Abstract: A dispersion compensating fiber module which, when connected to an optical fiber which exhibits, at a wavelength of 1.55 ?m, a chromatic dispersion of between +2 and +6 ps/nm/km, a dispersion slope of between +0.075 ps/nm2/km and +0.095 ps/nm2/pm, and a relative dispersion slope of between 0.016 nm?1 and 0.024 nm?1, performs compensation so that the residual dispersion of the connected optical fiber is reduced, the dispersion compensating fiber module includes a dispersion compensating fiber and at least one optical fiber fused to the dispersion compensating fiber, in which the dispersion compensating fiber module exhibits at a wavelength of 1.55 ?m, a relative dispersion slope of between 0.016 nm?1 and 0.026 nm?1; and in a wavelength range between 1.525 ?m and 1.565 ?m, a maximum residual dispersion difference, when converted per km of the transmission optical fiber, of less than or equal to 0.4 ps/nm/km.

Abstract: A dispersion compensating fiber, which has a negative dispersion slope with a large absolute value while maintaining the absolute value of the chromatic dispersion, and which has sufficient dispersion slope compensation properties even for the non-zero dispersion shifted optical fiber requiring a large RDS for dispersion compensation. In this dispersion compensating fiber, the radius of a ring core region is set in a range from 6.7 ?m to 10.7 ?m, the radius ratio of a depressed core region relative to a central core region is set in a range from 2.0 to 3.0, and the radius ratio of the ring core region relative to the depressed core region is set in a range from 1.3 to 2.0, the relative refractive index difference of the central core region relative to the cladding is set in a range from +1.00% to +1.80%, the relative refractive index difference of the depressed core region relative to the cladding is set in a range from ?1.20% to ?1.

Abstract: A projection displaying apparatus projects on a projection plane an image displayed on a reflection displaying device using light emitted from a light source. The projection displaying apparatus includes a wind feeding portion for feeding a cooling wind to a light-incident side of a polarization plate disposed on an optical path from the light source to the reflection displaying device, and a wind guiding portion for guiding the cooling wind such that the cooling wind can be blown on the polarization plate slantingly relative to a light-incident face of the polarization plate.

Abstract: A communication apparatus used for two-way speech wherein the acoustic couplings between a speaker and microphones can be made equal by a simple method, wherein radially arranged microphones are located at equal distances from a speaker, a test signal generation unit outputs a pink noise signal to the speaker, the signal is input to a microphone detecting the sound of the speaker through variable gain amplifiers, attenuated in variable attenuation units, the peak value of absolute values of differences between the signals of an opposing pair of microphones is detected at level detection units, and a level judgment and gain control unit adjusts the gains of the variable gain amplifiers or attenuation amounts of the variable attenuation units so that the value becomes within a sensitivity difference adjustment error.

Abstract: This invention relates to: a method for differentiating osteoclast precursor cells (preosteoclasts) into osteoclasts, which comprises culturing the preosteoclasts in the absence of accessory cells; a method for isolating preosteoclasts, which comprises culturing peripheral blood or joint fluid in the absence of cytokine for 1 to 3 weeks; an preosteoclasts, which is obtainable by the above method; a method for differentiating the preosteoclasts obtained by the above method into osteoclasts, which comprises culturing the preosteoclasts in the absence of accessory cell; an osteoclast, which is obtainable by the above method; a method for screening agents for treating metabolic bone diseases, which comprises using the preosteoclasts or the osteoclasts as described above; and agents for treating metabolic bone diseases, which is obtainable by the above screening method.

Abstract: A speaker system enabling efficient dispersion of intelligible sound far in all directions from a specific point along a certain planar direction, provided with a single speaker, a first reflective (directing) surface arranged facing a sound output direction of the speaker and reflecting the sound to directions different from the output direction, and a second reflective (directing) surface arranged facing the first reflective surface, wherein the distance between the first reflective surface and the second reflective surface increases continuously in proportion to the distance from the center of the speaker and wherein the first reflective surface and the second reflective surface diffuse sound radially from the speaker to directions different to the sound output direction of the speaker.

Abstract: This invention relates to: a method for differentiating osteoclast precursor cells (preosteoclasts) into osteoclasts, which comprises culturing the preosteoclasts in the absence of accessory cells; a method for isolating preosteoclasts, which comprises culturing peripheral blood or joint fluid in the absence of cytokine for 1 to 3 weeks; an preosteoclasts, which is obtainable by the above method; a method for differentiating the preosteoclasts obtained by the above method into osteoclasts, which comprises culturing the preosteoclasts in the absence of accessory cell; an osteoclast, which is obtainable by the above method; a method for screening agents for treating metabolic bone diseases, which comprises using the preosteoclasts or the osteoclasts as described above; and agents for treating metabolic bone diseases, which is obtainable by the above screening method.

Abstract: A color separation/combination optical system according to the present invention comprises of a polarization beam splitter which performs at least one of separation of illumination light from a light source into light components for a plurality of colors and combination of light components for modulated by a plurality of image display elements, a plurality of temperature varying units which are disposed in opposition to or in contact with different surfaces of the polarization beam splitter and change the temperature of the polarization beam splitter, a temperature sensor which detects the temperature of the polarization beam splitter. The system also includes a control circuit controls the temperature varying units based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor to prevent the action of birefringence caused by internal stress in an optical glass material constituting the polarization beam splitter from hindering a desired action of polarized light separation.

