Abstract: A polyester having repeating units represented by formula (1): wherein R1 represents a divalent hydrocarbon residue which in its structure may contain a heteroatom having no active hydrogen. The polyester has a high refractive index and biodegradability, and is useful as a material for fibers and plastics.

Abstract: A microorganism that produces 5-aminolevulinic acid, wherein the microorganism has a 5-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase variant having a reduced inhibitor constant for a 5-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase inhibitor. A microorganism that produces 5-aminolevulinic acid, wherein the microorganism is a photosynthetic bacterium that produces 5-aminolevulinic acid without light irradiation. A process for producing 5-aminolevulinic acid comprising the step of culturing a microorganism that produces 5-aminolevulinic acid in a culture medium under at least one condition selected from the group consisting of (a) less than 1 ppm of dissolved oxygen concentration in the culture medium, (b) from -180 to 50 mV of oxidation-reduction potential in the culture medium, and (c from 5.times.10.sup.-9 to (KrM-2.times.10.sup.-8) (mol of O.sub.2 /ml.multidot.min.cndot.cell) of cellular respiration rate, wherein KrM represents the maximum cellular respiration rate when oxygen is supplied in an excess quantity.

Abstract: A microorganism that produces 5-aminolevulinic acid, wherein the microorganism has a 5-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase variant having a reduced inhibitor constant for a 5-aminolevulinic acid dehydratate inhibitor. A microorganism that produces 5-aminolevulinic acid, wherein the microorganism is a photosynthetic bacterium that produces 5-aminolevulinic acid without light irradiation. A progess for producing 5-aminolevulinic acid comprising the step of culturing a microorganism that produces 5-aminolevulinic acid in a culture medium under at least one condition selected from the group consisting of (a) less than 1 ppm of dissolved oxygen concentration in the culture medium, (b) from -180 to 50 mV of oxidation-reduction potential in the culture medium, and (c) from 5.times.10.sup.-9 to (KrM-2.times.10.sup.-8) (mol of O.sub.2 /ml.multidot.min.multidot.cell) of cellular respiration rate, wherein KrM represents the maximum cellular respiration rate when oxygen is supplied in an excess quantity.

Abstract: A battery pack mounting device for portable radio equipment having a built-in antenna. The device determines a position of a battery pack, which powers the equipment, inserted in a battery pack accommodating portion provided in the equipment. Various constants which determine the antenna characteristic of the equipment are controlled on the basis of the determined position of the battery pack, thereby maintaining the optimum antenna characteristic at all times. When the device is applied to a charging unit which charges a rechargeable battery, the opposite electrodes of the battery are electrically correctly connected to a pair of connecting terminals which are provided in the charging unit and connected to opposite poles of a charging circuit as the battery pack is inserted in a battery chamber defined in the charging unit. Even when the battery pack is placed in the battery chamber upside down, the opposite electrodes of the battery are accurately connected to the connecting terminals of the charging unit.

Abstract: Portable radio equipment which is thin enough to enhance portability and, yet, has a sufficiently high antenna gain. The equipment has an antenna which is made up of a pair of metal plates located face-to-face, and a short-circuiting member for short-circuiting the metal plates. A circuit board loaded with radio circuitry is interposed between two metal plates with the radio circuitry being connected to the antenna. A capacitor is connected between the metal plates to lower the resonance frequency of the antenna, as needed. A circular cell for powering the equipment is located in a cell receiving portion near the short-circuiting member.

Abstract: An infrared gas analyzer using a pyroelectric infrared sensor, which includes a heating unit for heating the infrared sensor, a heating sensor for detecting its heating temperature and a temperature sensor for detecting the ambient temperature of the infrared sensor, and controls the heating unit so as to retain the ambient temperature of the infrared sensor at a constant so that the output error is small irrespective of the change in ambient temperature.

Abstract: In a method of rolling a strip between work rolls with small and large diameters, while tensioning and bending the strip, the diameter ratio of the small and large work rolls is chosen from the range of 1/1.5 to 1/10, at least one of the work rolls or of rolls in a group backing up the work rolls is driven, and the strip is rolled as it is forced through the work rolls while being bent toward or around either the small or large work roll at a strip entry-exit angle between 5.degree. and 30.degree..