Abstract: A microorganism or a preparation thereof is permitted to act on a mixture of enantiomers of 3-phenyl-1,3-propanediol, and the residual optically active 3-phenyl-1,3-propanediol is harvested. The genera of those microorganisms which are able to leave (R)-3-phenyl-1,3-propanediol include Candida, Hansenula, Rhodotorula, Protaminobacter, Aspergillus, Alternaria, Macrophomina, Preussia and Talaromyces. The genera of those microorganisms which are able to leave (S)-3-phenyl-1,3-propanediol include Candida, Geotrichum, Leucosporidium, Pichia, Torulaspora, Trichosporon, Escherichia, Micrococcus, Corynebacterium, Gordona, Rhodococcus, Aspergillus, Emericella, Absidia, Fusarium, Dactylium, Serratia and Pseudomonas.

Abstract: An (S)-1-phenyl-2-substituted propane derivative shown by the following formula (I) ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 represent a lower alkyl group, etc., or R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 may form together an alkylene group, etc.; R.sup.3, R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 represent a hydrogen atom, etc.; and X represents a hydroxyl group which may be protected with a protective group, or a halogen atom etc., can readily be produced (i) by permitting a microorganism belonging to the genus Torulaspora, the genus Candida, the genus Pichia or the like to act on a phenylacetone derivative and asymmetrically reducing the compound, or (ii) by sterically inverting an (R)-enantiomer. (R,R)-1-phenyl-2-[(2-phenyl-1-methylethyl)amino]ethanol derivative having a high optical purity can easily be obtained from the compound of the formula (I). The ethanol derivative is useful as an anti-obesity agent and the like.

Abstract: A non-specific reaction suppressor for immunoassays having the formula: ##STR1## where R.sub.1, R.sub.2, Y, X, and R.sub.3 are defined in the specification.

Abstract: The invention relates to immunoassay reagents that are both sensitive and specific and which require no sample pretreatment. The invention reagents are particularly useful for assaying digoxin concentrations in patient sera. More particularly, the invention relates to methods and kits comprising (A) an immunoreactant immobilized on a support; and, (B) a buffer agent comprising (i) a buffering agent, (ii) sodium chloride, (iii) choline chloride, (iv) a polysaccharide, (v) fatty-acid-free serum albumin, and (vi) a non-specific reaction suppressor of the formula: ##STR1## wherein X is --NH--(CO)--NH--, --NH--(CS)--NH--, or --N.dbd.C.dbd.N--, R.sub.1 and R.sub.2, which may be the same or different, are C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 linear or branched alkyl groups, or R.sub.1 and R.sub.2, together with nitrogen, is ##STR2## or the metho-p-toluenesulfonate salt thereof, Y, which may be the same or different, is any of H, OH and halogen,R.sub.3 is --NR.sub.1 R.sub.2, --NH.sub.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus suitable for use in a laser beam printer includes an image forming unit for forming an image on a photoconductor, and a reproduction unit for reproducing a high density image and a halftone image on the photoconductor. A detector then detects the density of the high density image and the halftone image formed on the photoconductor. A controller controls an image forming condition of the image forming unit based on a detection result by the detector.

Abstract: An enantiomeric mixture of a 3-chloro-1-(substituted) phenyl-1-propyl ester of a saturated or unsaturated aliphatic acid is treated with an enzyme which can asymmetrically hydrolyze the mixture, for example, a lipase originating in a microorganism of the genus Pseudomonas, Aspergillus, Candida or Chromobacterium to form a mixture of an optically active 3-chloro-1-(substituted) phenyl-1-propanol with an optically active 3-chloro-1-(substituted) phenyl-1-propyl ester of a saturated or unsaturated aliphatic acid, and the optically active 3-chloro-1-(substituted) phenyl-1-propanol or a derivative thereof and the optically active 3-chloro-1-(substituted) phenyl-1-propyl ester of a saturated or unsaturated aliphatic acid or a derivative thereof are each separately recovered from the mixture. The process allows simple and easy preparation of the above optically active compounds having a high optical purity, thus being extremely industrially advantageous.

