Abstract: The present invention provides an agent for the treatment or prophylaxis of arteriosclerosis comprising an expression vector encoding a chimeric Hepatitis B virus core antigen polypeptide inserted with an amino acid sequence containing a specific epitope of apolipoprotein (a), wherein the amino acid sequence containing the specific epitope is inserted between the amino acid residues 80 and 81 of the hepatitis B virus core antigen polypeptide.

Abstract: A fluorescence observation apparatus including: a light source unit that simultaneously irradiates a subject with illumination light and excitation light having a partial wavelength band of the wavelength band of the illumination light; an objective lens unit that forms an image of reflected light reflected at the subject due to being irradiated with the illumination light and an image of fluorescence generated at the subject due to being irradiated with the excitation light; a single image capturing element that simultaneously acquires the images of reflected light and fluorescence; a filter that is disposed between the objective lens unit and the image capturing and that transmits the light, except the excitation light, to the image capturing element; and a light-adjusting unit that adjusts the output intensity of the illumination light and the output intensity of the excitation light from the light source unit independently of each other.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a method of efficiently manufacturing an optically active D- and/or L-form amino acid possessing a thiol group in the side chain by a simple method. The present invention provides a method of manufacturing an amino acid derivative possessing a thiol group in the side chain, characterized in manufacturing an intermediate composition comprising D- and L-forms of an amino acid derivative possessing a thiol group at the ?-position, reacting a hydrolase selective for D- or L-amino acids, and separating the hydrolyzed D- or L-amino acid derivative, as well as an intermediate thereof.

Abstract: Provided is a solid-state image sensing device that performs an A/D conversion operation at high speed. A sample-and-hold section 12 included in an A/D converter in a CMOS image sensor includes switches S1a and S1b and capacitor C1 that sample and hold a dark signal during each cycle period, switches S2a and S2b and capacitor C2 that sample and hold a bright signal during an odd-numbered cycle period, and switches S3a and S3b and capacitor C3 that sample and hold a bright signal during an even-numbered cycle period. While a bright signal is held with switch S2b placed in a conducting state, the next bright signal can be sampled by placing switch S3a in a conducting state.

Abstract: A piezoelectric/electrostrictive material is composed of Mn and a compound of Pb(Zn, Nb)O3—Pb(Ni, Nb)O3—Pb(Zr, Ti)O3. A ratio of a molar amount of Mn relative to a sum of respective molar amounts of Ni, Zn, Ti, Zr, Nb and Mn is at least 0.001 to no more than 0.015. A ratio of a molar amount of Nb relative to a sum of respective molar amounts of Ni and Zn is at least 2.007 to no more than 2.125.

Abstract: A polycarbonate copolymer including a repeating unit represented by the following formula (1) and having a copolymerization molar ratio represented by Ar2/(Ar1+Ar2) of 30 mol % or more and 47 mol % or less. In the formula (1), Ar1 is a group represented by the following formula (2a) or (2b) and Ar2 is a group represented by the following formula (3); and n is an average number of repetition and is 1.12 or more and 2.34 or less.

Abstract: The invention provides for a method of preparing a covalently functionalised carbon nanomaterial, comprising the steps of (i) treating a carbon material with a reducing agent comprising an alkali metal M in the presence of a solvent S to form a reduced-carbon material solution; and (ii) treating the resulting reduced-carbon material solution with a functionalising reagent to form a covalently functionalised carbon nanomaterial, wherein (a) the concentration of alkali metal [M] in step (i) is between 0.003 mol/L and 0.05 mol/L, and (b) the ratio of carbon material to alkali metal (C/M) in solution in step (i) is at least 2:1. A method of preparing a covalently functionalised carbon nanomaterial using N,N-dimethylacetamide as a solvent is also provided.

Abstract: A switch control circuit includes: a clock generating circuit that generates one or more periodic signals having a predetermined cycle; a clock adjusting circuit that generates one or more control signals by adjusting a bias voltage of the one or more periodic signals and changing an ON period of the one or more periodic signals; and at least one switching circuit including one or more switches that are switched to ON if respective amplitudes of the generated one or more control signals is equal to or higher than a threshold value and that are switched to OFF if the respective amplitudes of the generated one or more control signals is less than the threshold value.

Abstract: A combined-type gas turbine engine system is provided which achieves high efficiency by very effectively using exhaust heat from a gas turbine engine. In a gas turbine engine system including: a compressor for compressing a first working medium; a heater for heating the compressed first working medium by an external heat source; a turbine for outputting power from the first working medium; an intermediate cooler provided at the compressor for cooling the first working medium compressed by a low-pressure compression part of the compressor and supplying the first working medium to a high-pressure compression part of the compressor; and an exhaust heat boiler using as a heating medium an exhaust gas from the turbine, a Rankine cycle engine using the intermediate cooler and the exhaust heat boiler as heat sources and a cooling medium of the intermediate cooler as a second working medium.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems, devices, and methods for minimizing mechanical-vibration-induced noise in audio signals. In one aspect, a microphone is disclosed that includes a first backplate, a first diaphragm, a second backplate, and a second diaphragm. The first diaphragm moves relative to the first backplate in response to acoustic pressure waves in an environment and mechanical vibrations of the microphone, thereby causing a first capacitance change between the first diaphragm and the first backplate. The second diaphragm is substantially acoustically isolated from the acoustic pressure waves, and moves relative to the second backplate in response to the mechanical vibrations of the microphone, thereby causing a second capacitance change between the second diaphragm and the second backplate. The microphone further includes or is communicatively coupled to an integrated circuit configured to generate an acoustic signal based on the first capacitance and the second capacitance.