Abstract: The present invention provides a selective suppressor of the IgE production comprising a compound which suppresses the IgE production in a process from a differentiation of a mature B cell into an antibody-producing cell to the production of an antibody and which does not suppress or weakly suppresses the production of IgG, IgM and/or IgA which are produced at the same time, a compound of the formula (I): 1

Abstract: A novel antirheumatic agent comprising as an active ingredient a compound of formula I: or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or hydrate thereof.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a camera system comprising: a first focus detection unit, which detects the focusing condition of an image-taking optical system; a second focus detection unit, which detects the focusing condition of the image-taking optical system at a higher precision than the first focus detection unit; and a control circuit, which controls a stepping motor for driving a focus lens. The control circuit performs closed loop control for driving the stepping motor based on the output of a rotation detector, which detects the rotation phase of the stepping motor, when controlling the stepping motor using the information based on the output of the first focus detection unit, and performs open control for driving the stepping motor a predetermined number of steps at a time, when controlling the stepping motor using the information based on the output of the second focus detection unit. The autofocus process is thereby made high in speed and high in precision at the same time.

Abstract: A novel antirheumatic agent comprising as an active ingredient a compound of formula I: 1

Abstract: A dispersion compensating fiber, which has a negative dispersion slope with a large absolute value while maintaining the absolute value of the chromatic dispersion, and which has sufficient dispersion slope compensation properties even for the non-zero dispersion shifted optical fiber requiring a large RDS for dispersion compensation. In this dispersion compensating fiber, the radius of a ring core region is set in a range from 6.7 &mgr;m to 10.7 &mgr;m, the radius ratio of a depressed core region relative to a central core region is set in a range from 2.0 to 3.0, and the radius ratio of the ring core region relative to the depressed core region is set in a range from 1.3 to 2.0, the relative refractive index difference of the central core region relative to the cladding is set in a range from +1.00% to +1.80%, the relative refractive index difference of the depressed core region relative to the cladding is set in a range from −1.20% to −1.

Abstract: A color separation/combination optical system according to the present invention comprises of a polarization beam splitter which performs at least one of separation of illumination light from a light source into light components for a plurality of colors and combination of light components for modulated by a plurality of image display elements, a plurality of temperature varying units which are disposed in opposition to or in contact with different surfaces of the polarization beam splitter and change the temperature of the polarization beam splitter, a temperature sensor which detects the temperature of the polarization beam splitter. The system also includes a control circuit controls the temperature varying units based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor to prevent the action of birefringence caused by internal stress in an optical glass material constituting the polarization beam splitter from hindering a desired action of polarized light separation.

Abstract: A videoconferencing system uses an audio input unit including: two directional microphones disposed in directions with directivity being opposite to each other, the microphones forming a pair and a plurality of the pairs being located with directivity shifted from each other, cancellation elements for canceling sound components of the same phase from sounds inputted to the microphones of the pair, extraction elements for extracting sound components of voice band from sounds inputted to the microphones of the pair, a calculation element for calculating a difference between levels of the sound components of voice band extracted by the extraction elements to decide the microphone which has the larger level in the pair having the largest level difference, and selection elements for selecting sounds as input sound, in which the sound components with the same phase are canceled by the cancellation elements from sound inputted to the microphone decided by the calculation element.

Abstract: An image blur correction apparatus includes a correction optical system for correcting an image blur, an actuator for driving the correction optical system, a plurality of resilient members provided on an outer periphery of the correction optical system, the resilient members being provided substantially angularly equally divided into at least three locations about an optical axis of the correction optical system, and a guide member for movably guiding the correction optical system along a direction orthogonal to the optical axis of the correction optical system. The plurality of resilient members and the guide member are disposed within substantially the same plane orthogonal to the optical axis. In a case in which the actuator does not perform the drive of the correction optical system, the plurality of resilient members hold the correction optical system substantially at a center of the optical axis.

Abstract: A novel antirheumatic agent comprising as an active ingredient a compound of formula I: or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or hydrate thereof.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a camera system comprising: a first focus detection unit, which detects the focusing condition of an image-taking optical system; a second focus detection unit, which detects the focusing condition of the image-taking optical system at a higher precision than the first focus detection unit; and a control circuit, which controls a stepping motor for driving a focus lens. The control circuit performs closed loop control for driving the stepping motor based on the output of a rotation detector, which detects the rotation phase of the stepping motor, when controlling the stepping motor using the information based on the output of the first focus detection unit, and performs open control for driving the stepping motor a predetermined number of steps at a time, when controlling the stepping motor using the information based on the output of the second focus detection unit.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method that in a food/drink store or the like performs customer management would increase a customer's order-making desire.

Abstract: A voice recognition method and apparatus in which an electrical signal corresponding to ambient noise is used to set a threshold value in accordance with the level of the ambient noise and a voice signal applied to a microphone is cut-out for processing if it exceeds the threshold value. The processing includes comparison of the voice signal cut-out with stored patterns of voice signals.