Abstract: The present invention provides a compound represented by the formula (I): wherein each symbol is as defined in the description, or a salt thereof. The compound or a salt thereof or a prodrug thereof has a GPR40 receptor function modulating action and is useful as an insulin secretagogue or an agent for the prophylaxis or treatment of diabetes and the like.

Abstract: A degradation estimating apparatus for an unburned fuel component adsorption catalyst, which is connected with an internal combustion engine and has an unburned fuel component adsorbent and an oxygen storage component is provided. The apparatus includes a degradation estimating unit for making estimation for a degradation of the unburned fuel component adsorption catalyst on the basis of a first term and a second term. The first term is from the cancellation of the fuel supply to detecting a variation of an upstream side air-fuel ratio occurring due to the increase of the reductant quantity in the exhaust gas. The second term is from the cancellation of the fuel supply to detecting of a variation of the downstream side air-fuel ratio due to an increase of the reductant quantity.

Abstract: The present invention provides a compound represented by the formula (I): wherein each symbol is as defined in the description, or a salt thereof. The compound or a salt thereof or a prodrug thereof has a GPR40 receptor function modulating action and is useful as an insulin secretagogue or an agent for the prophylaxis or treatment of diabetes and the like.

Abstract: In an exhaust system, there are provided an HC absorbent which absorbs HC contained in exhaust when in a specified low-temperature range and desorbs the absorbed HC when it exceeds said low-temperature range, and a catalyst capable of at least removing HC by oxidation, where the catalyst is arranged at the same position as or downstream of the HC absorbent. When it is found that the HC absorbent is in a state ready for desorbing the absorbed HC (S16, S18) and the internal combustion engine is in a specified decelerating state (S14), fuel supply to some of the cylinders of an internal combustion engine is stopped while fuel is supplied to the other cylinders (partial fuel cut) (S22).

Abstract: In an exhaust system, there are provided an HC absorbent which absorbs HC contained in exhaust when in a specified low-temperature range and desorbs the absorbed HC when it exceeds said low-temperature range, and a catalyst capable of at least removing HC by oxidation, where the catalyst is arranged at the same position as or downstream of the HC absorbent. When it is found that the HC absorbent is in a state ready for desorbing the absorbed HC (S16, S18) and the internal combustion engine is in a specified decelerating state (S14), fuel supply to some of the cylinders of an internal combustion engine is stopped while fuel is supplied to the other cylinders (partial fuel cut) (S22).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a degradation estimating apparatus for an unburned fuel component adsorption catalyst, which is connected with an internal combustion engine and has an unburned fuel component adsorbent and an oxygen storage component. The apparatus includes a degradation estimating unit for making estimation for a degradation of the unburned fuel component adsorption catalyst on the basis of a first term and a second term. The first term that is from the cancellation of the fuel supply to detecting a variation of an upstream side air-fuel ratio occurring due to the increase of the reductant quantity in the exhaust gas. The second term that is from the cancellation of the fuel supply to detecting of a variation of the downstream side air-fuel ratio due to an increase of the reductant quantity.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a recording medium for recording image data and recording medium information, a recording medium read-out device, a print control device for giving a print command for printing the image data, a recording device for recording the recording medium information of the recording medium and information on automatic print records and a comparator. When the print control device has detected that a battery for a power source will run down during printing, the comparator detects, after turning on of the power source again, that the recording medium information of the recording device is coincident with that of the recording medium and then, the print control device gives a further print command for continuously printing, in accordance with the information on the automatic print records recorded in the recording device, the image data designated by the print command given prior to turning on of the power source again.

Abstract: The present invention provides a compound represented by the formula: wherein Ar is an aryl group, an aralkyl group or an aromatic heterocyclic group, each of which may be substituted, R1 is a hydrogen atom, an optionally substituted hydrocarbon group, an acyl group or an optionally substituted heterocyclic group, X is an oxygen atom or an optionally lo substituted imino group, Z is an optionally substituted methylene group, Ring A is an optionally further substituted piperidine ring, and Ring B is an optionally substituted aromatic ring, provided that when Z is a methylene group substituted with an oxo group, R1 is not a methyl group, and 15 when Z is a methylene group substituted with a methyl group, Ring B is a substituted aromatic ring, or a salt thereof, which is a novel piperidine derivative having excellent antagonistic action for a tachykinin receptor and useful as a medicament, particularly an agent for preventing and/or treating urinary frequency and/or urinary incontinence.

Abstract: In order to provide a light heat insulating member having both an extremely low thermal conductivity and a high heat resistance in an atmosphere, in which pressure is reduced, a core member consisting of accumulated heat resisting inorganic fiber is put between a high temperature side skin member and a low temperature side skin member made of heat resisting fiber textile and these three members are tied all together in one body by sewing, using heat resisting inorganic fiber thread. It is possible to reduce the thermal conductivity to an extremely small value by adding a material having a high emissivity (SiC powder, SiC whisker) to the core member and to prevent scattering of material constructing the core member by covering side wall parts of the core member by the high temperature skin member.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a recording medium for recording image data and recording medium information, a recording medium read-out device, a print control device for giving a print command for printing the image data, a recording device for recording the recording medium information of the recording medium and information on automatic print records and a comparator. When the print control device has detected that a battery for a power source will run down during printing, the comparator detects, after turning on of the power source again, that the recording medium information of the recording device is coincident with that of the recording medium and then, the print control device gives a further print command for continuously printing, in accordance with the information on the automatic print records recorded in the recording device, the image data designated by the print command given prior to turning on of the power source again.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a carbon-fiber-reinforced resin composite material, and a partition structure using the same, having superior strength and heat resistance, and which do not result in the occurrence of leakage due to cracking even when cooled to low temperatures. In the present invention, a carbon-fiber-reinforced resin composite material is used for which the amount of leakage in a helium gas leak test after loading for 30 minutes at a strain of 6000&mgr; in liquid hydrogen being 1×10−9 Ncm3/cm2/s or less. The carbon-fiber-reinforced resin composite material is also a carbon-fiber-reinforced resin composite material having an epoxy resin composed of a homogeneous phase for the matrix resin, wherein the glass transition temperature is 150° C. or higher, the fracture elongation of a 90° tensile test is 1.