Abstract: An automatic guided vehicle is devoid of a floor and includes a substantially C-shaped body defining a space surrounded or closed from three directions including forward and backward directions of the vehicle, two hook units disposed side by side at a bottom portion of the space and each having one hook horizontally movable back and forth in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle body, and an actuating unit disposed on a portion of the vehicle body for engaging and disengaging the hook and a carriage. The vehicle thus constructed is able to transfer the carriage and a freight within a small or limited space, thus reducing the transportation cost and the time of freight transfer operation.

Abstract: A microorganism or a preparation thereof is permitted to act on a mixture of enantiomers of 3-phenyl-1, 3-propanediol, and the residual optically active 3-phenyl-1,3-propanediol is harvested.The genera of those microorganisms which are able to leave (R)-3-phenyl-1,3-propanediol include Candida, Hansenula, Rhodotorula, Protaminobacter, Aspergillus, Alternaria, Macrophomina, Preussia and Talaromyces.The genera of those microorganisms which are able to leave (S)-3-phenyl-1,3-propanediol include Candida, Geotrichum, Leucosporidium, Pichia, Torulaspora, Trichosporon, Escherichia, Micrococcus, Corynebacterium, Gordona, Rhodococcus, Aspergillus, Emericella, Absidia, Fusarium, Dactylium, Serratia and Pseudomonas.

Abstract: A freight moving apparatus comprising: a conveyor for receiving a freight and conveying the freight between a first predetermined position in a carrier vehicle and a second predetermined position in a freight station; an electric motor for driving the conveyor; stops disposed in the carrier vehicle and the freight station for engagement with the freight when the freight arrives at the first predetermined position or the second predetermined position; and a torque limiter for detecting any change of torque of the electric motor, which may be caused in the electric motor when the freight comes into engagement with the stops at the first predetermined position or the second predetermined position, to deactivate the electric motor.

Abstract: One or more kinds of plenty scattered parts are successively fed out of an automatic feed unit. The successive parts are then conveyed at a high speed by a conveyer belt. Then, the conveying belt is automatically shifted down to a low speed when a first parts detector detects that a leading end of the successive parts being conveyed at the high speed has arrived at a forward end of the conveyer belt. The conveyer belt is then automatically stopped temporarily when a second parts detector detects that the leading end of the successive parts being conveyed has fallen from a turn end of the conveyor belt which has been shifted down to the low speed.

Abstract: An upper support for a suspension system manufactured by preparing a first intermediate product including an inner rigid member, a first outer rigid member and a first elastic body for elastically connecting the inner and first outer rigid members. The first intermediate product is then placed within a mass of a non-compressible fluid. A second elastic body and a resonance member are then assembled with the inner and first outer rigid members, so as to prepare a second intermediate product having a fluid chamber filled with the fluid and defined between the first and second elastic bodies. The second intermediate product is then removed from the mass of the non-compressible fluid, and a second outer rigid member having an attaching portion mounted, in the atmosphere on the second intermediate product.

Abstract: A fluid-filled cylindrical elastic mount having an inner and an outer sleeve, a pair of intermediate support members axially opposed to each other and having respective cylindrical portions with a predetermined axial spacing therebetween, and an elastic body elastically connecting the inner sleeve and the support members. The elastic body cooperates with the inner sleeve to define an annular recess which is open radially outwardly through the axial spacing between the cylindrical portions of the support member. The outer sleeve is fitted on cylindrical portions of the support members, so as to close the annular recess to thereby form an annular fluid chamber. A spacer is interposed between the cylindrical portions of the support members, to prevent a relative axial movement of the support members toward each other and thereby maintain the predetermined axial spacing between the cylindrical portions.

