Abstract: Provided are an isolated gene capable of participating in the production of L-homoglutamic acid, and a production system of L-homoglutamic acid by using this gene. The gene is derived from the genome of Flavobacterium lutescens.

Abstract: In an indirect cycle nuclear reactor, a size of the reactor containment vessel is decreased by removing decay heat inside the reactor pressure vessel without using any active component to improve the economic feasibility. A main steam pipe communicating with a heat exchanger of the indirect cycle nuclear reactor is branched in a position upstream of a main steam isolation valve to connect the branched pipe to a heat exchanger in a pressure suppression pool through an isolation valve. A feed water pipe is also branched in a position upstream of an isolation valve to connect the branched pipe to the heat exchanger through the isolation valve. Decay heat is dissipated from the heat exchanger into the pressure suppression pool, and condensed water condensed by heat dissipation is returned to the heat exchanger to cool the inside of the pressure vessel.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus and method in which image data stored in storage media of a plurality of different types or output by image signal generating sources of a plurality of different types can be reproduced simultaneously on the same monitor screen. Original image data provided by storage media or image signal generating sources of a plurality of types is converted to reduced image data representing pictures of reduced size. The original image data or the reduced image data is stored in a display memory in an arrangement capable of constructing a split-screen display. A plurality of frames of (reduced) image data read out of different storage media, etc. are stored in the display memory. These items of image data from the display memory are converted to image signals suitable for being displayed, and the image signals are applied to a monitor display unit.

Abstract: A process for the production of L-pipecolic acid which comprises the step of reducing delta-1-piperideine-6-carboxylic acid by the use of pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase. A recombinant bacterium which can be used in this production process is also provided. Thus, the present invention can provide an efficient biological process for the production of L-pipecolic acid (or 2-piperidinecarboxylic acid).

Abstract: In an indirect cycle nuclear reactor, size of the reactor containment vessel is decreased by removing decay heat inside the reactor pressure vessel without using any active component to improve the economic feasibility.

Abstract: In a digital camera in which image data produced through a photographing operation is compressed to be written in a memory card, even if a shutter release button is depressed during the recording of the image data in the memory card, the photographing can be immediately achieved. While image data stored in a buffer memory is being compressed to be stored in the memory card, the depression of shutter release button is continuously monitored. If the release button is pressed, the recording operation in the memory card is interrupted to conduct the photographing. After the photographing is finished, the image data for which the recording is interrupted is compressed to be entirely written in the memory card beginning at the start point thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding a sheet has a pair of suction cups movable into and out of a cassette, a displacing mechanism for displacing the suction cups between a position in the cassette and a sheet delivering mechanism to cause the suction cups to transfer a stimulable phosphor sheet from the cassette to the sheet delivering mechanism, and a piping system connecting the suction cups to a vacuum pump for attracting the stimulable phosphor sheet to the suction cups, and for ejecting air from the suction cups toward a surface to be attracted of the stimulable phosphor sheet when the suction cups are moved into the cassette. The stimulable phosphor sheet can smoothly and reliably be removed from the cassette while the suction cups are effectively prevented from being deformed.

Abstract: An image signal outputted from a CCD is converted into a digital signal by an A/D converter via a sampling hold circuit. After A/D conversion, the image data before image processing is stored in a first memory. A signal processing part performs image processing with respect to the unprocessed image data read out from the first memory in view of image property parameter data in accordance with an instruction from a CPU. The image after the image processing is displayed on a display. The user looks at the displayed image and selects, through an image property setting device, an image property parameter that the user desires, then inputs instructions such as change of parameter and adjustment. The signal processing part executes re-processing with respect to the unprocessed image data read out from the first memory, in accordance with new image property parameter data that is newly set by the user. The image property parameters are: white balance, gradation, gain, tonality, sharpness, and so forth.

Abstract: When a heat transfer pattern comprising a plurality of recesses is formed on a surface of a roll to provide a thermal transfer roll, a metallic sheet is heated by the thermal transfer roll to form a laminate plate and an integral drum-bottom type can is made of the laminate plate, ring-shaped scratches due to the thermal strain are produced on portions of the can which face recesses of the laminate plate. Bubbles are liable to be formed on the scratches so that corrosion resistance around the bubbles is degraded. The invention has its object to provide a thermal transfer roll free from such scratches. In the invention, a conventional transfer roll having a plurality of recesses formed in a surface thereof is covered by a thin metallic sleeve (130) over a substantially entire surface thereof. Alternatively, the recesses (106) are closed by a cover body (132).

Abstract: Disclosed are the novel C-glycoside compounds Mer-1020dA, Mer-1020dB, Mer-1020dC and Mer-1020dD which have a chromophore group in common with well-known chrysomycins A and B, but can be distinguished from the chrysomycins and the like in that the novel C-glycoside compounds have a sugar residue having a higher degree of oxidation, as well as the compound Mer-1020dE comprising only the chromophore thereof. Among these compounds, the C-glycoside compounds are antibiotics which have low toxicity and can strongly inhibit the growth of solid cancer cells in particular.

Abstract: A method for a production of a laminated metal sheet which can reduce the ratio of pinholes being caused in a synthetic resin film (the incidence of pinholes) upon deep draw forming of the laminated metal sheet involves superimposing the heated metal sheet on the synthetic resin film unwound from a film roll, passing the heated metal sheet and the synthetic resin film through a pair of laminating rolls to laminate the two together, the laminating process being carried out in a laminating chamber in which the concentration of fine particles having a mean particle diameter exceeding 3 .mu.m is kept below 100 pieces/ft.sup.3.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for treating a strip such as a steel strip. The first object is to provide an electrode opening and closing mechanism having a simple construction. The second object is to uniform the flow of a solution around the electrode. The third object is to prevent causing irregularities in the treatment, caused by the variation of surface level of the solution between the electrodes. To attain the first object, one of the mutually facing electrodes is stationarily secured, and there is provided an opening and closing mechanism for moving the other electrode. To attain the second object, stabilizing members for solution flow are provided on the electrodes, a fluid-storing room is formed between the stabilizing member for solution flow and the electrode, and a slit-shaped hole for uniformly flowing the solution between the electrodes from the fluid-storing room, is formed at right angles to the travelling direction of the strip.

