Abstract: Lactic acid with high optical purity that has not previously been achieved is produced. It has been found that the optical purity of lactic acid is reduced as the racemization reaction of lactic acid proceeds when lactic acid coexists with glycerol. By reducing the amount of glycerol prior to concentrating lactic acid by heating, the optical purity of lactic acid after concentration by heating can be maintained at a high level.

Abstract: Lactic acid with high optical purity that has not previously been achieved is produced. It has been found that the optical purity of lactic acid is reduced as the racemization reaction of lactic acid proceeds when lactic acid coexists with glycerol. By reducing the amount of glycerol prior to concentrating lactic acid by heating, the optical purity of lactic acid after concentration by heating can be maintained at a high level.

Abstract: This invention provides a polynucleotide that encodes a protein having lactate dehydrogenase activity and such protein that can be used for producing D-lactic acid. This polynucleotide has the nucleotide sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 1 (a), and it hybridizes under stringent conditions with a probe comprising all or part of the nucleotide sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 1 or a complementary strand thereof and encodes a protein having D-lactate dehydrogenase activity (b).

Abstract: An upgrade method for navigation data is provided with: a memory status of a memory device that is removed from a navigation apparatus is checked and it is determined whether there are the navigation data to be upgraded and the user data to be saved. The user data is saved in a backup memory device. The navigation data is written over with upgraded navigation data. Then, the saved data is read from the backup memory device and rewritten in the memory device as the user data.

Abstract: A p-type region of a light receiving section is formed by implanting boron ions from the direction normal to a semiconductor substrate. The ion implantation conditions of boron are a few hundred to 4 MeV for the ion implantation energy, 1×1010 to 1×1012 ions/cm2 for the implanted dose, and 0 degree±0.2 degrees for an ion implantation angle (?) with respect to the direction normal to the surface of the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of expressing a gene by inserting the genome into a host organism using genetic engineering techniques. The present invention further relates to a novel promoter, a recombinant vector containing the promoter and a target gene, a transformant containing the recombinant vector, and a method of producing a useful gene product or useful substance using the transformant.

Abstract: An upgrade method for navigation data is provided with: a memory status of a memory device that is removed from a navigation apparatus is checked and it is determined whether there are the navigation data to be upgraded and the user data to be saved. The user data is saved in a backup memory device. The navigation data is written over with upgraded navigation data. Then, the saved data is read from the backup memory device and rewritten in the memory device as the user data.

Abstract: A golf club shaft is constructed by a pipe-shaped body in which a sheet of reinforced fiber prepreg impregnated with synthetic resin is rolled. The golf club shaft includes: a front end portion to which a club head is attached; and a grip portion arranged on the opposite side to the front end portion, wherein a portion, the flexural rigidity of which is the maximum, is arranged on the front end portion side of the grip portion of the pipe-shaped body. The golf club shaft has a characteristic by which user's requirement can be satisfied.

Abstract: An information reproducing apparatus applied to a psychological game machine which can evaluate the deep mental state of human, avoiding monotonous progress of a game. A plurality of image and audio information have previously been stored on a recording medium such that at least one of the plurality of image and audio information stored on the recording medium is selected for reproduction based on external operations and physiological changes in the body.

Abstract: A driving mental condition detecting apparatus for detecting a deterioration state of driving mental conditions such as sleepiness, fatigue, and impatience occurring in a driver on the basis of physiological data detected from the driver and road travel data of a vehicle derived from a navigation system, thereby generating an alarm.

Abstract: A cardiac rate measuring apparatus which is intended to measure the cardiac rate of a driver without restraining motions of the driver. Skin tremors occurring on the surface of skin of the body are detected, and level peak values of the skin tremors are held to generate an envelope waveform signal as a cardiac rate signal corresponding to the cardiac rate of the driver.

Abstract: A probe apparatus for inspecting electrical characteristics of a microelectronic element formed on a substrate and having a plurality of pads including a probe card having a plurality of probe needles, an image pick-up device for picking up images of the pads and the probe needles, a registration device which previously stores pad position information indicating pad positions of at least specified of the pads and needle position information indicating needle positions of at least specified of the plurality of probe needles, the needle positions being obtained by an actual measurement based on the images picked up by the image pick-up device, and a control processor for executing a task for detecting imaginary needle marks formed on the pads by imaginarily bringing the specified probe needles and the pads corresponding thereto into contact with each other, by overlapping the first position information and the pad position information of the microelectronic element, a task for detecting positional deviation inf

Abstract: A robot system for exterminating termites living in wood structural members under the floor of an architectural structure. The robot system comprises a robot including an onboard computer which is electrically connected through radio communication with a host computer located outside the robot. The robot includes a main body and is equipped with a locomotive mechanism including a pair of caterpillars located on the opposite sides of the main body. The caterpillars are driven by driving motors mounted on the robot and can be independently operated. The robot includes a mechanism for controlling the vertical positions of various sections of the main body relative to the caterpillars. A nozzle mechanism for spraying chemical or insecticide and a CCD camera are mounted on the main body. The onboard computer and host computer are operatively associated with each other to control the driving motors, the vertical position controlling mechanism, the nozzle mechanism and the CCD camera.

Abstract: Disclosed is a brain wave leading apparatus which can achieve a high brain wave leading efficiency when a human brain wave frequency is led to a desired frequency band. This brain wave leading apparatus comprises a brain wave sensor for detecting the brain wave of a person to be tested (subject) during brain wave leading, and a control unit for renewing a leading center frequency for leading the brain wave frequency therewith. The brain wave frequency of the subject is measured even during brain wave leading, and based on a weighted mean frequency f' detected in a predetermined interval, a leading center frequency F in a subsequent interval is determined. The leading of the brain wave frequency is continued with the leading center frequency F supplied from the control unit. Even if the weighted mean frequency of the subject during leading varies, therefore, the leading center frequency follows up that change, so that brain wave leading will be executed in a short period of time.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a gravity type oceanic structure and its stable installation wherein a skirt is provided downward on the outside periphery of the lower end of the part to be settled and fixed on the sea bed. When the structure is settled on the sea bed, the skirt is pushed into the sea bed foundation to intercept penetration of sea water from the circumference into the structure, and sea water in the skirt is adequately discharged by draining means to make the internal pressure equal to the atmospheric pressure. Buoyancy is thereby eliminated so that the bottom surface of the structure is fixed firmly to the sea bed.