpha.-amino acid amidohydrolase can be fixed on a support for immobilization and used as an immobilized enzyme.

Abstract: A diagnostic apparatus for diagnosing the circulatory system of a patient, including an X-ray diagnostic system and an ultrasonic diagnostic system. The ultrasonic diagnostic system has an ultrasonic catheter for insertion into the circulatory systems of the patient and for scanning a circulatory organ with an ultrasonic wave to thereby an ultrasonic tomogram. A roadmap image is obtained prior to the ultrasonic diagnosis. When the ultrasonic catheter is inserted into the circulatory system of the patient, the X-ray diagnosis is performed to obtain a live image of the circulatory system which includes a picture of the catheter and is displayed overlapped on the roadmap image. The ultrasonic catheter is inserted into the circulatory system of the patient while the location of the catheter is monitored from the overlapped display of the live image and the roadmap image.

Abstract: In a broadcast program transmission control apparatus and method using a scheduling computer to produce program scheduling signals representing a schedule of programs to be generated at predetermined times by respective ones of a plurality of program generation devices; each program generation device is provided with a corresponding controller into which the respective program scheduling signals are downloaded from the scheduling computer; and a switching device is operative to switch the programs generated by the program generation devices to a master broadcast output.

Abstract: An ultrasonic probe including a rotary transmission shaft to be rotated by a driver connected thereto, in which an oscillator is arranged in opposition to one end of the transmission shaft for emitting a ultrasonic wave, and a scanner such as a mirror is mounted to the one end of the rotary transmission shaft for reflecting the ultrasonic wave emitted by the oscillator to carry out an ultrasonic wave scanning. The rotary transmission shaft includes a first shaft having a first diameter, connected to the scanner, and a second shaft having a second diameter, connected to the driver with the first diameter being smaller than the second diameter. The oscillator as the scanner may be directly mounted to the end of the transmission shaft.

Abstract: A mechanical scan type ultrasonic probe is disclosed, in which a rotational force transmitting shaft for transmitting the rotational force of a motor to an ultrasonic transducer, and a guide pipe for guiding the rotational force transmitting shaft are improved. The guide pipe is a spiral spring. The rotational force transmitting shaft is a highly conductive double spiral spring. Since the guide pipe is constituted by a spiral spring, the pipe can follow any bending movement of the rotational force transmitting shaft to guide the shaft. In addition, since the rotational force transmitting shaft is constituted by a highly conductive double spiral spring, it can properly supply and extract electrical signals to and from an ultrasonic transducer, and can properly transmit the rotational force to the transducer.

Abstract: In a news program broadcasting system reference codes are assigned to news materials when a cue sheet is prepared and when the news materials are edited. These reference codes are compared with each other when the news materials are transmitted, whereby the news materials are transmitted under simple and reliable control.

Abstract: An intracavitary ultrasound probe comprises a rotating shaft rotatably supported inside an elongated body and adapted to swing or rotate a transducer element, an motor housed in a handle, and a stab needle guide extending in substantially parallel to the elongated body. The motor is arranged in a manner to be offset from the rotating shaft, and the ultrasound probe further comprises a mechanism for transmitting torque from the motor to the rotating shaft. Since, therefore, the handle is offset from the elongated body, a wide space for operating a stab needle is provided, thus ensuring easy operation of the stab needle. In addition, a wide space for employing a syringe is also provided. As a result of this structure, the patient's pain is reduced, and the probe is easy to rotate or tilt.