Abstract: In order to provide a light heat insulating member having both an extremely low thermal conductivity and a high heat resistance in an atmosphere, in which pressure is reduced, a core member consisting of accumulated heat resisting inorganic fiber is put between a high temperature side skin member and a low temperature side skin member made of heat resisting fiber textile and these three members are tied all together in one body by sewing, using heat resisting inorganic fiber thread. It is possible to reduce the thermal conductivity to an extremely small value by adding a material having a high emissivity (SiC powder, SiC whisker) to the core member and to prevent scattering of material constructing the core member by covering side wall parts of the core member by the high temperature skin member.

Abstract: A control system for a compression ignition type diesel engine includes an operating state detecting unit for detecting the operating state of the diesel engine. A combustion mode selecting unit selects, in correspondence with the output of the operating state detecting unit, a first combustion mode, wherein fuel injection is carried out in the first half of the compression stroke, or a second combustion mode, wherein fuel injection is carried out at around compression top dead center. An effective compression ratio varying unit varies the effective compression ratio of the diesel engine and a control unit controls the effective compression ratio varying unit to lower the effective compression ratio when the first combustion mode is selected by the combustion mode selecting unit compared to when the second combustion mode is selected.

Abstract: The present invention provides a grain-oriented electrical steel sheet having magnetic properties equal to, or higher than, those of conventional steel sheets can be produced economically with high productivity, and a method for producing such a steel sheet. The producing method comprises the steps of using, as a starting material, a coil obtained by heating a slab having a composition comprising, in terms of percent by weight, 0.02 to 0.15% of C, 2.5 to 4.0% of Si, 0.02 to 0.20% of Mn, 0.015 to 0.065% of Sol. Al, 0.0030 to 0.0150% of N, 0.005 to 0.040% as the sum of at least one of S and Se and the balance substantially consisting of Fe and hot rolling the slab to a coil, or a coil directly cast from a molten steel having the same components as the slab, conducting hot rolled sheet annealing at 900 to 1,100.degree. C.

Abstract: A semiconductor device prevents latch up and enables subminiaturization of its structure, and a method can manufacture the semiconductor device. In the semiconductor device containing field-effect transistors of a complementary type, an interconnection containing semiconductor having n-type impurity connects a p-type impurity diffusion region forming an emitter electrode of a parasitically formed bipolar transistor to an n-type impurity diffusion region electrically connected to a power supply line. Thereby, a pn junction operating as a rectifier element is formed at a contact region between a connection portion and the p-type impurity diffusion region.

Abstract: A bit line load element for reducing a bit line amplitude during data reading is formed of p- and n-channel MOS transistors connected in parallel. When a word line is driven to the selected state, the p-channel MOS transistor is held off. In the data write operation, both the n- and p-channel MOS transistors are turned off. Even under a low power supply voltage, a sufficiently large bit line amplitude can be produced without an influence by a size of the bit line load element. By deactivating the bit line load element in the data write operation, it is possible to prevent generation of a DC current during data writing.

Abstract: A word line activation signal generated by a timing generator is surely at L level in a prescribed period regardless of the power supply voltage. A row address signal delayed by a delay circuit in a row address buffer changes in a period in which the word line activation signal is at L level. Accordingly, even if skew occurs, a non-selected word line is never activated. Consequently, it is possible to prevent delay of access to a memory cell and erroneous writing to a memory cell.

Abstract: There is provided a water-absorptive composite comprising a fibrous substrate bearing water-absorptive polymer particles. A process for producing the water-absorptive composite comprises the steps of: allowing an aqueous monomer solution containing a polymerizable monomer capable of providing a water-absorptive polymer to initiate polymerization by the use of a redox polymerization initiator; applying the resultant reaction mixture, which is in the course of polymerization, dropwise onto a fibrous substrate; and allowing the polymerization to proceed and finish on the substrate.

Abstract: A process for producing L-ascorbic acid, which comprises reacting 2-keto-L-gulonic acid with an acid in an ether or an inert organic solvent containing an ether in the presence of water and a surfactant.

Abstract: Each of the portions corresponding to the crossings of a plurality of first strip conductive layers serving as bit lines and a plurality of second strip conductive layers serving as word lines crossing the conductive layers at right angles is used as one memory cell. An oxide film is provided between the first strip conductive layers and the second strip conductive layers. The thickness of this oxide film is set in each memory cell according to stored data. Also a multi-value memory can be realized, since the amount of stored data in each memory cell is an arbitrary amount of 1 bit or more by making the stored data of a plurality of types of memory cells having different thicknesses in the tunnel oxide film 15 correspond to a plurality of different data. The size of each memory cell can be reduced since the occupying area of each memory cell on the semiconductor substrate is dependent on the width of the first strip conductive layer and the second strip conductive layer.