Abstract: An electric vacuum cleaner that can be improved in quietness without increasing in size while securing air intake balance. The electric vacuum cleaner includes an electric blower. The electric vacuum cleaner includes a separating part that separates dust sucked by the electric blower. The separating part includes a first centrifugally separating part that centrifugally separates dust sucked by the electric blower. The separating part includes a plurality of second centrifugally separating parts that centrifugally separates dust smaller than dust to be separated by the first centrifugally separating part. The second centrifugally separating parts communicate with the downstream side of the first centrifugally separating part, and are disposed at positions opposite to each other with respect to the electric blower.

Abstract: An electric vacuum cleaner that secures efficiency and quietness without increasing the size of a main body part. The electric vacuum cleaner includes an electric blower, and a main body part including a first centrifugally separating part that centrifugally separates dust from air containing dust sucked by the electric blower. The first centrifugally separating part includes a dust collecting cup including a dust collecting cup main body that is formed into a bottomed cylindrical shape and turns air containing dust inside, and an exhaust tube part that is formed along the central axis of the dust collecting cup main body and discharges exhaust air of the electric blower from the bottom portion.

Abstract: Described herein is the discovery that HGFs activate the growth and migration of lymphatic endothelial cells and thereby promote lymphangiogenesis. The present invention is based on this finding, and provides lymphangiogenesis-promoting agents comprising as active ingredients HGFs, or proteins or compounds functionally equivalent thereto. Based on the finding described above, the present invention also provides methods for promoting lymphangiogenesis which comprise the step of locally administering HGFs or proteins functionally equivalent thereto to affected areas in patients with lymphedema.

Abstract: A display device according to the present invention includes a liquid crystal panel having a display area on which an image is displayed, and a peripheral edge area around the display area, a frame disposed in back of the liquid crystal panel, and first and second elastic members disposed at positions corresponding to the peripheral edge area of the frame, and having a bonding surface on which an adhesive member is provided. A portion of the first elastic member and a portion of the second elastic member are disposed on the frame to overlap each other, the bonding surface of the first elastic member has a first area overlapping the second elastic member, and a second area overlapping the frame at a position near a center of the first elastic member relative to the first area, and the adhesive member is divided between the first area and the second area.

Abstract: The present invention provides a windshield device including: a windshield; a heater that is provided in the windshield and configured to generate heat by energization; a temperature sensor that is provided in the windshield and configured to detect a temperature; and a control unit that performs power control on the heater. The control unit is configured to supply an input power to the heater, the input power being acquired by applying a detected temperature detected by the temperature sensor to a function that is determined in accordance with a dew-point temperature of an inside of a compartment separated from an outside of the compartment by the windshield.

Abstract: The present invention provides a therapeutic or improving agent for a lifestyle-related disease, containing an expression vector encoding a chimeric Hepatitis B virus core antigen polypeptide inserted with an amino acid sequence containing a specific epitope of the lifestyle-related disease-related factor, wherein the amino acid sequence containing the specific epitope is inserted between the amino acid residues 80 and 81 of the hepatitis B virus core antigen polypeptide.

Abstract: A boiler support structure is provided that is capable of significantly reducing an effect of a seismic force and also capable of vibrating integrally during an earthquake. The boiler support structure is provided with a main boiler body (3), a support steel frame (11) that supports the main boiler body (3) in a suspended state and that includes a plurality of pillars (11a) that each stand on a foundation (1) with a pillar legs (11b) placed therebetween and a plurality of beams (11c) that connect the adjacent pillars (11a), and seismic isolation devices (5) that support the plurality of respective pillars (11a). In the boiler support structure (10), seismic isolation characteristics of each of the seismic isolation devices (5) are set in accordance with horizontal reaction forces occurring in the plurality of pillar legs (11b).

Abstract: A printing apparatus that makes it possible to prevent the operation of an application from being interrupted against the intention of a user during Wi-Fi direct connection, and thereby smoothly perform processing intended by the user. A printing apparatus equipped with a Wi-Fi direct function performs wireless connection to an external apparatus, by Wi-Fi direct connection. The printing apparatus determines based on information acquired from the external apparatus whether or not the user is operating a print application on the external apparatus, and if it is determined that the user is operating the print application on the external apparatus, the Wi-Fi direct connection between the printing apparatus and the external apparatus is extended.

Abstract: A vehicle air-conditioning system (1) includes an HVAC unit (2) in which a first refrigerant evaporator (7) and a second refrigerant condenser (8) are disposed in an air channel (6) communicating with a vehicle interior space; and a heat pump cycle (3) in which a refrigerant compressor (9), a refrigerant switching device (10), a first refrigerant condenser (11) that exchanges heat with the outside air, a first expansion valve (14), and a first refrigerant evaporator (7) are connected in sequence and in which the second refrigerant condenser (8) is connected in parallel with the first refrigerant condenser (11) via the refrigerant switching device (10). An exhaust-heat recovery circuit (23) equipped with a second refrigerant evaporator (18) disposed in a ventilation channel (19) from the vehicle interior and a second expansion valve (17) is connected in parallel with the first expansion valve (14) and the first refrigerant evaporator (7) of the heat pump cycle (3).

Abstract: In a pattern formation method according to an embodiment, a resist pattern is formed on a first film formed on a substrate. In the process for forming the resist pattern, the resist pattern includes a first pattern including a defect in a predetermined region on the first film. Next, a second film is accumulated on the first pattern in the predetermined region. Furthermore, a second pattern is formed in the first film with the resist pattern and the second film. Then, a third pattern is formed in the predetermined region on the first film.