Abstract: A method for immunochemical determination of a hapten in a sample is disclosed, in which(A) a high-molecular compound to which the hapten is bound (reagent A),(B) insoluble carrier particles carrying thereon an antibody to the hapten (reagent B), and(C) magnetic substance-containing insoluble carrier particles carrying thereon an antibody to an antigenic determinant in the high-molecular compound and different from the hapten (reagent C),are used. These three reagents are dispersed in the sample, then, a magnetic field is applied to separate from the reaction mixture unreacted reagent (C) and agglutinated particles formed from the reagent (B) and the reagent (C) through the reagent (A). The amount of the reagent (B) remaining dispersed in the reaction mixture is measured, thereby determining the extent of competitive inhibition to the agglutination of the reagent (B) and the reagent (C) through the reagent (A) by the reaction between the hapten in the sample and the reagent (B).

Abstract: A fluid-filled cylindrical elastic mount including an inner sleeve, an outer sleeve, at least one elastic body disposed between these sleeves for flexible connection therebetween. The elastic mount has at least one fluid chamber extending in a circumferential direction of the mount between the two sleeves. The elastic mount further includes a wing member fixed to one of the inner and outer sleeves so as to protrude toward the other sleeve. Each fluid chamber is divided by the wing member into two axially opposite sections. Between a radial end face of the wing member and an inner wall of each fluid chamber is defined a restricted fluid passage which has a predetermined radial dimension and communicates with the two sections. The elastic mount has at least one rigid protrusion protruding radially from the other sleeve by a radial distance which is larger than the predetermined radial dimension of the restricted fluid passage.

Abstract: The invention provides a furnace desulfurization process which includes supplying a desulfurizing agent into a furnace or flue to cause the agent to absorb SO.sub.

Abstract: An image reader of the present invention is provided with a plurality of photosensitive elements arranged one-dimensionally or two-dimensionally substantially in parallel with an image bearing member, and first and second stopping plates each of which has apertures at positions corresponding to the photosensitive elements, respectively, between the image bearing member and the photosensitive elements. The apertures of the second stopping plate are smaller in size than photosensitive surfaces of the photosensitive elements. The dimension of the apertures, the dimension of the photosensitive surfaces of the photosensitive elements and the distances between the first stopping plate, the second stopping plate and the photosensitive elements are set in a predetermined relation. This prevents the influence of the deviation of a mounting position of the photosensitive elements on a measuring error.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an area modulation means for forming a halftone image signal by area modulation according to input image data, and a recording unit for performing recording using a particle-type recording material according to the halftone image signal, wherein the length of a short side of a minimum modulation area of the area modulation means formed by the recording unit is set to 0.7-4 times an average particle size of the particle-type recording material.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for storing slide fastener sliders preparatory to application thereof onto a stringer chain, the apparatus comprising a plurality of slider stockers removably mounted on a stocker holder and a slider supply including a chute, the slider stockers being movable successively into operative position registering with the chute to receive therefrom a supply of sliders.

Abstract: An injection assembly for the injection molding of plastics and rubbers is disclosed which is comprised of a cylinder, a nozzle mounted at one end portion of the cylinder, a torpedo fitted at its one end to the nozzle and a plunger arranged to reciprocate in the cylinder. The torpedo has a hollow extension extending opposite to the nozzle and protruding in the cylinder, and the plunger is provided therein with an elongate aperture held in slidably movable relation to the extension of the torpedo. Uniform heating of the molding material is attainable at high speed.

Abstract: An upper support for a suspension system, having an inner and an outer rigid member, at least one generally annular elastic body interposed between the inner and outer rigid members for elastic connection therebetween, and which defines a generally annular fluid chamber that is filled with a non-compressible fluid. The upper support also includes an annular resonance member which is accommodated in the fluid chamber, and which is supported by one of the inner and outer rigid members so as to radially extend toward the other rigid member, so that the fluid chamber is substantially divided into two sections located on axially opposite sides of the resonance member. The upper support further includes a support device for elastically supporting the resonance member with respect to the above-indicated one of the inner and outer rigid members, such that the resonance member can be axially displaced relative to the one rigid member due to elastic deformation of the support device.