Abstract: A vehicle structure includes: a pair of side frames disposed apart in a vehicle width direction and extending in a vehicle front-rear direction; and a cross member extending in the vehicle width direction, and penetrating the pair of side frames and connecting the pair of side frames. The cross member is formed of a pipe having a substantially square cross section with a corner portion curved in an arc shape. A corner portion of the cross member at a vehicle lower side is set to have a curvature radius larger than a curvature radius of a corner portion at a vehicle upper side.

Abstract: An object is to provide a degrading bacteria-immobilized carrier on which a 1,4-dioxane-degrading bacterium is supported, as well as a biodegradation treatment method for organic compounds, and a biodegradation treatment apparatus, both using this carrier. As a means for achieving the object, a degrading bacteria-immobilized carrier comprising a porous carrier and a 1,4-dioxane-degrading bacterium supported on the porous carrier, as well as a biodegradation treatment method for organic compounds, and a biodegradation treatment apparatus, both using this carrier, are provided.

Abstract: An object is to provide an efficient treatment method for organic compounds using constitutive 1,4-dioxane-degrading bacterium strain N23. As a means for achieving the object, a biodegradation treatment method is provided, wherein organic compounds are biodegradation-treated with strain N23, which is a constitutive 1,4-dioxane-degrading bacterium deposited under Accession No. NITE BP-02032, under a condition of pH 3.0 or higher but no higher than 5.5.

Abstract: An object is to provide a degrading bacteria-immobilized carrier on which a 1,4-dioxane-degrading bacterium is supported, as well as a biodegradation treatment method for organic compounds, and a biodegradation treatment apparatus, both using this carrier. As a means for achieving the object, a degrading bacteria-immobilized carrier comprising a porous carrier and a 1,4-dioxane-degrading bacterium supported on the porous carrier, as well as a biodegradation treatment method for organic compounds, and a biodegradation treatment apparatus, both using this carrier, are provided.

Abstract: An object is to provide an efficient treatment method for organic compounds using constitutive 1,4-dioxane-degrading bacterium strain N23. As a means for achieving the object, a biodegradation treatment method is provided, wherein organic compounds are biodegradation-treated with strain N23, which is a constitutive 1,4-dioxane-degrading bacterium deposited under Accession No. NITE BP-02032, under a condition of pH 3.0 or higher but no higher than 5.5.

Abstract: To provide an effective 1,4-dioxane-degrading bacteria culture method. Provided is a 1,4-dioxane-degrading bacteria culture method in which 1,4-dioxane-degrading bacteria are propagated using a medium containing diethylene glycol.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a constitutive 1,4-dioxane-degrading bacteria offering excellent maximum relative rates of degradation of 1,4-dioxane. As a means for achieving the object, the present invention provides a constitutive 1,4-dioxane-degrading bacteria being strain N23 deposited as Accession No. NITE BP-02032.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a primer that allows for detection and quantification of 1,4-dioxane-degrading bacteria in a quick, highly accurate manner. To achieve the object, a primer set is provided which comprises a primer that contains a base sequence set forth by SEQ ID NO: 1 and a primer that contains a base sequence set forth by SEQ ID NO: 2.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a constitutive 1,4-dioxane-degrading bacteria offering excellent maximum relative rates of degradation of 1,4-dioxane. As a means for achieving the object, the present invention provides a constitutive 1,4-dioxane-degrading bacteria being strain N23 deposited as Accession No. NITE BP-02032.

Abstract: To provide an effective 1,4-dioxane-degrading bacteria culture method. Provided is a 1,4-dioxane-degrading bacteria culture method in which 1,4-dioxane-degrading bacteria are propagated using a medium containing diethylene glycol.

Abstract: A battery state control circuit is provided for connection to multiple rechargeable batteries, the multiple batteries being connected in series, for connection to a primary coil connected in series to the multiple batteries, and for connection to multiple secondary coils to which electrical energy stored in the primary coil is transferred, the multiple secondary coils being connected in parallel to the multiple batteries, respectively. The battery state control circuit includes an adjustment unit to adjust the energy amount stored in the primary coil, in accordance with a state of at least one of the multiple batteries.