Abstract: In an X-ray apparatus, an X-ray film is placed in an closed space formed by front and rear sensitizer screen supports and a closing member fixed to one of the sensitizer screen supports so that a part of the X-ray film projects outside the closed space. The closed space is evacuated so that the sensitizer screens are brought into close contact with opposite sides of the X-ray film under vacuum. The front and rear sensitizer screen supports are movable between the X-raying position and a retracted position shifted from the X-raying position and are movable relative to each other in the retracted position between a closing position where the supports form the closed space together with the closing member and an open position where the supports form therebetween a wedge-shaped space flaring upward to permit insertion and removal of the X-ray film into and from the space.

Abstract: In a plant equipment comprising apparatus of a plurality of systems and control means for switching the systems and changing capacities of the apparatus, an apparatus of each system bas a rated capacity which is 1/N of a capacity of the whole equipment, and the plant equipment is constituted of (N+1) systems. In conditions of normal operation, all the (N+1) systems are operated at capacities less than the rated capacity through the control means. During normal operation, when one system is inspected, or when an abnormality occurs in one system, this system is stopped by the control means. Capacities of apparatus in N of the systems which are operated are increased to the rated 1/N capacity through the control means, and operation is continued with a structure of 1/N capacity.times.N systems. When the maintenance of apparatus in the stopped system is finished, the stopped system is restarted, so as to operate all of the (N+1) systems at capacities less than the rated capacity again.

Abstract: In a method of and apparatus for split photometry, a plurality of split photometric areas are established by setting a plurality of horizontal and vertical photometric intervals respectively within intervals in a horizontal scanning direction and a vertical scanning direction of the solid-state electronic image sensing device. An extracted luminance-signal component is integrated over a horizontal integration interval designated by an integration control signal. Integrated values obtained by the integration operation are summed, in every split photometric area, over the corresponding vertical photometric interval, and a photometric value is calculated for every split photometric area based upon the value obtained by summing the integrated values in another embodiment, data for controlling exposure or controlling the focusing of an image pick-up lens can be obtained for each of a plurality of blocks set in a photographic area.

Abstract: A cardiac pacemaker improved to reduce the weight and size and to unburden the wearer of the pacemaker, while ensuring safe transmission of signals. The cardiac pacemaker includes a cardiac pacemaker main body 100 having at least two electrodes for detecting cardio-information, a control section for performing a control by outputting pulses on the basis of the cardio-information, and a transmitting section for modulating the pulses and transmitting the modulated pulses. The pacemaker also has pacing electrode portion having a receiving section for receiving the transmitted pulses and stimulating electrodes activated by the pulses output from the receiving section.

Abstract: Nuclear reactor and nuclear reactor cooling facilities, and also a nuclear power generation plant and a method of its operation are disclosed. The reliability of cooling function at the time of anticipated accidents is substantially improved through enhancing a cooling efficiency of the gas in the reactor container without resorting to any particular active means. Guide structure is provided for circulating the gas present in the reactor container so as to accelerate heat removal therefrom to the outside through the surface of the reactor container. The arrangement includes an internal structure for retaining a coolant in the reactor container; and upper space portion disposed over the internal structure; a first gas flow passage for directing downward the gas present in the above upper space portion; and a second gas flow passage connecting the first gas flow passage with the upper space portion.

Abstract: There is disclosed a nuclear reactor installation. An accumulator-type emergency core cooling system, a gravity-driven core cooling system and an equalizing system for submerging a reactor core are provided within a primary containment vessel containing a reactor pressure vessel in which the reactor core is disposed. These cooling systems are automatically operated sequentially in accordance with the pressure in the reactor pressure vessel without the need for any particular powered source. The primary containment vessel is made of steel, and the interior of this containment vessel is divided into a space containing the reactor pressure vessel and a space containing an operation floor in such a manner that the two spaces are isolated from each other.

Abstract: An ultrasonic probe includes a piezoelectric material layer having a pair of electrodes provided on both main surfaces thereof for applying voltage thereto, and a backing material provided on one electrode. The backing material has an acoustic impedance lower than that of the piezoelectric material layer. Interposed between the backing material and one electrode is an acoustic reflecting material layer which has a thick first portion and a thin second portion. The second portion may have a substantially zero thickness to allow the backing material to be in partial contact with one electrode. Thereby, the ultrasonic probe can transmit and receive ultrasonic waves at its resonance frequencies. Also provided is an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus which displays an image resultant from combining images having the frequencies obtained by driving the ultrasonic probe.

Abstract: A sheet supply apparatus supplies a sheet such as an X-ray sheet film from a cassette to a recording device. The sheet supply apparatus has at least a pair of rollers for gripping and feeding a sheet, a feeding mechanism for feeding a sheet from a storage cassette and supplying the sheet along a feed path to the pair of rollers, a tilt correcting mechanism having for correcting the sheet out of a tilted condition with respect to a direction transverse to the feed path, and a position correcting mechanism for displacing the pair of rollers in the direction while the pair of rollers is gripping the sheet, to correct the sheet positionally with respect to the direction. The feeding mechanism has suction devices movable into the feed path for attracting the sheet under vacuum, and the tilt correcting mechanism has at least a pair of stoppers movable into the feed path for engaging a leading end of the sheet to correct the sheet out of the tilted condition.