Abstract: A battery state control circuit is provided for connection to multiple rechargeable batteries, the multiple batteries being connected in series, for connection to a primary coil connected in series to the multiple batteries, and for connection to multiple secondary coils to which electrical energy stored in the primary coil is transferred, the multiple secondary coils being connected in parallel to the multiple batteries, respectively. The battery state control circuit includes an adjustment unit to adjust the energy amount stored in the primary coil, in accordance with a state of at least one of the multiple batteries.

Abstract: A battery state control circuit is provided for use in a battery pack including a plurality of battery units connected in series, and a plurality of coils connected in parallel with the plurality of battery units respectively. The battery state control circuit includes one or more switching elements each connected between one of the coils and a corresponding one of the battery units, wherein turning ON and OFF of the switching elements is controlled based on a difference between a voltage at a first junction point where a corresponding one of the switching elements and a corresponding one of the coils are in contact and a voltage at a second junction point where the corresponding one of the switching elements and a corresponding one of the battery units are in contact.

Abstract: An image position detector includes a light emitting element to emit light to an image on an image carrier, a first light receiving element to receive a specular reflection of light from a surface of the image carrier and output a first light receiving signal, and a second light receiving element to receive a diffuse reflection of light from a surface of the image and output a second light receiving signal. The image position detector is configured to find the end position of the image according to a multiplied value obtained by multiplying values of the first and second light receiving signals by a constant coefficient.

Abstract: A reflective photosensor detects a target object. The photosensor includes a transparent circuit board, a light emitter and a light receiver on one surface of the circuit board, including a light emitting element and a light receiving element, respectively, and disposed so that the light emitting element and the light receiving element face the one surface, a concave portion on the other surface of the circuit board, including a first refractive face to oppose the light emitting element and refract light from the light emitting element to the light receiving element and a second refractive face to oppose the light receiving element and refract, to the light receiver, a component of the light refracted by the first refractive face and specularly reflected by the target object.

Abstract: A reflective photosensor detects a target object. The photosensor includes a transparent circuit board, a light emitter and a light receiver on one surface of the circuit board, including a light emitting element and a light receiving element, respectively, and disposed so that the light emitting element and the light receiving element face the one surface, a concave portion on the other surface of the circuit board, including a first refractive face to oppose the light emitting element and refract light from the light emitting element to the light receiving element and a second refractive face to oppose the light receiving element and refract, to the light receiver, a component of the light refracted by the first refractive face and specularly reflected by the target object.

Abstract: An image position detector includes a light emitting element to emit light to an image on an image carrier, a first light receiving element to receive a specular reflection of light from a surface of the image carrier and output a first light receiving signal, and a second light receiving element to receive a diffuse reflection of light from a surface of the image and output a second light receiving signal. The image position detector is configured to find the end position of the image according to a multiplied value obtained by multiplying values of the first and second light receiving signals by a constant coefficient.

Abstract: A charge/discharge protection circuit for protecting a plurality of serially connected secondary batteries from overcharge, overdischarge, and current overflow by detecting overcharge, overdischarge, and current overflow and switching on/off a discharge controlling FET or a charge controlling FET according to the detection results is disclosed including an overcharge protecting circuit configured to prioritize the detection results corresponding to overcharge and switch off the charge controlling FET in a case where a charger is connected to the charge/discharge protection circuit.

Abstract: A density sensor detects a density of a subject according to a variation in received light. The density sensor comprises a base plate, a light emitting element irradiating a subject with light, the light receiving element receiving light reflected by the subject, lead terminals connected at one end with bottoms of the light emitting and receiving elements, respectively, and electrically connected at the other end with the base plate, and a package containing the light emitting and receiving elements and supported by the base plate, wherein at least one of the lead terminals is configured to be inclined from a halfway position so as to reflect light from the light emitting element in a direction away from the bottom of the light receiving element.

Abstract: A charge/discharge protection circuit that protects a secondary battery from overcharge, over-discharge, charge over-current, and discharge over-current is disclosed. The charge/discharge protection circuit includes an overcharge detection circuit, an over-discharge detection circuit, a charge over-current detection circuit, a discharge over-current detection circuit, a charge control FET that is turned off when overcharge is detected and when charge over-current is detected, a discharge control FET that is turned off when over-discharge is detected and when discharge over-current is detected, and a charger connection recovery circuit that controls on/off operations of the discharge control FET. When connection with a charger is established at a time over-discharge is detected and the discharge control FET is turned off, the discharge control FET is forcefully turned on after a first predetermined time elapses.